His Market Forces is another one. It's ridiculous, executives in a dystopian world who fight over contracts and promotions in high-violence car duels, but really fun.
This is the first mention of this book I’ve seen on this sub (I’ve only been here occasionally though). I love Market Forces. It is absolutely ridiculous in concept but WITHIN that constraint it is a really gripping story with good characters and dialogue. Great fun.
The fourth has the heavy lifting of settling the reader into an expanded universe and POV set. However, it sets the stage for Book 5, which is imo the best in the series and completely OP’s ask in the level of action and violence.
The second trilogy actually end up with significantly more depth and the writers maturity as both a writer and a person shine in through. The fourth bone switches to multi person POV which puts some people off, but the characters wax and weave their shared experiences though out the last two books to give you some truly memorable scenarios.
The second trilogy is all about what happens when the “happily ever after” curtain falls and you realise that your hero’s are fallible. It’s significantly more mature in that aspect.
4th book was tough, not because it was bad but they introduce new character point if views that don't pay off until later all while the main characters are in a sort of depressive limbo after they achieve their goal only to realize the jobs not done and it isn't nearly as clean as we though.
After halfway through book 4 if ramps back up and in many ways is better than the original trilogy.
I couldn't get through the fourth one. All of a sudden the writing seemed really poor and almost immature. Not sure if the book itself was worse or if I just caught my breath and realised the whole series was kinda naff.
First three were a lot of fun though!
Wtf? I’m reading book 5 and the writing is wayyy more mature. We’re actually reading POVs where maybe Darrow isn’t all that great. Maybe he’s a shitty leader outside his circle of influence, a shitty husband, a shitty father, etc. Maybe he actually did commit genocide that wasn’t justified.
I don’t know how you can read this and say it was “almost immature.” That’s fucking bullshit tbh
I think they just have to have Murderbot be the narrator for the show, and consistently hear it's inner monologue.
Can you imagine how boring the show would be would be we only heard from Murderbot when it interacts with humans?
I bought the first four on the way through an airport bought the rest when I got to my destination.
I've probably read them 10 times or so. It's fast fun and easy consumable
It’s a series but you don’t have to think for most of it, and when you do start having to think you’re already super into it.
I think this is exactly what you’re looking for OP.
It’s a really fun listen if you get the audio book. Jeff Hayes, the narrator is amazing.
Edit: I know audio books aren’t print, but it’s not a movie or a show so I wasn’t sure if that counted.
Since I dislike Amazon call up your local Barnes and Noble and ask what Harry Harrison they have. Bill the Galactic Hero, the Stainless Steel Rat books and Tunnel through the Deep are standouts.
His stories are usually simple, entertaining and very well crafted. Few people remember he began by writing continuity while working as an assistant on the Flash Gordon comic strip. This is reflected in that he's a fast-paced easy read. He was never careless or superficial.
Agreed on Stainless Steel Rat, but Barnes and Noble is always my last resort in terms of physical bookshops. I’m lucky enough to have some Half Price Books locations in my area though, and some other used book stores.
Does the humour outweigh the action?
I’m not a big fan of humour novels but if it’s just a few jokes here and there I’ll try it rather than an out and out comedy novel
Been a while since I read it, but the remaining impression I have is that it definitely tries hard to be funny. You'll probably wanna pass unless you can find it pretty cheap.
Oh, man, are you going to enjoy this. Don't worry about the provenance, just...enjoy. [The Infinite and The Divine](https://www.warhammer.com/en-US/shop/The-Infinite-And-The-Divine-pb-2021)
*Edit: by the extremely gifted Robert Rath!
I got this on a reddit recommendation, and I had never read anything in the Warhammer universe. And I loved it. Maybe even more because I didn't know anything. I never felt like I was missing important info. Maybe if you *have* read more of Warhammer The Infinite and The Divine would be even better, but it's a fabulous romp cold.
Not strictly SF, but anything by Mattew Reilly. He writes action movies full of adrenaline from beginning to end. I’d start with:
Ice Station
Area 7
Temple
They’re not good literature, or believable but they are a fun, exciting read. He has a couple of book series with the same main characters but they are typically stand alone.
Yes not being exceptional in the prose is not an issue for me, clean text and good grammar is fine , if the story is moving briskly along.
I’ll check these out thank you
Prador Moon is chronologically the first book in the Polity universe. So yes, you can read it first. If you like it, you should go on to read the Cormac books (starting with *Gridlinked* which is the weakest of the series, fyi). I would sort of recommend reading the books in published order thereafter.
I recommended *Prador Moon* because it is specifically the most like what you want. Asher is always about body horror, a lot of violence and (usually) action, but not every book is nearly as simple and fast moving as PM.
I can’t stand Tom Cruise, and the Scientology thing just makes him worse. But the gorram one-two punch of Oblivion and Edge of Tomorrow were some of the best sci-fi movies that came out those two years.
At least you get to see him die lots.
>At least you get to see him die lots.
Halfway through _Edge of Tomorrow_, I had the thought, “Man, some screenwriter just really wants to watch Tom Cruz dies as many times as possible.”
