Janet Rae's Recommendations and Compilation of previous

(Janet boosted her recommendation for Banks' Consider Phlebas once she learned he is terminally ill. - PZ)

Suggested reading for June:
Throwback Pick:
I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov
Kindle: $7.99
The three laws of Robotics:
1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come
to harm.
2) A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would
conflict with the First Law.
3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with
the First or Second Law.
With these three, simple directives, Isaac Asimov changed our perception of robots forever when
he formulated the laws governing their behavior. In I, Robot, Asimov chronicles the
development of the robot through a series of interlinked stories: from its primitive origins in the
present to its ultimate perfection in the not-so-distant future--a future in which humanity itself
may be rendered obsolete. Extra credit: The Bicentennial Man.
JRM editorial comment: It is difficult to read these stories with a fresh eye, but Asimov invented
the “rules” of robots in the 1940s and ‘50s (the collection was originally published in 1950), and
today’s stories still follow these rules, or depart from them for shock effect. Note that there is
now a U.S. Robotics manufacturing computer stuff. (Technical term: Stuff.)
Amazon reviewer: “Dr Ike wrote more books than most people have read. Despite the fact that
they are hopelessly outdated in so many ways to be laughable, they are classics in every way. He
created and defined a new science in the robot stories. Want to be a writer? Want to be a
scientist? Hell, want to be a robot? You will need to first read this book. As Stan Lee would say,
‘Nuff said!”
Gamers Pick
Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline
Kindle: $8.99
At once wildly original and stuffed with irresistible nostalgia, READY PLAYER ONE is a
spectacularly genre-busting, ambitious, and charming debut—part quest novel, part love story, and
part virtual space opera set in a universe where spell-slinging mages battle giant Japanese robots,
entire planets are inspired by Blade Runner, and flying DeLoreans achieve light speed.
It’s the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes
his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual
utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love
on any of ten thousand planets.
And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that

lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground,
OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive
fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them.
One reviewer on Amazon: “This one's for all the nerds, g33ks and phreaks out there!” (5 stars)
Another reviewer on Amazon: “I must agree with some of the other reviewers that the writing is
pretty substandard for a book that will ostensibly be placed on several "Best Of" lists by the end of
the year. The dialogue is forced and unrealistic, and the narrative style is far too expository. Also,
beware of McGuffins, at least one major Deus ex Machina, and preachy monologues just as the
tension is building for the final act. I feel that this book should be classified as "Young Adult
Fiction." Not only is that a better description of the reading level, but I can see teenagers being
captivated by the themes of escapism more than adults. Having said all of that, the plot did capture
my imagination as well as my attention. I thought about giving four stars, but there were just too
many glaring problems to do so. I have recommended the book to my geeky friends, but probably
won't bring it up to the ones that are more interested in literature.” (3 stars)
JRM read and enjoyed it, although probably did not get but about 8% of the nerdy references, and
does not play (and has never enjoyed playing) on-line games. Strong plot that moves very quickly.
Strong Female Characters Picks (3, but only one by a woman)
On Basilisk Station, by David Weber
Kindle cost: $0.00 (on April 8, 2013)
“On Basilisk Station” (or "HH1" as it's known to the faithful) is the first installment in David
Weber's cult hit Honor Harrington series, which has charmed the socks off schoolgirls and sailors
alike. Honor--the heroine of this fast-paced, addictive space opera--is a polished, plucky bulldog
of a naval officer, part Horatio Hornblower, part Miles Vorkosigan, part Captain Janeway, and with
a razor-clawed telepathic cat thrown over her shoulder for good measure. The series' kickoff puts
Commander Harrington at the helm of her first serious starship, the HMS Fearless. Her excitement
quickly fades--political maneuvering by top brass in the Manticoran navy has left her light cruiser
outfitted with a half-baked experimental weapons system. Against all odds, she still manages a
clever coup in tactical war games, a feat that earns her accolades--and enemies. The politicians she's
offended banish her to a galactic backwater, Basilisk Station. But that outpost soon proves to be a
powder keg, and it's up to Harrington and the Fearless crew to thwart the aggressive plans of the
Haven Republic. A perfect mix of military SF and high adventure.”
David Weber’s first published novels grew out of his work as a war game designer for the Task
Force game “ Starfire”. His novels range from epic fantasy (Oath of Swords, The War God's Own)
to space opera (Path of the Fury, The Armageddon Inheritance) to alternate history (1632 series with
Eric Flint) to military science fiction with in-depth characterization.
One Amazon Reviewer: “Ayn Rand in Space Starring a Cat Lady”
Another one: Full of techno-babble.
Another one: “I was planning to read a good piece of Science fiction literature, instead I got a video

