Good Reading for the Traveller GM

[Uncle Bob]

Since Traveller was created in the 1970s I think SF from the fifties and sixties capture the mood better than most recent novels.

James Schmitz, particularly his "hub" stories like Demon Breed or his short stories. His Witches of Kares and Telzey Amberdon stories I think helped inspire the Traveller psi rules.

Alexei Panshin's "Anthony Villiers" novels (Star Well, The Thurb Revolution, and Masque World, available in digital format) give an excellent view of the life of a young noble in the Nashuin interstellar empire. IIRC, Anthony Villiers was in one of the CT supplements (1001 Patrons?)

 

[LostWorldsMike]

I'm gonna chime in with a couple non-fiction suggestions...

World-Building by Stephen L. Gillett: The copy I have is part of the Writer's Digest Science Fiction Writing series, and it is just chock-a-block FULL of useful goodness. There's some real nuts and bolts science involved, and plenty of general information for the less Hard SF minded.

The Writer's Guide to Creating a Science Fiction Universe by George Ochoa and Jeffrey Osier: Another in the Writer's Digest series, and the above comments apply here as well.

Both of those are currently in-print and should be readily available (or orderable).

 

[Uncle Bob]

Non-fiction, Dr Robert Forward's Indestinguishable From Magic. No gearhead's library is complete without it.

More old timers, Murray Leinster (some day I will write up the "med ship" physicians as part of the Scouts) and Eric Frank Russell wrote some imaginative books that fit the Traveller universe. James White's "Hospital station" books and stories have insightes on alien biology and psychology.

Also Jack Vance. His Languages of Pao explores language as a tool for social engineering. Also the "Demon Princes" novels to explore human diversity and adaption.

 

[Zutroi]

Oh! My! GAWD!!

No one mentions the Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold?!

 

[eclipse]

Originally posted by Antares Administration:
Now I have to race off to the library....

Actually, there is one three-novel series that I thought did the whole "Marine" thing very well. But I don't remember the name or author. Maybe someone can help.

The series was set in the near future solar system. It has the U.S. and it's allies set against the Chinese, French, Germans, etc. Each of these countries has just started to form aerospace and space marine units (although not always called that, and the scientist of the various side have discovered alien artifacts on the Moon, Mars and (I think) Europa.

One of the novels is a campaign to liberate a captured research camp on Mars. The others are set on the other planets respectively. The weapons used are laser carbines, ACRs and gauss weapons, as well as a whole slough of support weapons.

Now I have to go back and find those....

Found 'em! (I love the internet)

The Heritage Trilogy by Ian Douglas:

Semper Mars (1998)
Luna Marine (1999), and
Europa Strike (2000).

The long march in Semper Mars is well written, and the final battle in Europa Strike gives me a whole new appreciation for combat on a frozen water moon!!!

Paul Nemeth
AA

Ian Douglas is a pen name of William Keith.
Yes...Traveller fans, that William Keith.
http://users.stargate.net/~whkeith/

 

[eclipse]

William Keith also wrote a series about Navy SEALs under the pen name H. Jay Riker.

Good material for GMs and players.

 

[mad13142000]

Stop it...Bad computer...
(I hate it when I'm surfing and access a PDF file, and I'm using the little hand and then try and do that after it drops back to a regular web page...)

Anyway...
I spend a lot of time trading, and I like that series by Peter Hamilton...Where the guy has a trader and gets caought up in the war thing...was that the Reality Dysfunction series? I can't remember...(I read too much..sorry)
I currently have in my paws a cool book by
J. Neil Schulman called The Rainbow Cadenza
very interesting....hmmm....
later
-MADDog

-------------------------------------------------
Meddle not in the affairs of the Vargr, for they are furry and quick to biting you..

 

[Zutroi]

Not specifically for Traveller, but simply for anybody who likes a really good tale -

Bridge of Birds
The Story of the Stone
Eight Skilled Gentlemen

all by Barry Hughart

Omnibus edition "The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox"

 

[FANTASYFAN1968]

What about some of the earlier David Drake work? Seems t'me that Hammer's Slammers , Cross the Stars , and At Any Price would be good sources for ideas (esp. for Merc campaigns). Of course, they may be hard to find now. I believe they're out of print.

 

[Nellkyn]

>What about some of the earlier David Drake work?
>Seems t'me that Hammer's Slammers , Cross the
>Stars , and At Any Price would be good sources
>for ideas (esp. for Merc campaigns). Of course,
>they may be hard to find now. I believe they're
>out of print.

