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I've been an avid fantasy fan since forever, but I'm a relative latecomer to sci-fi novels. I recently finally completed making my way through all of the Cultu

I've been an avid fantasy fan since forever, but I'm a relative latecomer to sci-fi novels. I recently finally completed making my way through all of the Culture novels - thoroughly enjoyed every one, and was kind of sad to have reached the end! Have you come across any other sci-fi authors that approach the style of Ian M. Banks? Otherwise, any recommendations for other sci-fi with the depth that the Culture series had?

RangerScience 6y ago
The Culture novels are fairly unique (although I'd probably say that about most excellent things). There's some decent fanfic out there (You Just Need Opponents With Gravitas, alas it's stalled out for the second time). "Iron Sunrise" and "Singularity Sky" come to mind. Maybe also "Quantum Thief". What of the style / vibe / etc are you looking for more of?
- GordonS 6y ago
  As far as sci-fi goes, the entire Culture series is about the sum of my experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it all. I read Liu Cixin's Three Body Problem a few years back, but didn't like the writing style (I know of course it was a translation), and much of the story seemed implausible even in the world that was created. IIRC, I couldn't bring myself to complete the series. If it helps, some fantasy authors I like are Joe Abercrombie, Terry Pratchett, Robin Hobb, Brandon Sanderson, Scott Lynch, Dave Duncan and Brent Weeks. I like excellent character development, creative world-building and exciting stories that are plausible within those imagined worlds, wit that makes you laugh, good writing that has you marvel at the author's skill, and that special thing: immersive writing. Beyond that, as a noob I don't know if there are sub-genres or particular styles of interest. I had a quick gander at your suggestions, and the stories of Singularity Sky and Quantum Thief both sounds intriguing - I'll add these to my reading list, thanks :)
  - RangerScience 6y ago
    Well, you've got your epic fantasy, and your personable... Dan Simmons (Hyperion saga, Olympus), Rameez Naam's "Nexus". Nick Harkaway's "Gnomon" is ridiculously good, and I basically buy anyone who wants one a copy of Cory Doctorow's "Walkway". Theodore Sturgeon is probably the closest SF I can think of to Pratchett, although he's Golden Era so suuuuper soft SF and doesn't have the humor. Bujold's "Vorkosigan" saga is one of the funnier SF books (while still being amazing and serious), and I hear good things about Scalzi's "Redshirts" PS - Also checkout out what Hannu and Rameez get up to outside of writing, it's super cool.
    - scubbo 6y ago
      > Nick Harkaway's "Gnomon" is ridiculously good You are the first person I've ever seen to mention that book. It is astonishingly and unreasonably excellent, and I recommend it every chance I get. I'm just beginning my first re-read now.
  - l33tman 6y ago
    Peter F. Hamilton writes a bit more action-oriented sci-fi (and not the Banks humour maybe) but I like his books, both the Pandora's Star duology and the Void trilogy to name two.
jacquesm 6y ago
Charles Stross.
- tobmlt 6y ago
  Agreed. I’ve just gotten well into singularity sky, and the Eschaton and it’s fantastic computational powers reminds me of the minds of the culture. Although I guess I am holding out hope the Eschaton has a good sense of humor if it ever shows up in person in the plot. I always got a kick out of culture mind/ship names, philosophy, banter, and such.
nitrogen 6y ago
Greg Egan's Diaspora, Schild's Ladder, and Permutation City feel similar in scale if not exactly style. I've just started reading Alastair Reynolds's books, and those are closer to the sort of space opera of Banks, and so far so good. If you like really long books, Stephenson's Anathem is mind expanding and vaguely parallels some of Egan's books in terms of concepts explored. Finally I'll recommend A Fire Upon the Deep and its sequels by Vernor Vinge. Also check out Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality for a rationistic fanfic crossover between scifi and fantasy if you haven't already. You can probably use HN's search feature to find previous scifi reading recommendation threads for more.
- GordonS 6y ago
  Appreciate the help - I've had a quick look at your suggestions, and the stories all sound intriguing, so I now have a growing sci-fi reading list, which is just what I need to discover authors I like!
lotsofcows 6y ago
Dan Simmons Shrike books have the same epic scale of Ian M Banks' scifi with the slightly more prosodic style of Ian Banks' standard fiction.
scubbo 6y ago
I have nothing to add beyond the great recommendations you've already been given, but I'm throwing in an enthusiastic +1 for Diaspora and Gnomon. Quantum Thief, and Harry Potter And The Methods Of Rationality, are also great.

