Generally I go for Non-Fiction:
a) US History 16th-19th centuries (Allan Eckert is my favorite).
b) Biographies and stories of Explorers and Archaeologists (US, Europe and Middle East).
c) Biographies and stories about "big wigs" such as Hitler, Stalin, Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Constantine, Early Roman Emperors, The Inquisition period, et al.. . I could go on and on...

Recently, though, I've gotten back into reading fiction. I need some recommendations.

More about what I like:

Stephen King: Long ago I loved him but did not read anything by him for many years. I just finished the "Tower" series, and his latest "Under the Dome". They were pretty good, but I was too often bored by his going on and on about what the characters were thinking...

Michael Crichton: Now I'm reading Michael Crichton's "State of Fear". I love his mix of science and fiction. Generally, though, I don't like "Science Fiction".

Robert Ludlum, et al: I like spy/espionage stuff that brings historical and other real informaton/techniques into the story.

Clive Cussler: Similar to Robert Ludlum. (Note: John Grisham, in my opinion, is over-rated. I've read 3-4 of his books and don't want to try him again).

Arthur C. Clarke: A true scientist who wrote awesome fiction that brings science and potential future science into his novels.

***********

Based on the above, can any of you give me some suggestions for other Authors/Books that you think I would enjoy?

Thanks!

PS: Cool website is Similar Authors... but I've not found anything there that turns me on yet.

Though it tends a little towards science fiction I have lately been enjoying the novels of Robert sawyer: Amazon.com: Robert J. Sawyer: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
I've read about 5 of them so far and really enjoyed it.
I'm currently into a post-apocalyptic phase right now, there are some neat novels about that.

Thanks, NK. I'll check him out at my local stores. I'm happy to have 2 Half Priced Books stores near me.

What's your review of Under the Dome? It's on my list.

Did I hear my doorbell ringing?

Have you read Crichton's Timeline? From Wikipedia, "It tells the story of historians who travel to the Middle Ages to save a friend of theirs who already traveled back in time before them. The book follows in Crichton's long history of combining technical details and action in his books, addressing quantum physics and time travel."

I don't care for science fiction or fantasy, but totally enjoyed Piers Anthony's series "Incarnations of Immortality." The first book, On a Pale Horse, is the best, but all are good. Again from Wikipedia, "The book focuses on Zane, a photographer about to commit suicide, but who instead kills Death and must assume his office." It's clever and funny and features very human characters caught up in and struggling with something bigger than themselves.

You might like Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series. From Wikipedia, "Claire is mysteriously transported to the 1700's while on holiday in Scotland. In the past she meets and is forced to marry a young highlander named James Fraser. Their life together woven through time is the basis for her bestselling and acclaimed Outlander series." I certainly learned a lot about England and Scotland during the time of Charles I.

Have you checked with reader's advisory at your local public library? There are print and electronic resources that can pinpoint for you various authors and titles in whatever type of historical fiction you might want to try. And don't forget the non-fiction titles that read like fiction, i.e. The Perfect Storm (Sebastian Junger) and In the Land of White Death: An Epic Story of Survival in the Siberian Arctic (Valerian Albanov).

P.S. Unless I KNOW a certain title is a keeper, I will read it first as a library book and then decide if I want to buy it for my personal library. Most books I read do not make the cut.

I hope this thread continues, I'm adding books to my Amazon Wish List because of it. Thanks Rick and WG.

Generally speaking, I did like Under the Dome... but was bummed that the climax and end of the story all came in the last few pages of the book.

Seems to me like maybe he got bored with the story so ended it quick (and kind of silly).

... unlike The Stand, which is my favorite of his. I loved the book and the movie too.

I'll be happy to give you my copy of Under the Dome if you'll PM me your address.

I'll pay for up to $5 of the shipping. I'm thinking that it should not be much more than that using USPS Flat Rate Shipping.

If any of you think that you might like what I like, I HIGHLY recommend Allan Eckert... especially A Sorrow in our Heart, The Life of Tecumseh" and The Frontiersmen.

He is my all time favorite and hero of authors.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Did I hear my doorbell ringing?

Have you read Crichton's Timeline? From Wikipedia, "It tells the story of historians who travel to the Middle Ages to save a friend of theirs who already traveled back in time before them. The book follows in Crichton's long history of combining technical details and action in his books, addressing quantum physics and time travel."