AFAIK all of David Drake's Hammer’s Slammers books are in print from Baen. I've had no problem picking them up in the UK from Borders bookshop.

The book titles have changed from when I first borrowed some of his books from a friend. Available in the UK is Caught in the Cross Fire, The Tank Lords, The Butcher’s Bill and the Sharp End. There is also a new hardback out that I’ve not been able to track down yet.

Best regards,

Neil McGurk

 

[FANTASYFAN1968]

Nellkyn,

Thanks for the info on the Slammer's books. Have had some trouble finding them locally, and could not remember who the publisher was. I need to add the books to my faves collection - guess if I can't find them on shelf, I'll have to have one of the local bookmongers order it in for me.

 

[jappel]

Some other books that give an interesting take on the military side of things: Robert Frezza's "A Small Colonial War", "Fire in a Faraway Place" and "Cain's Land". Both are excellent stories with very interesting characters and a well-developed colonial world society.

For some more traditional space-opera-ish fare, Brian Daley's 'Hobart Floyt and Alacrity Fitzhugh' stories come through. "Requiem for a Ruler of Worlds", "Jinx on a Terran Inheritance" and "Fall of the White Ship Avatar" are set in a universe that seems to me to be very Traveller-inspired in some ways.

John

 

[PapaGolfWhiskey]

RE: Hammer's Slammers.

In Later years Baen and Drake re-relaeased Drake's Slammers stories in new editions, organised the way Drake wanted them and with new short stories added. Think of the ones labeled The Tank Lords, The Butcher's Bill, et al. as being the 'Author's Cut' version. Some cool new stories in there by the way.

Drake has an interesting habit of telling us where he get's his ideas in his afterwards.

"Cross the Stars" is his version of The Oddessy with 'Mad Dog Slade' as his Ulyssus (sp?)

"The Warior" (an older novel I don't think is in the new re-releases) Is based on the tale of Achilles

"The Sharp End" is neat. He says he based it on a couple of Dashiel Hammet novel but to me it reads more like a team version of "A fistful of dollars" -- Btw the idea of a survey team that is used would be GREAT for a small party of adventurers with a merc theme.


For some other good Early stuff. Try "Mark II: the military dimension." This includes his early sales to horror and sci-fi mags when he just got back from Vietnam.

For humour (yes Drake does humour) Try 'all the way to the gallows' another book with some amusing short stories. some of them even useful to the Traveller Referee.

Re: this thread.

Similar ones come up from time to time (Seems one like this was up last time I was online here.)

I'm surpurised no one mentioned H. Beam Piper. Piper's works are Traveller. (okay not quite but they certainly captured the feel for me.)

And I'm Morally certain that Traveller TNG got some of it's riffs from his centuries spanning future history. (Star Vikings? Space Viking?)

He was a friend and Mentor of Pournelle. (At least according to a preface by Pournelle in one of the collected short story books.) and Pournelle credits pothumous resales of his work for reviving the fortunes of ACE books in the latter decades of the 20th century.

 

[Jame]

Tanya Huff has written two "Confederation" novels, "Valor's Choice" and "The better part of Valor.

Where can I get H. Beam Piper novels, and which novel starts The Miles Vorsogian novels?

 

[PapaGolfWhiskey]

I'm not sure Where you can get Piper's books. The 'new' ones of mine were released in the early to mid 80's. The older ones are little gems I've found slogging through the heaps of Robotech novels and D&D books that currently clot the used book seller's shelves. Most people who own Piper books seem to hang on to them. ACE books has the rights, they -might- be still in print. Watch out for the ones labeled as 'collaborations'or 'set in the worlds of H. B. Piper' Ace had the rights to the books (Piper commited suicide in the early 60's I believe) and had other authors come up with new stories or edit and expand imcomplete novel notes. These aren't bad books but they Aren't Piper. I can give you a List of titles and ISBN's if that would help.

Vorkosigan:

Heh! you're in for a treat. You don't HAVE to read Lois McMaster Bujold in chronological order. Each book is self contained and very well written. (some of her early works aren't QUITE as good as some of her Masterpeices but all are good)

However, Here is the Chronology of the novels Bujold sets in the same milieu as her Vorkosigan Novels.

Falling Free - Nothing to do with Miles. (set 200 years before his birth on a different planet. But you'll find references to this story throughout her books. Especially in 'Diplomatic Immunity')

Shards Of Honour/Barrayar - The story of how Miles' Parents met, followed by the story of how Miles came to be... Miles. Also Collected in a single book 'Cordelia's Honour'

The Warrior's Apprentice - Miles is 17 and proceeds to take over a Mercenary Fleet.

