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Please Recommend some modern Science Fiction

marksman

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My wife's book club is interested in trying some science fiction. They generally only read standard fiction, but are willing to gove sci fi a go. Most of the sci fi I know is the classics from the 1960's, Zelazny, Bradbury, Asimov, Clarke, etc. I think that might feel dated, so I'm looking for recommendation for good, serious sci fi from the last ten years or so. Something that is good for people not well-versed in sci fi, which is not part of an ongoing series of books, and which raises interesting subjects for a book club to discuss.

Thanks in advance!!
 
No fantasy. My wife is still shocked they suggested sci fi. This is not their normal miieu. They asked for sci fi -- let's give them sci fi. If they like that, my wife will suggest some modern fantasy, and Gaiman would definitely be near the top of that list.
 
The Handmaiden's Tale is from 1985 so might be too old but that seems to have appeal to people who don't necessarily follow Sci Fi.

Zoe's Tale is the fourth novel in a series by John Scalzi but I think it stands alone as it is written from the perspective of a 17 year old girl.

A Million Open Doors is from 1992 but its sequels are more recent. The set up is that, after yet another world war, cultural diversity on Earth was strongly discouraged but strongly encouraged for colonies on other planets. On Earth cultural diversity could lead to another war but, safely seperated by the speed of light and vast expense of travelling from one planet to another, could provide a safety valve for cultures not wanting to assimilate and provide a store of diversity in case it was ever needed again.

Some colonies were existing cultures from Earth, others were recreated cultures that no longer existed on Earth and others were various people's idea about what a Utopian culture should look like. This works well until instantaneous travel between planets is discovered and humanity has to learn to deal with cultural differences once again.

The protaganist of the story is young man from a recreated Occitan that values art and swashbuckling derring do. He is sent to a planet with a culture that values puritanism and economic rationalism to help it adjust to faster than light travel.

Like most of the Science Fiction I value, the science is a way to create a premise for an interesting story.

ETA. I didn't see the requirement about not part of an ongoing series. A million open doors stands alone but the sequels are really good.
 
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marksman said:
My wife's book club is interested in trying some science fiction. They generally only read standard fiction, but are willing to gove sci fi a go. Most of the sci fi I know is the classics from the 1960's, Zelazny, Bradbury, Asimov, Clarke, etc. I think that might feel dated, so I'm looking for recommendation for good, serious sci fi from the last ten years or so. Something that is good for people not well-versed in sci fi, which is not part of an ongoing series of books, and which raises interesting subjects for a book club to discuss.

Thanks in advance!!
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Bummer.

I would have suggested Eric Flint's "1632" as good book club discussion material (lots of different ideas to talk about, and the social philosophy essence of much SF is well showcased.), but the "not part of an ongoing series" thing shoots that down.

Double bummer.

I would have suggested nearly anything by Heinlein, but the "last ten years" thing shoots that down.

I urge you to reconsider that last. Both my sons grew up Fantasy/SF addicts, but I was only recently able to convince my 28 yr. old to dip into Heinlein. He hasn't forgiven me yet for not browbeating him into doing it many years earlier.
 
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"Sci Fi"? What is this atrocity? I understand "scientifiction" or SF. But "sci fi".
The Good Doctor would invoke a golden shower on youse all.
 
gtc said:
The Handmaiden's Tale is from 1985 so might be too old but that seems to have appeal to people who don't necessarily follow Sci Fi.
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A good suggestion, although I'd note that if there are any Christian fundamentalists in the book club, they won't appreciate Atwood's take on what Christian theocracy in the U.S. would look like.

Zoe's Tale is the fourth novel in a series by John Scalzi but I think it stands alone as it is written from the perspective of a 17 year old girl.
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Funny, I was going to suggest the beginning of that series, Old Man's War. I've only read the first three so far.
 
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What about The Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_Book_(novel)

The premise is historians of the near future have the ability to time travel into the past for their research. It also involves a future flu epidemic as well as the black plague, so there might be some connection with H1N1 and the fear of a superbug.
 
Dunstan said:
A good suggestion, although I'd note that if there are any Christian fundamentalists in the book club, they won't appreciate Atwood's take on what Christian theocracy in the U.S. would look like.
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Good point.

Dunstan said:
Funny, I was going to suggest the beginning of that series, Old Man's War. I've only read the first three so far.
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I think you will enjoy it.

MetalSeagull said:
What about The Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_Book_(novel)

The premise is historians of the near future have the ability to time travel into the past for their research. It also involves a future flu epidemic as well as the black plague, so there might be some connection with H1N1 and the fear of a superbug.
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That is a very good book. My grandma, who is definitely not into Science Fiction, really enjoyed it when we leant it to her.
 
I would recommend Alastair Reynolds' House of Suns (however it is rather scientifically sophisticated so probably not suitable for tyros; but it has a lot of characterisation).
Anther possibility is Adam Roberts' Stone.
I will have to come back later to add more suggestions, as most I can think of are either older than 10 years or part of a series.
Although I am a David Weber fan and also have read a number of John Ringo, I wouldn't advise them as suitable for a book club (& anyway almost all their books are part of series) as an earlier poster did.
 
I just read Greg Bear's new one, The City at The End Of Time. Bear is consistently good; a "big idea" man. This one is wound up with the ultimate fate of the universe and all..
Very good. Lots of interesting bits for a discussion group.
 
I seem to be able to find decent fantasy fiction easier than good sci fi. I do agree with the Scalzi recommendations, though.

I've also recently read the Lost Fleet series (incomplete atm) by Jack Campbell. It starts with "Dauntless: The Lost Fleet, Book 1". There are 5 books so far, and they all reside happily on my Kindle. The series is fairly entertaining, with lots of good geeky combat and battle tactics taking place at fractions of light speed (.1c etc). I give the series 4 tentacles out of 5.
 
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