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Some of the series are completely independent of others whereas some are connected. But, none of the books are numbered so you pretty much rely on the listings inside the book or online to figure out where to start.

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Yes, wikipedia is your friend. I don't know how many shortcuts I have in the style of "list of Asimov story arcs", "list of doctor who serials" or "divine factions in elder scrolls".

I also like how most book series, TV shows and games nowadays have their own Wiki. People tend to take this for granted, but the comfort in knowing someone has counted the runes, checked the damage on Clarke's rivet gun, or snooped up the real reason that guy got killed in season 3 (he got a theater gig in Australia and got tired of going to the show conventions), is nice.
 

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Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
 
I never Wiki stuff I want to read- you usually have to sift throuh spoilers to learn basic info, like what goes where.
 

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Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
 
Properly written wiki-pages have a content box in the start, offering a hotlink to the relevant paragraph.

The only time I get close to spoilers is if I look up the name of a specific character, as in the Song of Ice and Fire wiki, and glance at stuff I haven't seen yet. But that's asking for it, really.

When I read Lord of the Rings I managed to spoil the identity of Dernhelm to myself. I would've gotten a nice surprise at Pelennor if my edition hadn't had such a very exhaustive and detailed index section in the back. :.)
 

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Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
 
I am currently reading The Saga of Seven Suns. I have finished the first four books and near the end of book five...it's a lot to read but I am thoroughly enjoying them.
 

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Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
 

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Originally posted by akb1979:
I am currently reading The Saga of Seven Suns. I have finished the first four books and near the end of book five...it's a lot to read but I am thoroughly enjoying them.

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The Saga of Seven Suns is a series of seven space opera novels written by Kevin J. Anderson and published between 2002 and 2008. The series is set in a not-too-distant future where mysterious alien benefactors, the Ildirans, have helped humanity to spread out among the stars, colonizing a number of planets in the Orion Spiral Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. Much of the human race is ruled by the powerful Terran Hanseatic League (Hansa), which intends, by force or by subterfuge, to extend its control to every corner of human space while the Ildirans simply continue to look on.

The series details the outcome of an ancient war rekindled by human folly when scientists experimenting with alien technology create a new star from a gas giant and thereby awaken the fury of a hidden empire of elemental aliens known as the hydrogues, who dwell within gas giants. The hydrogues start to extinguish stars, thus awaking another elemental race in the stars—the faeros—who fight back. On the planet Theroc, human colonists awaken the verdani, a tree elemental race, and two Roamers awaken a fourth elemental race—the water elemental wentals. The series details the rekindled war between these forces and the Illdirans, Hansa and Roamers who are caught in the middle.

Beneath this all, a subplot of artificial intelligence lurks. Ancient black robots ally with the humans and the Illdirans, and aid them in their war. Later in the series, their creators, the Klikiss return, attacking both human and robot to regain their lost colonies.

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I've finished book 5 now, and have started book 6. I hope that book 7 arrives from the USA by the time I finish book 6.
 

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Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
 
I've never trusted Kevin J Anderson, and I never will. I can never forgive him for Darksaber.
 

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Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
 
Why is it always "human folly"?
Why cant our mysterious benifactors ever screw the pooch?

They're obviously not infailable, or they'd never have asociated with humans in the first place.

Darksaber was a SW novel, I take it?

While it's slightly before the time-range I imposed, Forge of God and Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear are my favorite sci-fi novels (for the second book, mainly) and I will happily talk about both for hours as they raise many moral and ethical problems with dealing with aliens and powers far outside human experience and ability.

I'll add Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons too as incredible.
 

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Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
 
What's wrong with Darksaber? Granted it's not the best...actually it's up in the "awful" list...but what's your gripe with it?
 

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Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
 
Well, just the whole premise, the storyline, characterizations, etc etc. Its been a long time since I read it, but I distinctly remember disliking it. Almost as much as Vector Prime...
 

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Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
 

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Originally posted by Jason Abbadon:
Okay, all over people are looking at the utter shit Hollywood is throwing up and saying "Sci Fi is dying" but I dont buy it for a second!

Tell me what your favorite "new" (as in within the past decade) Sci Fi is- it can be novels, cartoons, anime, comics- whatever.

I'll start (as I'm especial)-
Charles Stross' Laundry series of noves (three so far but not a "trilogy or anything so snotty) The Atrocity Archives, the Jennifer Morgue and The Fuller Memorandum.
It's sorta IT geek meets civil service meets Lovecraft and James Bond.
Really incredible fun.

Any spy that can rant for pages about why MS Powerpoint is pure evil is awesome i my book.

For more epic sci fi, go with Dan Simmons' Illium and Olympos- it' the Illiad with the Gods useing super science, time manipulation, robots, extra dimensional aliens and all the heroes of the Illiad in real and believable characterization...
plus a historian thrown into it all, with an intimate knowledge of the Illiad itself, looking to screw everyone's day.

SO PONY UP YOUR FAVORITES!

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Originally posted by Fabrux:
Well, just the whole premise, the storyline, characterizations, etc etc. Its been a long time since I read it, but I distinctly remember disliking it. Almost as much as Vector Prime...

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Originally posted by MinutiaeMan:

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Originally posted by Fabrux:
Well, just the whole premise, the storyline, characterizations, etc etc. Its been a long time since I read it, but I distinctly remember disliking it. Almost as much as Vector Prime...

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Ditto on both counts. Vector Prime was the last Star Wars novel I ever read. I realized when I finished that book that the Star Wars universe was pretty much played out and anything more was pointless.

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I gave up before Vector Prime. Can't remember which was the last one I read because there were two or three that I never finished for lack of interest. The last "bad" one I read was I think 'Crystal Star'.

I gather since then they've switched from random standalones and trilogies to long sequences of multi author arcs. Probably for the best looking as where things were heading when I last checked.
 

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Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
 
I have long since given up on SW novels. No idea what's going on, but I gather that the Yuuzhan Vong have been defeated, at the expense of the New Republic, which apparently has collapsed and there's a new political entity or some such thing.

On the other hand, I just read the 20th anniversary edition of Heir to the Empire and it still rocks hardcore. I still wonder what would've happened at Endor had Thrawn been in command....
 

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Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
 
Yeah, Heir still rocks- and Luke's moves jibe pretty well with the Clone Wars Jedi moves.

Though most Padawans would still wipe the floor with him!
 

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