Hard Science Fiction: Recommendations

It's been a long time since I have read any science fiction not connected with Frank Herbert's Dune series. In fact, aside from the Dune universe I had assumed that hard sci-fi had died a quiet death. For a short time, it seemed that book stores only carried science fantasy...with dragons and muscle bound heroes fighting on some wacky world.

But I was wrong. Yes, wrong! Hard to believe but true.

A case in point is a novel I only just (15 minutes ago) finished reading: Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross. Iron Sunrise was shortlisted for the best novel Hugo award in 2005. Need I say more? Then, as I am apt to do, I go to Stross' web site and find that Iron Sunrise is a sequel to Singularity Sky. The point: This book was great.

Visit Stross at http://www.antipope.org/charlie/index.html

Strangely I have also found yet another author of science fiction: Robert J. Sawyer -- A Canadian and a Nebula award winner. Stross sets his novel, Calculating God, in Toronto specifically at the ROM. A beautiful read, a little heavy on the message but nevertheless hard to put down.

Both these guys are relentless and I plan on hunting down more of their many novels tomorrow.

So what are you waiting for...run to the nearest library and read, dammit!