I love that you start with Ray Bradbury. I began reading his stories when I was in junior high and became a SF fan because of them. Day Zero is another of my faves and I'm glad to see it made your list.
Love Martian Chronicles and Spin and coincidentally just got Blind Sight yesterday from the library. Added all the rest of these to my TBR list, thanks!
I read The Martian Chronicles in grade 8 for a class. We had to then select a story and do something creative with it for the whole class. The group I was in made a radio play (Eg like War of the Worlds). It was a traumatizing experience for me doing the play. I’ve not been able to read it since. Thanks a lot, WJ. Grade 8 at that school was probably the worst of my life; even some of the teachers were bullies. Addendum. That school was torn down just before the virus. I travelled to see the remains and I snuck in after hours to literally dance in the ruins. Of the five schools I attended from grade 1-13, all five are gone (demolished or repurposed as senior apartments-insert evil laugh here). :)
I was the strange autistic kid (undiagnosed because autism wasn’t in the radar) who seldom said anything and who wanted to be invisible. After the show i was mocked because they now knew I talked funny in addition to all my other quirks. One teacher laughed along when students went after me; another one would join in when it was the cool school athletes teasing me. I was 13 and ended up on meds to deal with stress and inflamed stomach. I learned though. Twenty-five years later I took a job as a professor at a university and was ranked best teacher; I suspect most of it wasn’t because I was actually a great teacher and speaker, but more because the students knew I was looking out for them: I wanted to be the type of teacher that was the opposite of those that made my life miserable.
LOVE Blindsight, it was the book that introduced me to hard science fiction and made it one of my favorites genres. A lot was lost on me in the first reading, but the bigger ideas were clear enough to grasp and pull me through!
I bought The Lights Years awhile back because of one of your videos! I haven't read it yet though. And I just have to drop a vampire emoji here for Blindsight! 🧛🏻♀️
I love when you do these types of videos. So many new books to look into! We have very similar reading tastes. My only complaint... You are turning my tbr into an insurmountable monstrous mountain!!!!
Your tip of A Memory Called Review was... Understated? The book is brilliant. Unique plot, convincing 'alienness', highly interesting narrative of an interpreter.
I haven't read Machine, but your description of it reminded me of Robert J. Sawyer's first novel Golden Fleece. It's my impression that Sawyer's novels in general tend to be pretty accessible and beginner-friendly.
I consider myself a very advanced SciFi reader but always love watching videos like this because each one is always a little different and you almost always get different recommendations so I do strongly recommend videos like this if you are considering getting into not just SciFi but any genre of books…Love Blindsight I consider it a Top 10 First Contact story and definitely for more advanced readers… I would like to make a suggestion for beginning intermediate readers and that’s Old Man’s War by John Scalzi who isn’t a hard SciFi writer and brings a light hearted and at times humorous feel to his books…I would recommend probably more for intermediate as it is a 5 book series…I enjoyed the video…keep up the good works
I’m so glad you mentioned Blindsight. It is my number one favourite book with a perfect ending imo. There is a sequel which i will never read in case it tarnishes the first book for me lol. I’m going to start Bradbury soon, thank you for the recommendations. ETA - I would also recommend “The Gone World” by Tom Sweterlitsch.
A Memory Called Empire has been sitting in my TBR pile for a while now, but the reviews I’ve heard have been mixed - like you said, some people love it, others (like you) say it’s more so-so. I think I’ll give Blindsight a go before I get to A Memory.
A Memory Called Empire was actually the first science fiction book I ever read. I definitely agree that you as the reader have to put the world and story together by yourself with little handholding. I really enjoyed that experience of imagining it in my head because world building is one of my favourite aspects of sci-fi/fantasy (I mainly read fantasy). I think that the world building is as important in the plot for the book, the author being a scholar of empires and their culture/politics. If you’re going for pure story I think it is a more advanced read as you’re having to think of the world and plot simultaneously.
Always a bit bitter sweet when you see a cool recommendation video but you've already read (and agree with) most of the books on it. because yay, awesome tastes and good books getting recommended, but sadly little that I'm not already aware of of. So just sharing my agreement
Is the Elizabeth Bear novel machine, a stand-alone book? It is descrinbed as part of a 'white space' series but I wonder if it can be read independently. Series can be a bit of a commitment I find!
