| Author |
Topic |
Kyra Felann
Gallente
The Scope
|
Posted - 2008.03.03 16:51:00 - [ 1]
I'm mainly looking for military sci-fi, dealing with fleets, pew pew, planetary assaults, and what have you. Also, I generally like stuff that's from the point of view of a regular guy or girl--a low-level navy officer, a space marine, whatever. The darker and grittier, the better.
I'm familiar with the 40k books, but I'm looking to discover some other books to read.
I've heard about Ender's game and that it's good and military in nature, and I'm planning on picking it up when I get a chance.
Any suggestions? |
SoftRevolution |
Posted - 2008.03.03 16:53:00 - [ 2]
"Forever War" |
Surfin's PlunderBunny
Minmatar
Sebiestor Tribe
|
Posted - 2008.03.03 16:53:00 - [ 3]
Starship Troopers... great book |
Digitalfox
Central Defiance
Insurgency |
Posted - 2008.03.03 17:00:00 - [ 4]
Armor a great read, Written my a man who thought Heinline should have used his power armor more. |
Erotic Irony
0bsession
|
Posted - 2008.03.03 17:03:00 - [ 5]
scifi is inherently sexist and bad |
Deviana Sevidon
Gallente
Panta-Rhei
Butterfly Effect Alliance |
Posted - 2008.03.03 17:21:00 - [ 6]
|
Star Commander
Minmatar
Obsidian Inc.
KIA Alliance |
Posted - 2008.03.03 17:56:00 - [ 7]
Battletech novels have plenty of Sci-Fi military hardware, how can you go wrong with big stompy Battlemechs  Also, there is also fleets battles to be found in some, though not all novels, see "Twilight of the Clans", it's spread over 9 books, but it's an awesome read. Also, as a starter, if you have never read Battletech before, can I suggest you give "Blood of Kerensky Trilogy" or "The Jade Phoenix Trilogy" a read, both are very good with great desciptions of the battles etc. Like someone mentioned before, the Honor Harrington books are also good miltary space-fleet based novels. |
Kyra Felann
Gallente
The Scope
|
Posted - 2008.03.03 18:13:00 - [ 8]
 Originally by: Surfin's PlunderBunny
Starship Troopers... great book
Yup, I've read this. Too bad the movie sucked so much. |
Kyra Felann
Gallente
The Scope
|
Posted - 2008.03.03 18:14:00 - [ 9]
Originally by: Erotic Irony
scifi is inherently sexist and bad
WTF? |
zombiedeadhead
Minmatar
The Tuskers
|
Posted - 2008.03.03 18:39:00 - [ 10]
The Forever War - Joe Haldeman.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forever_War
I think that should fit your description perfectly, its a brilliant book, though the rest of the trilogy dont match up to it. I could probably recommend a few more, but this is so good I dont need to. |
Skada skackson
Minmatar |
Posted - 2008.03.03 18:47:00 - [ 11]
Edited by: Skada skackson on 03/03/2008 18:47:33
The 'Nights Dawn' Trilogy by Peter F Hamilton
Uplift Series by David Brin - not always military but a Brilliant series of books (six altogether)
Fallen Dragon - Peter F Hamilton - Main character is a Squaddie so more of a ground pounder book (in fact anything by Mr Hamilton, he seriously rocks)
|
Cmdr Sy
Appetite 4 Destruction
The Firm. |
Posted - 2008.03.03 19:36:00 - [ 12]
Cold Allies by Patricia Anthony. |
CCP Whisper
 |
Posted - 2008.03.03 19:52:00 - [ 13]
John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" is good military sci-fi. I second the recommendation of Starship Troopers. That's a sci-fi novel everyone should read. The Sten Chronicles are a good series. You could also check out the MechWarrior novels which are usually packed full of more stomping battle robot action than you shake an AC/20 at. My favourites are still the ones which appeared in the 80's and early to mid 90's, especially the ones written by Michael Stackpole and William Keith Jr. |
Kirjava
Shiva
Morsus Mihi |
Posted - 2008.03.03 19:53:00 - [ 14]
Originally by: Erotic Irony
scifi is inherently sexist and bad
My bull****ometer just peaked at 4.6 KilloBush.  |
Dark Shikari
Caldari
Deep Core Mining Inc.
|
Posted - 2008.03.03 19:56:00 - [ 15]
|
Zeromancer
Gallente
Corp Zero |
Posted - 2008.03.03 20:04:00 - [ 16]
Edited by: Zeromancer on 03/03/2008 20:06:02
David Weber and Steve White
In Death Ground and the sequel The Shiva Option.
