good Sci-Fi books, advice

Hello, fellow members of the community! I'd like to ask you for advice.

recently I've started to be interested in science fiction boooks again. I read many of them, many 'classic' sci-fi back in my childhood, like Wells, Verne, Le Guin's sci-fi books...

now I'd like to read some good sci-fi again (probably Mass Effect is the reason )
Could you recommend me some good space sci-fi, not the type of Foundation, more action-oriented, but with good story and characters.

Thx in advance!

'Rendezvous with Rama' by Arthur C. Clarke.
'Seeker' by Jack McDevitt.
'The Engines of God' by the same guy.

McDevitt's novels deal more with uncovering 'mysteries from the past' sort of thing(a lot of dialogue, starts slowly then picks up as you read along) and Arthur C. Clarke is well, Arthur C. Clarke,

Asimov's robot books are a bit more actiony than Foundation, though still not much.

Any of the Book Of The Long Sun tetraology by Gene Wolfe

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein, anything he wrote is excellent in fact.

I already created a thread about sci-fi books a few weeks back, think it's on page 4 or 5.

Oh and I love Phillip K. Dick. Read 'The Man in The High Castle' if you're interested in unconventional sci-fi.

Dune.

Originally Posted by Ratzor

Dune.

Isn't that the one that Morrowind's storyline was based on? I shoul probably read it...

But yeah, I don't know if you like any Star Wars stuff, but the Thrawn trilogy is good.

Pandora's Star

You can try Iain M. Banks' books.

I just finished "The Carpet Makers" by Eschbach. Awesome book.

One of my all-time favorites is "The Invincible" by Stanislaw Lem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender's_Game_(series)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathworld

The Gamester Wars

By: William R. Forstchen

People betting on who would win in a war. Alexander the Great or __________ and watching to see what happens.
3 books, each different but good.

2nd one is about 47 Ronin against Old Man of the Mountain Assasins

3rd is Napoleon refights the Battle of Waterloo

I tried to read Ender's game once, but I flamed out pretty quickly, I can't read a book where the protagonist is 5 years old.

Does he get older?

He's more like 8, and yes, we all do.

Tbh i think that's kind of a lame reason to not read it. It's such an easy book to read, and rather captivating.

Personally i think OSC is off his nutter these days, but ender's game is still a good read. You should give it another shot.

Originally Posted by MrMofo

He's more like 8, and yes, we all do.

Does he get older in the book, and by older I don't mean he's a couple months older at the end of the book than he was at the beginning.

I didn't think I'd have to clarify but apparently I do.

Originally Posted by the_mango55

Does he get older in the book, and by older I don't mean he's a couple months older at the end of the book than he was at the beginning.

I didn't think I'd have to clarify but apparently I do.

Yes yes i make jokes. He gets to be 12-13 or so iirc. Still worth reading. The rest of the series goes until he's an old man.

Originally Posted by Beregond

...Could you recommend me some good space sci-fi, not the type of Foundation, more action-oriented, but with good story and characters.

Firstly beware that a lot of posters have simply punted books they (and I) like rather than those that meet your requirement.

Paedric's suggestion is good, Ian M. Banks stories are "set in space", are epic in scope and have plenty of action. Be warned though that dark themes run through his work and many of his characters meet horrific deaths. I recall it took me a year to recover from Against A Dark Background before I could face any more of his work.

Larry Niven's "Known Space" stories and novels sound like the kind of thing you're looking for. David Brin writes space-set adventure stories with more of a focus on characterisation, especially that of non-humans. Stephen Baxter writes stories with more focus on physics. You will find plenty of adventure in Robert Heinlein's work, but it will generally be accompanied a lesson in morals.

You might also consider looking at the work of Gregory Benford (dark stories with impeccable physics and a sense of the inevitability of fate), C. J. Cherryh (emotionally-charged grand space-opera), and Gordon R. Dickson (strong male protagonists against a space-empire background with a lacing of sociology).

Try researching these and other authors on Wikipedia, it might help give you a feel for whether they suit your mood.

Happy reading.

thank you very much, guys, for the help and advices! I'll start with one of these

reps to all who replied [later after 24 hous...]

Btw, tried Dune and it's not my cup of tea.
and Starship Troopers was one of my favorite books in my school years, hell, it still is (loved Heinlein; read through his Tunnel in the Sky for dozens of times)

feel free to post more advices

I know he's not the best of writers, but Kevin J Anderson's 'Saga of the Seven Suns' isn't bad. Though at the last couple of books do take a fairly big chunk from Babylon 5.