Sci-Fi Thread

[robmatic]

Reading the third in the Galactic Commons series written by Becky Chambers. Quite enjoying them tbh. Very human sci fi.

I read and enjoyed the first two of these. Very engaging escapism, but not the traditional adventure escapism of a lot of sci-fi.

[Nols]

I remember the first time I read something properly sciency that worked well in a book.

In Consider Phlebas they have magic anti-grav suits (Banks was very happy to have magic space stuff) which work against gravity due to massive bodies, but they're on a ring orbital. One character goes to float off a high ledge and falls to his death because it doesn't work in artifical spin gravity.
I really enjoy little touches like that. While the technology is completely fantastical, it's clearly been thought about by the author.

There's a long internet discussion somewhere about whether Lenibopra's jump would actually have been fatal or not. Confused the hell out of me.

I suppose that while you're attached to the inner surface of a rotating drum, centrifugal force will pin you to the "floor".
In the case of no actual gravity, though, if you jump hard enough from spin gravity, do you just float away? Once you're decoupled from the surface, you are essentially unrelated bodies floating in space.

I've no idea of the correct answer, interesting thought experiment.

[Biffer]

I remember the first time I read something properly sciency that worked well in a book.

In Consider Phlebas they have magic anti-grav suits (Banks was very happy to have magic space stuff) which work against gravity due to massive bodies, but they're on a ring orbital. One character goes to float off a high ledge and falls to his death because it doesn't work in artifical spin gravity.
I really enjoy little touches like that. While the technology is completely fantastical, it's clearly been thought about by the author.

There's a long internet discussion somewhere about whether Lenibopra's jump would actually have been fatal or not. Confused the hell out of me.

I suppose that while you're attached to the inner surface of a rotating drum, centrifugal force will pin you to the "floor".
In the case of no actual gravity, though, if you jump hard enough from spin gravity, do you just float away? Once you're decoupled from the surface, you are essentially unrelated bodies floating in space.

I've no idea of the correct answer, interesting thought experiment.

Depends how your theoretical anti-gravity works. If it's doing something to theoretically counter the action of gravitons as the force carrying particle of gravity, it'll have no effect on gauge bosons which carry the other forces which would be at play in a spinning system to mimic gravity.

You wants physics, I gots physics

[Hal Jordan]

I do not want physics, it's fucking boring at any time. I want humungous mechs beating the crap out of each other. I want hyperdrives with no explanation of how they work beyond a magic handwave. I want shit exploding left, right and centre. I want my unobtanium with no more reason than because. Booooo to 500 page "epics" filled with science wanking.

[Nols]

Definitely not a fan of Reynolds, so!

[Biffer]

I do not want physics, it's fucking boring at any time. I want humungous mechs beating the crap out of each other. I want hyperdrives with no explanation of how they work beyond a magic handwave. I want shit exploding left, right and centre. I want my unobtanium with no more reason than because. Booooo to 500 page "epics" filled with science wanking.

noted

[Nols]

Expanse season 5 out in 6 weeks. Holy crap, I am excite.

[tabascoboy]

Expanse season 5 out in 6 weeks. Holy crap, I am excite.

Just started Book 2

[Nols]

Enjoying them?

[Raggs]

6 weeks? Shit, I thought it was sooner. I've been watching through the previous seasons, with a plan of reminding myself of the whole lot just as it drops. Think I'm just going to power through now though, and then just enjoy the 5th season when it drops anyway.

[tabascoboy]

Enjoying them?

Well I wouldn't claim it as great literature but it's a good read that definitely adds to the TV show experience. You can see the structure borrows from the GRRM style of multiple POVs, and it benefits IMO from keeping the first book down to just the two to build up the pacing/mystery/tension and the general world(s) building. Some of the characters aren't that developed though so it helps having seen the show first.

[Nols]

So Amazon confirm that The Expanse will stop after season 6. Natural break in story arcs in the books, TBF.

Also, Cas Anvar will not be returning after season 5. Investigations into his alleged behaviours didn't come back in his favour. They'll have to recast Kamal. I really like his portrayal, but he's behaved in an awful manner.

[Chrysoprase]

Enjoying them?

I started reading these books because of this thread. Haven't been able to get into any kind of new fiction (stuff I wasn't re-reading) for years but I've powered through the first three books & am just waiting for the next one to arrive. They've been great entertainment so far, really enjoyable.

So thanks to those of you who recommended them.

[tabascoboy]

Just finished Book 2 of The Expanse series, it's caught up to the show really quickly. Bit of a dilemma as to carry on with Abaddon's Gate or wait for season 5 of the show...

[Nols]

Expanse season 5 out yesterday, first two episodes. Haven't had a chance to watch them yet, but there should be some impressive visuals this season.

[yermum]

Amos and Chrisjen steal the show again.

I didn't enjoy these episodes as much as previous series for some reason. Hopefully the next few weeks ratchet things up a bit.

[Nols]

Amos has a class story arc this season, so it should be good. Really enjoying Wes Chatham's version of the character. Much more substance to work with as the seasons progress as his character gets more detail on top of the simple psycho that he appears to be early on.

