As an example, I love the Martian, and I think a lot of older books from authors like Asimov are heavily into engineering / competence porn. Other favs in this category include the standalone novel Rendezvous with Rama to leave you wishing for more, most of the Culture series for happy utopian vibes, Schlock Mercenary for humor, Dahak series for fun mindless popcorn.

Edit: I’m so happy to have found a replacement for r/books and the rest of them.

  • AFK BRB Chocolate@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    21 days ago

    If you end up searching online for that kind of things, “hard science fiction” is the phrase that’s usually used for it.

    A lot of good recommendations here. Some endorsements and other recommendations:

    • Project Hail Mary by Weir is a no brainer choice if you liked The Marian. He gets the science right.
    • Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikovsky is amazing, and the first of a trilogy, so more to read.
    • The whole Expanse series, by James Corey is good and he does a good job with the science, especially the celestial mechanics.
    • The Uplift series (starting with Sundiver) by David Brin is great, and Brin is will known for hard SF. It’s from the 80s.
    • Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie, is great and the first of a series as well.
    • Beggars in Spain, by Nancy Kress, is great, with a good science background, though it’s more genetics than engineering. Really cool story though.
    • I also agree with the recommendation on Saturn’s Children, by Charles Stross. Also the first of a loose series.

    On the flip side, I really didn’t care for Three Body Problem, and though the Bobiverse books seem fun, I’m not sure I’d call them firmly hard SF.

    • Subverb@lemmy.world
      0·
      21 days ago

      The Three Body Problem is bad. The hype for the book is a good example of “The Emporer’s New Clothes”.

        • Semjaza@lemmynsfw.com
          0·
          21 days ago

          I found the third book very weak, albiet with some interesting ideas.

          Also, made it clear that he can’t write women at all.

          I found them overall fine to good, except the main character’s chapters in the final 2/3rd of Book 3 which were just kinda bleh by the end.

          Book 1 was strong idea explored well.

          Book 2 felt good at the time, but I think feels weaker in hindsight but was some more interesting ideas.

          • damnthefilibuster@lemmy.world
            0·
            22 hours ago

            Most western sci-fi authors are shit at writing women. So I didn’t hold it against him. But sure, I can see how some people didn’t take to it.

            To me, it was a beautiful series with loads of interesting and horrible twists and turns. The ending is sublime, to me.

            • Semjaza@lemmynsfw.com
              1·
              13 hours ago

              Most sci-fi authors who can’t write women don’t make them the symbolism laden protagonist of their trilogy’s conclusion.

              Not sure if I should give him points for effort there or not.

              Despite my complaints, I do think it worth a read.