The Sword and Laser discussion

Hey guys. I have been a member here for quote a long time just commenting here and there. I love both Sci fi and fantasy. Tending to jump from genre to genre as i finish each book or series. But i have come to abit of a loss. I absolutely love scalzi, and have read all his stories twice but don't want to do it again. I want something fresh like his work.
I have read the long way to a small angry planet, and am eagerly waiting the next one, but in the meantime want something like them. Any suggestions?
Thanks

For me, what I like about Scalzi is that he is a very straight forward, accessible writer. While his books tend to be average length, they tend to be fairly quick burns as they are well paced and smooth going down. They also tend to have light abmounts of humor with a snarky protagonist.

I think the most comparable writers, in these regards, are Lois McMaster Bujold and Brandon Sanderson.

Awsome thanks I have never read any Louis McMaster build so will definately check them out.
I have read some Brandon sanderson and have some on the ole kindle list but was looking for some science fiction.
I absolutely love the way scalzi can develop his protagonists. They always seem to have this dickheadish arrogance but the humor and development always sucks me into the character and story.
Thanks for suggestions

Callum wrote: "Hey guys. I have been a member here for quote a long time just commenting here and there. I love both Sci fi and fantasy. Tending to jump from genre to genre as i finish each book or series. But i ..."

Scalzi has a new novella dropping on Audible on 10/4 and it's free now for pre-order.

Audiobook cover for The Dispatcher, available (for free!) on Oct. 4, via @audible_com. Read by Zachary Quinto! http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fant...-

Have you tried Robert Sawyer? Give Flashforward or The Terminal Experiment a look.

I've said before that I thought Year Zero by Rob Reid was Scalziesque with taking an almost opposite viewpoint to what I believe are his take on the subject. If you liked Agent to the Stars I think you will dig it.

Callum wrote: "Any suggestions?"

Boy-howdy do I ever!

For some good old-fashioned space opera, try R.M. Meluch's "Tour of the Merrimack" series. The Myriad is the first one, followed by Wolf Star. I think there are 5 or 6 in total.

George R.R. Martin has a collection of short stories about a colorful character named Haviland Tuf who finds a gigantic alien spaceship and travels around having adventures. Tuf Voyaging.

Chris Cole and Allan Bunch have an awesome military sci-fi adventure series called The Sten Chronicles. If you like Old Man's War, you'll like these, guaranteed. There are 8 books total, the first one is Sten. I think there might be omnibus editions out now. Get these first.

Then there's the Well World series by Jack L. Chalker. These are so much awesome. There are 5 books in the series, the first one is Midnight at the Well of Souls. If you like those (and you will) then try out his other 4-book series called The Four Lords of the Diamond. First one is Lilith: A Snake in the Grass but there's also an omnibus edition The Four Lords of the Diamond.

If you haven't read any of Larry Niven's Known Space series, you're in for a treat. These are the books Scalzi was emulating when he wrote Old Man's War. Start off with Protector, then go on to Ringworld. If you like those, there are tons of other books in the same universe.

That should get you started, but there are lots more where those came from.

Trike wrote: "George R.R. Martin has a collection of short stories about a colorful character named Haviland Tuf who finds a gigantic alien spaceship and travels around having adventures. Tuf Voyaging.
"

Available at LA Library and now tagged for later reading. Thanks!

Have you read any Heinlein? He is a big inspiration for Scalzi - a few to check out would be Starship Troopers, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, The Puppet Masters, Glory Road You just have to keep in mind that these were written a long time ago.

I think you might also like The Expanse series by James SA Corey, starting with Leviathan Wakes

If you want an unwilling, snarky humorous protagonist in a Space Opera then I would check out Captain John "Black Jack" Geary from the Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/4110...

Is Geary really that snarky??

I second Tuf Voyaging wholeheartedly.

OP, do the books need to be funny/light/feel-good too? Or any space opera/adventure will do?

This.
https://www.amazon.com/Farlost-Arriva...

If you are looking for the military/space opera type thing, have you tried Marko Kloos? Frontlines is the name of the series, the first book is Terms of Enlistment: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Very fast paced and accessible.

Ernest Cline? I think he is an either love or hate him type of author, but fun books.

I have always been more of a science fiction reader than fantasy, maybe too much Tolkien in middle school. But, The Goblin Emperor was impossible to put down and might be a good change of genre read.

Or course, I am just waiting on the follow-up to a long way to a small angry planet.

Hi everyone thanks. That was some awesome advice.. Yes I have read d a Corey.... It's actually my favourite book series.... Read em all twice.... Cant wait for last one.
Yeah I am anxiously waiting on so many books. Next Becky chambers next scalzi. The next in the bastard gentlemen.
I have added a bunch to the list, but am thinking either Ringwood or tuf voyaging.

Definitely read Tuf Voyaging... that's a character I wish GRRM would revisit and give us more from. There was a TV series in early development that may or may not be coming out in the next few years.

I don't know how well they aged, but the Harry Harrison "Stainless Steel Rat" series has a similar mix of straightforward action and wry humor.

Also, if you haven't read Scalzi's other work, his stand-alone novels are pretty great as well. I particularly liked "Lock-in", "Android's Dream", "Fuzzy Nation", and "The God Engines". Each of those were satisfying self-contained stories but left me wanting more.

The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell is another good one, though the main series is more naval-actionish space battles than Scalzi. The "Lost Stars" followup series is more espionage and land -based strategy like Scalzi's Old Man's War stories.