I recommend "A Fire Upon The Deep" and "A Deepness In The Sky" by Vernor Vinge. They're epic, emotional, and gripping, but also have some quite excellent hard s

I recommend "A Fire Upon The Deep" and "A Deepness In The Sky" by Vernor Vinge. They're epic, emotional, and gripping, but also have some quite excellent hard science and future culture speculation. Also his book "Rainbows End" for something a little closer to home... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernor_Vinge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernor_Vinge