Recommend a Sci-Fi Book

[Omega Hunter 9]

City of Pearl, by Karen Traviss. It's the first book of a six part series that's amazingly deep both in book and metaphorically. The books have a tendency of tying things up and then suprising you right at the last second.

 

[Avatar Roku]

He prefers the kind of SF set in space, often with a large-scale storytelling method (Space Operas I believe they're called?).

In that case, try the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. It's a long one, but chronicles the story of one naval officer as she rises through the ranks from the simple Captain of a Light Cruiser all the way up to being a full fledged Admiral. It's highly reminiscent of the 18th Century wet navy books (such as Master and Commander, or the Horatio Hornblower series) but is set in space, which adds a whole other dimension. It sometimes gets bogged down in the politics, but then makes up for it with gigantic space battles. Seriously, in the most recent book, there are about 1000 ships on either side and most of them would be able to own the Death Star in a one-to-one brawl. Weber is widely hailed as the King of Space naval combat.

You make it sound like the politics are a bad thing. But yeah, this was going to be my recommendation as well.

Don't be confused, though. Space combat is important in this series, but it's also very character driven, and is notable for making sure every side, with the possible exception of State Security, has at least one sympathetic character, and even the good sides have flaws (coughcoughHighRidgecough), so it's rarely "Good vs Bad" so much as "light shade of gray vs dark shade of gray". Again, the only exception to this State Security, who are portrayed as pure evil.

 

[ars731]

Ilium/Olympos by Dan Simmons. you won't regret it

 

[GrinningManiac]

Has he read the City and the Stars by Athur C. Clarke?

Dad gave me it, it's a good book

 

[Sonicron]

You could get him "Dark Apostle" by Anthony Reynolds.I enjoyed it quite alot and it's writing style is rather good.

If you are looking for an introduction into Warhammer40k, I'd stick with Dan Abnett. I think he holds the title of "King of Blacklibrary."

Very much agreed.

Since I am a massive fan of most of the stuff the Black Library has published thus far, I'll recommend 'Horus Rising' by Dan Abnett. It is the first novel in the ongoing Horus Heresy series, set in the dystopian Warhammer 40,000 (or, in this case, Warhammer 30,000).
Abnett's writing style is excellent, his plots are effectively paced, and while his action scenes are intense, his actual focus is more often than not on character development; it was this novel that got me hooked on W40k, so my advice for you, Arachon, is to check it out - I think it'd make a great gift.

 

[Spaghetti]

"The Reality Dysfunction" by Peter F. Hamilton. It's part of a very, VERY long trilogy and it is an amazing story, as long as you can keep up with the huge number charachters. I don't think I can say much about it as the plot. It is a truly epic story and I'm gonna start reading again soon.

It's a little bit in the "New School" of sci-fi as it's a relativley new book, but seeing as I'm a fan of the old school myself, it is a book that can be enjoyed by most Sci-Fi fans.

It seemed interesting, how does it compare to Dune or Foundation? Similar?

I've never read Foundation, but I would say it's almost (but not quiet) as good as Dune. It's a little harder to get your head around compared to Dune and rather than set in a fictional universe, The Reality Dysfunction is set in our world, just the future. It's also more complicated than Dune, but keeps you entertained and is very good at hiding the plot from you...if that makes sense. The author treats you like one of the charachters in a way. So even though your getting to see a massive amount of books universe and follow many charachters, good and bad, your still left in the dark about much of the over-arching plot, just like many of the main charachters.

There's lots and twists of turns throughout and its difficult to put the book down.

 

[Brisingr]

If you want a good book I'd recommend George Orwell's 1984. A very interesting book to read with plenty of plot twists to keep you happy. Good luck in your search.

 

[Xanadu84]

I have a friend who swears by a book called, "Windup Girl" by Paolo Bacigalupi. I'm gonna read it soon, and it certainly sounds interesting.

 

[Geamo]

When I think Sci-Fi, I think of a few things;
- Dune, by Frank Herbert
- Ender's Game , by Orson Scott Card
- The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy , by Douglas Adams

Also, if he's into more Warhammer 40k-ish novels, a brilliant start would be either the Eisenhorn trilogy, or the Gaunt's Ghosts series, both by Dan Abnett.

 

[the protaginist]

"Starship Troopers" by Robert A. Heinlein.

Haha, I can't believe someone actually recommended that book. I suppose it's fun reading though.

If I could suggest a sci-fi novel the first book I think of is Ender's game by Orson Scott Card.
Brilliant book.

Also, Left hand of darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (or anything else by her, for that matter).

This man speaks the truth, Ender's Game is awesome.

 

[senorcromas]

I'd say either The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the 5 by Douglas Adams, not that one by Eoin Colfer) or Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. After all, you can't go wrong with ice-9!

