Thought I would start a list of the more obscure ones.
Been reading a lot of John Scalzi lately his Old Man War and and Androids Dream. Just finished Redshirts which is a great take on those poor saps that get sent on away missions.
http://www.amazon.com/Androids-Dream-John-Scalzi/dp/0765348284
One of the more obscure ones but it is a great gem of a read is Illegal Aliens by Nick Pollotta. Well worth a quick read. Its old from the 1980's but amazingly funny and one I keep re reading.
http://www.amazon.com/Illegal-Aliens-ebook/dp/B004PYDS24/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1357614488&sr=8-3&keywords=illegal+aliens
Con
Haven't read a funny one for a long time unit but I will never forget those Robert Sheckley classics
Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series is a favourite of mine.
Cowboy Feng's Space Bar & Grill.
Not sure if it's considered obscure or mainstream, but I read The Callahan Chronicles for the first time a week or two ago. Definitely good stuff.
Another great series is the Chronicles of Space Captain Smith by Toby Frost.
Think Flashman set in a steam punk future where great British pluck battle heroically against Nazi Ants and Giant suicidal lemmings.
http://spacecaptainsmith.com/
Con
Bill the Galactic Hero or just about anything by Harrison.
Remember the "the Bloater Drive" for FTL travel? And "Bowb"?
Quote from: Barthheart on January 08, 2013, 06:25:36 AM
Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series is a favourite of mine.
Yeah, Slippery Jim DeGriz - great books.
Bimbos of the Death Sun.
A Klassik.
^^ Yeah, I love that one too. I've actually been keeping my eye out for a copy the last year or so (preferably one that doesn't cost a zillion dollars).
^
Mass market copies starting at $6.41 (inc. s&h) for new. http://www.amazon.com/Bimbos-Death-Sun-Sharyn-McCrumb/dp/0345483022.
You're a pal, Staggerwing. Thanks!
She should put you on retainer.
^"Duty, Mansell. That's my reward."
illegal aliens and cowboy fengs.... man its been a long time. great books!
A really quirky tragicomic SF that is a hell of a read isDesolation Road by Ian McDonald.
It is a tour de force kind of thing.
Quote from: besilarius on January 08, 2013, 07:08:39 PM
Bimbos of the Death Sun.
A Klassik.
A wonderful murder mystery with nerds and geeks at a Science Fiction Con.
Myth Adventures series by Robert Asprin (first 5-6 are excellent).
The Harry Dresden series has some side splitting aspects. But they are largely very serious.
The Road to Gandalpho is a plot to substitute someone for the Pope with the master planner a Patton type who goes off the deep end.
I read the first couple of Phule's Company, by Aspirin. I remember enjoying them quite well.
Im looking to pick up a book called Red Shirts. Im sure you can guess at the subject matter.
I read it. I like it a lot but I am a fan of John Scalzi especially his old man war series and Androids Dream. They are very funny but hard hitting at the same time. Red Shirts follows in the same vein with the theme being its never wise to be a bit player on an away mission. Never become involved in the narrative!
Con
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on February 07, 2013, 12:57:34 PM
Im looking to pick up a book called Red Shirts. Im sure you can guess at the subject matter.
Ha. Yeah, I've heard of it. Looked pretty funny.