• SreudianFlip@sh.itjust.works
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      5 days ago

      Sure, I guess it depends on your style preferences… I prefer science fiction, so can’t remember much about the sword and sorcery novels, but they’re readable, and like anything Delaney does, underpinned with exploration of the power of words, ideas, power, desire.

      Stay away from Dhalgren.

      Nova is probably the most space opera novel with a standard structure. Good starting place.

      Babel-17 is intense and weird and fairly short, about language as a weapon. Sometimes you find a copy doubled up with Empire Star which has a plot and structure that loops back on itself.

      Probably my favourite is Stars in my Pocket Like Grains of Sand which is probably the most alien yet approachable family portrayal in SF. Sadly it’s the first half of a duology that didn’t get finished, probably because it stands alone really well.

      The short story collections vary but are mostly wins for any reader.

      • A_norny_mousse@feddit.org
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        4 days ago

        I forgot to mention that yes, it was definitely Dhalgren.

        Anyhow, yes to SciFi. Space Opera sounds most suitable to me, so that’s where I’ll start.

        Thanks!