STAR HERO Reading List

[Susano]

Joe Haldeman, The Forever War

I can't believe I didn't mention this one in my post.

[Xavier Onassiss]

I can't believe I didn't mention this one in my post.

Oh yeah. If I could only choose one military SF novel for this list, it would be The Forever War.

Another awesome series I forgot: David Gerrold's War Against the Chtorr novels. Truly an original twist on the old alien-invasion theme.

[dmjalund]

Stephen Donaldson Gap Series?

[lapsedgamer]

Isn't Ayn Rand a member of the Legion of Superheroes?

Objectivist Lass. Massive reality alteration powers based on forcing others to agree with her. Tends to change the whole world into a black and white palette as a side effect.

On the actual topic here: It's not a book, but you might want to look at the Atomic Rockets website. It's a great resource for hard SF info. I am looking at it for a hardish (semi-soft?) SF scenario I am working on.

http://www.projectrho.com/rocket/

[BlueCloud2k2]

My 2 cents:

David Drake: The Reaches trilogy
David Weber/John Ringo: March Upcountry (The Prince Roger series)
John Ringo: The Legacy of the Aldenata, The Vorpal Blade series
Eric Flint: Rats, Bats and Vats; Rats, Bats, and the Ugly

Frank Beddor's Looking Glass Wars is an interesting Twist on Alice in Wonderland

As far as Star Wars goes, I'd recommend The X-Wing series - Half were written by Michael A Stackpole and the other have by Aaron Alliston (I believe the same one that wrote the ones centering on Wraith Squadron is also the co-author of the 5E Champions Genre book... never have been able to confirm that). The nice thing about the X-Wing series is that they are not really centered on the Jedi (Jedi are cool and all, but as is the case in the StarWars RPG, not everyone can be a Jedi - thusly, not everyone wants to read about Jedi all the bleeping time).

Alan Dean Foster's The Dig is based upon a PC game, but it's a good read.

[dmjalund]

James P. Hogan

[Ian Mackinder]

A lot of stuff I'd automatically recommend has already been covered. , but I can still squeeze a few in:

'Inherit The Stars' trilogy (Inherit The Stars, The Gentle Giants Of Ganymede, and Giants' Star) by James P Hogan (written back way before he Got Religion). Been a couple of very forgettable sequels written since, but the first three books are excellent, and each is reasonably self-contained.

'The Two Faces Of Tomorrow', also one of James P Hogan's early (and best!) efforts.

'A Martian Odyssey' by Stanley G Weinbaum. Short stories by a very promising writer who died way too soon. Definite pulpish elements, but has some very vivid concepts of aliens and alien environments.

'The Flying Sorcerors' by David Gerrold and Larry Niven. Solid comedy, lots of puns. Also a very good take on First Contact from the "primitive's" point of view.

'Hardwired' by Walter Jon Williams. For the Cyberpunk element.

'The Other Log Of Phileas Fogg' by Phillip Jose Farmer. The true story behind 'Around The World In Eighty Days' (and a bunch of other stuff) - basically a power struggle between two alien-backed organizations.

'Empire From The Ashes' By David Weber. Also known as 'The Dahak Trilogy', or as the separate books Mutineers' Moon, The Armageddon Inheritance and Heirs To Empire. Excellent Big Budget Space Opera, one of my all-time favourites.

'All These Earths' by F M Busby. An interstellar drive with the side-effect that the Earth you come back to may not be the one you actually left.

'Jumper' by Steven Gould, Better (and more character-driven) than the movie.

'Patton's Spaceship' by John Barnes. The first (and best) of a series about a cross-timeline war. Has some Very Cool Stuff in it.

'First Flight' by Chris Claremont. Good "hard" SF. A couple of sequels but, yet again, the first is the best (IMO).

Because I am a Star Trek fan from way back, I will also throw in:

John M Ford's 'The Final Reflection'. When written, it was THE novel about Klingons (the later movies and series took a different path ...), and a basis for FASA Trek's Klingon supplement.

[BobGreenwade]

A lot of stuff I'd automatically recommend has already been covered. , but I can still squeeze a few in:

A few???

Seriously, though, I think any "secondings" would probably be helpful to Steve, especially for books that include ideas and concepts that weren't in the earlier editions and that he might not think of on his own.

[Doc Shadow]

In addition to John M. Ford's The Final Reflection, I'd like to suggest his other ST novel: How Much For Just The Planet?

Until this point Star Trek had been fairly straight space opera. This one book shows you how to turn that completely on its ear.

On top of which it's fricking hilarious.

[BobGreenwade]

In addition to John M. Ford's The Final Reflection, I'd like to suggest his other ST novel: How Much For Just The Planet?

Until this point Star Trek had been fairly straight space opera. This one book shows you how to turn that completely on its ear.

On top of which it's fricking hilarious.

I have it, and while I don't think it's quite that funny, the bit where Scotty challenges a Klingon to a round of golf is by itself worth the price of admission.

[Tasha]

A few???

Seriously, though, I think any "secondings" would probably be helpful to Steve, especially for books that include ideas and concepts that weren't in the earlier editions and that he might not think of on his own.

I can see that. I was trying to recommend new books/series that weren't out when Steve wrote 5e Star Hero. I kind of figured that he had already read most of the older series so I didn't really try to recommend any.

BTW I do want to second the recommendation of the Atomic Rockets Website http://www.projectrho.com/rocket/ It's a great place to visit if you want to "reality check" your rubber science or if you want to run a "realistic" sci fi game. It has opened my eyes a bit toward more realistic Sci Fi.

[Prometheus]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Nova by Samuel R. Delany.

While I can understand being wary of it given Delany's other works (some, extremely graphic), it's a very good example of Space Opera. Quite honestly, it reads a little like a Star Hero campaign.

[Ian Mackinder]

A few???

Seriously, though, I think any "secondings" would probably be helpful to Steve, especially for books that include ideas and concepts that weren't in the earlier editions and that he might not think of on his own.

Well, my "seconds list" would be even longer, but if you insist .....

[Steve Long]

For lighter sci-fi, Phil Foglio's 'Buck Godot' graphic novels. 'Zap Gun for Hire' is a series of shorts, but 'PSmIth' and 'The Gualimaufry' are both enjoyable and fairly quick (the time consuming part can be looking for the sight-gags).

I practically have these memorized. They rock! Have no fear that I will be quoting them as appropriate in SH.

[Steve Long]

Thanx for the suggestions so far folx; keep 'em coming!

A few more specific responses:

--to Lawnmower Boy, Ian M, and others who posted long lists, thanx!

--no need to suggest any Post-Apocalyptic novels. I read plenty of those for PAH and don't plan to read anymore; I can draw any quotes I need from what I've already got. I don't think I'll need too many.

--no need to suggest any Cyberpunk novels; I've alreayd read several as pre-research for writing Cyber Hero someday, and I can draw any quotes I need from them. I don't think I'll need too many.