---

Yes, I read Timeline and loved it. If you have not yet read his earlier work Andromeda Strain, you should. The movie was pretty good too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

I don't care for science fiction or fantasy, but totally enjoyed Piers Anthony's series "Incarnations of Immortality." The first book, On a Pale Horse, is the best, but all are good. Again from Wikipedia, "The book focuses on Zane, a photographer about to commit suicide, but who instead kills Death and must assume his office." It's clever and funny and features very human characters caught up in and struggling with something bigger than themselves.

You might like Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series. From Wikipedia, "Claire is mysteriously transported to the 1700's while on holiday in Scotland. In the past she meets and is forced to marry a young highlander named James Fraser. Their life together woven through time is the basis for her bestselling and acclaimed Outlander series." I certainly learned a lot about England and Scotland during the time of Charles I.

---

Thanks! I'll check them out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Have you checked with reader's advisory at your local public library? There are print and electronic resources that can pinpoint for you various authors and titles in whatever type of historical fiction you might want to try. And don't forget the non-fiction titles that read like fiction, i.e., The Perfect Storm (Sebastian Junger) and In the Land of White Death: An Epic Story of Survival in the Siberian Arctic (Valerian Albanov).

---

No, I've not checked with the reader's advisory options at my local library. Frankly, I'd rather pay a couple of bucks for a book than check it out at the library then have to remember to return it before the late charges get tacked on because I forgot to return it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

P.S. Unless I KNOW a certain title is a keeper, I will read it first as a library book and then decide if I want to buy it for my personal library. Most books I read do not make the cut.

---

I'm with you. I buy books for a couple bucks, read them and then either give them away or donate them to charity and write them off :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

I hope this thread continues, I'm adding books to my Amazon Wish List because of it. Thanks Rick and WG.

---

I'm glad I asked. I read a book every other week, so will be sure to check back and give reviews of what I've read recently.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickJ

No, I've not checked with the reader's advisory options at my local library.

---

Be sure to do that. You don't have to check out any books, but just start making lists for future reads. Amazon has innumerable books available from used book sellers. For only a penny plus a nominal shipping fee, you can obtain some fantastic books. And Amazon has a pretty good reader's advisory search tool -- authors who write like other authors.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Amazon has innumerable books available from used book sellers. For only a penny plus a nominal shipping fee, you can obtain some fantastic books. And Amazon has a pretty good reader's advisory search tool -- authors who write like other authors.

---

Thanks for that tip. I'll check into it.

The Company, fictionalized account of the CIA from its beginning. 900 pages, it includes many actual historical characters/events and has a style that combines le Carre and Ludlum. Good used copy for a penny at Amazon plus $3.99 shipping.

Lonesome Dove. McMurtry's Pulitzer winner of fictional treatment of cattle drive Texas- Montana. Best thing of this sort I ever read. 1000 pages. Truly memorable characters.

Both of these were best-sellers, so maybe you've already read them.

I read The Company and saw the movie. I remember liking them both.

Based on the previous suggestions, I picked up 3 books yesterday:

Piers Anthony, Firefly
Diana Gabaldon, The Fiery Cross
Robert J. Sawyer, Factoring Humanity

I started Sawyer's book.

Thanks for the suggestions, all!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickJ

I read The Company and saw the movie. I remember liking them both.

Based on the previous suggestions, I picked up 3 books yesterday:

Piers Anthony, Firefly
Diana Gabaldon, The Fiery Cross
Robert J. Sawyer, Factoring Humanity

I started Sawyer's book.

Thanks for the suggestions, all!

---

Firefly is not part of the "Incarnations" series. It's as close to porn as he ever got. Start with On a Pale Horse for the excellent "Incarnations" series. Just sayin'.

You should read Gabaldon's "Outlander" series in order. Don't start with Fiery Cross; start with the first book in the series, Outlander. Just sayin' again.

Ya got to do this right, Rick.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Firefly is not part of the "Incarnations" series. It's as close to porn as he ever got.

---

<adds Firefly to list>



:)

Am I too late for the party?

Athos, I really enjoyed "The Company" also.

Rick, WG is right about reading the Outlander books in order. It will make more sense to you if you start with the first in the series. Although it has been many years since reading them, I do remember I liked them. A wee bit more bordering the romance novel genre than I normally prefer, but all in all, I enjoyed the series.

I believe I mentioned these books on an older thread, but thought I would repeat them because they are the books that have stayed with me for years. If you enjoy historical fiction, I found Gary Jenning's books, "Aztec" (about the Aztec empire before & during the Spanish invasion) and "The Journeyer" (Marco Polo's travels), riveting. I also thoroughly enjoyed Caleb Carr's "The Alienist" (about a serial killer amid the political and social backdrop of late 19th century New York City).

