I've been getting into lots of older sci-fi stuff as of late (the old X Minus One serials, Jules Verne, some older sci-fi anthologies I own from the 70s and 80s (Machines That Think, edited by Isaac Asimov is what got me into sci-fi!), but I'm itching for more good stuff. I do have an older copy of the Foundation Trilogy I've been meaning to try but I'm wondering if there's any other good sci-fi of the 50s-60s I should keep an eye out for (I have half a mind to look for more sci-fi pulp magazines, lol).

On the same note, I've completely neglected Fantasy. I have yet to find ANY fantasy novels I like. A penpal sent me some ebooks of authors like Anne McCaffery, Brandon Sanderson, E.E. Knight, etc. I had already had some interest--having read some older short stories by Robert E. Howard (I'd love some recommendationso f those if you have any). But I'm mainly interested getting my hands on anything decent fantasy wise that isn't anime or Skyrim, lol.

If anyone has any recommendations of either, I'm dying to know!

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Foriest Jan Smith wrote to All <=-

I've been getting into lots of older sci-fi stuff as of late (the old X Minus One serials, Jules Verne, some older sci-fi anthologies I own
from the 70s and 80s (Machines That Think, edited by Isaac Asimov is
what got me into sci-fi!), but I'm itching for more good stuff. I do
have an older copy of the Foundation Trilogy I've been meaning to try
but I'm wondering if there's any other good sci-fi of the 50s-60s I should keep an eye out for (I have half a mind to look for more sci-fi pulp magazines, lol).

I have always considered the Foundation Trilogy to be the "gold
standard" of science fiction. Doesn't get any better. Read that first.
Be advised that there are 3-4 "sequel" books to that trilogy, that are
pretty much garbage. Stick with the original three.

On the same note, I've completely neglected Fantasy. I have yet to find ANY fantasy novels I like. A penpal sent me some ebooks of authors like Anne McCaffery, Brandon Sanderson, E.E. Knight, etc. I had already had some interest--having read some older short stories by Robert E. Howard (I'd love some recommendationso f those if you have any). But I'm
mainly interested getting my hands on anything decent fantasy wise that isn't anime or Skyrim, lol.

If anyone has any recommendations of either, I'm dying to know!

Well, again the "gold standard" (IMHO) of this genre is The Lord of the
Rings. Three books, doesn't get any better. Oh - there is a "prequel"
to these three called "The Hobbit", which should DEFINITELY be read
first.

That should keep you busy for a little while. ;-)



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Foriest Jan Smith wrote to All <=-

@MSGID: <681BF76D.557.dove-ent@enigma-bbs.com>
I've been getting into lots of older sci-fi stuff as of late (the old X Minus One serials, Jules Verne, some older sci-fi anthologies I own
from the 70s and 80s (Machines That Think, edited by Isaac Asimov is
what got me into sci-fi!), but I'm itching for more good stuff. I do
have an older copy of the Foundation Trilogy I've been meaning to try
but I'm wondering if there's any other good sci-fi of the 50s-60s I should keep an eye out for (I have half a mind to look for more sci-fi pulp magazines, lol).

On the same note, I've completely neglected Fantasy. I have yet to find ANY fantasy novels I like. A penpal sent me some ebooks of authors like Anne McCaffery, Brandon Sanderson, E.E. Knight, etc. I had already had some interest--having read some older short stories by Robert E. Howard (I'd love some recommendationso f those if you have any). But I'm
mainly interested getting my hands on anything decent fantasy wise that isn't anime or Skyrim, lol.

If anyone has any recommendations of either, I'm dying to know!

Have you read much Arthur C Clarke? He probably is my favourite Sci
Fi Author. I'm sure you've also read Dune?

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Re: Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-Fi Recommendations?
By: Gamgee to Foriest Jan Smith on Thu May 08 2025 08:40 am

Well, again the "gold standard" (IMHO) of this genre is The Lord of the Rings. Three books, doesn't get any better. Oh - there is a "prequel" to these three called "The Hobbit", which should DEFINITELY be read first.

When I was a kid, I'd heard of The Hobbit, but I'd never heard of Lord of the Rings until the movies came out.. I tried to watch them but found myself a bit bored with them. The genre isn't really my thing.

