[net.sf-lovers] recommended first sf

milne@uci-icse (09/08/85)

From: Alastair Milne <milne@uci-icse>


    I think my recommendation would be John Wyndham, particularly "Chocky",
    "The Midwich Cuckoos", or "The Chrysalids".

    Asimov and Clarke, of course, also come very quickly to mind.  I might
    suggest Asimov's "I, Robot", and Clarke's "Earthlight".  Though I'm very
    tempted to include Asimov's "Nightfall", I think that might better be left
    until after the first sf experience.

    (By the way, there is a masterly story called, I think, "A Walk in the
    Dark", about a man working on a moon or asteroid far out in the solar
    system, far away from the Sun, whose environment suit lights go out as he
    is working, and who has to walk back to his base in utter blackness.  I
    think this one is by Clarke, but I'm not sure.  Can anybody confirm or
    correct this?  Thank you)


    Alastair Milne

grady@ucbvax.ARPA (Steven Grady) (09/09/85)

Well, I think the prime example of great science-fiction
would have to be...  the Gor series.

Hey, I was just kidding..
No, please!  No!!
The flames are burning me!!!  Arrgghh!!!!  Aaarrr...

eli@cvl.UUCP (Eli Liang) (09/10/85)

>
> From: Alastair Milne <milne@uci-icse>
>         ...
>     (By the way, there is a masterly story called, I think, "A Walk in the
>     Dark", about a man working on a moon or asteroid far out in the solar
>     system, far away from the Sun, whose environment suit lights go out as he
>     is working, and who has to walk back to his base in utter blackness.  I
>     think this one is by Clarke, but I'm not sure.  Can anybody confirm or
>     correct this?  Thank you)
> 
> 
>     Alastair Milne

Yes, that's the title, I just read it last night.  Real neat story.  It's
in a collection of storys by Clarke called ``Reach for Tomorrow''.
I sat down with the intention of just reading one or two stories from it,
but ended up reading the whole thing... *sigh* ...when will I learn?
Just as I was finishing the story, there was this unmistakable `clicking'
sound....

				-eric messick
				 (using eli's acct until they let me
				  bring up un*x on our vaxen...)


-- 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eli Liang  ---
        University of Maryland Computer Vision Lab, (301) 454-4526
        ARPA: liang@cvl, liang@lemuria, eli@mit-mc, eli@mit-prep
        CSNET: liang@cvl  UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!cvl!liang

ewan@uw-june (Ewan Tempero) (09/12/85)

The first sf book I read was _Fall of Moondust_ by Arthur C. Clarke. This
was before I even knew what science fiction was. All I knew was that it 
was a good book and did anyone know any other books by Clarke.....

-- 
            Ewan

------------
Ewan Tempero                                      "Oh no, not again"
UUCP: ...!uw-beaver!uw-june!ewan    ARPA: ewan@washington.ARPA
Please check all nuclear arms at the door.