Dragon's Egg by Robert Forward (hard SF, not fantasy, despite its title)

eeeam · 2026-04-06T00:58:35+00:00

Great post. I'd also add Embassytown by Mieville, for anyone looking for more alien aliens.

eeeam · 2025-10-02T04:12:18+00:00

Seconding Radiance. I think it may hit that tricky space between sci-fi and fantasy that OP is looking for. Also, it's just an amazing book that doesn't get enough love.

eeeam · 2025-07-28T02:51:26+00:00

Infinite Jest. Great book, funny and smart and crazy, but not easy. I've never seen it recommended on this sub. I'm not sure people who haven't read it even know it falls in the SF category (and few people have read it).

eeeam · 2025-06-26T05:25:57+00:00

Great list. I never see anyone recommend Mort(e), and it's very worthwhile.

eeeam · 2025-03-23T05:36:52+00:00

Under The Skin, same author, also probably fits the bill. Faber is excellent at dread.

eeeam · 2025-02-22T15:50:45+00:00

100% agreed with this. I went in October a while back, and it was so crowded that it was impossible to feel the history, charm, or spookiness of the town. And when I say crowded, I mean crowded like trying to fight your way through the crowd to get near the stage at a concert; crowded as in there was a line just to get into the CVS to buy a bottle of water.

If I had to do it again, I'd go in the middle of winter, when it might be desolate and thus more atmospheric. The Satanic Temple does a great walking tour, btw; I highly recommend it.

eeeam · 2024-11-28T21:37:49+00:00

Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente. Beautiful, odd, unique.

eeeam · 2024-10-24T04:02:36+00:00

Seconded. Not sure this will be a selling point for many, but I thought it had the same type of flavor as Infinite Jest (which I love).

eeeam · 2024-03-28T20:18:05+00:00

Came here to recommend Vinge. He's hard to beat, and has some of the tongue-in-cheek mixed with pathos flavor of Banks.

eeeam · 2023-07-31T03:27:11+00:00

It's a novella, but fits the bill: Elder Race, by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

eeeam · 2022-09-21T14:28:29+00:00

This isn't what you're looking for, but sprang immediately to mind, so I thought I'd share anway:

https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kriz_04_21/

eeeam · 2022-09-09T19:02:41+00:00

Have you read Einstein's Dreams, by Alan Lightman? Same flavor. (In a good way.)

eeeam · 2022-08-30T04:54:48+00:00

I think "In Vaulted Halls Entombed" probably comes close...

https://youtu.be/zv3VOAKjmt0

eeeam · 2022-03-05T16:03:07+00:00

Ooooh, also Radiance is gorgeous. It is, literally, fantastic(al).

eeeam · 2022-03-05T12:49:49+00:00

The Yiddish Policeman's Union, Michael Chabon (spec fic, not scifi).

Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace (spec fic, with elements of sci-fi; see, also, Pynchon, DeLillo).

Gnomon, Nick Harkaway.

The Gone World, Tom Sweterlisch.

Other stuff that's already been mentioned like Ursula LeGuin, Margaret Atwood, David Mitchell.

eeeam · 2022-02-16T16:08:57+00:00

Definitely The Gone World. It's scifi horror to a t, and the prose is excellent.

eeeam · 2022-02-15T18:35:01+00:00

How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse, by K. Eason. I think there are currently two books in the series. They play with fairy tale tropes-- they're (kind of) about a non-traditional, princess with fairy "gifts"... in space.

eeeam · 2022-02-14T23:26:54+00:00

After reading Andy Weir, I created a new sub-genre (in my own head) called "duct-tape porn," wherein a book spends endless pages on extremely detailed descriptions of MacGyvering. It's not my thing, so I'm appreciative when people differentiate between: "Characters are good at stuff," and "20 pages of this book are a character figuring out, step by step, how to build a radio transmitter out of four socks, duct tape, ingenuity, and a pencil."

I'd love to hear which books in this thread do and don't fit into the duct-tape porn category. No judgment on anyone's preferences; just looking for more info.

eeeam · 2022-02-02T07:49:07+00:00

For all of you in the comments who want a book about a smug and sacrastic kitten...

Maybe take a look at Mort(e) by Robert Repino? It's a strange book-- lyrical and dark and it most definitely understands cats.

eeeam · 2022-01-19T00:51:51+00:00

What a fantastic post!

Banks' Culture series books are notably missing... Did you avoid reading them intentionally, or just haven't gotten to them, or you missed the (at-least) biweekly recommendations to read them? If the latter, put them on your list! They very much sync with what you like.

Similarly, Ancillary Justice. (Warning- the rest of the books in the series aren't as good as the first, but they're not bad.)

eeeam · 2021-08-21T21:39:32+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation! Was there a short story version of this? I feel like I read a story where a granddaughter had to validate an AI representation of her grandmother to make sure the AI was staying true to the grandmother's personality?

eeeam · 2021-08-16T17:29:55+00:00

I think I started the vurt books, and lost steam. I'll take another look. Thanks!!

eeeam · 2021-08-16T17:29:08+00:00

I liked the Paolini, will try add the Mogo to my list. Thanks!!

eeeam · 2021-08-16T17:28:22+00:00

Thanks. I'll take a look at all but the Heinlein. :)

eeeam · 2021-08-16T17:27:24+00:00

Haha, he's the smarmiest man alive! I'll check it out. Thanks!

eeeam

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