Nightfox

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Nightfox wrote to Gamgee <=-

Re: Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-Fi Recommendations?
By: Gamgee to Foriest Jan Smith on Thu May 08 2025 08:40 am

Well, again the "gold standard" (IMHO) of this genre is The Lord of the Rings. Three books, doesn't get any better. Oh - there is a "prequel" to these three called "The Hobbit", which should DEFINITELY be read first.

When I was a kid, I'd heard of The Hobbit, but I'd never heard of Lord
of the Rings until the movies came out.. I tried to watch them but
found myself a bit bored with them. The genre isn't really my thing.

I think the movies would be better for you if you had read the books
first. This is true for many movies, of course, but maybe especially
for this collection due to the large number of places and characters.
It helps to know something of the story before trying to understand the movies, which leave out a lot of details.

But I also understand that this genre isn't for everybody.



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Re: Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-Fi Recommendations?
By: Gamgee to Foriest Jan Smith on Thu May 08 2025 08:40:37

I have always considered the Foundation Trilogy to be the "gold
standard" of science fiction. Doesn't get any better. Read that first.
Be advised that there are 3-4 "sequel" books to that trilogy, that are pretty much garbage. Stick with the original three.

Oh, ok. I have a copy from the 50s/60s which has those first three books, I think. "Foundation, Foundation & Empire, & Second Foundation" or all it lists.

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Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-
By: Boraxman to Foriest Jan Smith on Thu May 08 2025 20:26:00

Have you read much Arthur C Clarke? He probably is my favourite Sci
Fi Author. I'm sure you've also read Dune?

No, but I believe I've either read a few of his short stories or heard them on X Minus One. I've very much so been meaning to read Dune (after I eventually start on the Metro series!).

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Re: Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-Fi Recommendations?
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Thu May 08 2025 14:39:46

I think the movies would be better for you if you had read the books
first. This is true for many movies, of course, but maybe especially
for this collection due to the large number of places and characters.
It helps to know something of the story before trying to understand the movies, which leave out a lot of details.

If it means anything, I read The Hobbit in high school, and played a demo of one of the LEGO Lord of The Rings games :P (I'm joking, the latter doesn't count)

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Gamgee wrote to Foriest Jan Smith <=-

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@REPLY: <681BF76D.557.dove-ent@enigma-bbs.com>

Foriest Jan Smith wrote to All <=-

I've been getting into lots of older sci-fi stuff as of late (the old X Minus One serials, Jules Verne, some older sci-fi anthologies I own
from the 70s and 80s (Machines That Think, edited by Isaac Asimov is
what got me into sci-fi!), but I'm itching for more good stuff. I do
have an older copy of the Foundation Trilogy I've been meaning to try
but I'm wondering if there's any other good sci-fi of the 50s-60s I should keep an eye out for (I have half a mind to look for more sci-fi pulp magazines, lol).

I have always considered the Foundation Trilogy to be the "gold
standard" of science fiction. Doesn't get any better. Read that
first. Be advised that there are 3-4 "sequel" books to that trilogy,
that are pretty much garbage. Stick with the original three.

I only know of two sequel books, and a prequel or two. I've read two of the sequels, Foundations Edge and Foundation and Earth. There is a distinctly different tone and atmosphere, and both follow a different story arc, with the second continuing from the first. I think pretty much every other Asimov book or story I've read, I rate higher than these two. I have one of the prequels which I found at a second hand bookstore and got out of curiosity, but my expectations are low.

On the same note, I've completely neglected Fantasy. I have yet to find ANY fantasy novels I like. A penpal sent me some ebooks of authors like Anne McCaffery, Brandon Sanderson, E.E. Knight, etc. I had already had some interest--having read some older short stories by Robert E. Howard (I'd love some recommendationso f those if you have any). But I'm
mainly interested getting my hands on anything decent fantasy wise that isn't anime or Skyrim, lol.

If anyone has any recommendations of either, I'm dying to know!

Well, again the "gold standard" (IMHO) of this genre is The Lord of the Rings. Three books, doesn't get any better. Oh - there is a "prequel"
to these three called "The Hobbit", which should DEFINITELY be read
first.

