Books & Movies that push the limits of hard science

[Dingleberry]

I second Vinge. His science made my head hurt, in a good way. His books are the only ones I've read that made me feel like the alien science stuff was truly alien - not hand-waved "it's alien so I don't need to explain it," but rather just the right amount of explanation coupled with wonder to make me feel like it was truly beyond human comprehension.

 

[CCamfield]

I'd definitely vote for Diaspora. It didn't make my brain hurt, but it was pretty mindblowing. Gleisner robots, artificial intelligences living in artificial environments, interstellar

Spoiler

and interdimensional[/i] travel...

 

[ShrinkyLink]

I was fortunate enough to find a near complete set of E.E. Smith's 'Lensman' series. Very pulpy stuff, and very weird: I can't imagine what readers back then must have thought of it. And George Lucas owes the man a very great debt as regards major plot points in 'A New Hope.'

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

I was fortunate enough to find a near complete set of E.E. Smith's 'Lensman' series. Very pulpy stuff, and very weird: I can't imagine what readers back then must have thought of it. And George Lucas owes the man a very great debt as regards major plot points in 'A New Hope.'

I believe the Lensman books are being republished. I picked up the first in a nice new paperback edition a few months ago. Haven't seen the second one yet, though.

Brad

 

[Acid_crash]

I always go to Peter F. Hamilton for my sci-fi reading needs. His latest Pandora's Star is pretty damn good.