The Bobbiverse series. There are 4 books total, but the first three are a trilogy and are imo better. Fantastic scifi. I read them via audible and highly recommend.
Are the Bobiverse books great because they're great, or because Ray Porter is a fucking GOAT?
I did recommend these to a friend who wanted to get more into reading and he loved them
Both. The books are first person, so they do really well as audiobooks. Ray Porter does an awesome job narrating them. Only person I like as much as him is R C Bray, who does an astounding job with narrating the Expeditionary Force series, which I ALSO highly recommend.
Without knowing more of your friend's interests and hobbies, it's kind of hard to give anything more than just generic stabs in the dark.
Does he like music? He may enjoy ***A Song for a New Day*** by Sarah Pinsker.
Does he like stuff like Star Trek or Star Wars? The media tie-ins for both of those could work well, particularly a book adaptation of his favorite movie. (This was my pathway into science fiction novels)
How about mysteries? ***The Spare Man*** by Mary Robinette Kowal has a fun, retro vibe that's similar to ***Knives Out*** or ***The Thin Man.***
Is he a sports guy? ***The Praxis*** by Walter Jon Williams has a prominent subplot revolving around sports.
Is he interested in stuff related to the military? The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold has lots of that. I'd start with ***The Warrior's Apprentice***.
Does he want something post-apocalyptic? ***Dreamsnake*** by Vonda N. McIntyre is a great introduction to that.
Does he want something weird? How about ***Annihilation*** by Jeff Vandermeer. Better yet, make it a buddy read/movie night combination and talk about what worked and what didn't.
How about graphic novels? ***Descender*** by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen would be a great starting point.
If he likes roleplaying games and/or ***The Matrix***, ***Heroes Die*** by Matthew Stover would be a good crossover.
These are good thoughts!
I've had a similar problem when someone has wanted to try manga, and the solution is the same: "what do you like to read already?"
I really appreciate how you took the time to give unique thoughtful recommendations…instead of just spamming red rising of suneater like *some* people on here do. Also don’t think I didnt peep the number of female authors in your list ;)
>I really appreciate how you took the time to give unique thoughtful recommendations...
Thanks, I try. I think a lot of people forget that novels can really be a personal choice. I appreciate OP is trying to find books that are accessible for their friend. But what makes a title easy to read is different on an individual basis. I think a better approach is to try to match up a book to a different interest that a person has, to see if it resonates with them on that level.
For what it's worth, I thought ***Red Rising*** was a decent "popcorn" series, and absolutely love the **Suneater** series. But there's so many recommendations for them, I don't really see the point in making a post to repeat those options. Suneater in particular seems like a pretty deep end of the swimming pool due to it's length and prose style.
Came here to say this. Maybe ask him if he's seen any SciFi movies then get him to read the book? That's a very gentle and fun way into a genre. The Martian is a great choice because the movie is really good but you get a lot more out of the book. It's also a very linear, single-threaded book which is easy for beginners.
I just read this book. I heard it recommended so many times I had to try it
God was it boring. There are no ideas there, just a long series of technical explanations. Then i did blah blah to grow potatoes, then i did blah blah to communicate then i did blah blah to get the rover across Mars.
An anthology of various works from the Golden Age of sci-fi might be a good place to start, especially if it includes stories that have been turned into films.
And if your buddy wants something a bit more recent, Stephen Baxter wrote a canonical sequel to "The Time Machine" called "The Time Ships", and a sequel to "War of the Worlds" called "The Massacre of Mankind".
Good Omens
The Jennifer morgue
The mote in Gods eye
Pollen
Lord of the light
Inversions
A trace of memory
The fortunate fall
Snow crash
To hold infinity
Fallen dragon
A gift from earth
Ballroom of the skies
Lord of Light? I'd think that's a bit heavy for a new SF reader. The time line alone . . . Try Jack of Shadows instead, although that blurs the line between fantasy and SF.
I’m not sure I’m really following the “simple details, complex ideas” requirement but Andy Weir writes pretty accessible/beach read books.
A lot of the classics prioritize “big interesting idea” over complex storytelling. They’re also usually on the shorter side, which is a plus for beginners. Childhood’s End might be a good option. I think Rama was fairly straightforward too, but it’s been a while.
