Iain M Banks Consider Phlebas
Even though was (am) a geeky nerd boy I found most Scifi (like Asimov Clarke, Heinlein) dry and boring.

I was a big fan of Iain Banks since the wasp factory so had to read his latest offering even though it was scifi. I loved it and then I really really loved the next two (player of Games & use of weapons)

So I went back to the "boring old writers" and found out I was very wrong they are ace well apart from Heinlein cos he goes on and on and on and on about fuck all page after page ;o).
(sittingduck Attention seeking, bullshitting fuck-knuckle, Thu 15 May 2008, 17:05, 4 replies)

Nooooooooo!
Heinlein's ace!
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 15 May 2008, 17:09, closed)

Crackhouse
I would say recommend a Heinlein but I wouldn't read it.

At the moment the only thing I'm reading is World of Warcraft guide in between mamoth sessions on said game ;)
(sittingduck Attention seeking, bullshitting fuck-knuckle, Thu 15 May 2008, 17:28, closed)

Consider Phlebas
is a godlike book, and only left out of my list because 2 of you beat me to it!
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 15 May 2008, 19:51, closed)

Good general rule about Heinlein
The thinner the book, the better the story. Almost all of them start well, but far too many go off one one about how everyone should get more sex and simultaneously the sacred wossname of marriage.

RocketShip Gallileo is great if you like Moon Nazis.

The exception to the short books rule is "Stranger in a Strange Land", which maintains at least a modicum of excellence throughout.
( DukeEuphoria Comes highly reccomended, Fri 16 May 2008, 14:20, closed)