Books & Movies that push the limits of hard science

[Captain Tagon]

A friend of mine was talking to me about Chaos Theory and Nihilism some months back. I have a smattering of knowledge of what Chaos Theory is, but not with Nihilism. Where should a beginner start to get a grasp on these subjects?

Well, for starters, Nihilism is more of a philosophical belief than a scientific idea of any kind. Basically, it is the belief in nothingness.

 

[WayneLigon]

I'm in the mood for some books/movies that really pushes the edge of science and science fiction. What do you recommend?

Probably the only film I can think of right at the moment that pushes hard science to the limit might be Primer, a short (barely 80 minutes) film that explores what happens with time travel in a very plausible manner. It's not an easy movie to 'grasp', I will say. I watched it, then watched it again with the director commentary, then went to the forum on the movie site itself - that explained a bit better what had gone on and who did what to who. Or rather, which version did....

Listen closely to every single thing the characters say. It's important.

Brainstorm might be another one. The idea of taping what the brain experiences is a good solid staple of modern SF. It goes out of the strict SF arena right at the end but I still think it's one of the most solid SF pictures ever made simply because it does one of the things SF is suppossed to do: take an idea right to the edge of it's logical conclusions.

Hal Clemet, Larry Niven, Robert Forward... all are good names for hard science fact SF.

 

[Blue_Kryptonite]

For books, Gregory Benford has some good stuff. Eater was the first thing that suggested itself to me to answer your question.

 

[Capellan]

David Brin's stuff is pretty good, and he has the scientific background to know what he is talking about.

 

[Umbran]

Okay, now, posting from where I can see my library....

Stuff by David Brin can be fun. If you want pushed Science, go for Earth. His short novel The Practice Effect explores a universe where the laws of thermodynamics are somewhat reversed. His two Uplift Trilogies (Sundiver, Startide Rising, The Uplift War and Brightness Reef, Infinity Shore, Heaven's Reach) are less rigorous, but chock full of ideas.

Other authors to look for include Greag Bear and Ben Bova, Gregory Benford, and Vernor Vinge.

You might also want to try Heart of the Comet (about an exploratory team that lands on a comet) by Gregory Benford and David Brin.

Shiva Descending is a good "big thing about to hit the Earth" book, by Greg Benford and William Rotsler.

If you like that one, also try The Hammer of God by Arther C Clarke. Similar subject matter to Shiva Descending.

Murasaki is a novel in six parts about a exploratory group on a planet where we find alien live. Authors include Poul Anderson, Greg Bear, Greg Benford, David Brin, Nancy Kress, Frederik Pohl, eidted by Robert Silverberg.

 

[Fast Learner]

Vernor Vinge does an excellent job pushing the boundary. I highly recommend the award-winning A Fire Upon the Deep, and recommend its sequel/prequel/other-novel-set-in-the-same-univers, A Deepness in the Sky, as well as his excellent short story collections.

 

[Soel]

Probably the only film I can think of right at the moment that pushes hard science to the limit might be Primer,

I second this. Best movie dealing with the theme of time travelling.

 

[ShrinkyLink]

Greg Egan makes my brain bleed. I remember reading a story of his in Asimov's (can't remember the title right now, sorry: something about scientists putting their consciousnesses into clones on a spaceship, then flying into a black hole). Whole paragraphs puzzled me for days as I tried to get even a basic grasp of the science.

I went to the Asimov's boards and mentioned how, try as I might, this story baffled me.

Gardner Dozois replied that he didn't understand it, either.

I didn't feel so bad after that.

Still..Egan is highly recommended. Suffice to say he doesn't spoon feed you.

 

[KenM]

Back in the day, EE "Doc" Smith really pushed hard science. But his stuff is hard to find these days.

 

[noretoc]

gonna agree with other. Greag Bear's Earth. Good book. I like Larry Niven's short story stuff. Robert Forward. Anyone involved in the LASF group tend to have huge background in physics. Most are great to read.