Technology for Fun

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Technology for Fun

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mccool SSC Enthusiast Points: 149 More actions · Answer 1

It would have to be John Brunner's "The Shockwave Rider" for me. Written in the early 70s, Brunner describes a networked world where the hero uses worms to accomplish things. Pretty cool since quite a few of the things he wrote about in that book as fiction are taken for granted now!

P Jones SSChampion Points: 12361 More actions · Answer 2

I enjoyed Crichton's Timeline - but after a few holidays I could relate to the area where it's set.

My real favourite though is Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. The Clacks are his high tech communications and I love his parallels and take offs of the world.

cowboy_k SSC Veteran Points: 200 More actions · Answer 3

Another vote here for Cryptonomicon, but Digital Fortress? I'm sorry - that one left much to be desired in the plausibility department... as for Crichton, I found State of Fear much too preachy - Prey was okay, but I think Andromeda Strain is still one of his best, as far as "technical" fiction is concerned. Gibson's Pattern Recognition was pretty good as well. Used to read a lot of Clancy, but I think he's jumped the shark lately (too many lower-quality spin-offs with his name on it - Power Plays, Net Force, etc.)

I've actually been reading some old John Brunner books - Stand on Zanzibar and The Sheep Look Up are both fascinating views on what today could be like, as seen from the late 60's and early 70's... many things wrong, but many other things eerily close to reality...

Taconvino SSC Enthusiast Points: 113 More actions · Answer 4

Taconvino

SSC Enthusiast

Points: 113

June 16, 2006 at 9:16 am

#644325

...and another one for Cryptonomicon.

Keiths123 SSCommitted Points: 1789 More actions · Answer 5

I am going for Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140232923/203-4330774-9983950

because it had a lot of techie type stuff going on in there with the virtual reality stuff and the dead cool motorbike, as well as looks at possible society structures in a depraved new world. Plus the hero carries a big sword and the villain carries an atomic bomb (seriously!) and the action is at a furious pace.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736183 More actions · Answer 6

Some good suggestions and thanks for the responses. I'm surprised no Heinlein is in there. I re-read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I read everything from him when I was 12-14.

Jules Verne is good. I read 20,000 Leagues long ago and enjoyed it. Asimov as well.

Lately I've been a mystery/cop guy, reading the Michael Connelly and Ridley Pearson stuff. If you are looking for more modern stuff, try Piniero(?), guy worked for AMD for a few years while writing his novels.

Alexander Yuryshev Old Hand Points: 390 More actions · Answer 7

Stanislaw Lem "Summae Technologia", "Cyberiada", "Ion Tichi"

Ph.K. Dick - maybe everything

webrunner SSC-Dedicated Points: 31862 More actions · Answer 8

I like almost anything by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Their books tend toward the mystery/horror side, but I think they do a great job of incorporating technical details, and of trying to make the science sound plausible. Cabinet of Curiosities was a particularly good one. Relic was pretty good, too.

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vhanda SSCrazy Points: 2240 More actions · Answer 9

Most "tech" fiction just ain't -- throwing some techie-sounding jargon around with a lot of flashy action-movie type toys just doesn't do it for me. Clancy and Crichton are overrated and overhyped. So is Dan Brown.

Books that deal with issues surrounding and the consequences of technology -- good or bad -- is more my bag.

Greg Bear's stuff is good, so is some William Gibson, most Stanislaw Lem, most Philip K Dick, Adam Roberts' stuff is very good. HG Wells (surprisingly) still holds up today.

Vik

Robert Davis One Orange Chip Points: 28027 More actions · Answer 10

I really liked Encounter with Tiber by Buzz Aldrin and John Barnes

The story isn't exactly the most original, but it was really well written and interesting.

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jereme.guenther@gmail.com SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4259 More actions · Answer 11

I would have to say that my favorite tech sci fi book is:

The Illuminati by Larry Burkett

Jer-285830 SSC Enthusiast Points: 169 More actions · Answer 12

The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage

such a great book

Kenneth Gladden Old Hand Points: 303 More actions · Answer 13

I also vote for "Snow Crash" Neal Stephenson as well as Neal Stephenson's "Diamond Age". My favorite non-fiction techie book is "Soul of a New Machine" by Tracy Kidder because I've "been there, done that".

Diego Vargas Newbie Points: 1 More actions · Answer 14

OSAAK ASIMOV's.

Foundation Series.

From the best science fiction writer ever.

Charlie Anderson Newbie Points: 1 More actions · Answer 15

I agree with all your choices. I liked Cryptonomicon (as well as the Baroque Trilogy - about the invention of the calulus) as well as the Creighton books mentioned. You can't beat Aldous Huxley (wow man, the Doors of Perception) and Brave New World.

How about Jeffery Deaver's Blue Nowhere? Scarry, but pretty high tech.

Charlie