SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I'd like to find the perfect scifi book gift for my brother, who is a physicist. He's the one who'll give you a lecture every time you leave the movies, explaining all the tiny details that were WRONG. He doesn't read much fiction, and I stopped gifting him books years ago. I did give him Stories of Your Life and Others earlier this year, but I don't think he's even read it yet.

Standalones would be preferred, and not super long ones. I'm trying to get him to actually read it with me! He does watch a lot of scifi shows/movies, so I'd rather find something that hasn't been adapted. So it'll likely have to be hard scifi, but still entertaining. And obviously the science should be fairly accurate.

He does enjoy fantasy too, he was a walking LOTR encyclopedia as a kid, probably still is. I don't think he's ever read the books though, just everything *about* them. So here's the problem, he reads a lot, but he will always default to spending hours reading facts about a work of fiction, instead of actually reading the book.

Help!

lol, my Mom has given him What If as a present. I don’t know if he read it. I don’t know if he likes anything more or less than something else, but space/scifi is where our interests overlap, and I’d like to be able to read the book myself, too, so no historical warfare please! Altho he does like that. Fry and physics sounds cool, I’ll check it out.

edit: What I mean to say is that he seems to find everything interesting, and I can’t think of a topic he hasn’t read about.

edit2: Did I just accidentally delete Jemppu’s post?! I’m so sorry! I’m walking and typing, not the best idea apparently :/

Crap. Tough question.

But hits so close to home: may I say how much I relate to the description of our brother - reading the facts rather than the work itself. And finding them more captivating than the fiction.

I'd dare suggest something rooted on factual events. A retelling or an alternative take on historical episode (anything he could parse apart based on facts). Do you have any idea what era in history he'd find interesting (antique, Renaissance, late modern, industrial, WW2, spacerace...)?

Or a take on future society.

Alas, I have not read nearly enough fiction to recommend any specific books from personal experience, but quickly skimming through lists for "alternative history" and "social scifi" might yield to something.

Did just so quickly, and I feel need to point out this 'tale' from mr. Stephen Fry - with a physicist - as quite on the nose: Making History. But nothing more than that: I suspect it might be quite tedious with it's apparently 'storybook' form of telling.

However! This stood out as something potentially interesting: What if?. Or something in that vein, if not quite that military oriented.

Anna wrote: "lol, my Mom has given him What If as a present. I don’t know if he read it. I don’t know if he likes anything more or less than something else, but space/scifi is where our interests overlap, and I..."

No, sorry! I deleted that myself to form it a bit better ^^'

Yeah, I was feeling bit sorry for you for that "What If?" rec - seemed rather dull read from fictional tales perspective :D

OK good, I was pretty anxious for a minute there :D

What about a Michael Crichton like Jurassic Park or The Andromeda Strain?

Or what about a famous book on writing, which is supposed to be fun to read and informative, like On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft?

Otherwise, I think you're looking at Asimov or Sagan for scifi.

My eldest (nearly 30) is a rocket scientist and engineer. He enjoys fantasy books more than sci-fi. Probably because he can pick the science to pieces. He loves Isabelle Carmody and he loved Tamora Pierce and JK Rowling growing up and basically books with a bit of magic and medieval stuff. I’m giving him my copy of Assassin’s Apprentice at Christmas when I see him. He’s right into Game of Thrones (books and TV series). And he’s into dystopian stuff at the moment too. He bought Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, 1984 and Brave New World last month so he could read them. His 27 year old little bro also asked me if he could have a lend of my Fahrenheit 451 too. Suppose it’s a thing at the moment.

He does watch sci-fi with me though. All my kids come to Star Wars with me if we happen to be able to be in the same place. And he even watches Star Trek with me on occasion.

My boys also enjoyed Ready Player One. The book not the movie. Hubby and the boys all hated the movie.

Allison wrote: "What about a Michael Crichton like Jurassic Park or The Andromeda Strain?"

Oh god no. Even as a layperson I can point to dozens of scientific howlers in every Crichton book.

I was going to say, but forgot, that I'd like to stay away from classics and older works in general, because he's probably read all about them, and doesn't want to read them. I can imagine giving him an Asimov, he'd give me an hour lecture on what everyone thought about it and what's wrong with it. The newer it is, the less likely it is he's already read about it. He did (if I remember correctly) sort of like the movie Contact, so I might consider Sagan.

I almost convinced him to read Ninefox Gambit, but then I made the mistake of telling him what mumbo jumbo theories some people had about how things work in that universe, and his expression was like "What is this disgusting filth you're peddling?!" In fact this is how we talk about scifi books with him, I tell him about a book I've read, and what science-y bits it has, and then he has a great time telling me how that isn't at all possible. Maybe this should be my gift to him? Instead of trying to make him read books, I could read more hard scifi, and then tell him about them? :D Of course that means I'd have to listen to the lectures.