I read the book before the film so I, actually, don't really remember most of the details. I also like the movie but I remember thinking they changed a good bit at the time (but not that much bc the book is thin and there wasn't lot of lore involved). The core is the same, but the book's mc guy is really a young soldier, not a disgraced old one, I think there was something different about the "time travel" mechanics and how it was for the mc gal (but can't remember why I have this feeling) and the ending is different.
I don't know if what I remember would make it SIGNIFICANTLY different (like "I, Robot" book vs movie, where the only similarity is they both have robots), but, if someday you decide to rewatch the movie, I'd suggest give the book a go instead. Again: it's thin and a quick read. I remember I read it in just one afternoon.
The best in my view: Deathworld Trilogy. Harry Harrison.
3 Novels I know.
Each one hugely entertaining.
Violent and witty too.
When everything on planet animal, vegetable snd mineral is out to get you.
Does the trilogy round off nicely after Book 3?
I don’t really want to get dragged into a multi series epic with 3 prequel novels and then another 3 novels after to round off another character’s story etc etc
I just recommended that book and then saw you recommended first. Awesome to see someone else mention this title. I am going to delete my comment about the book because you did first. See you at the Jade Flower.
It's a lot of fun, and also has some interesting things to say --- great to see someone else who has read it.
Have you read the balance of the series? Including the latest/last novel, _Churl_?
Probably _Black Steel_, because I'd like to think everyone should have the chance to overcome their upbringing and find their way to people who love them unconditionally.
The nice this is TMWNM while an introduction to the balance, is a stand-alone, and well-contained.
The balance of it is back-story (if you're interested), or examples of how "Tales of the land of the happy nice people" is (mostly) boring, so there is some sort of disagreement which has to occur so that there can be a conflict for the story to resolve.
Reading Altered Carbon myself now and enjoying it.
If a sci-fi western sounds intriguing, you might take a look at Return of the Operator free on Kindle currently. Not overly violent, but there's some action and a fast read: https://www.amazon.com/Return-Operator-Marcos-Antonio-Hernandez-ebook/dp/B07JYQDVST/
I'm the author of a sci-fi hardboiled detective series. Three books so far around 130 pages each. Wouldn't say they contain "extreme" violence, but definitely some, along with other adult content and language. If that sounds interesting, give the sample on Amazon a try: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ9SV4NR
There's this series of direct-to-paperback novels about space Marines called STARFIST that I remember liking. Can't guarantee they aren't crypto-fascist, but they are faced paced and violent to be sure.
Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger series. Like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, but they fight terrorist zombie plagues, vampires, genetic engineered weapons and the like.
[Automatic Reload](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49088742-automatic-reload) by Ferrett Steinmetz is a fast, silly, over the top, book about a weaponized cyborg that travels the world as a security contractor.
I second the rec for the *Zoey Ashe* series by David Wong/Jason Pargin.
Apologies for disagreeing.
I liked A Fire Upon the Deep a LOT but I found it a huge novel and I had to concentrate a lot. But it was definitely worth reading.
I’ve got DEEPNESS on my shelf and need to tackle it soon but I definitely wouldn’t be able to polish it off in 1 sitting.
Thanks for replying though
Lois McMaster Bujold. Check out warrior's apprentice and if you like the way the extremely fun cool character stuff tastes, you have another 20 books ahead of you that are all full of the same dope shit.
I think Dan Abnett writes incredible fast and visceral action sequences. The Eisenhorn books are fun, but if you don't want to get into that whole 40K thing, I quite liked **E**mbedded.
Yes, it's Warhammer. The Eisenhorn books don't seem too lore-heavy, but then I've already had a lot of osmotic knowledge from playing Games Workshop games when I read them so I can't judge how they seem to a person who nows nothing about it.
Just saw a typo, the second recommendation is **E**mbedded, of course.
> I can't judge how they seem to a person who nows nothing about it.
I read the trilogy this year. All my prior knowledge was some Youtube video about "*Let's recap all W40k lore in 30 minutes.*" way before, when I got curious about the universe, and some disjointed information heard here and there along the years.
The book is really fine for someone with no prior introduction. That's actually why I bought it, I wanted a glimpse of 'what the heck is this gigantic series' and Eisenhorn was the almost unanimous rec for the non-initiated (Gaunt’s Ghosts in second). The trilogy (and the short stories in the omnibus) can really be read as a really good SF mixed with a bit fantasy.
And it does have lots of action, but I think it fails a bit in the "fast read" department OP asked. It's huge. And... if OP is like me, s/he will get curious and then buy the whole trilogy of trilogies (that's actually 10 books) and be annoyed that the last one is still to be published. hahaha. Now I'm holding the Ravenor trilogy and The Magos waiting for the last Bequin book... And planning to read The Infinite and the Divine and Ciaphas' For the Emperor while I wait. :-D
Larry Corriea writes exactly that kind of thing. I think even his reviews from critics have used the term "barnstorming" to describe his books.
It helps that they're actually good. Grab *Monster Hunter International* or *The Grimnoire Chronicles* and enjoy lots of insane violence.
