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I need sci-fi reading suggestions
Posted By: Dry Ice <d.r.y.i.c.e@sbcglobal.net>Date: 12/7/06 3:35 p.m.

I've been searching though the forum and other HBO pages to find or compile a recommended reading list (that somewhat relates to Halo or Bungie's inspiration.) You'll find below a complete list of what I found and below that you'll find who reccomended the books. Most of the info was taken from the HSP and you'll find a link to that also.

I am hoping somene could give a reading order suggestion. Others besides me may also find this usefull.

I've read the official Halo fiction. I have just finished the first two in the Niven Ringworld series. After that I wanted to go on to the Rowley books and then the Banks work. Then if I haven't lost interest Armor by John Steakley looked interesting. But the Rowley and Banks books I want I can't get at my local libraries. So I am looking for something to read while I find those books to purchase.

And if you notice one of these books doesn't belong or you know of a book to add let me know.

Complete List

  • Starhammer by Christopher Rowley
  • The Vang: Military Form by Christopher Rowley
  • The Vang: Battlemaster by Christopher Rowley
  • Any of the works on the Culture by Iain M. Banks
  • Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks (specifically)
    (Culture series info and spoilers: http://marathon.bungie.org/Story/halo_culture.html)
  • Feersum Endjinn by Iain M. Banks
  • Ringworld by Larry Niven
  • The Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven
  • The Ringworld Throne by Larry Niven
  • The Mote series by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven
  • The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Heinlein
  • Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (six book series)
  • Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
  • The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
  • Armor by John Steakley
  • Berserker by Fred Saberhagen
  • Hammer's Slammers by David Drake
  • The Cobra Trilogy (The Cobra series) by Timothy Zahn
  • Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
  • Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton
  • Revelation Space by Alistair Reynolds
  • Paradise Lost by John Milton
  • Ulysses by James Joyce
  • The Heechee Saga by Frederik Pohl
  • Convergent (Series) by Charles Sheffield
  • Peter Hamilton (Body of work)
  • Neal Stephenson (Body of work)
  • A Fire upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge
  • A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
    Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills (Paperback) by Charles W. Henderson (the Gunny Hathcock story)

  • Halo: The Fall of Reach, by Eric Nylund
  • Halo: The Flood, by William C. Dietz
  • Halo: First Strike, by Eric Nylund
  • Ghosts of Onyx, by Eric Nylund
  • Halo Graphic Novel (Various authors)
  • The Art of Halo, by Eric S. Trautmann

  • A good anthology of the poetry of John Keats
  • The seven historical volumes of Oman's Peninsular War
  • Churchill's memoirs of World War II
  • Gilgamesh, David Ferry's "interpolation" (as opposed to translation)
  • The works of Freeman Dyson (the concept of "Dyson Spheres" and, Project Orion)
  • Songs of Innocence by William Blake
  • Songs of Experience by William Blake
  • The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake
  • Tales of Charlemagne, Arthur, Roland, etc.
  • Greek History/Mythos
  • Beowulf and other Anglo-Saxon poetry

    The following recommendation information comes from http://halosm.bungie.org/story/readingrainbow.html

    Recommendations by Joseph Staten:
    Starhammer by Christopher Rowley
    The Vang: Military Form by Christopher Rowley
    The Vang: Battlemaster by Christopher Rowley
    Any of the works on the Culture by Ian M. Banks
    Use of Weapons by Ian M. Banks (specifically)
    (Culture series info and spoilers: http://marathon.bungie.org/Story/halo_culture.html)
    Ringworld by Larry Niven
    The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Heinlein ("it contains a fascinating relationship between a cyborg and an AI")
    A good anthology of the poetry of John Keats (to unseal the hushed casket of the soul...)

    Recommendations by Eric Nylund:
    Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (six book series)
    Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
    The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
    Armor by John Steakley
    Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills (Paperback) by Charles W. Henderson (the Gunny Hathcock story)
    Berserker by Fred Saberhagen
    “Guilty pleasures” recommendations by Eric Nylund:
    Hammer's Slammers by David Drake
    The Cobra Trilogy (The Cobra series) by Timothy Zahn

    Recommendations by Jason Jones:
    Starhammer by Christopher Rowley
    The Vang: Military Form by Christopher Rowley
    The Vang: Battlemaster by Christopher Rowley
    Feersum Endjinn by Ian M. Banks
    The Mote series by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven
    The seven historical volumes of Oman's Peninsular War
    Churchill's memoirs of World War II (who "glorifies the righteous struggle of a reluctant but determined underdog")
    Gilgamesh, David Ferry's "interpolation" (as opposed to translation)
    Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
    Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton
    Revelation Space by Alistair Reynolds

    Recommendations by Chris Butcher:
    The works of Freeman Dyson (the concept of "Dyson Spheres" and, Project Orion)

    Other recommendations on Halo Story Page
    Songs of Innocence by William Blake
    Songs of Experience by William Blake
    The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake
    Tales of Charlemagne, Arthur, Roland, etc.
    Greek History/Mythos
    Beowulf and other Anglo-Saxon poetry
    Paradise Lost by John Milton
    Ulysses by James Joyce (Make sure you're ready. Perhaps start off with Dubliners ;)
    The Heechee Saga by Frederik Pohl
    Halo: The Fall of Reach, by Eric Nylund
    Halo: The Flood, by William C. Dietz
    Halo: First Strike, by Eric Nylund
    Ghosts of Onyx, by Eric Nylund
    Halo Graphic Novel (Various authors)
    The Art of Halo, by Eric S. Trautmann

    Other recommendations found searching the H.B.O. forum
    The Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven
    The Ringworld Throne by Larry Niven
    Convergent (Series) by Charles Sheffield
    Peter Hamilton (Body of work)
    Neal Stephenson (Body of work)
    A Fire upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge
    A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi


  • Message Index




    Replies:

    I need sci-fi reading suggestionsDry Ice 12/7/06 3:35 p.m.
         Re: I need sci-fi reading suggestionsThe More Deluded 12/7/06 3:43 p.m.
         Re: I need sci-fi reading suggestionsmercury 12/7/06 4:58 p.m.
         According to Louis Wu....[AMS] GreyThor 12/7/06 5:06 p.m.
               Thanks. I doubt anyone has read many of these.Dry Ice 12/8/06 8:13 a.m.
                     Re: Thanks. I doubt anyone has read many of these.Narcogen 12/8/06 8:18 a.m.
                           Re: Thanks. I doubt anyone has read many of these.Dry Ice 12/8/06 8:32 a.m.
                                 Recommendation from me - ANYTHING by Jack Vance *NM*Stuntmutt 12/8/06 8:42 a.m.
                                       That bad aye? But I hear he plays a mean Kazoo! *NM*Dry Ice 12/8/06 1:15 p.m.



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