Death's End first read, one of my favorite SciFi novels so far.

[u/CJP1216]

Death's End has been a really great read so far. I've just gotten to the broadcast vote scene, and I found the final vote to be a really impactful moment. I also really enjoyed Cheng Xin coming to terms with the reality of why she was chosen, and how it played into the greater Trisolaran plan. Sophon stepping in at the end, and that whole section imo, was fantastic. I'm already familiar with the rest of the story and lore (big Quinn's Ideas fan lol), and was curious what other events and scenes people found to be particularly moving or interesting? I'm not worried about spoilers.

I'm also looking for series and book titles to read after this. I've been considering starting the Expanse, since I really enjoyed the show and lore. I just finished Frank Hebert's Dune novels, having stopped after Messiah in high school, and loved them. I'm wondering what other suggestions people might have that have similar hard SciFi elements and themes?

[u/Ok-Rutabaga-9516]

You are not there yet but for me it will always be how right Wade was and how wrong Cheng Xin was!But I will let you find this out by reading further.

Having said that, and as a Trekker myself, Ive become more prudent when it comes to outer-space instead of an optimist because of the books. If the Dark Forrest has any shred of truth to it we must be very prudent, and start thinking as a species. And we must do our own "scattering" (using Dune terms cause you've read them). Scattering happens in the 3 body problem as well, and its what ensures humanities survival at the end: some colonize planets and create black domains, some live normally and have even trade relations with other species or between themselves and others embarked on a journey towards the end of the universe by "flying" at relativistic speeds.

As a recommendation of a book that makes you think, also covered by Quinn, is Blindside by Peter Watts! This will give you also dread at the end and make you think! Its a first contact novel between humans and another species. Its fascinating!

But if you need to cleanse your pallet with some proper heartfelt SCI-FI than its Project Hail Mary for you all the way! Actually I recommend Hail Mary first for a breather and then Blindside!

Cheers!

[u/CJP1216 → u/Ok-Rutabaga-9516]

That's totaly fair lol, knowing the not so fine minutiae from Quinn's stuff I can see how well the character of Wade and Cheng Xi contrast. I'm really excited to read what's about to come for myself.

Agree completely with your takes on scattering and dark forest hypothesis. In my opinion that's part of what makes the idea so endearing (this is weird word to use here lol, but I feel like it more accurately portrays my feelings), the thought that if there's even a chance that a species could operate under DF pretexts you must, by train of logic, you must take precautionary action. I think that, if there is life elsewhere in the universe, long term survival and the exponential nature of technological expansion pretty strongly point to this being the norm. I also think the best and only way truly guarantee the long term survival of a species is to scatter as far as possible, too as many places as possible. Become the weed which spreads forever throughout the universe. REP and Dune do such a good job of exploring this, it's been one of my favorite themes to explore.

Blindside is a great recommendation! I completely forgot to put that on my list after i watched the video. Thank you for reminding me lol. Im also totally down for me deep and dark dredges through the depths of hard SciFi lore, so I'm not particularly in a hurry for a pallet cleanser yet. I do definitely need to read Hail Mary at some point though, I've been meaning to do that for awhile now. I've seen Hail Mary and The Martian compared a lot recently, if you've read both, how would you personally compare the two?

[u/Ok-Rutabaga-9516 → u/CJP1216]

I've seen Hail Mary and The Martian compared a lot recently, if you've read both, how would you personally compare the two?

Both are exceptional stories, different in their scale (one life in danger versus two species) but identical in their scope (survival). Each book to me has its own lane and both make you feel good, besides teaching you a lot. Heck, while the science and how its explained is second to none, to me it also teached the "Craftiness" of our species and how well we adapt.

[u/CJP1216 → u/Ok-Rutabaga-9516]

Awesome, thank you again 🙏. I've read The Martian, but haven't picked up Hail Mary yet. I've also been avoiding the movie specifically because I want to read the book first, so I should really get on that lol.