game manual”
All one-star reviews.
My response: DON’T CARE. LOVE IT.
JRM editorial comment: Military SF (in the tradition of C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower) this
is the first in a popular series based on the main character Honor Harrington (Honorverse
books/related stories number about 25 now). As my brother told me when he sent the book to me:
“I envy you getting to read this for the first time.” I have recommended it extensively and have yet
to be told it was not enjoyable. It is one of my favorite books, and one of my son’s favorite books,
and one of my gay girlfriend’s favorite books. So, something for everybody (or should I say it
appeals to everybody for something).
More military SF (with female main characters):
Cordelia’s Honor, by Lois McMaster Bujold
Shards of Honor and Barrayar both on Kindle – Barryar won the Hugo
Once a Hero, by Elizabeth Moon
Iron Sunrise, by Charles Stross
Kindle: $7.99
Begins with the death of a star, has as a main character, a disaffected teenager Wednesday
Shadowmist (upon whom, I swear, the main character in the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo was based),
and has a lot of techno-babble. Nevertheless, interesting read. The book begins with the death of
a star – and the panicked evacuation of the world orbiting it. But something is left behind.
Stross was “first code monkey on the team of a successful dot-com startup” and has a Scottish
anarchist’s view point of the future (which makes for some different takes on it).
Darkship Thieves, by Sarah A. Hoyt
Kindle: $6.83
(hey, a woman author)
Athena Hera Sinistra is the daughter of one of Earth's most rich and powerful men. She accompanies
him on a routine trip, playing the dutiful social accessory despite her naturally rebellious nature.
However a mutiny on her father's spaceship forces her into an escape pod headed directly for the
ancient and deadly Powertree Ring that "grows" power pods for Earth's energy needs. Despite the
risk of crashing into an explosive pod, she instead crashes into a dark and furtive ship that is stealing
power pods for a colony that Earth doesn't know exists. These "darkship thieves" are the descendants
of Earth's aborted attempt to genetically engineered a race of superior humans many hundreds of
years ago.
Libertarian author and blogger (“According to Hoyt”) and occasional guest blogger for Instapundit.
Naturalized American (born and educated in Portugal).

ADDITIONAL BOOKS previously suggested (including by me), but not picked:
Schild’s Ladder, by Greg Egan

Diaspora, by Greg Egan

Foundation, by Isaac Asimov

Consider Phlebas, by Iain M. Banks

The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K. Dick (it is Dickesque)

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick (upon which Blade Runner is based)

Love in the Ruins, by Walker Percy

The City & the City, by China Mieville

The Sheep Look Up, by John Brunner

Her Smoke Rose Up Forever, by James Tiptree, Jr. (really, Alice Sheldon) [not on Kindle]

The Empress of Mars, by Kage Baker

Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler

To Say Nothing of the Dog, by Connie Willis (warning: time travel)

Cyteen, by C.J. Cherryh [not on Kindle] (Hugo award)
Alternate Realities, by C.J. Cherryh
Foreigner, by C.J. Cherryh
“I believe in the future: I'm an optimist for good reason---I've studied a lot of history, in
which, yes, there is climate change, and our species has been through it. We've never faced
it fully armed with what we now know, and if we play our cards right, we'll use it as a
technological springboard and carry on in very interesting ways. I also believe a writer owes
a reader a book that has more than general despair to spread about: I write about clever,
determined people who don't put up with situations, not for long, anyway: people who find
solutions inspire me.” This author has an asteroid, 77185 Cherryh, named after her.
Referring to this honor, the asteroid's discoverers wrote of Cherryh: "She has challenged us
to be worthy of the stars by imagining how mankind might grow to live among them."

Red Mars, by Kim Stanley Robinson

Ilium, by Dan Simmons
Simmons returns to sci-fi with this staggering variation on the alternate history theme. Three
storylines linked by Homer's Iliad come together in a riveting adventure that takes us from
post-tech Earth, to a Mars inhabited by scholarly Greek 'gods' and to Jupiter where sentient
robots quote Shakespeare. Absolutely dazzling modern sci-fi.

Hyperion, by Dan Simmons

Store of the Worlds, by Robert Sheckley

Deathbird Stories, by Harlan Ellison

The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells

War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells

Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury

Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell

The City at World’s End, by Edmond Hamilton (yummy PULP!)

The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell
Priests in Spaaaace
(alternates: A Case of Conscience, by James Blish OR A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter
M. Miller, OR “The Star” by Arthur C. Clarke)