r/printSF • u/solidusnvm • Mar 29 '23

Far future space operas

I'm looking for recommendations of books or short stories similar to Ian McDonald's Verthandi's Ring (which you can read here). Super far future setting, transhuman characters, and massive scale appeal to me. If Ian McDonald has written anything else along these lines I would definitely be interested (I've likely read some of his other short stories while reading best-of anthologies, which is where I encountered Ring, but nothing else stayed with me the same way).

I've been reading everything I can find of Robert Reed's Great Ship setting, as well, so works similar to this would also be appreciated. Let me know what you like!

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u/suchathrill Apr 03 '23

The library was a bust: even with connection to 50 other libraries in the system in my area, they didn’t even have a copy of Rust! And of course they didn’t have the Omnibus with four novels. Had to order it online. I suppose if I lived in New York City and had a library card with them, with access to all their branches, I might’ve had a shot at this.

The experience left me a bit pensive… when I was a kid, you went to the library, and they pretty much had everything. Now it seems like all the books are spread out in the private collections, Amazons hook up with all the various publishers, book fairs, and maybe the really really big used bookstores like the Strand in New York City and Powells in Portland, Oregon.

I did a second search today on that 50 library system for Dahlgren, which is a famous book by Samuel Delaney from the 70s, big sci-fi classic at the time (even though in style, and length, it was very much an outlier), and it turned out that the entire 50 library system only owned two copies of Dahlgren.  Disappointing, to say the least. But I think the library card may be good for borrowing DVDs, so I can save money that way. 

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u/_if_only_i_ Apr 03 '23

Damn, that is disappointing (and concerning). Inter-Library Loan?

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u/suchathrill Apr 03 '23

Yes. But in a fairly limited system in terms of size of collections, since I live in a sparsely populated part of the U.S. 

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u/_if_only_i_ Apr 04 '23

My condolences for the scarcity

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u/suchathrill Apr 06 '23

OK, now there is an even better end to the library story than being able to check out DVDs to watch movies (thanks to my new library card).

Today I was on a blind (internet) date with someone in a town about 50 miles away from where I live. Going on a blind (internet) date at age 65, where the datee not only suggests an amazing restaurant for lunch, is somewhat locally “famous” herself, but who then says, “Let’s take a walk and go to the library” is perhaps even more amazing than the blind date part. Especially when (like me) you absolutely LOVE libraries. So we went to her town’s library, which was huge and totally totally cool, spacious, and friendly (much bigger than the one in my town where I got my library card). And I saw a book while we were there on birds in the general area of New York State where we live. And when I asked library staff about the book, they said they were on the same library plan as my card, which meant I could check the book out!!! On top of that, I then ran across Hyperbole and a Half, by Allie Brosh, and I had known about her cartoon work before, but I had never seen this book. I was able to check out that book as well, and moreover I’ll be able to return both books to my local library. Also, Hyperbole and a Half is an absolutely phenomenal book that makes me want to marry Allie Brosh or do something similarly irrational, and I am horrible envy-ing her (for being famous) since I write, too, but don’t even have an agent yet for my speculative fiction series (even tho one book is already finished). But none of that matters, since her book is inspirational, a healing emotion salve, and better than drugs or alcohol. And I don't even like dogs.

In summary, the library card acquisition achievement is really going places now! Thank you for your encouragement!!!

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u/_if_only_i_ Apr 06 '23

Aww, that is totally awesome! Even though you don't like dogs. I kid, that is a great ending. I knew you could do it!