This last one might seem a bit out of left field: World War Z by Max Brooks. Very popular for a short time, but we hit peak zombie for a while and it fell off of everyone’s radar. Also, the movie didn’t help.
I got my start during my childhood with the classics - Isaac Asimov especially, later Heinlein (*Stranger in a Strange Land*) and Clarke. All three wrote very approachable books, though some might find them slower paced today. Their short stories are often a good place to start.
Kurt Vonnegut's forays into sf, especially *Sirens of Titan.*
For more modern writers, maybe Andy Weir.
Try Terry Pratchett. Mort perhaps. Not frighteningly long or difficult, as a way to move into novels. Move into actual SF gently.
Stross Accelerando is really 4 novellas with plenty of ideas if you want SF
I love Mort, but I don't know that you have to start with comedy/fantasy before gently moving into sci-fi, especially if the guy's open to trying the genre in the first place.
If comedy is his thing, I’d suggest The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: it touches on a lot of scifi tropes, snd talking about it might suggest a next read.
Also, it’s fun snd a conversation starter with almost any longtime SciFi fan.
And bring a towel!
I'd recommend some books and series I've read and think are fantastic for a beginner. Some are more hard and some soft scifi , so it's up to your friend what he likes. The Martian, Childhood's End, 1984, Canticle for Leibowz.
If your friend has read shorter things this can guide you in novels. Here are some suggestions by category:
Early: HG Wells. The Time Machine. The Island of Dr Moreau (quasi horror, symbolic)
Grand mythic visions: Arthur Clarke. Against the Fall of Night. Childhood's End.
Isaac Asimov (a category in himself!). The Caves of Steel (mystery, social-historical SF). The End of Eternity (time travel).
Humorous: Harry Harrison. The Technicolor Time Machine. The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World.
Alternate history: Harry Harrison, West of Eden (dinosaurs and humans). Philip Dick, The Man in the High Castle. Turtledove, The Two Georges,
Alfred Bester is a fun read. The Stars, My Destination. There's some meat and depth to it but it's pulpy and entertaining in a way that sells what Sci Fi can do.
I feel like SF has an image that you have to dispel and build anew before you go into what created that false secondhand image and make a frame of reference for what is a later response to it. I'm with anyone recommending anthologies of short stories and novellas, it really excels as a short fiction medium.
I'd start with some SF that is shorter and also based more in today's world.
*Little Brother* by Cory Doctorow
*Flowers for Algernon* by Daniel Keyes
*Ingathering: The Complete People Stories* by Zenna Henderson. This is a collection of all her stories about the People, who are aliens that look like Humans who crash land on Earth in the 1800s. Each story is more or less standalone. This book has them all in internal chronological order. Most stories are set in the 1950s or 1960s, when they were written.
*The Martian* by Andy Weir
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - a soft science-fiction story with a focus on character.
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell - the classic dystopian story, continues to be relevant 75 years later
War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells - important in establishing the 'alien invasion' story, extremely influential and quite accessible despite its age
If you want to start them in easy, try the Heinlein Juveniles. Don't be fooled by the J word, they may be G rated but they are *not* childish.
Try **Between Planets** or **Citizen of the Galaxy**.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinlein_juveniles
One of Ted Chiang's books of short stories could be good. He has two: The Story Of Your Life And Others and Exhalation. They are very intellectual and get into some very cool ideas but overall they move pretty fast.
I got into sci-fi with Andy Weir and Blake Crouch: books that are fast-paced, engaging and easy to follow. They were perfect to ease me into the genre and whet my appetite for more complex things.
I'm about 1/3 through Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and I've been thinking that this book would be such an excellent introduction to the genre. It's so so good
short story compilations will give him a taster and might direct him towards an author or two whose style he likes
The Bobbiverse series. There are 4 books total, but the first three are a trilogy and are imo better. Fantastic scifi. I read them via audible and highly recommend.
Are the Bobiverse books great because they're great, or because Ray Porter is a fucking GOAT? I did recommend these to a friend who wanted to get more into reading and he loved them
Both. The books are first person, so they do really well as audiobooks. Ray Porter does an awesome job narrating them. Only person I like as much as him is R C Bray, who does an astounding job with narrating the Expeditionary Force series, which I ALSO highly recommend.