Of course there is always "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. I read it when he first published it. Oprah gave it a huge boost in sales a couple of years ago after she stumbled upon it.

Have you read any of James Michener's books? "Hawaii", "Centennial", "Alaska" & "Texas" are all wonderful historical novels.

Another one I enjoyed is Gore Vidal's "Lincoln".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Firefly is not part of the "Incarnations" series. It's as close to porn as he ever got. Start with On a Pale Horse for the excellent "Incarnations" series. Just sayin'.

You should read Gabaldon's "Outlander" series in order. Don't start with Fiery Cross; start with the first book in the series, Outlander. Just sayin' again.

Ya gotta do this right, Rick.

---

Frankly, I did not know that Fiery Cross was a part of the Outlander series. I was looking specifically for the Outlander series but did not see any, so just grabbed Fiery Cross thinking it was a "stand alone" book.

I guess I did not read it's cover (or back) close enough.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickJ

Frankly, I did not know that Fiery Cross was a part of the Outlander series. I was looking specifically for the Outlander series but did not see any, so just grabbed Fiery Cross thinking it was a "stand alone" book.

---

Whether it's a paperback or a hardcover, it should give a list of series titles on the left-hand page before the title page. Seems like I may have to drive over there and do your book shopping for you. Stop "grabbing" books.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Firefly is not part of the "Incarnations" series. It's as close to porn as he ever got. Start with On a Pale Horse for the excellent "Incarnations" series. Just sayin'.

You should read Gabaldon's "Outlander" series in order. Don't start with Fiery Cross; start with the first book in the series, Outlander. Just sayin' again.

Ya gotta do this right, Rick.

---

I'm almost done with Robert J. Sawyer's, Factoring Humanity. It's not really my cup of tea, but I'll finish it for sure. I'm one who cannot quit any book halfway through...

I'm thinking that I like the sound of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.

Am I right the order of the series is
1. Outlander
2. Dragonfly in Amber
3. Voyager
4. Drums of Autumn
5. Outlandish Companion
6. Fiery Cross
... then a couple more?

I just finished Michael Crichton's State of Fear (great premise but not nearly as exciting as Chrichton's earlier works) and Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games (fantastic), so next I'll get into the Outlander series.

So do I have the order right for the Outlander series?

I was bummed to not find the correct order listed on either Gabaldon's website or Amazon.

Outlander
Dragonfly in Amber
Voyager
Drums of Autumn
The Fiery Cross
A Breath of Snow and Ashes
An Echo in the Bone

The series includes romance, i.e. the day-to-day relationship Claire has with Jamie, but it's not a turn-off or too "girly." There's lots of history, plus I had to get out my atlas now and then. The main characters end up in the New World later in the series and struggle to survive there. I didn't care for one of two of the titles (and, of course, the first book in a series is always the best), but I read them anyway to maintain continuity.

Hmmm, maybe I will tackle On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony this weekend.

***ADDED*** You had listed Outlandish Companion -- from Amazon reviews --

For nine years, four books, and nearly 4,000 pages, Diana Gabaldon has entranced readers with her talent for historical authenticity, dramatic plot lines, and strong characters in the Outlander series. Her superb writing has earned a loyal audience, but after a million and a half words, even the most fervent of fans may have a difficult time trying to recall the exact details of the secondary characters, let alone the obscure ones. Thankfully, Gabaldon's The Outlandish Companion is here to help.

Part crib notes and part trivia guide, this essential handbook includes synopses of the first four novels, a character guide, notes on plot development and research, answers to frequently asked questions, and teasers for the upcoming novels--there're even horoscope charts of the central characters, a list of fan Web sites, and choice recipes for the truly devoted.

Readers looking for a fix of Gabaldon's humorous voice or insight into her writing processes and characters will certainly be more than satisfied, but those looking for the next installment of Jamie and Claire's adventures will have to wait for The Fiery Cross, the fifth book in this bestselling series, expected sometime in late 1999 to early 2000. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Outlander
Dragonfly in Amber
Voyager
Drums of Autumn
The Fiery Cross
A Breath of Snow and Ashes
An Echo in the Bone

---

I picked up the first two and have started Outlander. So far I'm finding it a bit difficult since a) it takes place in an area I know nothing about and b) Gabaldon writes as some of those people talk... so I'm having to read much slower than I normally would.

