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Do you have any recommendations on modern scifi that fits the futurism bill? There's lots of great stuff (Expanse is my current favorite) that seems to be summ

Do you have any recommendations on modern scifi that fits the futurism bill? There's lots of great stuff (Expanse is my current favorite) that seems to be summed up as "And then things got worse"

ethbro 10y ago
I think it's arguable Bank's Culture is essentially utopian. Most of the books tend to be about edge cases, because "and they lived their lives and contributed to society" doesn't make for great plot. But the vast majority seems to be using technology to realize their hopes and dreams. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_series
- RKoutnik 10y ago
  Oh, good to hear. That's the one that SpaceX named their barges after? The series has been on my to-read list, I'll bump it up in priority.
  - igravious 10y ago
    Better bump that baby. Start with Excession.
    - sulam 10y ago
      I always tell people to start with Player of Games. Haven't missed yet.
    - pault 10y ago
      I still can't decide which book to tell people to start with. Excession was my favorite, since it features the hilariously snarky interactions between the Minds so much more than the other books. Hydrogen Sonata was also really good for all the backstory about the Culture and the Sublime, which was only hinted at in other stories. And then there's Use of Weapons, since Zakalwe is arguable the most interesting character in the series, and the mind-blowing ending. I could go on. :) I guess my only advice to first time readers is to pick any novel and even if you don't love it immediately, read another one. The series really grows on you.
  - pault 10y ago
    I picked up Player of Games on a recommendation here on HN and devoured every Banks book I could get my hands on for the next six months. If Banks had written a phone book I'd read it. I was so depressed when I finally finished all of them (he passed from a brain tumor in his prime, a terrible loss). The Culture novels are some of the few books I've read that really expanded my perception of humanity. Also the best thought experiment on human sexuality I've ever encountered.
    - throwanem 10y ago
      > The Culture novels are some of the few books I've read that really expanded my perception of humanity. If that's what you are after, I can really recommend Peter Watts. Fair warning, though: don't expect to enjoy him.
zardo 10y ago
Hieroglyph: Stories & Visions for a Better Future http://hieroglyph.asu.edu http://hieroglyph.asu.edu

Do you have any recommendations on modern scifi that fits the futurism bill? There's lots of great stuff (Expanse is my current favorite) that seems to be summed up as "And then things got worse"

ethbro 10y ago

I think it's arguable Bank's Culture is essentially utopian. Most of the books tend to be about edge cases, because "and they lived their lives and contributed to society" doesn't make for great plot. But the vast majority seems to be using technology to realize their hopes and dreams. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_series

RKoutnik 10y ago
Oh, good to hear. That's the one that SpaceX named their barges after? The series has been on my to-read list, I'll bump it up in priority.
- igravious 10y ago
  Better bump that baby. Start with Excession.
  - sulam 10y ago
    I always tell people to start with Player of Games. Haven't missed yet.
  - pault 10y ago
    I still can't decide which book to tell people to start with. Excession was my favorite, since it features the hilariously snarky interactions between the Minds so much more than the other books. Hydrogen Sonata was also really good for all the backstory about the Culture and the Sublime, which was only hinted at in other stories. And then there's Use of Weapons, since Zakalwe is arguable the most interesting character in the series, and the mind-blowing ending. I could go on. :) I guess my only advice to first time readers is to pick any novel and even if you don't love it immediately, read another one. The series really grows on you.
- pault 10y ago
  I picked up Player of Games on a recommendation here on HN and devoured every Banks book I could get my hands on for the next six months. If Banks had written a phone book I'd read it. I was so depressed when I finally finished all of them (he passed from a brain tumor in his prime, a terrible loss). The Culture novels are some of the few books I've read that really expanded my perception of humanity. Also the best thought experiment on human sexuality I've ever encountered.
  - throwanem 10y ago
    > The Culture novels are some of the few books I've read that really expanded my perception of humanity. If that's what you are after, I can really recommend Peter Watts. Fair warning, though: don't expect to enjoy him.

zardo 10y ago

Hieroglyph: Stories & Visions for a Better Future http://hieroglyph.asu.edu http://hieroglyph.asu.edu