Crusade.
David Weber
The Armageddon Inheritance |
Kirjava
Shiva
Morsus Mihi |
Posted - 2008.03.03 20:05:00 - [ 17]
|
Keorythe
Caldari
Terra Rosa Militia
|
Posted - 2008.03.03 20:18:00 - [ 18]
Originally by: Deviana Sevidon
The Honorverse from David Weber is always a good choice for Military SF.
On Basilisk Station
Lots of space opera in the Honor Harrington books. Very little pew pew or pew pew thats over engineered and not very exciting. You want pew pew, hardcore military, oppressive regime fighting oppressive regime then stick with stuck coming out of the Black Library. Warhammer 40k has some insanely good and really bad stuff to choose from. |
Helen Hunts
Gallente
Red Dragon Mining inc
Red Dragon Industries |
Posted - 2008.03.03 20:31:00 - [ 19]
Edited by: Helen Hunts on 03/03/2008 20:55:13David Weber, David Drake - March to the Sea, March to the Stars, We Few, There Will Be Dragons. Plenty of military action in those. "Never pock with a MacClintock." Renegade Moon - Starts a nice series or two as well. Keith Laumer - The Bolo Series. David Weber also picks up the Bolo saga. A Bolo is quite simply the biggest, nastiest, smartest piece of mobile death you'd ever encounter....with a single human commander. The Ultimate in 'Last Man Standing'. "Bolo!", "Road to Damascus", "Old Soldiers" Orson Scott Card - Enders Game, Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon. Not sci-fi, but check out Lee Child. Killing Floor, Die Trying, Without Fail, Echo Burning. Jack Reacher is not one of those guys you want to cross. An MP Major who opted for early retirement when the Army started downsizing, he's now wandering wherever he feels like, doing whatever he dang well feels like. If he feels you need to be 'handled', you will be taken care of. No matter what. "Through The Looking Glass" - Higg's Bosuns, Aliens, and a unique look at God? "Von Neuman's War" - currently reading this one....must pace self....going to run out of book soon  EDIT: I forgot "Dorsai!" of all things. Plenty of military there. |
Wild Rho
Amarr
Silent Core |
Posted - 2008.03.03 20:40:00 - [ 20]
The Amtrak Wars are a pretty good series of books, not strictly sci-fi military as you put it although it is there. |
Ademaro Imre
Caldari |
Posted - 2008.03.03 20:51:00 - [ 21]
Originally by: Surfin's PlunderBunny
Starship Troopers... great book
Yes yes yes. The book is specifically the point of view you are lookign for. But an emphasis on boot camp.
NOTHING LIKE THE MOVIE THOUGH. The movie ripped ideas from the book and committed a crime by using the same name. |
Shalia Ripper
Caldari
The Elevens
|
Posted - 2008.03.03 21:48:00 - [ 22]
Originally by: Ademaro Imre
Originally by: Surfin's PlunderBunny
NOTHING LIKE THE MOVIE THOUGH. The movie ripped ideas from the book and committed a crime by using the same name.
I have been saying this for years now. I love you for agreeign with me.
+1 on the Dorsai books. For that matter, all of ****son's Childe Cycle books are good. Dorsai!, Tactics of Mistake, The Others, Necromancer (not to be confused with Nueromancer), The Final Encylopedia and so on.
Jerry Pournelle also has some good solo stuff. |
Mtthias Clemi
Gallente
The Space Bastards
|
Posted - 2008.03.03 21:59:00 - [ 23]
Originally by: SoftRevolution
"Forever War"
Just started reading this! Im fairly sure we did not go to war with aliens in 1996... but im willing to go with it. |
pwnedgato |
Posted - 2008.03.03 22:06:00 - [ 24]
Edited by: pwnedgato on 03/03/2008 22:06:27
Where's the love for Ringo?