And so far it seems a bit "soap opera-ish"... but I'll hang in there and at least finish the first one. If I like it, I'll go onto the 2nd one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickJ

I picked up the first two and have started Outlander. So far I'm finding it a bit difficult since a) it takes place in an area I know nothing about and b) Gabaldon writes as some of those people talk... so I'm having to read much slower than I normally would.

And so far it seems a bit "soap opera-ish"...but I'll hang in there and at least finish the first one. If I like it, I'll go onto the 2nd one.

---

I think I mentioned somewhere along the way that it's a bit of a "girly" book because of Claire and Jamie's romance, and, yes, you have to get into the flow of the style of "talk." The first one is the best, which led me to read the second and third, and I learned more about that historical time. The parts I skipped are probably the ones you'll like.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

I think I mentioned somewhere along the way that it's a bit of a "girly" book because of Claire and Jamie's romance, and, yes, you have to get into the flow of the style of "talk." The first one is the best, which led me to read the second and third, and I learned more about that historical time period. The parts I skipped are probably the ones you'll like.

---

I'll be looking forward to more of the historical stuff - and the main gist of the story about Claire's "time travel" experience.

Wondergirl, as a fellow history lover, I highly recommend to you Allan Eckert. Next time you're in a bookstore, check out The Frontiersmen and/or A Sorrow in our Heart: The Life of Tecumseh

Check them out; you will not be disappointed.

I'm almost done with Dragonfly in Amber, the 2nd book of the Outlander series.

I find myself in a love-hate relationship with the series.

* I love the time travel "twist" of the series, but there is so little about part of the story, I've almost forgotten that Claire has gone back in time.

* I'd describe the first book as action/adventure with a romance on the side. The second book is vice versa: It's a romance novel with a little action/adventure on the side. I'm getting a bit bored - especially when Gabaldon goes on for 2-3 pages about Claire's feelings.

* It's kind of neat how Gabaldon writes like the Scottish people talk, but sometimes it gets overwhelming to try to remember what certain words mean. I wish there was an appendix that listed some of transliterations.

* The historical aspect of the series is fascinating. How Gabaldon has inserted her characters into real cities and real historical events of the 18th century is pretty cool.

The 2nd book is particularly frustrating in that it starts in 1965 or so - but then it jumps back to the 18th century with no explanation at all as to when Claire went back to her own time. I'm "gutting through" the romance junk hoping to get back to the good stuff.

----------------

Someone just gave me October Sky, by Homer Hickam.
It is based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the launch of Sputnik 1 to take up rocketry against his father's wishes, and eventually became a NASA scientist.

The movie was really good. I'm presuming the book will be better.

I'll probably read it before moving on to the 3rd book of the Outlander series.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickJ

I'm "gutting through" the romance junk hoping to get back to the good stuff.

---

LOL! That sounds a lot like me. Currently I've taken the task of reading the unedited, full version of Stephen King's The Stand - all 1150 pages. I'm a little over a quarter through and am enjoying it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

LOL! That sounds a lot like me. Currently I've taken the task of reading the unedited, full version of Stephen King's The Stand - all 1150 pages. I'm a little over a quarter through and am enjoying it.

---

That's my favorite SK book. You are in for a real treat.

The movie (TV miniseries) is pretty good too.

Have you read The Shining? If not, it's a great one too.

There are two video versions of The Shining. I highly recommend the TV Miniseries (NOT the movie with Jack Nicholson).

Duly noted. Thanks.

Rick, you pretty much feel the same way I did about the Outlander series. I mentioned it was a bit heavy on the romance novel for my tastes.

I agree with you on SK. The Stand was my favorite of his books. It was one of the handful that were great reads before he became too commercial for my taste. The Shining was a favorite too, but my second favorite of his books was The Dead Zone. Much better than the movie or the series. So, NK if you like The Stand, check out the Dead Zone too.

Yes, Dead Zone was very good too. His earlier stuff was the best.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

Currently I've taken the task of reading the unedited, full version of Stephen King's The Stand - all 1150 pages. I'm a little over a quarter through and am enjoying it.

---

Are you done with it yet?

Your thoughts?

Regarding the Outlander series:

Despite my love/hate relationship with Gabaldon's "Dragonfly" series, I've continued with it. I'm almost done with the 3rd book, Voyager. The first half of it was great. I'm bummed that the 2nd half of it is going back to "soap opera" love story BS... but admittedly I will keep reading: to see what comes of it.