That should keep you busy for a little while. ;-)

My uncle lent me Lord of the Rings when I was 9 or so. He was quite the Tolkein
fan, but as far as I know, not into fantasy, just Tolkein. I had already read the Hobbit by then, and quite enjoyed it, but the size of Lord of the Rings was daunting and the pace slower. It sat on the back burner and I didn't read it until much later in life. It IS the gold standard of fantasy, and set the template for many other fantasy works later. Tolkein was to fantasy what iD Software was to First Person Shooters, but to be honest, that may be UNDER stating it.




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Hello Foriest Jan Smith!

** On Thursday 08.05.25 - 02:14, Foriest Jan Smith wrote to All:

I've been getting into lots of older sci-fi stuff as of late (the old X Minus One serials, Jules Verne, some older sci-fi anthologies I own from the 70s and 80s (Machines That Think, edited by Isaac Asimov is what got me into sci-fi!), but I'm itching for more good stuff...

Dune [trilogy], by Herbert. The later stories are ok, but the
meat of the adventure is in the 1st three.

Brave New World, by Huxley.

Ringworld, by Niven.

On the same note, I've completely neglected Fantasy. I have yet to find ANY fantasy novels I like....

First Law Trilogy, by Joe Abercrombie

Kingkiller Chronicles (two books), by Patrick Rothfuss. The events in each book spans one day.

The Gentleman Bastard series, by Scott Lynch. 1 = The Lies of
Locke Lamora, 2 = Red Seas Under Red Skies, 3 = The Republic
of Thieves



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Foriest Jan Smith wrote to Boraxman <=-

Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-
By: Boraxman to Foriest Jan Smith on Thu May 08 2025 20:26:00

Have you read much Arthur C Clarke? He probably is my favourite Sci
Fi Author. I'm sure you've also read Dune?

No, but I believe I've either read a few of his short stories or heard them on X Minus One. I've very much so been meaning to read Dune (after
I eventually start on the Metro series!).

Old Heinlein is good, he's definitely got some odd personal perspectives
that he extrapolates into the future. Starship Troopers was a wonderful military science fiction story.

Frederick Pohl wrote a series around a future where mankind finds an
alien space station with lots of docked shuttles. People take the
shuttles out and either die horrible deaths or become wealthy if they
bring back scientific finds. Did I mention that they don't know how to
operate the shuttles and are making instructions up as they go along?

The second and third books delve into who made the shuttles and why they
went into hiding.

There's a series of books called the Science Fiction Hall of Fame

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Science_Fiction_Hall_of_Fame,_Volume_One,_1929%E2%80%931964

has a great selection of short stories from SF authors from 1929 to
1964. There's a followup with novellas as well.


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Foriest Jan Smith wrote to Boraxman <=-

@MSGID: <681D5A8D.564.dove-ent@enigma-bbs.com>
@REPLY: <681C9580.38958.dove-ent@bbs.mozysswamp.org>
Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-
By: Boraxman to Foriest Jan Smith
on Thu May 08 2025 20:26:00

Have you read much Arthur C Clarke? He probably is my favourite Sci
Fi Author. I'm sure you've also read Dune?

No, but I believe I've either read a few of his short stories or heard them on X Minus One. I've very much so been meaning to read Dune (after
I eventually start on the Metro series!).

I read the book AFTER watching the 1984 movie, though admittedly I was
still under 10 when I did watch the movie on TV.

I would recommend not watching any further Dune movies until you go
through the book.

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Ogg wrote to Foriest Jan Smith <=-

@MSGID: <681D5012.38790.dove-ent@capcity2.synchro.net>
@REPLY: <681BF76D.557.dove-ent@enigma-bbs.com>
Hello Foriest Jan Smith!

** On Thursday 08.05.25 - 02:14, Foriest Jan Smith wrote to All:

I've been getting into lots of older sci-fi stuff as of late (the old X Minus One serials, Jules Verne, some older sci-fi anthologies I own from the 70s and 80s (Machines That Think, edited by Isaac Asimov is what got me into sci-fi!), but I'm itching for more good stuff...

Dune [trilogy], by Herbert. The later stories are ok, but the
meat of the adventure is in the 1st three.

Brave New World, by Huxley.

Ringworld, by Niven.

*snip*

Did you read any or the Ringworld sequels? I read the next one in the
series, Ringworld Engineers. After that, not sure if its worthwhile
to continue on.