"The Mountains of Mourning" - Short story found in Borders of Infinity.

The Vor Game - Miles is 20 and finally achieves his dream of becoming a military officer in his home planet's military despite certain handicaps. Further adventures ensue.

Cetaganda - Miles is 22 and while on a mundane diplomatic mission get's caught up in a murder mystery and politics in the heart of his planet's enemy's Capital.

Ethan of Athos - Nothing to do directly with Miles. Adventures of a young Doctor from a planet composed entirely of men. Some Tangential connections with Miles including a not-so-minor supporting character. Miles is busy on Cetaganda at this time.

"Labyrinth" - Short story in "Borders of Infinity". Age 23, Miles is on a Recruitment mission for his home planet's intelligence. Things go wrong.

"Borders of Infinity" - Short story in book of same name. Miles is 24 and staging a major prisoner of war breakout.

Brothers in Arms - Still 24 and pursued by enemies (more than he knows) Miles and his fleet reach Earth. Attempts at R&R and getting his mercenary fleet paid um... come awry.

Borders of Infinity - Miles is 25, The framing device for the other short stories in this book is that he is in the hospital getting debreifed by his boss in Barrayaran Intellingence.

Mirror Dance - Miles is 28.

Memory - "Miles hits 30: 30 hits back"

Komarr - Still 30 Miles has a new job. He is still very good at getting himself into trouble.

A Civil Campaign - THIS ONE ROCKS... er.. one of her best and most recent novels. Shades of Dorothy L. Sayers in this one. Miles proceeds to woo a lady during some internal political upheavals in his home. Miles being Miles proceeds in his courtship as if it's a military campaign. I can't do this one justice. Read it.

Diplomatic Immunity - The most recent so far and the latest in the chronology as well. good stuff They're all good stuff even the worst one. (Cetaganda) is a ripsnorting read and only pales in comparison to it's cohorts, not to any other book.

er... yeah good stuff there's the order but read whatever you get your hands on.. they're all good.

ps - nearly forgot some of the short stories and 'The Vor Game' were collected into a book called 'Young Miles' I don't own that one so cannot tell you exactly what's in it.

 

[jappel]

I'm not sure if any of Piper's books are currently in-print, though you can check with Baen (www.baen.com). They're readily available on the used/second-hand market - I've bought several that way via Amazon.

Ah, the Vorkosigan series! Another of my favorites, don't know why I didn't think of those. Here's a list of the books in the order of the story timeline (they weren't written in order). Note that some are available in omnibus editions - for example, "Shards of Honor" and "Barrayar" are found together in "Cordelia's Honor". I've listed the omnibus book the earlier novel is contained in if applicable. All are published by Baen, and current info is there (http://www.baen.com/author_catalog.asp?author=lmbujold).

1. Falling Free (Not a Vorkosigan book, but in the milieu)
2. Shards of Honor (Omnibus - Cordelia's Honor)
3. Barrayar (Omnibus - Cordelia's Honor)
4. The Warrior's Apprentice (Omnibus - Young Miles)
5. The Vor Game (Omnibus - Young Miles)
6. Cetaganda (Omnibus - Miles, Mystery, Mayhem)
7. Ethan of Athos (Only one character from the main storyline here, but part of the milieu) (Omnibus - Miles, Mystery, Mayhem)
8. Brothers in Arms (Omnibus - Miles Errant)
9. Mirror Dance (Omnibus - Miles Errant)
10. Memory
11. Komar
12. A Civil Campaign
13. Diplomatic Immunity

There's also a collection of three short stories called "The Borders of Infinity" that take place between the end of "The Warrior's Apprentice" and "Brothers in Arms". They are included, one apiece, in the three "Miles" omnibus books.

Probably more than you wanted to know, but better to have and not need, right?

John

 

[PapaGolfWhiskey]

Jinx ;p

 

[Redleg58]

Originally posted by eclipse:
I finished the 4th book in John Ringo's War with the Posleen book. This one was called Hell's Faire. Good read. It's a wonderful setting and full of good grist for the GM's mil.

Haven't got to book 4 as of yet but they are great,love his power armor ideas...Ideal setting
for a game.

 

[Jame]

What I mean is, "what is the first Miles book ever published, which introduces the reader to Miles and the setting?" Thanks for the in-book chronology, that way I can fit them together if I ever get to them.

 

[jappel]

Jame,

If you want to start with Miles, then begin with "The Warrior's Apprentice" or the omnibus "Young Miles". TWA was the first book Miles appeared in (except as a baby / toddler in "Barrayar") both from the storyline perspective and by publication date.

John