 

[Caligulove]

Childhood's End (if he hasnt read it)

but if he has then I recommend
Larry Niven's Ringworld series
series of short stories by R.A. Lafferty called Nine Hundred Grandmothers
American Gods by Neil Gaiman

and its not entirely old school sci-fi
but the stuff written by Alastair Reynolds is absolutely amazing! Revelation Space, Chasm City and all the other great books he writes concerning different kinds of space travel and the various groups of humanity that break off to essentially form new species. its brilliant

 

[lodo_bear]

"A Fire Upon the Deep", by Vernor Vinge. Unique and interesting aliens, sharp mockery of the nature of the Internet (en bref: even aliens are trolls when they're Anonymous), and the single greatest prologue I have ever encountered in my life. I highly recommend it.

 

[Arachon]

Since I am a massive fan of most of the stuff the Black Library has published thus far, I'll recommend 'Horus Rising' by Dan Abnett. It is the first novel in the ongoing Horus Heresy series, set in the dystopian Warhammer 40,000 (or, in this case, Warhammer 30,000).
Abnett's writing style is excellent, his plots are effectively paced, and while his action scenes are intense, his actual focus is more often than not on character development; it was this novel that got me hooked on W40k, so my advice for you, Arachon, is to check it out - I think it'd make a great gift.

I too have read several books of the Horus Heresy series, the last one I read being Fulgrim if my mind is not failing me. I found them very good at the time, but now, looking back, I think that they are only really interest to those who are immersed in the 40K universe. Having lost my interest in WH40K, I found certain parts of the books, characters and general universe feels a bit... bland and mediocre.

 

[bugaboo416]

Alot of great modern recommendations have been listed above but if you want old school, try Theodore Sturgeon's More than Human (1953).

If you want real old school space opera, try the Lensman Series (1930s-40s) by Edward Smith.

The first is relatively easy to get.
The second was out of print last time I looked but available on ebay. It was worth the challenge of getting the entire series.

 

[AlbinoHero]

"Starship Troopers" by Robert A. Heinlein.

Haha, I can't believe someone actually recommended that book. I suppose it's fun reading though.

If I could suggest a sci-fi novel the first book I think of is Ender's game by Orson Scott Card.
Brilliant book.

Also, Left hand of darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (or anything else by her, for that matter).

"Ender's Game" is a very good book, along with the the sequels and spin off Shadow series.

 

[Snork Maiden]

"The Reality Dysfunction" by Peter F. Hamilton. It's part of a very, VERY long trilogy and it is an amazing story, as long as you can keep up with the huge number charachters. I don't think I can say much about it as the plot. It is a truly epic story and I'm gonna start reading again soon.

It's a little bit in the "New School" of sci-fi as it's a relativley new book, but seeing as I'm a fan of the old school myself, it is a book that can be enjoyed by most Sci-Fi fans.

It seemed interesting, how does it compare to Dune or Foundation? Similar?

Hamilton is part of the new wave of Hard SF writers that write epic, big scope space operas. I don't know how to compare it to Dune, as that was always a sort of actiony politics in space sorta thing for me, but it's pretty similar to Foundation. I personally found The Reality Disfunction really, really hard to get into. The first couple of chapters were close to impenetrable for me. The payoff was definitively there after I powered through, but god damn what a horrible start.

I can't recommend Hamilton enough, although I found his Void trilogy to be a lot stronger than the Reality Dysfunction trilogy (although the last one isn't out yet).

Gonna give a shout out for Dan Simmons as well.

I'd say either The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the 5 by Douglas Adams, not that one by Eoin Colfer) or Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. After all, you can't go wrong with ice-9!

Whats the Eoin Colfer one like? I know they're childrens books, but I liked his Artemis Fowl series (well, the first three since they're all I've read).

 

[magnuslion]

ooooo!!! Deahstalker series by Simon R Green. freaking awesome.

 

[HentMas]

snip

I dont really know authors, but the book "ring world" was amazing don´t know if he has read it before

also if he is an Assimov fan, try getting "I robot" if he hasn´t got it already, awesome collection of robot stories

but for a more easy going reading, try the "Lucky Starr" series, haha, they are a good read, only thing they are also meant for kids

 

[Sonicron]

Since I am a massive fan of most of the stuff the Black Library has published thus far, I'll recommend 'Horus Rising' by Dan Abnett. It is the first novel in the ongoing Horus Heresy series, set in the dystopian Warhammer 40,000 (or, in this case, Warhammer 30,000).
Abnett's writing style is excellent, his plots are effectively paced, and while his action scenes are intense, his actual focus is more often than not on character development; it was this novel that got me hooked on W40k, so my advice for you, Arachon, is to check it out - I think it'd make a great gift.

I too have read several books of the Horus Heresy series, the last one I read being Fulgrim if my mind is not failing me. I found them very good at the time, but now, looking back, I think that they are only really interest to those who are immersed in the 40K universe. Having lost my interest in WH40K, I found certain parts of the books, characters and general universe feels a bit... bland and mediocre.

Sure, they're not all winners. Especially the ones written by Ben Counter were a bit of a chore to get through. In the end, these books are about Space Marines, and you have to like the inherent concept in order to fully immerse yourself in the experience; I think it's the fact that pretty much all of the legions have unique customs and rituals and employ different methods of warfare that keeps me interested.