Science Fiction

[NowyouhaveDunnett]

Can anyone recommend a good book for my dad?
I wanted to get him something more modern. He loved Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Ursula Le Guin and Arthur C Clarke back in the day.

When I google I seem to be getting mostly fantasy or the ubiquitous Piranesi which I'm not sure would be his cup of tea having read what it's about.

I'm not really a sci fi reader so it's hard for me to judge.

He's read Andy Weir.

Many thanks!

Presumably already read John Wyndham? Sorry I don't know more modern stuff either.

Yes I think so.

If only he liked fantasy I'd have no problem!!

Thank you anyway

Has he read 3 body problem?
Maybe the expanse series?

No hasn't read Three Body Problem, would you recommend?

I think he watched The Expanse TV series.

Chris Beckett's Dark Eden trilogy is fantastic.

Like many of the authors you've mentioned it is the sort of high concept science fiction that explores what it is to be human.

Ooh that sounds like just the thing! Thank you so much!

I also loved Asimov, Bradbury, LeGuin and Clarke back in the day.
More recently I have liked Vernor Vinge (A Deepness in the Sky) which I think has a similar feel..

For science fiction recommendations it is worth watching Stephen E. Andrews a.k.a. The Outlaw Bookseller on YouTube. His focus is slanted towards older science fiction but not necessarily the famous authors everyone has heard of and already read. Worth a look. He has also written a print book, "100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels" with reviews and recommendations.

Yes I loved the 3 body problem!
Also children of time is popular, I didn't like that so much but lots of others did

A E Van Vogt? Heinlein? Leigh Brackett (origin of Star Wars, NOT Lucas)...?

Highly recommend Iain M Banks Culture series. Each can be read as a standalone but themes and characters pop up throughout the books. I absolutely tore through these and they are a set I come back to occasionally (and I rarely reread books).

I assume he's tried Iain M Banks
I really enjoyed Becky Chambers
My DH really likes Greg Egan

If he likes Andy Weir he might also enjoy RR Haywood's Extracted trilogy. Completely different subject matter, but similar feel-good tone.

Thank you everyone, you've given me loads of ideas. Having a look at all these suggestions.

I loved Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky , and would strongly recommend that. I think it would chime with the older books he likes.
3 Body Problem is interesting but maybe a bit outre for what he likes.

If he's enjoyed The Expanse on TV then getting him the first in that series is the obvious choice. Haven't read them myself but they're really popular and a lot of people rate them. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expanse_(novel_series)

Have you tried any William Gibson ( think Jonny Mnemonic with Keanu Reeves) or Alfred Bester.

Larry Niven's Ringworld is easy to read too.

Terry Pratchett is fantasy but good fun with lots of puns which he might enjoy.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller.
Old but really very good. Post apocalyptic novel.

Also anything by Philip K Dick.

Sorry - neither suggestion is recent but both well worth a go

Came on here to strongly recommend Children of Time also. The whole series is fantastic.

Has he ever tried Douglas Adams? He’s often thought of as a comic writer, but he’s full of interesting ideas. Richard Dawkins was a big fan of his work. He’s also a superb stylist. Or how about a boxset of H G Wells? You know, go back to the original.

Actually, how about Olaf Stapledon? He’s a very interesting and underrated science fiction writer.

John Salzi, specifically Old Man's War.
Got it for my Dad when he was 65 and he enjoyed it enough to read all the sequels. Mum also read and enjoyed, even though she's not normally a sci-fi reader.

I enjoyed Old Man's War, but it's more Heinlein-esque than the stuff that the OP's dad prefers.

The City and The City by China Mieville. Not too keen on his other stuff though.

I haven't read it yet, but In Ascension by Martin MacInnes looks really interesting
Axiom's End (and rest of series) by Lindsay Ellis ("described as Arrival meets The Three-Body Problem")
Stephen R Donaldson's Gap series (first book The Real Story)

Wayfarer series by Becky Chambers
Murderbot diaries by Martha Wells
Shards of Earth series by Adrian Tchaikovsky

I loved The Long Earth series by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter - very different from his Discworld novels.
Also the Jaran series by Kate Elliott, though these are sf with fantasy overtones.