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Original poster

Sci fi/dystopian fiction recommendations

104 replies

Heavenscent86 · 11/02/2016 18:58

So as the title says can anyone recommend me some really good Sci fi or dystopian books to read?

OP posts:
gegs73 · 29/02/2016 20:20

Marking place

CoteDAzur · 29/02/2016 20:16

I just finished The Knife Of Never Letting Go and found it too weak for even DD (10) who is tearing through Hunger Games and Gone series atm. Honestly, I can't imagine anyone shedding a tear over its pathetically thin plot, ludicrous premise, and dumb protagonist.

SciFiFan2015 · 29/02/2016 20:09

Anne McCaffrey. Ship Who Sang, Crystal singer series. Dragons of Pern (origin book makes it sci-fi). Anything by Herbert or Asimov. Stranger in a Strange Land (I wonder if you will grok that?).

anonacfr · 29/02/2016 17:46

Patrick Ness- The Knife of Letting Go (1st of 3)

It's meant to be for young adults in the same way as the Pullman books are. Set in a dystopia world where there are no women and the men left can read each other's (and animals') mind.
Warning though- parts of it will make you sob. Seriously.
But beautifully written and three books which is a bonus.

Tad Williams- the Otherland series.

Set in the near future where the Internet has turned virtual reality and children are mysteriously falling into a coma after surfing forbidden parts of the net.
Turns into an epic multi-characters multi-worlds amazingly evocative with some seriously moving moments.

Otherwise the Wool trilogy is not bad. It's about human living in bunkers and only allowed out to 'clean' the windows- which kills them as no-one can survive outside.
A bit slow going but quite intriguing.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 23/02/2016 14:13

Does Mark Lawrence count as dystopian? I adore Mark Lawrence.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 23/02/2016 14:11

The Domination books are quite disturbing. Set in a slave owning alternate future. It all seems a bit too possible to be comfortable.

Also like Doris Lessing's Mara and Dann.

Talcott2007 · 23/02/2016 13:57

My recent favorites include....

Departure - A.G Riddle
NewsFlesh Series and Parasitology Serise - Mira Grant
Red Rising Trilogy - Pierce Brown
The Passage/The Twelve/The City of Mirrors (Being published May 2016) - Justin Cronin
Wool/Shift/Dust - Hugh Howey
Penryn and the End of Days Trilogy - Susan EE
Forest of Hands and Teeth Series - Carrie Ryan
Bird Box - Josh Malerman
Demon Cycle Series - Peter V Brett
Bone Season/Mime Order - Samantha Shannon

allnewredfairy · 23/02/2016 12:47

Carhullan Army by Sarah Hall had me gripped.

CruelAndUnusualParenting · 22/02/2016 12:33

For Science Fiction Peter F Hamilton's "Fallen Dragon" is amazing. John Scalzi's "Old Mans' War" is brilliant and Lois McMaster Bujold's "Vorkosigan" books are just great space opera romps.

If you'll permit a few fantasy recommendations, Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy is brilliant and C J Cherryh's "Fortress In The Eye Of Time" is a great classic.

Grifone · 19/02/2016 08:01

IpitythePontipines - I love Jasper Fforde - I must put Shades of Greg on my wish list.

Grifone · 19/02/2016 07:58

Swansong by Robert McCammon is excellent. I see Dune mentioned a few times. I just couldn't get on with it at all years ago but have committed to read it this year. I am currently on 3% on my kindle so wish me luck. Has anyone read any if Terry Brook's Genesis of Shannara books? I started the first one a couple of days ago and am really enjoying it so far. Nice weave of a dystopian world with the shannara elves of his previous fantasy books.

Jemimapuddleduk · 15/02/2016 19:48

The Well- amazing.

Gobbledegook100 · 15/02/2016 19:47

I'll echo Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, along with Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 to which it alludes.

hareinthemoon · 15/02/2016 16:50

Though echt has similarly mentioned my favourite book of all time. Skulks off.....

hareinthemoon · 15/02/2016 16:49

Came on to recommend, but shallishanti has mentioned my top three so shall just second those Smile

echt · 14/02/2016 11:26

Ridley Walker by Russell Hoban.

ophiotaurus · 14/02/2016 04:33

Downloaded some samples from this thread. Thanks for the suggestions.

Original poster
Heavenscent86 · 14/02/2016 04:16

Not a problem NNalreadyinuse. Just wanted to make sure it was the one you meant. I think I might give that one a try.

OP posts:
IPityThePontipines · 14/02/2016 03:33

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde is dystopian, strange and funny.

NNalreadyinuse · 13/02/2016 21:52

Yep, that was the one Heaven. Sorry for getting the title wrong

fruitpastille · 13/02/2016 20:47

I like several of the above and would add The day of the triffids by John Wyndham and pretty much all his other books.

RalphSteadmansEye · 13/02/2016 20:39

Another vote for We by Zamyatin and also Darkness at Noon by Koestler.

Both brilliant (if literary) dystopias.

Original poster
Heavenscent86 · 13/02/2016 20:31

Hi I tried to find the Ben Elton book and this is what I got.
Time and Time Again www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0552779997/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_Fi5VwbPN67C44
Is this the book you mean NNalreadyinuse?
Thank you so much for all the suggestions. I really like the sound of ready player one and red rising too. There are so many suggestions on here I want to try.

OP posts:
NNalreadyinuse · 12/02/2016 22:50

I read The Death of Grass at school. I was about 13 and it has stayed with me ever since. Amazing book.

I have also recently enjoyed Ben Eltons Time after Time. It's about being able to go back in time to before the first world war and what we would change in order ro prevent it and how our world would look if events hadn't played put exactly as they did.

Also loved the Harry August one.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 12/02/2016 22:42

Positive and sunny is good - I just prefer my astronauts to not sound like 14 year old boys whilst being positive and sunny.

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