The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works

#1

Post by tws » Thu, Jul 22, 2021, 8:36 PM UTC

The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works
publicbooks.org

Re: The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works

#2

Post by jnsie » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 4:24 AM UTC

Mars Trilogy changed how I look at the world, nation states and the future. Love KSR!

Re: The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works

#3

Post by yesenadam » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 4:27 AM UTC

jnsie wrote: post #2

Mars Trilogy changed how I look at the world, nation states and the future. Love KSR!

> Mars Trilogy changed how I look at the world, nation states and the future.

In what way? (if that's practical/possible to answer)

Re: The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works

#4

Post by everyone » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 5:01 AM UTC

Can ye recommend any novels / authors that are as hard sci-fi as KSR or Arthur C Clarke?

Re: The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works

#5

Post by jayesh-bhoot » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 5:06 AM UTC

everyone wrote: post #4

Can ye recommend any novels / authors that are as hard sci-fi as KSR or Arthur C Clarke?

Flood; Ark; and Evolution from Stephen Baxter will always stay with me.

Re: The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works

#6

Post by Herodotus38 » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 5:11 AM UTC

everyone wrote: post #4

Can ye recommend any novels / authors that are as hard sci-fi as KSR or Arthur C Clarke?

Peter Watts has a good biology background so his books are pretty accurate when it comes to sci-fi advances with biology. Definitely better than most authors who usually focus more on physics/engineering.

I liked “Blindsight” and “The Freeze-Frame Revolution”

I would also appreciate any recommendations for hard sci-fi authors with a biology focus, I’m sure there are many more I don’t know.

Re: The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works

#7

Post by _37hw » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 5:31 AM UTC

everyone wrote: post #4

Can ye recommend any novels / authors that are as hard sci-fi as KSR or Arthur C Clarke?

Hard sci fi is hard to define for me personally. But, Children of Time by Adrian Czajkowski is worth a look, and maybe Saturn Run by Ctein and John Sanford.

Re: The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works

#8

Post by justWells » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 5:31 AM UTC

yesenadam wrote: post #3

jnsie wrote: post #2

Mars Trilogy changed how I look at the world, nation states and the future. Love KSR!

> Mars Trilogy changed how I look at the world, nation states and the future. In what way? (if that's practical/possible to answer)

He proposes a novel way of thinking about the economy,ecology,and political governance nicely bundled in a meta epic about terraforming Mars.

Re: The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works

#9

Post by adrianN » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 5:34 AM UTC

everyone wrote: post #4

Can ye recommend any novels / authors that are as hard sci-fi as KSR or Arthur C Clarke?

I enjoyed Permutation City by Greg Egan and the Zones of Thought books by Vernor Vinge.

Re: The Realism of Our Times: Kim Stanley Robinson on how science fiction works

#10

Post by kryptn » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 5:34 AM UTC

Herodotus38 wrote: post #6

everyone wrote: post #4

Can ye recommend any novels / authors that are as hard sci-fi as KSR or Arthur C Clarke?

Peter Watts has a good biology background so his books are pretty accurate when it comes to sci-fi advances with biology. Definitely better than most authors who usually focus more on physics/engineering. I liked “Blindsight” and “The Freeze-Frame Revolution” I would also appreciate any recommendations for hard sci-fi authors with a biology focus, I’m sure there are many more I don’t know.

I really enjoyed Blindsight, I'll have to check out your other suggestion. Thanks!