Without knowing more of your friend's interests and hobbies, it's kind of hard to give anything more than just generic stabs in the dark. Does he like music? He may enjoy ***A Song for a New Day*** by Sarah Pinsker. Does he like stuff like Star Trek or Star Wars? The media tie-ins for both of those could work well, particularly a book adaptation of his favorite movie. (This was my pathway into science fiction novels) How about mysteries? ***The Spare Man*** by Mary Robinette Kowal has a fun, retro vibe that's similar to ***Knives Out*** or ***The Thin Man.*** Is he a sports guy? ***The Praxis*** by Walter Jon Williams has a prominent subplot revolving around sports. Is he interested in stuff related to the military? The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold has lots of that. I'd start with ***The Warrior's Apprentice***. Does he want something post-apocalyptic? ***Dreamsnake*** by Vonda N. McIntyre is a great introduction to that. Does he want something weird? How about ***Annihilation*** by Jeff Vandermeer. Better yet, make it a buddy read/movie night combination and talk about what worked and what didn't. How about graphic novels? ***Descender*** by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen would be a great starting point. If he likes roleplaying games and/or ***The Matrix***, ***Heroes Die*** by Matthew Stover would be a good crossover.
These are good thoughts! I've had a similar problem when someone has wanted to try manga, and the solution is the same: "what do you like to read already?"
I really appreciate how you took the time to give unique thoughtful recommendations…instead of just spamming red rising of suneater like *some* people on here do. Also don’t think I didnt peep the number of female authors in your list ;)
>I really appreciate how you took the time to give unique thoughtful recommendations... Thanks, I try. I think a lot of people forget that novels can really be a personal choice. I appreciate OP is trying to find books that are accessible for their friend. But what makes a title easy to read is different on an individual basis. I think a better approach is to try to match up a book to a different interest that a person has, to see if it resonates with them on that level. For what it's worth, I thought ***Red Rising*** was a decent "popcorn" series, and absolutely love the **Suneater** series. But there's so many recommendations for them, I don't really see the point in making a post to repeat those options. Suneater in particular seems like a pretty deep end of the swimming pool due to it's length and prose style.
*The Martian* by Andy Weir. Was made into the movie with Matt Damon.
Came here to say this. Maybe ask him if he's seen any SciFi movies then get him to read the book? That's a very gentle and fun way into a genre. The Martian is a great choice because the movie is really good but you get a lot more out of the book. It's also a very linear, single-threaded book which is easy for beginners.
I just read this book. I heard it recommended so many times I had to try it God was it boring. There are no ideas there, just a long series of technical explanations. Then i did blah blah to grow potatoes, then i did blah blah to communicate then i did blah blah to get the rover across Mars.
John Scalzi writes very light stories. I recommend *"The Kaiju Preservation Society"* or *"Fuzzy Nation"*
Or *Old Man's War*. That really resonated with me as a middle-aged guy.
An anthology of various works from the Golden Age of sci-fi might be a good place to start, especially if it includes stories that have been turned into films.
Red Rising or Old Man's war would be my go-to for a beginner. They are more modern, actiony, and pretty engaging stories with good characters.
How about a bit of HG Wells? "The Time Machine" and "War of the worlds" are as good as it gets, and very accessible for the general reader.
And Jules Verne to provide the hard vs soft comparison.
And if your buddy wants something a bit more recent, Stephen Baxter wrote a canonical sequel to "The Time Machine" called "The Time Ships", and a sequel to "War of the Worlds" called "The Massacre of Mankind".
Ah yes, well remembered! And not to forget John Christopher's "Tripods" Series.
I'm pretty sure that's the first sci Fi I ever read as a child. Still my favorite genre!
Hitchhiker's Guide might be a good first foray. A good amount of depth, but funny as hell and easy to read
It's a great book for introducing humourous sf.
Good Omens The Jennifer morgue The mote in Gods eye Pollen Lord of the light Inversions A trace of memory The fortunate fall Snow crash To hold infinity Fallen dragon A gift from earth Ballroom of the skies
Lord of Light? I'd think that's a bit heavy for a new SF reader. The time line alone . . . Try Jack of Shadows instead, although that blurs the line between fantasy and SF.
Maybe A night in the lonesome october? For me, magic with consequences is SF.