He does watch GoT, but I can't imagine him reading straight-up fantasy. He never even read Harry Potter, no matter how much me and my other brother kept nagging him about it. He did go see the movies with us, but I don't think he even read the first HP.

I do kind of like the idea of a classic dystopia. There's less science to pick apart, it's not meant to be scientifically accurate. And at least he would have fun telling everyone how ridiculous it was!

Trike wrote: "Allison wrote: "What about a Michael Crichton like Jurassic Park or The Andromeda Strain?"

Oh god no. Even as a layperson I can point to dozens of scientific howlers in..."

TBH I only read the one and many years ago, but I remember it having enough fun stuff that was close-ish that science types at least had fun picking it apart, and a narrative structure that's easy to digest, while still being so implausible that it didn't sound like it was trying to suggest that this was the way the future would work.

A classic dystopia, Anna? Like 1984? Or classic in the sense of "contains all the elements one anticipates in a dystopic novel?"

Anna wrote: "I'd like to find the perfect scifi book gift for my brother, who is a physicist. He's the one who'll give you a lecture every time you leave the movies, explaining all the tiny details that were WR..."

Encounter with Tiber? it's written by Buzz Aldrin, an engineer and former American astronaut. After graduating from Montclair High School in 1946, Aldrin turned down a full scholarship offer from MIT, and went to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. Buzz Aldrin graduated third in his class at West Point in 1951, with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering.

Anna wrote: "I'd like to find the perfect scifi book gift for my brother, who is a physicist. "

I have the perfect book for him. Hopefully he hasn’t read it. Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward. It’s about life on a neutron star. Forward was a physicist and he has appendages explaining the science behind the book.

If he’s read that, try Tau Zero by Poul Anderson. It’s a bit dated now, but still physics-oriented. The story collection Matter's End by physicist/astronomer Gregory Benford has some mind-stretchers. See Benford’s other books, too.

I’d also try books written by actual scientists, such as Geoffrey A. Landis, David Brin, Catherine Asaro, Stephen Baxter, Vernor Vinge and Mike Brotherton.

Classic dystopia in the sense that I'd feel less weird giving him him a scifi classic that leans more toward social scifi, since the science isn't as... sciencey? But the perfect thing would be a newer release, something that I would also like, and he wouldn't hate. This might be an impossible task, but I have three months to think about it!

Thanks CBR and Trike! I'll check all of those out.

Does it have to be scifi? If so, other than the ending which is fun and dramatic, The Martian is one of the most believable scifi books out there at the moment, BUT it is not perfect. For one thing, he makes a very basic, inane mistake when he plants his potatoes and chooses not to plant the legumes, and no doubt there are a few other things I didn't know enough about to care if they weren't perfectly correct--that was the one that really got my goat even thought it was a 4.5 star read for me.

I would steer clear of anything related to Physics, naturally. My brother, the one with the PhD in Physics, is really easy going with fiction, but he does not agree with everything Stephen Hawkins wrote (anyone who thinks that physicists are all in agreement with everything he wrote is probably not a physicist).

But my brother enjoys scifi, like the unbelievable stuff in Star Trek (beam me, up, Scotty and warp speeds, etc), so his choices are no help.

Martian would be great, except he's seen the movie, he's not gonna read the book. This is true for all books that have been adapted, if there's a visual version of it, that's what he'll go for.

The Martian is good, and even if he's seen the movie I'd recommend the book -- so many of the scientific details that they couldn't fit into the movie script.

But the next one by the same author is just as good, and that would be Artemis

More heavy science, this time in the context of a settlement on the Moon.

I agree completely that he should read the Martian, I just know he won't, because he feels he's seen the movie already, and that's enough. And I absolutely hated Artemis, so I won't ever inflict that on another human. Although my brother probably wouldn't be as mad about boob jokes as I was.

Trike wrote: "Catherine Asaro"

Who is this magical creature?! I'm going to have to read something by her *immediately* ! I don't know if she is the answer to this particular question, but she is for sure going on my TBR.

My suggestions

The Three-Body Problem
A good story with some plausible non-Earth physics in it

Blindsight
I liked this because it was a bunch of biology based sci-fi which I don't see often, it might intrigue him because he can't poke holes as easily?

Revelation Space
Writen by a physicist whose stated goal is to be as true to known physics as possible.

Ooh, interesting choices Hank. We've talked about 3BP before, I can't remember what his problem was with it, but neither of us has actually read it. Revelation Space is on my TBR, so it would be nice to combine two goals. And Blindsight is also on my radar, if not on my TBR.

I wish you luck, I fear you have set an impossible task :) I have friends that just don't read, nothing I give them will ever change that, so I give them a hard time about being illiterate and they give me a hard time for being a book nerd.

Yeah I know, and I'm not trying to make him into a reader. I'd just really like for us to have at least one book in common. I'm planning on giving everyone else books for Christmas, and I hope to find him something I can actually convince him to read.

