Suggested VSF reading?

[Thunderchicken]

Just to add to this rather large list which should empty your bank account nicely look out for The Rivals of H G Wells, you can usually find it on Amazon. Lots of short stories written during the late 19th early 20th century which will give you some good ideas for games/scenarios. One of the stories is a disaster yarn called the Thames Valley Catastrophe which makes for a good read.   

[Christian]

Not sure if this helps, but there is a fantastic listing of free books from this Australian site:

http://gutenberg.net.au/plusfifty-a-m.html#letterH

There are some excellent authors on there like the aforementioned Burroughs (who I'll be sure to check out after reading this thread) and R. E. Howard. Well, there's just heaps on there... so take a look!

Also thanks for the Turtledove mention, leadfool: my dad has a tonne of his books somewhere and I'll be sure to check them out now.

What a great thread!

[gary1965]

How about-Space Captain Smith by Toby Frost,Plenty of stiff upper lip.

[elysium64]

A late post to this thread, Firstly I would like to second the recomendation of "Anubis Gate" by Tim Powers, one of my all time favourite books.
Also should try "Affinity Bridge" George Mann
and why has no one mentioned "Space 1889" RPG and its Supplements, or the "Forgotten Futures" which is available as a free download here:
http://www.forgottenfutures.com/game/index.htm

[Fuzzywuzzieswiflasers]

For VSF inspiration, of course Wells and Verne and Rice Burroughs from the classics. The film Steamboy is perfect VSF set around the Great Expedition in London with steam powered suits, tanks and massive battle fortresses.

The Mortal Engines series (Phillip Reeve) is good inspiration with zeppelins etc, but more diesel than steam powered.

I am reading a more recent book called Fitzpatricks War (Theodore Judson). This is a post apolcalyptic novel set in 2400. Electronics/electricity has become unusable and everything is now steam powered and the current Super power is very reminiscent of Victorian England. The story starts off a bit slow but seems to be picking up now that I'm halfway through.

Doing a quick websearch Theodore has also written a book called The Martian General's Daugther which I think is along similar dystopian lines.

Cheers
Fuzzy.

[DFlynSqrl]

Also should try "Affinity Bridge" George Mann

I'm glad you mentioned this one.  I saw it in the bookstore the other day and almost picked it up.  Now I'll have to go back and get it.

[Mancha]

Also should try "Affinity Bridge" George Mann

I'm glad you mentioned this one.  I saw it in the bookstore the other day and almost picked it up.  Now I'll have to go back and get it.

I just gave a quickie review of this in the "Newest Book" thread.

Say DFlynSqrl, forgive me if I've asked this before, but what part of Texas are you in?  I'm in El Paso.

[DFlynSqrl]

I just gave a quickie review of this in the "Newest Book" thread.

Say DFlynSqrl, forgive me if I've asked this before, but what part of Texas are you in?  I'm in El Paso.

I guess I missed this.  I'll go check it out now. 

I'm just 10 minutes north of Fort Worth in a teeny tiny town called Haslet.