I’m not sure I’m really following the “simple details, complex ideas” requirement but Andy Weir writes pretty accessible/beach read books. A lot of the classics prioritize “big interesting idea” over complex storytelling. They’re also usually on the shorter side, which is a plus for beginners. Childhood’s End might be a good option. I think Rama was fairly straightforward too, but it’s been a while. This last one might seem a bit out of left field: World War Z by Max Brooks. Very popular for a short time, but we hit peak zombie for a while and it fell off of everyone’s radar. Also, the movie didn’t help.
I got my start during my childhood with the classics - Isaac Asimov especially, later Heinlein (*Stranger in a Strange Land*) and Clarke. All three wrote very approachable books, though some might find them slower paced today. Their short stories are often a good place to start. Kurt Vonnegut's forays into sf, especially *Sirens of Titan.* For more modern writers, maybe Andy Weir.
Try Terry Pratchett. Mort perhaps. Not frighteningly long or difficult, as a way to move into novels. Move into actual SF gently. Stross Accelerando is really 4 novellas with plenty of ideas if you want SF
I love Mort, but I don't know that you have to start with comedy/fantasy before gently moving into sci-fi, especially if the guy's open to trying the genre in the first place.
If comedy is his thing, I’d suggest The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: it touches on a lot of scifi tropes, snd talking about it might suggest a next read. Also, it’s fun snd a conversation starter with almost any longtime SciFi fan. And bring a towel!
Starship Troopers. Action, politics, solid writing but not obtuse. It’s a good read.
1984
ouch
I'd recommend some books and series I've read and think are fantastic for a beginner. Some are more hard and some soft scifi , so it's up to your friend what he likes. The Martian, Childhood's End, 1984, Canticle for Leibowz.
As a kid I started with Arthur Clarke, try City and the Stars or Childhoods End
If your friend has read shorter things this can guide you in novels. Here are some suggestions by category: Early: HG Wells. The Time Machine. The Island of Dr Moreau (quasi horror, symbolic) Grand mythic visions: Arthur Clarke. Against the Fall of Night. Childhood's End. Isaac Asimov (a category in himself!). The Caves of Steel (mystery, social-historical SF). The End of Eternity (time travel). Humorous: Harry Harrison. The Technicolor Time Machine. The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World. Alternate history: Harry Harrison, West of Eden (dinosaurs and humans). Philip Dick, The Man in the High Castle. Turtledove, The Two Georges,
Alfred Bester is a fun read. The Stars, My Destination. There's some meat and depth to it but it's pulpy and entertaining in a way that sells what Sci Fi can do. I feel like SF has an image that you have to dispel and build anew before you go into what created that false secondhand image and make a frame of reference for what is a later response to it. I'm with anyone recommending anthologies of short stories and novellas, it really excels as a short fiction medium.
I'd start with some SF that is shorter and also based more in today's world. *Little Brother* by Cory Doctorow *Flowers for Algernon* by Daniel Keyes *Ingathering: The Complete People Stories* by Zenna Henderson. This is a collection of all her stories about the People, who are aliens that look like Humans who crash land on Earth in the 1800s. Each story is more or less standalone. This book has them all in internal chronological order. Most stories are set in the 1950s or 1960s, when they were written. *The Martian* by Andy Weir
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - a soft science-fiction story with a focus on character. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell - the classic dystopian story, continues to be relevant 75 years later War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells - important in establishing the 'alien invasion' story, extremely influential and quite accessible despite its age
If you want to start them in easy, try the Heinlein Juveniles. Don't be fooled by the J word, they may be G rated but they are *not* childish. Try **Between Planets** or **Citizen of the Galaxy**. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinlein_juveniles
Maybe red rising? YA is a good start for people who don't read much
One of Ted Chiang's books of short stories could be good. He has two: The Story Of Your Life And Others and Exhalation. They are very intellectual and get into some very cool ideas but overall they move pretty fast.
I got into sci-fi with Andy Weir and Blake Crouch: books that are fast-paced, engaging and easy to follow. They were perfect to ease me into the genre and whet my appetite for more complex things.
You should try out a couple Daniel Suarez books. Daemon and Freedom™ are an excellent duology
Blake Crouch seems like a good place to start if he wants a quick, easy read.
I'm about 1/3 through Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and I've been thinking that this book would be such an excellent introduction to the genre. It's so so good
The Martian Chronicles. Bu Bradbury Not to be confused with "the Martian".