If I can't find the perfect scifi, then it'll have to be a non-fiction about crows or ravens, he's fascinated by smart birds.

I think it's a lost cause. Get him something he already likes instead of something you want him to like. Don't give white elephants!

Contact

Chris wrote: "I think it's a lost cause. Get him something he already likes instead of something you want him to like. Don't give white elephants!"

He's notoriously hard to get gifts for, it's not just books. But you're right, I know how annoying it is if someone is trying to force their favorite thing on you.

It seems pretty hopeless, but maybe he’ll enjoy The Swarm or Limit by Frank Schätzing. He’s a well-loved German writer, who researches meticulously. Unfortunately, in my opinion, what he delivers in facts is missing in characters or dialogue, but it might just be your brother’s thing. I’ve only read the swarm, here is my 2-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sabrina, the top review is someone who wants to punch the author in the face :D The blurb actually sounds kinda cool.

I think you should just give him Raven Strategem 😆

Rachel wrote: "I think you should just give him Raven Strategem 😆"

I'm SO tempted! But I really have tried to make him read Ninefox, and he hasn't, so I guess I'm out of luck :(

As a once-upon-a-time physicist I'd recommend Revelation Space as well. Reynolds worked for the European Space Agency until 15 years or so ago and that certainly shows in his work. He's usually who I turn to when I want something contemporary that has believable physics. That's especially true with his books that are set in the near future. He's a bit more relaxed about it for his far future books. The Prefect is another nearer future book of his, in the same timeline, that I really enjoyed. House of Suns is a good example of his far future work. A potential drawback is that his books aren't short.

Maybe these will work with your brother? It's hard to say. Physicists come in different strengths. I, personally, am willing to suspend belief in the interests of telling a good story as long as the transgressions aren't too egregious (and I can "recommend" some books that fail here too). Some really see everything through that critical physicist lens.

Thanks! Reynolds is starting to look like a strong contender, with two votes and the fact it's already on my TBR.

How about Illuminae and it's sequels?

I believe that the authors got to tour NASA as a result of it and the science bits did have some checking done by an astrophysicist. https://tsanasreads.blogspot.com/2015...

I'm not sure I would dare give him a YA book! Also, isn't there a romance in this one? I somehow can't imagine him reading about teenagers sending each other love notes, which is the impression I have of this book, I might be wrong! :D

Anna wrote: "I'm not sure I would dare give him a YA book! Also, isn't there a romance in this one? I somehow can't imagine him reading about teenagers sending each other love notes, which is the impression I h..."

It's definitely much, much more than love notes. Yes, there are teens, and yes there is some romance, but it's not the whole story, and not even nearly the whole story.

The format of the books is unusual, (three part series) and takes the form of offical emails, personal emails, observations from 'analysts' and military and corporate info.

Illuminae is definitely not your typical YA lovey dovey pap. Maybe read a few reviews and have a think. I know quite a few adults, who read all kinds of stuff, love this series.

People keep telling me Illuminae is great, but they also say the sequels aren't fabulous. Maybe I will have to check it out myself.

I have to add that I'm very grateful for all the wonderful recs from everyone, and I don't mean to rudely dismiss them! I'm channeling my brother, trying to imagine how he would react if I gave him a certain book. I miss the days when I just paid his yearly WOW subscription!

I really liked the sequels too, and the audiobooks were possibly even better than the actual books.

Oh they work on audio? That's interesting. I always assumed they wouldn't, because of the different format. I'll have to see if I have access to the audiobooks.

Anna wrote: "Oh they work on audio? That's interesting. I always assumed they wouldn't, because of the different format. I'll have to see if I have access to the audiobooks."

They were seriously the best audiobooks I've ever listened to. It really surprised me, actually, but the unusual format works amazingly well, and they've taken the time to use multiple voices, and to dramatise them. The Aiden voice was absolutely perfect.

Thanks Leonie, I will certainly check out the audios!

John wrote: "The Martian is good, and even if he's seen the movie I'd recommend the book -- so many of the scientific details that they couldn't fit into the movie script.

But the next one by the same author i..."

Many of my reading friends who liked The Martian didn't like Artemis, and I have chosen not to read it. What do you like about it?

Anna wrote: "Oh they work on audio? That's interesting. I always assumed they wouldn't, because of the different format. I'll have to see if I have access to the audiobooks."

The Martian is great on audio--but it went slower than I wanted to read it. But, if he won't read a book when he's seen the movie, skip that.

Wil Wheaton is a great audiobook reader if you can find one you think he'll like that Wheaton has narrated.

Just to be clear, I'm not even considering an audiobook for my brother. I listen to them myself, and was happy to hear that Illuminae works well on audio.

I still haven't gone through all the recs, since I'm in no hurry, but there are already several I can see us both liking. Thanks everyone!