Re: Science Fiction suggestions?

tsoon (tsoon@mail.usyd.edu.au)
Tue, 11 Aug 1998 20:28:13 +1000

>I am one of a select few extropians who has not read very many science
>fiction novels. I would like to change that. I am open to any
>suggestions; however, I think it's pretty obvious I'm looking to get into
>quality sci-fi with distinctively Extropian leanings.

I used to read a lot of sci-fi years ago, then stopped and have recently got back into the habit again
pleasantly surprised at how much the market has grown. I am currently reading Neuromancer which is more techno-dystopian than extropian
but a fascinating book nonetheless (yes I know, as I said I've just got back into it so
I'm a bit behind).
I was also pleasantly suprised at the proliferation of libertarian SF. The classic libertarian SF is of course Atlas Shrugged (which I also much prefer to the
Fountainhead).
I also highly recommend The Probability Broach by L. Neil Smith, a ripping good yarn,
though it is almost wholly libertarian rather than extropian. There are predictions of some extropian technologies in Greg Bear's Queen of Angels which
is also very impressive in its treatment of the sentience of artificial lifeforms though to my knowledge
Gre Bear isn't libertarian or extropian. Another famous sci-fi writer, Gregory Benford, used to be on the editorial board of Reason magazine.

Jason Soon
VISIT my web page at
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/2564



'He who understands baboon would do more towards metaphysics than Locke.'

~Charles Darwin

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