Sarah CB Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Any suggestions for a teen boy who absolutely loved The Martian and has read pretty much every book related to Ender's Game? Personally, I found The Martian incredibly boring - way too much explanation into how he grew things and got air and whatever else, but that's what ds loved about it. So I guess I'm looking for very sciencey science fiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 I'm listening in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 (edited) For very science, science fiction, the most science-y fiction book I ever read: inherit the stars by James p. Hogan. Inherit the Stars by James P. Hoganhttp://www.amazon.co...herit the Stars I have read TONS of science fiction books, but this one has a special place in my heart. It was the first and to this day the best SCIENCE fiction book I read. It reads a lot like a science journal mixed with a mystery novel. This is genuine science, not social science, as in what would humanity be like in this or that situation. There is no action, no battles, no heroics, no one in a life threatening situation. It’s a science detective story being solved by gifted thoughtful logical science thinkers. Here is the back of the book: The man on the moon was dead. They called him Charlie. He had big eyes, abundant body hair and fairly long nostrils. His skeletal body was found clad in a bright red spacesuit, hidden in a rocky grave. They didn't know who he was, how he got there, or what had killed him. All they knew was that his corpse was 50,000 years old -- and that meant that this man had somehow lived long before he ever could have existed! Edited December 8, 2015 by Julie Smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 (edited) When I read your title I was going to suggest Ready Player One, but that doesn't necessarily fit the very science-y bill. I liked it a lot and also like The Martian and Ender's Game. Edited December 8, 2015 by Word Nerd 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah CB Posted December 8, 2015 Author Share Posted December 8, 2015 For very science, science fiction, the most science-y fiction book I ever read: inherit the stars by James p. Hogan. Inherit the Stars by James P. Hogan http://www.amazon.co...herit the Stars I have read TONS of science fiction books, but this one has a special place in my heart. It was the first and to this day the best SCIENCE fiction book I read. It reads a lot like a science journal mixed with a mystery novel. This is genuine science, not social science, as in what would humanity be like in this or that situation. There is no action, no battles, no heroics, no one in a life threatening situation. It’s a science detective story being solved by gifted thoughtful logical science thinkers. Here is the back of the book: The man on the moon was dead. They called him Charlie. He had big eyes, abundant body hair and fairly long nostrils. His skeletal body was found clad in a bright red spacesuit, hidden in a rocky grave. They didn't know who he was, how he got there, or what had killed him. All they knew was that his corpse was 50,000 years old -- and that meant that this man had somehow lived long before he ever could have existed! Sounds great - I just ordered the audio version from Audible. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah CB Posted December 8, 2015 Author Share Posted December 8, 2015 When I read your title I was going to suggest Ready Player One, but that doesn't necessarily fit the very science-y bill. I liked it a lot and also like The Martian and Ender's Game. I looked it up on Amazon and I think he'd really enjoy it, too - so I ordered it. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Robert A. Heinlein's fiction for youth/young adults. http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/works/novels/heinleinjuveniles.html 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 I loved enders series. Has he read other orsen Scott card series? He has done great ones out there. Megan Whalen turners series "the thief" is excellent, and while different from the above, those who have read the above also enjoyed turners series. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Hugh Howey's Silo series. I can't remember which book comes first and they have omnibus editions. They are so good. Pretty sure I heard about them here. http://www.amazon.com/Wool-Omnibus-Silo-Hugh-Howey-ebook/dp/B0071XO8RA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1449590525&sr=8-3&keywords=silo The first one is Wool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 ds really liked the "wheel of time" series by robert jordan. I bought the first two (very long) for him to read during some very long trips. he was beyond skeptical, but humored me. when he got home - he got the rest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Maybe Sanderson. He has a YA series, Steelheart 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 He might like the Rama series by Arthur C Clarke. Possibly also the Mars trilogy, though it has some sex in it I would consider it ok for high school. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Sounds great - I just ordered the audio version from Audible. Thanks! If you remember, please message me and let me know what he thinks of it. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Robert A. Heinlein's fiction for youth/young adults. http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/works/novels/heinleinjuveniles.html Time for the Stars and Tunnel in the Sky Two of my all time favorite sci-fi books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov is always my answer to this kind of question. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Some of Heinlein's work has weird race and gender issues (trust me, do NOT read Sixth Column), but his juveniles are pretty solid "hard sci-fi". If your son favors scientific realism, then he might enjoy Turtledove's World War saga or Losers in Space - which, despite the ridiculous name, is actually pretty far on the sci-fi Moh's hardness scale, with lots of exposition about the real-life science on how things work :) I've heard some good things about The Three Body Problem as well, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet. If he's big into space operas, like Ender's Game, then you might consider The Foundation Series by Asimov or Ancillary Justice, which, despite the hype, definitely earned its Hugo. Other possibilities: The Uplift series by David Brin The Honor Harrington books The Culture series by Banks The Ringworld books by Niven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Vorsokigan series by Lois Bujold 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward. Very interesting science and ideas, not great writing but adequate. He was more of a scientist than a writer. Foundation series. You could google lists of "hard science fiction" for more ideas, but many of them may be not so teen friendly. Edited December 9, 2015 by ElizabethB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) The Tripods Trilogy, by John Christopher. But maybe not sciencey enough. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tripods Edited December 9, 2015 by Laura Corin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) Duplicate post Edited December 9, 2015 by Laura Corin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah CB Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share Posted December 9, 2015 The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov is always my answer to this kind of question. Thanks - he liked iRobot, so would probably like this, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah CB Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share Posted December 9, 2015 The Tripods Trilogy, by John Christopher. But maybe not sciencey enough. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tripods But it sounds really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah CB Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share Posted December 9, 2015 Some of Heinlein's work has weird race and gender issues (trust me, do NOT read Sixth Column), but his juveniles are pretty solid "hard sci-fi". If your son favors scientific realism, then he might enjoy Turtledove's World War saga or Losers in Space - which, despite the ridiculous name, is actually pretty far on the sci-fi Moh's hardness scale, with lots of exposition about the real-life science on how things work :) I've heard some good things about The Three Body Problem as well, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet. If he's big into space operas, like Ender's Game, then you might consider The Foundation Series by Asimov or Ancillary Justice, which, despite the hype, definitely earned its Hugo. Other possibilities: The Uplift series by David Brin The Honor Harrington books The Culture series by Banks The Ringworld books by Niven I had no idea there was a hardness scale. Thanks so much for the recommendations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 The children of the star trilogy by Sylvia Engdahl. He first novels are all good and teen appropriate. Her newer novels are good but more for adults. There is more thinking than technology, about the absense of technology and science and how to preserve science and technology on a planet with few metals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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