Can anyone recommend a sci-fi book about orbital navigation or orbital warfare?
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Qingu (
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February 28th, 2010
I am looking for a book that gives the “feel” of what it would be like to travel, or perhaps fight, in orbit. I’ve only read two books that even describe something like this, and only for a small part of the books: Anathem and Hyperion (and I liked both of them a lot).
I don’t really know anything about the “hard SF” or “military SF” genres.
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9 Answers
I would check out Iain M Banks’ “The Culture” series of books. Specifically, “Excession” has a lot of space battles. The only thing I would be hesitant about is that the book kind of drops you in the middle of the setting w/out explanations. Actually, all of the books kind of do that. You’ll have to read another of his books to really understand the setting (specifically, “Use of Weapons”).
I bought “Shadow Watch” by Tom Clancy but havent read it yet cuz i was busy. Its suppised to be about a space hotel (which is on an orbit) but i dont think its focused TOO much on space. I also liked Orphanage by Robert Buettner which takes place in space and planets away from Earth.
I do like my hard Sci-Fi, but I haven’t really found much that goes into space battles too much. Arthur Clarke is very good at describing space travel excruciatingly realistically. The short story Earthlight by Arthur Clarke had some good stuff as far as battles go, but that’s the most I’ve seen him write on engagements. The Odyssey series was good for space travel. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Ender series, but I’ve yet to read any of them.
The only experience I’ve had with military SF is Yukikaze which I just read and thoroughly enjoyed.
The Honor Harrington series by David Weber definitely involves a lot of space battles. Some of them do occur when one or more ships are in orbit.
There are some spoilers in this link, but it’s a nice overview of the series.
Yes, the Ender series is very good and along with ship to ship battles in space, the sequences in ‘the battle room’ are also of that nature. Children fight with laser pistols in a zero g room to learn lessons about combat in space and zero g tactics. The book also talks about the strategy of space warfare- there is no up or down….no supply chain for a deep space voyage, using a planet’s composition to your advantage and so on.
moonraker…It’s a good start…I don’t know if its a “james bond”(007) book or just a movie
There aren’t many battles in it .. but try “Pushing Ice” by Alastair Reynolds.
@saxon1066 Great! Very handy! :)
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