[tabascoboy]

I haven't checked Amazon Prime yet, do they only release episodes weekly or make them all available at once?

The book Abaddon's Gate isn't doing all that much for me, needs to introduce the new characters but their chapters and stories seem quite dull so far compared to the show. Linking Pastor Anna back to the Earth/UN arc was a good move for the show I think.

[Nols]

Abbedan's Gate has a pretty decent climax, IMO. Takes a bit of time to move the pieces into place though. Cibola Burn is probably the most stand-alone of all the novels, and more different in feel, IMO. Probably has a tighter cast and story, though.

[Biffer]

All five seasons of Fringe are available on Now TV in the UK. I'm watching it again.

[tabascoboy]

Abbedan's Gate has a pretty decent climax, IMO. Takes a bit of time to move the pieces into place though. Cibola Burn is probably the most stand-alone of all the novels, and more different in feel, IMO. Probably has a tighter cast and story, though.

About halfway through Abaddon's Gate so will see if it all pays off...

Just seen 3 episodes of season 5 are up, so I'll wait until they are all available to binge.

[tabascoboy]

Eh, they STILL haven't got all the S5 episodes for 'The Expanse' up yet? Only 10 so far and another this week I guess.

Nearly finished 'Cibola Burn' so I'll have a bit of a gap now before binging the show.

[Raggs]

Eh, they STILL haven't got all the S5 episodes for 'The Expanse' up yet? Only 10 so far and another this week I guess.

Nearly finished 'Cibola Burn' so I'll have a bit of a gap now before binging the show.

There are only 10... the next 10 episodes are season 6, which is all up.

[tabascoboy]

Eh, they STILL haven't got all the S5 episodes for 'The Expanse' up yet? Only 10 so far and another this week I guess.

Nearly finished 'Cibola Burn' so I'll have a bit of a gap now before binging the show.

There are only 10... the next 10 episodes are season 6, which is all up.

Ah, for some reason I thought there would be 13 episodes, doh!

[Ovals]

Trailer drops this month for adaptations of two out of three classic Sci-Fi texts:

Foundation:



Brave New World:



Still waiting for our first glimpse of Dune...

That Foundation one looks appalling.

I really hope it isn't appalling.

The Foundation series is what got me into reading SF when I was young. I wrked my way through all his novels and short stories - he was still writing and publishing new ones at the time - always looked forward to when a new book was released. Robert Heinlein was also one of my favourites.

Always felt that Foundation could make a great tv series if done properly - and avoiding adding too much action/adventure.

I've recently watched a few episodes of the Mandalorian - it's a bit weak. The stories and characters are pretty thin and there's a lot of padding.

[Biffer]

Trailer drops this month for adaptations of two out of three classic Sci-Fi texts:

Foundation:



Brave New World:



Still waiting for our first glimpse of Dune...

That Foundation one looks appalling.

I really hope it isn't appalling.

The Foundation series is what got me into reading SF when I was young. I wrked my way through all his novels and short stories - he was still writing and publishing new ones at the time - always looked forward to when a new book was released. Robert Heinlein was also one of my favourites.

Always felt that Foundation could make a great tv series if done properly - and avoiding adding too much action/adventure.

I've recently watched a few episodes of the Mandalorian - it's a bit weak. The stories and characters are pretty thin and there's a lot of padding.

Lots of questions about Foundation; do they stick to the story in the books rigidly, how do you put over the concept of psychohistory without a huge amount of characters explaining it to each other in long trawls of exposition, and most pressingly, where do they start? Surely they actually have to take it chronologically in the story, rather than with starting with the first book published? Also, how much of the ‘Robot’ stories do they bring in? It could be huge and sprawling, very difficult to judge what length it should be aimed at in terms of number of seasons.

[tabascoboy]

4 episodes into Season 5 of 'The Expanse', there are still things about this show that make me cringe but the story is pretty compelling and this season looks like being the best so far.

[Yr Alban]

All five seasons of Fringe are available on Now TV in the UK. I'm watching it again.

I picked them all up on Blu-Ray for cheap on EBay during the first lockdown. Good TV.

[tabascoboy]

Say one thing for The Expanse, say that it's probably the first time I've seen synchronised male and female urination on a TV show

[tabascoboy]

Finished Season 5 of 'The Expanse'. Wondered at first how this would lose a bit of focus as the characters

Spoiler

Show

all split up and had their own stories especially Amos whom I thought would be the least interesting as a standalone. But, I was glad to be proven wrong and was very good seeing the main characters with a chance to tell more backstory and development ( poor Alex!). Still not overly fond of the portrayal of the Belters ( except Drummer) and Marcos seems a standard terrorist vs Freedom fighter stereotype. Even Avasarala seems more tolerable this season ( though I was still unkindly wishing she'd been elected at the end of the previous season!) Now I have to decide whether to plough on with the books from Nemesis Games onwards before the remaining seasons (hopefully) are broadcast.

