Read all of Iain M Banks 'Culture' novels... what now?

[CopperCyclist]

As above. I've recently read all of the above books, and absolutely loved them, and now I'm looking for my next books.

I'd prefer a series rather than a standalone novel, and sci-fi would be good too. Again, preferably a new author that I haven't read before. If it helps, my other all time favourite books are Terry Pratchetts Discworld, and Bernad Cornwell's Sharpes.

Anyone got any suggestions?

 

[MacB]

Each to their own, I found Terry Pratchett got very tedious very quickly yet I loved the Ian M Banks stuff. I've also enjoyed Peter F Hamilton and Neal Asher which would be similarish to the Culture stuff. Older stuff I've enjoyed Asimov and Larry Niven, obviously there are tons to try but I'm sort of sticking to big name easy to get hold of. I liked the Fantasy/ScifFi crossover series from Julian May, The Exile Saga, but really didn't enjoy her other work. Stephen Donaldsons The Gap series is worth a read though has the same shortcomings as his Thomas Covenant fantasy series.

 

[MontyVeda]

highway code!


just kidding. What about that Jeff Noon bloke?

 

[colly]

I like Iain M Banks books too, all of them not just the sci fi ones.

I was bought Games of Thrones (George RR Martin) last September and have been moving from book to book ever since. There's plenty to go at there.

 

[MacB]

Now Heinlen is one of the few authors I've ever given up on part way through a book. I think I've read 5 or 6 of his books waiting for the 'greatness' to appear. It's weird because I rather like older SciFi and have quite a collection. I can happily read some really atrocious stuff because I enjoy a certain aspect of the premise or appreciate the level of idea compared to when the book was written. But even with some great ideas Heinlens writing just leaves me cold.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Charles Willeford's Hoke Moseley and Tom Kakonis Waverley books are first rate if you like crime novels. There's a few of each, all good.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Oh yeah and my old favourite that no one seems to have heard of, Miles Gibson.

 

[MacB]

Depends on what you're looking for, my limited take on it:-

Ian M Banks - big scale space opera but from a smaller perspective and funny(black humour funny at times). Some great ideas and technology

Neal Asher - more Boys Own space adventure/megadeath type stuff but some really great running themes and seems to be improving as he fleshes stuff out more(or as he matures into his work perhaps). Seems like a nive guy I have interacted online with him a few times.

Peter F Hamilton - earlier stuff is readable but a bit too cheesy, later gets more entertaining but really mahoosive books, physical size and scope of content...bit twee in places

Alastair Reynolds - gets good reviews but I find it a bit stuffy

Stephen Baxter - got and read about 5 of his and just don't like them much

Greg Bear - some interesting stuff if confusing at times

Dan Simmons - the Hyperion stuff gets rave reviews, I've still not bought beyond first book of second series, a few years later, so obviously didn't grab me that much

It would take me way too long to list the hundreds of others, let alone add anything about how I find them. I have a lot of short story collections as well, can be a good way of finding authors you want to read more of.

One book I would highly recommend, it appears in the Fantasy Masterworks series for some reason, is Replay by Ken Grimwood

 

[MacB]

Oh yeah and my old favourite that no one seems to have heard of, Miles Gibson.

Who?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Who?

Hmph, well I've never heard of Grim Kenwood!

 

[rich p]

Is Grimms' Fairy Tales classed as sci-fi?

I have just read Philip Kerr's trilogy - Berlin Noir

Chandleresque, set in pre-war Berlin to the Nazi backdrop. Excellent stuff if you like Philip Marlow.

 

[MacB]

Ah Rich don't start a what is fantasy/scifi debate mate they get painful.

I know William Gibson did Necromancer, the daddy of Steampunk(I think that's the term, I don't pay a lot of heed to the phrases reviewers like to coin) and all the offshoots, if you listen/read that sort of analysis. I only know that because the book is part of a pile next to me that I'm yet to decide whether they stay or go to the charity shop. I've been having a clearout trying to make room. I've read the book twice, first time in the distant past when I bought it. Second time last year, after I'd read so much about how great and influential it was and then finding it in one of the bookcases. It will never get a third read, but if anyone wants it drop me a note.

 

[Trembler49]

In my opinion, the problem with Heinlein is that his writing is embedded in his own time (60s/70s). the plots and themes are great, but the writing style and social mannerisms have become very dated.

I went through a long fantasy period especially Juliam May and Stephen Donaldson, but find them difficult to read now.

Am now addicted to swords and sandals and suchlike historical nonsense, especially Bernard Cornwell, Conn Igguldsen and the like. However you soon find that there are Premier League authors and Vauxhall Conference authors in all these genres.

 

[MacB]

Similar history here I think, I tried a re-read of Stephen Donaldson Thomas Covenant stuff in preparation for reading the new books and it was a struggle, but it's 30 years since I first read them. Of all his books I now find the Gap series the most tolerable but not really worth a re-read.

Whereas Julian May I really enjoy the follow on to the original Exile Saga, the Galactic Milieu series, I tried other books but they went to the charity shop long ago.

 

[Kestevan]

Hamilton is OK space opera, I liked his earlier stuff too, the Greg Mandrel stuff (Mindstar) is well written and doesn't give in to the later books tendency to bloat and have a cast of thousands.

Also try the Altered Carbon series by Richard Morgan.

And if you fancy something best described as a mixture of sci-fi, fantasy and horror the John Meaney books, Bone Song and Black Blood) are very good.