The Legacy of the Aldenata series is awesome military sci-fi! |
Imperator Jora'h |
Posted - 2008.03.03 23:01:00 - [ 25]
Edited by: Imperator Jora''h on 03/03/2008 23:01:30 Originally by: Keorythe
You want pew pew, hardcore military, oppressive regime fighting oppressive regime then stick with stuck coming out of the Black Library. Warhammer 40k has some insanely good and really bad stuff to choose from.
Which are which though? I picked one 40K book up in an airport (very limited selection of any sci-fi) and I forget which it was but was not all that impressed. Was ok(ish) and passed time on a long flight well enough by putting me to sleep (which is fine in that case). I have a hard time at bookstores in the sci-fi section these days since I have read pretty much everything most bookstores carry sci-fi wise. What little I have not read I have no desire to read. Those series with multiple authors I almost never touch. Even when tempted I am stopped because I have no clue where in the line-up of 20+ books I am starting and if I am missing something important not to mention get a run that are crud (and of course the book store only carries 4 of the 20+ books and almost invariably never book #1 but some random sampling from the middle of several different sub-series). So help a fellow sci-fi reader out. |
SoftRevolution |
Posted - 2008.03.03 23:31:00 - [ 26]
Edited by: SoftRevolution on 03/03/2008 23:31:10 Originally by: Mtthias Clemi
Originally by: SoftRevolution
"Forever War"
Just started reading this! Im fairly sure we did not go to war with aliens in 1996... but im willing to go with it.
I read that was intentional so the NCOs could be Vietnam vets. |
pwnedgato |
Posted - 2008.03.03 23:37:00 - [ 27]
|
MyOwnSling
Gallente
Macabre Votum
Morsus Mihi |
Posted - 2008.03.03 23:38:00 - [ 28]
The Halo series of books (yes, THE Halo) are well done in my opinion. They seem to fit the bill, especially the first one "Fall of Reach" and the third one "First Strike". Good ship-to-ship action as well as grunt work on the ground. |
Orgos Khenn
Minmatar |
Posted - 2008.03.04 00:00:00 - [ 29]
Originally by: MyOwnSling
The Halo series of books (yes, THE Halo) are well done in my opinion. They seem to fit the bill, especially the first one "Fall of Reach" and the third one "First Strike". Good ship-to-ship action as well as grunt work on the ground.
These books deserve props. I had a read of them and I was initially afraid they'd end up...well, as book tie-ins for video games usually do. But the military aspect is fairly well done - and Fall Of Reach has good naval combat. |
Nebulae Mem
Orbital Minerals |
Posted - 2008.03.04 00:07:00 - [ 30]
www.webscriptions.net is the home of Baen books, and their free ebook libary. You'll find a number of David Drake, David Weber, and John Ringo books available in a variety of formats. Usually the first one or two (or all) of a series has been posted for free to get you hooked and "encourage" you to buy the next in the series. For Military Sci-fi, John Ringo's "Legacy of the Alldenata" Series is one of the best. Hordes of aliens, death, destruction, and fantastic characters. Ringo also has also done the excellent "Council Wars" series and a couple other corroborations. Baen also has David Drake/Eric Flints "Belisarius Saga" which details an alternate time-line set in the 6th century AD. Just picture swords and shields next to steamships, rocket launchers, guns, and an intelligent crystalline entity to get an idea. Good stuff. The "Starfire" series by David Weber and Steve White is decent. David Weber's "Dahak" series is also good reading. And I've heard good things about the Keith Laumer :Bolos" series as well. Baen is one of the few book publishers that "get" ebooks. No restrictive DRM, advance copies of soon-to-be released books, and monthly "webscriptions" that'll get you 5 or so books each month for the price of buying 3 of them individually. Considering how much books cost these days, I've already paid for the PDA I use to read them in savings from free library. Plus what they charge for in-print ebooks is $2-$4 less than the paperback version. I haven't seen that at any of the the publishers I buy from. (Hell, some of them try to charge the same cost as the hardcover!) |
All Channels
Out of Pod Experience