RangerScience 6y ago

The Culture novels are fairly unique (although I'd probably say that about most excellent things). There's some decent fanfic out there (You Just Need Opponents With Gravitas, alas it's stalled out for the second time). "Iron Sunrise" and "Singularity Sky" come to mind. Maybe also "Quantum Thief". What of the style / vibe / etc are you looking for more of?

GordonS 6y ago
As far as sci-fi goes, the entire Culture series is about the sum of my experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it all. I read Liu Cixin's Three Body Problem a few years back, but didn't like the writing style (I know of course it was a translation), and much of the story seemed implausible even in the world that was created. IIRC, I couldn't bring myself to complete the series. If it helps, some fantasy authors I like are Joe Abercrombie, Terry Pratchett, Robin Hobb, Brandon Sanderson, Scott Lynch, Dave Duncan and Brent Weeks. I like excellent character development, creative world-building and exciting stories that are plausible within those imagined worlds, wit that makes you laugh, good writing that has you marvel at the author's skill, and that special thing: immersive writing. Beyond that, as a noob I don't know if there are sub-genres or particular styles of interest. I had a quick gander at your suggestions, and the stories of Singularity Sky and Quantum Thief both sounds intriguing - I'll add these to my reading list, thanks :)
- RangerScience 6y ago
  Well, you've got your epic fantasy, and your personable... Dan Simmons (Hyperion saga, Olympus), Rameez Naam's "Nexus". Nick Harkaway's "Gnomon" is ridiculously good, and I basically buy anyone who wants one a copy of Cory Doctorow's "Walkway". Theodore Sturgeon is probably the closest SF I can think of to Pratchett, although he's Golden Era so suuuuper soft SF and doesn't have the humor. Bujold's "Vorkosigan" saga is one of the funnier SF books (while still being amazing and serious), and I hear good things about Scalzi's "Redshirts" PS - Also checkout out what Hannu and Rameez get up to outside of writing, it's super cool.
  - scubbo 6y ago
    > Nick Harkaway's "Gnomon" is ridiculously good You are the first person I've ever seen to mention that book. It is astonishingly and unreasonably excellent, and I recommend it every chance I get. I'm just beginning my first re-read now.
- l33tman 6y ago
  Peter F. Hamilton writes a bit more action-oriented sci-fi (and not the Banks humour maybe) but I like his books, both the Pandora's Star duology and the Void trilogy to name two.

jacquesm 6y ago

Charles Stross.

tobmlt 6y ago
Agreed. I’ve just gotten well into singularity sky, and the Eschaton and it’s fantastic computational powers reminds me of the minds of the culture. Although I guess I am holding out hope the Eschaton has a good sense of humor if it ever shows up in person in the plot. I always got a kick out of culture mind/ship names, philosophy, banter, and such.

nitrogen 6y ago

Greg Egan's Diaspora, Schild's Ladder, and Permutation City feel similar in scale if not exactly style. I've just started reading Alastair Reynolds's books, and those are closer to the sort of space opera of Banks, and so far so good. If you like really long books, Stephenson's Anathem is mind expanding and vaguely parallels some of Egan's books in terms of concepts explored. Finally I'll recommend A Fire Upon the Deep and its sequels by Vernor Vinge. Also check out Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality for a rationistic fanfic crossover between scifi and fantasy if you haven't already. You can probably use HN's search feature to find previous scifi reading recommendation threads for more.

GordonS 6y ago
Appreciate the help - I've had a quick look at your suggestions, and the stories all sound intriguing, so I now have a growing sci-fi reading list, which is just what I need to discover authors I like!

lotsofcows 6y ago

Dan Simmons Shrike books have the same epic scale of Ian M Banks' scifi with the slightly more prosodic style of Ian Banks' standard fiction.

scubbo 6y ago

I have nothing to add beyond the great recommendations you've already been given, but I'm throwing in an enthusiastic +1 for Diaspora and Gnomon. Quantum Thief, and Harry Potter And The Methods Of Rationality, are also great.