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Does anyone know any Hard Sci Fi books about humans surviving without any hospitable worlds? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I'm looking to get inspiration for my own writing. I need a hard sci fi series where earth (and earthlike worlds) are too rare, inaccessible, and/or previously spoiled beyond ability to sustain life. Bonus points if it is set on a multi-generational space station or starship without any other options and goes into detail about life support, living space, mineral mining and expansion of the station to accomodate a growing population, and daily life of it's residents.

If anyone remembers Drifter Colonies from Titan A.E., that's what's in my head.

I'm looking for The Martian levels of realism, and I'm fine with a bit of "Unobtanium" clichés if they're not core to the story.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

Just a loose round up so far

Seveneves Neal Stephenson
Tau Zero Poul Anderson
Metro 2033 Dmitry Glukhovsky
The Children of Time Adrian Tchaikovsky
Lucifer's Hammer Larry Niven
Pushing Ice Alastair Reynolds
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
Diaspora by Greg Egan
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martin
The 100 Kass Morgan
Interdependency trilogy by John Scalzi.
Silo series of books by Hugh Howey

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Seveneves is incredible, with the caveat that the last chapter of the book was almost handwavey with regards to the author's conclusion of where humanity ended up. 10/10 otherwise.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

That last part felt like an entirely different book. I didn't even finish it. I just pretend the story ended before that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (3 children)

What's the rest of his works like? I've read snow crash and loved it, will give seveneves a go.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Highly recommend Anathem and Diamond Age. Cryptonomicon and Baroque Cycle are more tours-de-force but if you are nerdy enough (I mean c'mon this applies to all his work) and very into history, I can recommend those too.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Seconded!

I wouldn't call Cryptonomicon a tour de force, I remember it fondly. But then again, I'm mildly interested in cryptography and historical background to stuff never hurts when presented entertainingly 😀

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

The only other one I've attempted to read by Niel Stephenson has been Cryptonomicon. It seemed to get way, way into the weeds and is over a thousand pages. It was in my 20's that I attempted it and I only made it half way through.

His work is top tier and highly regarded by many as thoroughly researched.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

If you liked Snow Crash, give Diamond Age a try.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Thumbs up for the Silo series. Even though it’s not in outer space, many other boxes tick: multi-generation, environmental systems, spoiled planet …

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Going to have to check this one out!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

I've loved half of that list and now have to read the other half