It's a companion series... the books don't spoil each other because they involve different characters and plot. They just happen to be in the same universe
I've been wanting to read Spin! a Memory Called Empire is high on my list to read soon as well. I've had a copy forever and just haven't gotten around to it.
I want to read Blindsight and Machine. When I looked Machine up it said that it was the second book. Are they stand alones or do I need to read the first book first?
Dear Shadesof Orange I have two book recomendations for you, both by indie authors first a fantasy The Purple Prince by Sebastien Menkes and a science fiction The Galileo by Nathan H. Green
I'll be very interested for your opinion about The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. Please, consider reading this. I have the feeling you're gonna love it. :)
Just finished re-reading "The Martian Chronicles" This book is a poem that will never be outdated.!
So good!
As a primarily horror reader that wants to get into fantasy and sci-fi, these videos are invaluable. Thank you for your hard work!
Glad to hear it!
Intro: John Scalzi - Old Man's War. Expert: Peter F. Hamilton - Pandora's Star
I love that you start with Ray Bradbury. I began reading his stories when I was in junior high and became a SF fan because of them. Day Zero is another of my faves and I'm glad to see it made your list.
Such a good place to start
Love Martian Chronicles and Spin and coincidentally just got Blind Sight yesterday from the library. Added all the rest of these to my TBR list, thanks!
I read The Martian Chronicles in grade 8 for a class. We had to then select a story and do something creative with it for the whole class. The group I was in made a radio play (Eg like War of the Worlds). It was a traumatizing experience for me doing the play. I’ve not been able to read it since. Thanks a lot, WJ. Grade 8 at that school was probably the worst of my life; even some of the teachers were bullies.
Addendum. That school was torn down just before the virus. I travelled to see the remains and I snuck in after hours to literally dance in the ruins. Of the five schools I attended from grade 1-13, all five are gone (demolished or repurposed as senior apartments-insert evil laugh here). :)
I was the strange autistic kid (undiagnosed because autism wasn’t in the radar) who seldom said anything and who wanted to be invisible. After the show i was mocked because they now knew I talked funny in addition to all my other quirks. One teacher laughed along when students went after me; another one would join in when it was the cool school athletes teasing me. I was 13 and ended up on meds to deal with stress and inflamed stomach.
I learned though. Twenty-five years later I took a job as a professor at a university and was ranked best teacher; I suspect most of it wasn’t because I was actually a great teacher and speaker, but more because the students knew I was looking out for them: I wanted to be the type of teacher that was the opposite of those that made my life miserable.
Sorry you have such bad memories surrounding the Martian Chronicles
@@TheShadesofOrange no worries. I did a victory dance on the bones of my school. :)
LOVE Blindsight, it was the book that introduced me to hard science fiction and made it one of my favorites genres. A lot was lost on me in the first reading, but the bigger ideas were clear enough to grasp and pull me through!
Same here
I bought The Lights Years awhile back because of one of your videos! I haven't read it yet though. And I just have to drop a vampire emoji here for Blindsight! 🧛🏻♀️
I love when you do these types of videos. So many new books to look into! We have very similar reading tastes. My only complaint... You are turning my tbr into an insurmountable monstrous mountain!!!!
The struggle is real!
Your tip of A Memory Called Review was... Understated?
The book is brilliant. Unique plot, convincing 'alienness', highly interesting narrative of an interpreter.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love your recommendations and reading the comments…bonus material!
Fans of this channel getting fricken buffets of this good stuff!
Aw thanks!
Martian Chronicles was a great limited TV series back in the 80s.
Oh cool!
I would suggest Arthur C.Clarke's Childhood's End and 2001 as ideal for intermediate as well.
Thanks for the recs. Both are on my tbr
I haven't read Machine, but your description of it reminded me of Robert J. Sawyer's first novel Golden Fleece. It's my impression that Sawyer's novels in general tend to be pretty accessible and beginner-friendly.
