Kim Stanley Robinson is probably my favorite living author; I don’t think anyone does setting and worldbuilding better than he does, yet his stories are largely character-driven.

Here’s my favorites of his that I’ve read:

  • Aurora, where a generation ship is on it’s way to Tau Ceti
  • The Years of Rice and Salt, an alt-history where most of Europe perishes in a great plague in the 14th century
  • Shaman, a fictional narrative about the people who painted Chauvet Cave

I love how his stories are about being optimistic in times where that’s a hard thing to be. I like the focus on environmentalism and the sublime (Ministry for the Future is basically a solarpunk novel). He mostly writes hard sci-fi, which is my favorite genre, but also spins off into history and philosophy like in Galileo’s Dream.

I think most people know his writing from his Red/Green/Blue Mars series, which I love, but he’s done so much more than that.

So what’s your favorite of his books?

  • Zombiepirate@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    2·
    6 days ago

    I’ve heard that some people just can’t get into them, which is fair enough, but I cannot relate.

    I agree though that he’s not everybody’s cup of tea. I’m the same with Alastair Reynolds, even though it seems to be just what I’d like.

    • _spiffy@lemmy.caEnglish
      3·
      6 days ago

      I finished the first of the Mars trilogy. I just found it for the most part very boring. I started the second but moved on to other books. I’m sure I’ll finish them but they just need to be after things I desire to read more.