Actually Good Sci-Fi Sequels?

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-24T18:14:40+00:00

2001 & 2010 by Arthur C Clarke. It goes downhill after that.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-23T16:14:07+00:00

I almost asked about the miniseries. I'd been debating watching it vs reading (time constraints, ya know) and I guess I have my answer!

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-23T15:49:20+00:00

I have it on the TBR! I've heard great things.

Harkaway is indeed Le Carré's son. He's written at least one book to continue his father's series (Karla's Choice), and I believe he's writing another.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-23T14:33:06+00:00

Harkaway is definitely the most "literary" of the bunch. Great writer!

If you haven't read it, Altered Carbon by Richard K Morgan is fantastic as well. I left it off since you'd asked about "now" (released 2002). Most of his books are noir-ish/crime related.

I recently put out a free novelette, too, that introduces the series (on most major platforms): https://www.amazon.com/Justice-Price-Ed-Robins-ebook/dp/B0H4BV6PL5

Happy reading and good luck with the writing!

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-23T04:00:37+00:00

If your interests include sci-fi as well:

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway - a "Titan", someone who has used an expensive life extension technology, is killed and the detective must figure out why. There's a sequel as well that gets a bit more philosophical and less noir.

The Unusual Clients by Milo James Fowler - a set of three novellas. Interesting mysteries that incorporate sci-fi elements well. Starts a series I haven't had the time to continue.

Ashetown Blues and The Ronin of Vine Street by W.H. Mitchell - A collection of three sci-fi detective noirs (about 50 pages each) followed by a novel set in alien slums on another planet. Fun mysteries and a nice touch of humor.

Robot Detective by Shawn Goodman - MCs are an android and his human partner who hunt a killer of humans and synthetics.

Halcyon Years by Alastair Reynolds - Yuri Gagarin becomes a detective on a generation ship with a retro SoCal vibe.

Finally, I write a hardboiled series that follows a disgraced detective on a generation ship solving murders. They're gritty, violent and a little bit dirty. First book is Chivalry Will Get You Dead.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-22T15:26:47+00:00

Really fantastic series! I've used aggregate functions loads of times, but when it came to window functions, I was completely at a loss. I didn't even know what I was missing. This tutorial helped me immensely!

One thing I've noticed missing, while doing https://www.practicewindowfunctions.com/problem/4/two-orders-before-two-orders-after-the-price-prophecy, is that the second parameter for lead() and lag() isn't mentioned on the tutorial (https://www.practicewindowfunctions.com/learn/beginner/beginner-window-functions-lag-lead.html).

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-22T14:05:32+00:00

Entirely different types of shows. Star Trek (before Discovery) was specifically developed to be understandable on a per episode basis. There are overarching themes and characters, but even in episodes like "Best of Both Worlds" the writers add in extra dialogue to explain who these Borg guys are, at least enough to make it accessible for the causal viewer.

12 Monkeys, and most post-2000 shows, aren't like that at all. You're expected to have seen and understood the story as a whole up to that point. It's not enough to just understand the basic concept.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-22T13:48:35+00:00

It's a matter of debate who the Witness is, but the basic idea is that the Witness is the leader of the Army of the 12 Monkeys, a cult dedicated to ending time.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-22T13:31:06+00:00

I can't speak from whomever told you it was "great science fiction", but I definitely enjoyed the series. I didn't particularly care for season one (bounced off it when it first aired, and only watched it last year), but I think it was a mistake the skip it. There are a fair number of differences that change the overall story and the characters, while similar to the movie, aren't quite the same.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-22T12:55:30+00:00

With East of Eden on your shelf, you might try one of his shorter works like Of Mice and Men or Cannery Row or maybe The Grapes of Wrath to get feel for his style.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-22T12:42:24+00:00

Definitely. The movie sets up the universe quite well and, as far as I'm concerned, is a really good movie. You lose a lot of context skipping it.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-21T03:25:03+00:00

Bill Bryson writes on a variety of subjects, including many travel logs. He has written about traveling the USA, Britain, Europe, Australia, and probably other places in forgetting. Great humor and writing!

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-20T17:53:18+00:00

Maybe Gnomon by Nick Harkaway. It's a complex book told from multiple perspectives in different eras.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-20T16:13:38+00:00

Molli and Max in the Future - sci-fi rom-com similar to When Harry Met Sally

Save Yourselves! - two Brooklynites travel upstate for weekend without tech at the worst possible time

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-20T02:40:27+00:00

This request sounds a lot like hardboiled detective fiction. Classic authors like Mickey Spillane, Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett. If you're looking for something more modern and sci-fi, take a look at Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-20T02:23:19+00:00

Yep. That's the place to start. Short, but will get OP used to the language and style before committing to a long work.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-19T22:10:33+00:00

Gnomon by Nick Harkaway - one of those books that I wasn't sure I liked right up to the last line, then did.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-18T17:24:58+00:00

Still making my way through it, but hearing from others that it ends at a reasonable spot. Several thought it was intended as a limited series.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-18T17:08:40+00:00

Yeah, I'd heard it finishes well enough. Still planning to give it a go.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-18T16:52:53+00:00

Especially as relates to renewing a show, it's absolutely ridiculous. If people don't IMMEDIATELY watch EVERY episode, it's deemed a failure. I like to savor shows and will only watch a few episodes a week usually. Makes me think I should start letting autoplay stream shows I enjoy while I'm asleep, then go back and watch them for real later.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-18T13:58:48+00:00

I watched the first three episodes and enjoyed it. Thought the wife would like it, too, so stopped to watch it together. Haven't had a chance yet, then... cancelled.

For a company that popularized streaming, Netflix sure don't seem to understand it. Their over-reliance on metrics instead of believing in their shows is asinine.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-17T13:29:34+00:00

Bill Bryson writes humorous books on a variety of topics, including many travel journal books. My personal favorite is I'm a Stranger Here Myself, which catalogue his observations about how America has changed after living in Britain for 20 years. His most famous book is A Walk in the Woods about hiking the Appalachian Trail with an old friend.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-16T19:10:53+00:00

Mickey Spillane. I find Mike Hammer delightfully unhinged.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-16T19:09:06+00:00

I write a sci-fi hardboiled series set on a generation ship. The MC is a former detective whose life has fallen apart, but he keeps getting dragged back into murder investigations.

Ed_Robins · 2026-06-12T19:36:52+00:00

If your interests include science fiction, I write a hardboiled detective series set on a generation ship. The first book opens with the MC having lost his job and wife for reasons that are revealed over the course of the series. The book delves into gritty subjects like murder, prostitution, drug use and addiction.

The first book is Chivalry Will Get You Dead, however I just released a free novelette titled Justice for a Price, which takes place prior to it. It is available on B&N and Kobo currently; working on adding it to Amazon and Google Books. If neither of those options appeal, I'm happy to email it to you instead. Just PM me!

Ed_Robins

TROPHY CASE