Right now Claire has just escaped the British Man of War boat hoping to somehow find Jamie to let him know that he will be arrested by the acting captain of the Porpoise.

I keep asking myself:

1) Why did Claire not take antibiotics and other good stuff with her when she went back to Jamie's time?
2) Why did Claire not invite her daughter to come with her?
3) Why did Claire not scratch something into a stone that her daughers and others would see in the 20th century to prove that she indeed went back in time.

At this point I'm thinking that Gabaldon is just making things up as she goes along, and missing some things from her past books (especially the fact that the "Witch" Geilie Duncan went back to the 18th century AFTER she was executed.

Did Gabaldon goof up with that?

Oh well. I guess this is what fiction authors battle with when trying to do something as grandiose as this series is...

I can't imagine how difficult it would be to write a series of books (that is now up to about 10,000 pages) without leaving some readers frustrated.

I didn't have any continuity issues with the Outlander series--I love them, actually, and some of that stuff is explained later.

I think some of the stuff you're asking about may be explained later--I can't remember where in the books everything is explained, and I don't know if you missed it or it hasn't happened yet--and I hate giving spoilers.

When you're done with the Outlander stuff, you need to read Orson Scott Card's "The Redemption of Christopher Columbus"--stand alone, set in both the future and the past--interesting stuff.

If you like alternate histories, I have a couple series you might enjoy, as well as a couple of "what if" stories.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Synnen

When you're done with the Outlander stuff, you need to read Orson Scott Card's "The Redemption of Christopher Columbus"--stand alone, set in both the future and the past--interesting stuff.

---

Oh, yeah! The Redemption of Christopher Columbus!!

Time travel books I thoroughly enjoyed:

Kindred - Octavia Butler (Kindred (novel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

The Mirror - Marlys Milhiser (probably not enough historical stuff for you, is classified as horror, The Mirror (Millhiser) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Oh, yeah!! The Redemption of Christopher Columbus!!!!!!

Time travel books I thoroughly enjoyed:

Kindred - Octavia Butler (Kindred (novel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

The Mirror - Marlys Milhiser (probably not enough historical stuff for you, is classified as horror, The Mirror (Millhiser) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

---

Thanks, Wondergirl and Synnen.
I'll check them out when I'm done with the books that I'm reading now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickJ

Are you done with it yet?

Your thoughts?

---

About 2/3 of the way through the unedited The Stand. It's going in a direction I didn't anticipate. He spent a lot of time on the old lady, content that didn't grab me or really add anything I thought. This whole good vs evil thing that runs through the book, especially the Dark Man, is not what I expected at all; I expected a kick-*** post-apocalyptic novel that wasn't so focused on the supernatural. I'm going to read the whole thing for sure. I got a few novels for Xmas so I'm all set after that.

I've vowed to reread all the F. Paul Wilson (scifi/horror, F. Paul Wilson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) books I had first read back in the '80s. Black Wind (one setting was Hawaii on 12/7/41) was my favorite. Am working on his collections of short stories right now.

Did anyone besides me ever read Perfume by Patrick Suskind? From Wikipedia, "The story focuses on Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a perfume apprentice in 18th century France who, born with no body scent himself, begins to stalk and murder virgins in search of the "perfect scent", which he finds in a young woman named Laure whom his acute sense of smell finds in a secluded private garden in Grasse.")

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickJ

Are you done with it yet?

Your thoughts?

---

Well at about page 700 of 1100 I decided to give up on The Stand's Complete and Uncut version. It became laborious and was going in some religious direction that felt like a bait and switch (kind of like the Left behind books). I think I may have enjoyed the original shorter version. I've got a few Wired magazines to catch up on then it's on to some twisted novels.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

Well at about page 700 of 1100 I decided to give up on The Stand's Complete and Uncut version. It became laborious and was going in some religious direction that felt like a bait and switch (kind of like the Left behind books). I think I may have enjoyed the original shorter version.

---

Many, if not most, of Stephen King's books are a basic good vs. evil storyline. Despite that, I still like his older stuff because he has a great way of developing the characters so that I feel like I know them very well.

And as far as "laborious" goes: I feel your pain. Sometimes he goes on for many paragraphs about detail and description that gets boring.

Since you like some science fiction, try Michael Crichton or Arthur C. Clarke.

Have read most of Crichton, I discovered Robert Sawyer a couple of years ago and *really* like his stuff <-- that's my style for sure.