A great book, by Niven and Pournelle is "The Mote in God's Eye". This
was quite thought provoking and raised questions about how our
behaviour, our instincts doom us, make us resigned to a paricular
fate.

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Foriest Jan Smith wrote to Boraxman <=-

@MSGID: <681D5A8D.564.dove-ent@enigma-bbs.com>
@REPLY: <681C9580.38958.dove-ent@bbs.mozysswamp.org>
Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-
By: Boraxman to Foriest Jan Smith
on Thu May 08 2025 20:26:00

Have you read much Arthur C Clarke? He probably is my favourite Sci
Fi Author. I'm sure you've also read Dune?

No, but I believe I've either read a few of his short stories or heard them on X Minus One. I've very much so been meaning to read Dune (after
I eventually start on the Metro series!).

Some of his longer works are based on short stories.

I think Rendezvouz with Rama is a classic, as is Childhoods End. If
you're only going to read one or two, these probably should be it.

The "Oddysey" series were my introduction to Clarke.

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Boraxman wrote to Gamgee <=-

My uncle lent me Lord of the Rings when I was 9 or so. He was quite
the Tolkein
fan, but as far as I know, not into fantasy, just Tolkein. I had
already read the Hobbit by then, and quite enjoyed it, but the size of Lord of the Rings was daunting and the pace slower. It sat on the back burner and I didn't read it until much later in life. It IS the gold standard of fantasy, and set the template for many other fantasy works later. Tolkein was to fantasy what iD Software was to First Person Shooters, but to be honest, that may be UNDER stating it.

I know the 'races' from D&D were pulled basically from Tolkein, so he influenced the early RPG scene too!



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poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Foriest Jan Smith <=-

There's a series of books called the Science Fiction Hall of Fame

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Science_Fiction_Hall_of_Fame,_Volume_O ne,_1929%E2%80%931964

has a great selection of short stories from SF authors from 1929 to
1964. There's a followup with novellas as well.

I have read those! And I used to get 'the year's greatest science fiction'
or whatever the actual name way. Once I got too old, it stopped being
original enough for me. :-)



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Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-Fi Recommendations?
By: Ogg to Foriest Jan Smith on Thu May 08 2025 08:44 pm

Dune [trilogy], by Herbert. The later stories are ok, but the
meat of the adventure is in the 1st three.

dune tattoo here on my bicep. anyways, those books get really really
weird and convoluted.

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Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-
By: Cougar428 to BORAXMAN on Fri May 09 2025 09:23 am

... Back in my day, 56k was high speed!

Back in my day, we walked to school uphill, both ways, in the snow, barefoot and communicated with two soup cans and a string. Sorry, couldn't help mysself.

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Re: Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-Fi Recommendations?
By: Gamgee to Foriest Jan Smith on Fri May 09 2025 07:59:33

Haha, yep OK. Assuming high school was a while ago, probably good to
read The Hobbit again before starting the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Not really, lol. Graduated in 2020... Although it does feel like a decade ago at this point!

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Hello Boraxman!

** On Friday 09.05.25 - 23:23, Boraxman wrote to Ogg:

Ringworld, by Niven.

*snip*

Did you read any or the Ringworld sequels? I read the next
one in the series, Ringworld Engineers. After that, not
sure if its worthwhile to continue on.

I seem to remember starting #2 (Ringworld Engineers) ..but I
never finished it for some reason.

And.. I didn't even realized that #3 (Ringworld Throne) even
existed until now.

A great book, by Niven and Pournelle is "The Mote in God's
Eye". This was quite thought provoking and raised
questions about how our behaviour, our instincts doom us,
make us resigned to a paricular fate.

That's another I remember starting. But I don't recall
finishing it.


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Quoting Bogomips to Cougar428 <=-

Re: Good Older Fantasy & Sci-
By: Cougar428 to BORAXMAN on Fri May 09 2025 09:23 am

... Back in my day, 56k was high speed!

Back in my day, we walked to school uphill, both ways, in the snow, barefoot and communicated with two soup cans and a string. Sorry,
couldn't help mysself.

Well - I guess I had it better, I had snow boots with holes in them so
I had to wear bread bags on both feet so my feet wouldn't get wet. You
got me beat!

B^)

... DOS never says "EXCELLENT command or filename"...

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