Fairly new to science fiction...any suggestions?
Okay. I’d never thought I’d say this, but I’ve decided to explore the genre of science fiction. It mostly turned me off because my mind sometimes has a difficult time grasping/visualizing the hi-tech aspect of it, and it just never used to interest me, but certain reoccurring themes in sci-fi are attracting my attention (such as dystopia, alternate realities, etc.), so I thought I’d give it a try. Psychological horror was my favorite genre, but it got much too tiring for me after I learned what sort of clues to pick up on and could figure out the ending halfway through. I’m ready for something new and challenging.
I have two questions:
1) What authors/books can you recommend that would be good for someone just diving in to sci-fi? I like the bleaker, darker end of sci-fi (because of my love for horror), so I’m thinking H.P. Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman, and Philip K. Dick, but I really have no idea where to start as far as titles are concerned. I love books that I can dig deep for multiple themes and that provide the ability to have extensive discussions. I enjoy giving my brain a literary workout, in other words. I plan on tackling Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and the movie Blade Runner next.
2) Speaking of discussions, do you know of any good forums to talk about sci-fi storylines? Maybe here? The first book that I did manage to read was The Unteleported Man (a.k.a. Lies, Inc. - it was the extended, uncensored version) by Philip K. Dick, and although it was an intriguing read, I realized that maybe it wasn’t the best to start off with, considering how the second half was one hell of a disorienting drug trip (which didn’t surprise me, however, since I had at least seen the movie A Scanner Darkly and kind of knew what to expect from the author). But I’d like to be able to gain a better understanding of themes, etc. (in any sort of sci-fi novel) by seeing what others think and possibly participate in the discussion…any suggestions?
I have two questions:
1) What authors/books can you recommend that would be good for someone just diving in to sci-fi? I like the bleaker, darker end of sci-fi (because of my love for horror), so I’m thinking H.P. Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman, and Philip K. Dick, but I really have no idea where to start as far as titles are concerned. I love books that I can dig deep for multiple themes and that provide the ability to have extensive discussions. I enjoy giving my brain a literary workout, in other words. I plan on tackling Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and the movie Blade Runner next.
2) Speaking of discussions, do you know of any good forums to talk about sci-fi storylines? Maybe here? The first book that I did manage to read was The Unteleported Man (a.k.a. Lies, Inc. - it was the extended, uncensored version) by Philip K. Dick, and although it was an intriguing read, I realized that maybe it wasn’t the best to start off with, considering how the second half was one hell of a disorienting drug trip (which didn’t surprise me, however, since I had at least seen the movie A Scanner Darkly and kind of knew what to expect from the author). But I’d like to be able to gain a better understanding of themes, etc. (in any sort of sci-fi novel) by seeing what others think and possibly participate in the discussion…any suggestions?