I have read that Sawyer book but I agree he writes very accessible books
I consider myself a very advanced SciFi reader but always love watching videos like this because each one is always a little different and you almost always get different recommendations so I do strongly recommend videos like this if you are considering getting into not just SciFi but any genre of books…Love Blindsight I consider it a Top 10 First Contact story and definitely for more advanced readers…
I would like to make a suggestion for beginning intermediate readers and that’s Old Man’s War by John Scalzi who isn’t a hard SciFi writer and brings a light hearted and at times humorous feel to his books…I would recommend probably more for intermediate as it is a 5 book series…I enjoyed the video…keep up the good works
Thank you! I'm so glad you share my love for Blindsight. And yes I think Scalzi is an excellent place for beginners to start
Thank you!!!! We love all of your incredibly informative videos.
Thank you
I love your channel! Thx for the recs!
Blindsight is my fave book ever and i also liked the followup Echoprraxia
Yeah I was a bit more mixed on the sequel
I really like these lists!😊
I’m so glad you mentioned Blindsight. It is my number one favourite book with a perfect ending imo. There is a sequel which i will never read in case it tarnishes the first book for me lol.
I’m going to start Bradbury soon, thank you for the recommendations.
ETA - I would also recommend “The Gone World” by Tom Sweterlitsch.
Thanks for the rec. Still need to read that one
A Memory Called Empire has been sitting in my TBR pile for a while now, but the reviews I’ve heard have been mixed - like you said, some people love it, others (like you) say it’s more so-so. I think I’ll give Blindsight a go before I get to A Memory.
I hope you enjoy it
Wonderful list of books. I need to go book hunting now. Thank you, great video.
Great video, I have ordered some of the beginners books from the library as ive wanted to get onto science fiction for some time. Thanks 😊
I hope you enjoy them!
A Memory Called Empire was actually the first science fiction book I ever read. I definitely agree that you as the reader have to put the world and story together by yourself with little handholding. I really enjoyed that experience of imagining it in my head because world building is one of my favourite aspects of sci-fi/fantasy (I mainly read fantasy). I think that the world building is as important in the plot for the book, the author being a scholar of empires and their culture/politics. If you’re going for pure story I think it is a more advanced read as you’re having to think of the world and plot simultaneously.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Always a bit bitter sweet when you see a cool recommendation video but you've already read (and agree with) most of the books on it. because yay, awesome tastes and good books getting recommended, but sadly little that I'm not already aware of of. So just sharing my agreement
I definitely relate as reviewer. A few months ago I did a video about "Sci fi you haven't read yet"... that video might have some "new to you" books
Blindsight is the 1st in my top 10 sci fi novel list....
Mine too!
martian chronicles is amazing ❤️
Just fyi Machine by Elizabeth Bear is book #2 in the White Space duology :)
Ancestral Night (White Space #1) 2019
Machine (White Space, #2) 2020
Oh yes but it's a companion series with no crossover so you can read them out of order
@@TheShadesofOrange Ohh that I didn't know, thank you! :)
Fahrenheit 451 seems to be a prequel to the Martian Chronicles story "Usher II."
Thanks Rachel ☺️
Awesome choices as usual.
Is the Elizabeth Bear novel machine, a stand-alone book? It is descrinbed as part of a 'white space' series but I wonder if it can be read independently. Series can be a bit of a commitment I find!
It's a companion series... the books don't spoil each other because they involve different characters and plot. They just happen to be in the same universe
I've been wanting to read Spin!
a Memory Called Empire is high on my list to read soon as well. I've had a copy forever and just haven't gotten around to it.
I hope you enjoy them
I want to read Blindsight and Machine. When I looked Machine up it said that it was the second book. Are they stand alones or do I need to read the first book first?
Oh yes it's a companion series. Completely unrelated to the first book... just set in the same universe
@@TheShadesofOrange okay thanks
Dear Shadesof Orange I have two book recomendations for you, both by indie authors first a fantasy The Purple Prince
by Sebastien Menkes and a science fiction The Galileo by Nathan H. Green
Thanks for the recs
@@TheShadesofOrange you're welcome 😊
Nice video! I'm a beginner in the Science Fiction world.. I read Dune and was not a fan
Yeah I feel like Dune is almost more of a classic fantasy narrative... just set in a space setting
I'll be very interested for your opinion about The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. Please, consider reading this. I have the feeling you're gonna love it. :)
Yes I've read the first one but still need to finish the trilogy
Hey there
Advanced ? I've been reading Sci fi for more than 50 years, but no fan of fantasy. I'd go for "Blindsight".
I'd say you certainly qualify as advanced!
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