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Any Sci-Fi Readers?

Discussion in 'Books & Publications Forum' started by SpiritualMadMan, Nov 11, 2008.

  1. SpiritualMadMan

    SpiritualMadMan New Member

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    Come On... Does all a Christians Reading *have to be* Religious???

    As for me I am re-reading David Webers Honor Harrington Series...

    Either I had a young readers version previously or I am more sensitive this reading and seeing more "Foul Language" than before.

    So far it has been "plot Pertinent" and no worse than work...

    Mike Sr.
     
  2. menageriekeeper

    menageriekeeper Active Member

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    I haven't read sci-fi in years, but even back then there was a trend toward crude language. Mostly though, I'm just in a spot in my life where I don't find it interesting.

    Then again, I tend to take things in phases so who knows? A few years down the road I might pick it back up.
     
  3. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    Some of my favourite Sci-Fi include (brackets are my favourite books in a series)

    Frank Herbert's Dune series (Dune and God Emperor of Dune)
    Orson Scott Card's Ender's series (Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead)
    Issac Asimov's Foundation, Empire and Robot series (I, Robot and Foundation)
    HG Wells': The Time Machine, War of the Worlds
    William Gibson's: Neuromancer

    Books with dystopic futures that I have enjoyed include
    Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
    Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
    Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
     
  4. SpiritualMadMan

    SpiritualMadMan New Member

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    I also liked the "Ender" series...

    Another interesting tale was "Foot"...

    Asimov's stuff has always been a good read for me...

    Do you think the "Science" of Psycho-History postulated in the Foundation Series has any corollaries in the Christian Faith?

    Mike Sr.
     
  5. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    Sorry. I never saw any connections there.
     
  6. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    Whatshisname's "Amber" series are a great read.
     
  7. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    I love sci fi, but it can be difficult to find good sci fi, it doesn't have to be christian, but it also shouldn't beoffensive to the thought of christianity. I had read years ago the 2001 series, and Arthur C. Clark is very anti christian.

    Gold Dragon
    I read Ender's Game and loved it, have never been able to get the second one though.

    Gold Dragon
    Loved these too. I've read quite a bit H.G. Wells, love his work. I'd like to read 1984 again, but would have to get another copy, see what happens when you don't keep all your books, you eventually want to read them again. Someone should tell my husband that for me. lol
     
  8. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    I forgot to mention the 2001 series by Clark. While it did present some interesting concepts, it did not captivate my imagination like some of the others. I do not remember getting a very anti-Christian feel but I did get a strong atheistic feel to it. Asimov has fairly similar athiestic views that is most evident in one of his short stories called The Last Question that I found to be highly memorable.
     
    #8 Gold Dragon, Nov 16, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 16, 2008
  9. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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    I do like some science fiction - although it does tend to be Godless I think.

    There are some Christian science fiction writers, but they aren't as good yet - better than they were though. Anton Gansky is one that comes to mind. Krause (first name isn't coming to me) writes similar to Robin Cook. Both of those are a couple of the better ones.
     
  10. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    Which one was it, 3061 9or maybe it was 3069?)or something like that, he was very negative about christiaity specifically. Although it's been a long time, don't remember specifics.
     
  11. SpiritualMadMan

    SpiritualMadMan New Member

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    Read Around the Bad, discard if too pervasive

    Yes, a lot of Sci-Fi writers are antagonistic to Christianity.

    I read for pleasure. And, most often am able to separate casual reading from Technical Reading.

    If I start having a problem keeping the separation the book gets closed and discarded.

    This doesn't happen all that often as I usually get a little "No" check in my spirit if the title or cover art doesn't warn me off...

    Fantasy SciFi with wizards and witches are definate no-nos for me...


    On the issue of Psycho-History, if I remember correctly, it was the Mathematical Science whereby past events , human attitudes, and a host of other knowledge process were combined to predict the future course of history...

    (Pyscho-History has also appeared in other writers books...)

    So, the potential corrolary is this. Take a perfect infinate mind, in possesion of all currently known facts in the universe and God could know everything that is going to happen without actually causing it to happen Himself...

    This would (potentially) allow for Free-Will without subjecting it to Absolute Predestination as an Overt Act of God.

    Again that is another thread. :)

    But, suffice it to say the practitioners of Psycho-History were playing God by making small manipulative changes to effect the course of History decades to come. (Which could change how a Believer views the series...)

    Kinda like leading a horse around in a desert place until they are thirsty enough to drink at your well?

    Mike Sr.
     
  12. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Plenty of examples of Sci-fi predicting the future...
    more recent example,

    Halting State

    by Charles Stross

    Watch the language though ...

    Rob
     
  13. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    This is not a book but a movie based on a book, "The Children of Men." I thought it was a terrific movie. Although not at all Christian, it was very pro-life and showed the sacredness of life.

    Have any of you read the book? I am pretty sure it's in the sci-fi category.
     
  14. Allan

    Allan Active Member

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    I have got one I am currently writting and those whom I have allowed to read the first 3 chapters all have really like it a great deal. That isn't saying much when they are family (though they were In-Laws :) ) :laugh:
     
  15. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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    Allan! I'm sure if your outlaws errr I mean inlaws are handing out kudos, it must be good :thumbs:
     
  16. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    For those who are interested Baen Publishing has a Free Library at www.baen.com

    Bean also has a fairly active fan board Baens Bar (a free registered members site).

    As a current dead tree series, I recommend Eric Flint's 1634 series. The series' conceit is a small WVA town is transported in time and space to 1632 Germany (Thuringia, just south of Rudoltstadt). It has main line novels written by Flint (and co-authors), three anthologies with stories by established writers and newcomers, and the Grantville Gazette.
     
  17. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    Sorry to revive an old thread.

    I see what you mean with psychohistory but I would have to disagree that this is reminiscent of Christianity. I would call it reminiscent of the determinism vs indeterminism philosophical debate that has been a source of Christian division since the Reformation but I consider it to be an insignificant issue when compared to the whole of Christianity.
     
  18. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    Children of Men is in my top 10 favourite movies.

    On vacation this year, I picked up the book in the hotel I was staying at but didn't have enough time to finish it. The book was very different to the movie, so much so that I would have to say they were not the same story. Some of the characters names were the same and the overarching theme of responding to global infertility was the same, but that is about it. Maybe the second half of the book is more similar to the movie, but the first half was completely different. It was still good and interesting in the thoughts about the human condition that it was highlighting.
     
    #18 Gold Dragon, Nov 22, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 22, 2009
  19. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    That would be Roger Zelazny, now deceased. He is/was my favorite sci-fi/fantasy writer. I've read most of his stuff.

    The Ringworld series was pretty cool (what I have read of it).

    The Dune series was good, but I dropped it after the first three or four books... too much "religious" stuff for me.
     
  20. Peggy

    Peggy New Member

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    This is an intriguing series: Firebird Trilogy

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/0764229273/?tag=baptis04-20

    From what I remember, it is sci-fi with a twist. It is set in a future where Christ had not yet become incarnate. What would our world, or the future be like if our Savior was yet to come?


    Review:

    These critically acclaimed novels deftly chronicle one courageous woman’s spiritual and physical battles and the eternal consequences of her struggle--not only for herself and Brennan Caldwell, the man she loves, but also for the worlds she seeks to save. With her own people seeking her sacrifice, Lady Firebird finds herself swept toward an exciting but perilous destiny. Capturing the imaginations of readers of all genres, the complete story is now offered in this 3-in-1 volume. Fans of science fiction and fantasy from a Christian worldview and readers who simply love great storytelling will be thrilled by the thoughtful themes and intriguing plots of this compelling trilogy.
     
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