Traveller Novels

[GypsyComet]

Niven has done both shorts and novels. Most of Poul Anderson's stuff is in novel form, but he wrote most of his best works before the era of the supernovel, so they will rarely top a couple hundred pages. The same holds for Asimov, Heinlein, Norton, and most every author mentioned above. They are not inferior reads, however.

 

[Madarin Dude]

Well the Poul Anderson I got is a relatively short one and i have some Larry Niven short stories. I feel most books have lulls in their action and readability and the longer the book the longer the lull. Some longer series have lulls that last for longer than a book. The last thing i want is to be forced to read the Warriors of Phlegm Duodecology

 

[GypsyComet]

Some longer series have lulls that last for longer than a book.

which is why I refer to the style as "Logarrhea", or "Diarrhea of the Keyboard".

The last thing i want is to be forced to read the Warriors of Phlegm Duodecology

The entire Polesotechnic League -> Terran Empire cycle by Poul Anderson (that's the Van Rijn/Falkayn/Flandry stuff) probably runs to 1500 to 2000 pages, but that's also roughly twenty books and two decades-long periods separated by centuries of Long Night, and it rarely slows down even then.

 

[Madarin Dude]

I do like the Poul Anderson book I am reading now and plan to get a few more. I might be more interested in that long cycle by Poul Anderson if the stories were less connected more episodic than serial.

In the past I read Arthur C Clarke he has some good stuff liked about all of it. Asimov more hit and miss he can get dry at times. Different fantasy authors and all. David Gerold has some good books too more space opera style. So i am always happy to add more authors to my reading list.

Personally I want to get away from the more military type sci fi and read more about trade and exploration. I plan on finishing Question and Answer by Poul Anderson later today or tomorrow great read so far. i have some Larry Niven I want to get into next. Maybe break it up with some short stories by David Brin I have been reading.

Thanks everyone for some of the advice on books and I plan on keeping those authors in mind when I am in the bookstore.

 

[GypsyComet]

I do like the Poul Anderson book I am reading now and plan to get a few more. I might be more interested in that long cycle by Poul Anderson if the stories were less connected more episodic than serial.

They are a cycle, not a serial. Most stories stand alone, but are clearly part of the life and times. This is not Perry Rhodan...

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/poul-anderson/

 

[ThunderChilde]

Missing another travelleresque author here, C.J. Cherryh. Any of the Merchanter, Union and Company and for a different take on the Aslan, Channur/Compact series books are great. The Channur novels also illustrate a pan racial, oxygen and methane breathers politcal trade and treaty scheamers plotting storylines.

Her Merchanter and Union/Comany Wars series have interlinked backgrounds with a Traveller feel, no ftl comms. An intersteller society where the old High C slowboaters are still rattling around in this new age of Jump Drive.

 

[hemulen]

"Dying of the Light" an early George R R Martin novel, was strongly reminiscent of Traveller to me (but I haven't read it for years...)

Mark

 

[beowulf2044]

Writing a Traveller specific novel would be tough, as so many Traveller fans have so many takes and viewpoints on their Traveller universes. Not only that, but when you've gone and written the thing, you'll suffer comparison with writers who've already gone and done it (like writing a Traveller Mercenary style story with heavy action, and getting flak for trying to be David Drake).

Still, it's a shame. When you look at all the D&D related novels that have been (and are still being) published, it makes you wonder why the heck Traveller doesn't have the same market potential.

 

[Madarin Dude]

Writing a Traveller specific novel would be tough, as so many Traveller fans have so many takes and viewpoints on their Traveller universes. Not only that, but when you've gone and written the thing, you'll suffer comparison with writers who've already gone and done it (like writing a Traveller Mercenary style story with heavy action, and getting flak for trying to be David Drake).

Still, it's a shame. When you look at all the D&D related novels that have been (and are still being) published, it makes you wonder why the heck Traveller doesn't have the same market potential.

Well there are three that I know of and another mentioned earlier. Remember Traveller has a fraction of the players that D&D has so of course it would not have the same number of books. Before you lament too much remember there are plenty of Star Trek and Star Wars books so sci fi series are alive and well.

I think the gaming aspect it is a bit harder to entice people to sci fi because it takes a bit more thought on average and the mortality of characters makes it a harder sell for potential players.

 

[Hemdian]

Writing a Traveller specific novel would be tough ...

Sometimes Traveller fans need to get off their butts and do something. There are a number of stories on FreelanceTraveller (and I'm having a crack at it myself). And if they are bad, well, hopefully things will improve with practice.

 

[beowulf2044]

Well, I took my shot. It's in JTAS #26 called 'Hidden Cost'. It would have been my first professional sale, except I never got paid for it.

 

[Kilgs]

I'll throw in my 0.02cr since all of you guys have provided me with some great reads. Piper, the Alternity novels and Alacrity Fitzhugh being my latest "bought and devoured, still hungry" phase.

None of these have the "Traveller-Beowulf" feel to them but are great space books.

Honor Harrington by Weber
-More for you High Guard types but I like the intricacies of ship command, politics in the Manticore Kingdom. "Field of Dishonor" is great for noble rivalries and duels. It's pretty fluffy because the protagonist is the greatest thing since flight apparently but still well written books.

Dread Empires Fall by Walter Jon Williams
-Ponderous empire failure, naval battles, corporate/noble intrigue, insurrection... yep, it's all in there. I loved this series. No other trilogy manages to capture ground actions, space actions and political moves so well. It's also apparent that the author wore a twisted grin as he wrote some of it as it takes bureaucracy to a new level.

The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress by Heinlein
Since Beltstrike just came out, how does an asteroid/moon colony fight back? Great book.