[JM2K6]

Finished Season 5 of 'The Expanse'. Wondered at first how this would lose a bit of focus as the characters

Spoiler

Show

all split up and had their own stories especially Amos whom I thought would be the least interesting as a standalone. But, I was glad to be proven wrong and was very good seeing the main characters with a chance to tell more backstory and development ( poor Alex!). Still not overly fond of the portrayal of the Belters ( except Drummer) and Marcos seems a standard terrorist vs Freedom fighter stereotype. Even Avasarala seems more tolerable this season ( though I was still unkindly wishing she'd been elected at the end of the previous season!) Now I have to decide whether to plough on with the books from Nemesis Games onwards before the remaining seasons (hopefully) are broadcast.

No guarentee we're going to get those seasons unfortunately.

I had mixed feelings about this season, primarily because of

Spoiler

Show

the endless repeated Naomi's Family Troubles episodes which were achingly slow and just so tedious - nothing happened there that couldn't have been done in far fewer episodes

As always though I appreciate how willing the story is to go big when it needs to.

[tabascoboy]

Finished Season 5 of 'The Expanse'. Wondered at first how this would lose a bit of focus as the characters

Spoiler

Show

all split up and had their own stories especially Amos whom I thought would be the least interesting as a standalone. But, I was glad to be proven wrong and was very good seeing the main characters with a chance to tell more backstory and development ( poor Alex!). Still not overly fond of the portrayal of the Belters ( except Drummer) and Marcos seems a standard terrorist vs Freedom fighter stereotype. Even Avasarala seems more tolerable this season ( though I was still unkindly wishing she'd been elected at the end of the previous season!) Now I have to decide whether to plough on with the books from Nemesis Games onwards before the remaining seasons (hopefully) are broadcast.

No guarentee we're going to get those seasons unfortunately.

I had mixed feelings about this season, primarily because of

Spoiler

Show

the endless repeated Naomi's Family Troubles episodes which were achingly slow and just so tedious - nothing happened there that couldn't have been done in far fewer episodes

As always though I appreciate how willing the story is to go big when it needs to.

Agree with the spoiler, Naomi was my least favourite of the character arcs, although you have to give credit how Dominique Tipper went all out in her solo scenes.

[JM2K6]

For sure, that was brilliantly done. Though I did find the deliberate repetition to be a little close to the bone given how repetitive her scenes had been before that!

[Ovals]

Finished the two season of the Mandolorian. It did get better - I was quite enjoying it by the end. It's really just an old fashioned Western series in a Sci Fi setting. The IMBD rating is quite a bit too high though.

I did try watching the Expanse but couldn't get into it - maybe I should give it another try.

[Raggs]

Finished the two season of the Mandolorian. It did get better - I was quite enjoying it by the end. It's really just an old fashioned Western series in a Sci Fi setting. The IMBD rating is quite a bit too high though.

I did try watching the Expanse but couldn't get into it - maybe I should give it another try.

I failed the first time I tried the expanse, think I watched the first 2 episodes and gave up. Very very happy that I stuck with it the second time though, fantastic show.

[Ovals]

Finished the two season of the Mandolorian. It did get better - I was quite enjoying it by the end. It's really just an old fashioned Western series in a Sci Fi setting. The IMBD rating is quite a bit too high though.

I did try watching the Expanse but couldn't get into it - maybe I should give it another try.

I failed the first time I tried the expanse, think I watched the first 2 episodes and gave up. Very very happy that I stuck with it the second time though, fantastic show.

Cheers - Will start from scratch again.

[Raggs]

Finished the two season of the Mandolorian. It did get better - I was quite enjoying it by the end. It's really just an old fashioned Western series in a Sci Fi setting. The IMBD rating is quite a bit too high though.

I did try watching the Expanse but couldn't get into it - maybe I should give it another try.

I failed the first time I tried the expanse, think I watched the first 2 episodes and gave up. Very very happy that I stuck with it the second time though, fantastic show.

Cheers - Will start from scratch again.

It's slow, so be aware, but accept that. Also, having gone through the whole series a 2nd time, there's a ton of foreshadowing, which is nice :D.

[robmatic]

Finished the two season of the Mandolorian. It did get better - I was quite enjoying it by the end. It's really just an old fashioned Western series in a Sci Fi setting. The IMBD rating is quite a bit too high though.

I did try watching the Expanse but couldn't get into it - maybe I should give it another try.

I think in the first season of the Expanse you have to put in some effort to get the setting, language etc. and the writing isn't so snappy. It really hits its straps in season 2 though and the world building pays off.

[Quade]

Just finished this read - really good:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/548 ... s-division

Great idea - associated with this:

http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/

[Yr Alban]

I’ve just finished Illuminae, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

It’s aimed at the YA market. Not sure where I got the recommendation from, though I don’t mind a bit of YA fiction now and again.

Wasn’t sure whether I would like it. It’s not presented as a single narrative, but as a dossier - events are described by means of interview transcripts, emails, documents, message exchanges, journal entries and diagrams. Having said that, it’s easy to read and to follow the story. And the story is actually really good - sort of a mix of Battlestar and the Expanse, with a big dose of sci-fi horror and ‘rogue AI’ elements from 2001 and System Shock 2. It is maybe more of a thriller in a sci-fi setting than an actual sci-fi novel. Anyway, really enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who fancies something a wee bit different.

There are two further books, which I will certainly get around to.