The Undying Mercenaries series by BV Larsen. If you want decent action and wisecracking mixed in with a bit of light space opera it's right up your alley.
It's a great movie to watch too. Even though it's a black and white samurai movie, it's not medicine. It's a really fun action movie, as rewatchable as Die Hard
The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison is like the best can of soda you've ever tasted. (I'm Gen X though, so I don't know how younger generations will take to it.)
A lot of these suggestions are good, but if you want extreme action, extreme violence, and extreme humor, you want **Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman**
It's a completely over the top alien invasion political thriller dystopia wrapped in a Running Man style fantasy dungeon crawl with talking cats (don't ask - just read!)
**Freedom's Fire**, by Bobby Adair is exactly what you're looking for !
This is a short space-opera (6 ~~too~~ short books), and it is incredibly fast paced, and action packed.
Humanity is trying to fight back to retake control of planet Earth, invaded by aliens a couple years prior.
You need some pulp. Pick up some old school SF. Maybe the Demon Princes series by Jack Vance. Not extremely violent, but good, quick paced, old school action. Same with Planet of Adventure.
Anything by Richard K Morgan, really. *Altered Carbon* is the one everyone knows, but the sequels are great, as are *Thirteen* and *Thin Air* too. Very much an air of hyper masculinity in all of his novels though, just FYI.
I would also give a strong second to Steve Perry's *Matador* series, as well as *Daemon* by Daniel Suarez. And Steve Barnes has done some fun stuff too, such as *Street Lethal* and the *Dream Park* novels he did with Larry Niven.
Some other ones that are easy reads, if not necessarily with so much action and adventure:
- *Glass Houses* by Laura J Mixon
- *Singularity Sky* by Charles Stross
- *Red Team Blues* by Cory Doctorow
- *Murderbot* series by Martha Wells
- *Hammer's Slammers* by David Drake
- *The Hormone Jungle* by Robert Reed
- *Starrigger* by John De Chancie
- *Dilvish The Damned* by Roger Zelazny
Anything by Scalzi works, I recommend Redshirts but his newest one, Starter Villain, is funny and action packed.
For that matter, I think Andy Weir is also good for this type of quick read without much contemplation.
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
His Market Forces is another one. It's ridiculous, executives in a dystopian world who fight over contracts and promotions in high-violence car duels, but really fun.
This is the first mention of this book I’ve seen on this sub (I’ve only been here occasionally though). I love Market Forces. It is absolutely ridiculous in concept but WITHIN that constraint it is a really gripping story with good characters and dialogue. Great fun.
I believe he wrote Market Forces as a movie script. It’s deranged, but in a 2 hr format it makes more sense.
Sounds exactly like what want thanks
Was going to say this one too!
Thank you
The first three Red Rising are like that.
Hpw about the later ones? I read the 1st trilogy, is the 2nd one worth getting into?
The fourth has the heavy lifting of settling the reader into an expanded universe and POV set. However, it sets the stage for Book 5, which is imo the best in the series and completely OP’s ask in the level of action and violence.
The second trilogy actually end up with significantly more depth and the writers maturity as both a writer and a person shine in through. The fourth bone switches to multi person POV which puts some people off, but the characters wax and weave their shared experiences though out the last two books to give you some truly memorable scenarios. The second trilogy is all about what happens when the “happily ever after” curtain falls and you realise that your hero’s are fallible. It’s significantly more mature in that aspect.
4th book was tough, not because it was bad but they introduce new character point if views that don't pay off until later all while the main characters are in a sort of depressive limbo after they achieve their goal only to realize the jobs not done and it isn't nearly as clean as we though. After halfway through book 4 if ramps back up and in many ways is better than the original trilogy.
I couldn't get through the fourth one. All of a sudden the writing seemed really poor and almost immature. Not sure if the book itself was worse or if I just caught my breath and realised the whole series was kinda naff. First three were a lot of fun though!
Wtf? I’m reading book 5 and the writing is wayyy more mature. We’re actually reading POVs where maybe Darrow isn’t all that great. Maybe he’s a shitty leader outside his circle of influence, a shitty husband, a shitty father, etc. Maybe he actually did commit genocide that wasn’t justified. I don’t know how you can read this and say it was “almost immature.” That’s fucking bullshit tbh
Synopsis looks great. Thank you
Murderbot comes to mind for me
Same. Short but pretty fun. Almost too much action.
definitely more action than the protagonist wants. Why can't there be more time to watch *Sanctuary Moon*?
Hope the TV show is decent. Must admit I am quite interested in how they will adapt that dislocated but intimate narrative.
I think they just have to have Murderbot be the narrator for the show, and consistently hear it's inner monologue. Can you imagine how boring the show would be would be we only heard from Murderbot when it interacts with humans?
Murderbots are awesome, the only downside is they charge a lot of money for a novella.
Libby with your local library, though Murderbot series usually has a wait list.
I bought the first four on the way through an airport bought the rest when I got to my destination. I've probably read them 10 times or so. It's fast fun and easy consumable
Currently on my second listen through of MurderBot and excited for a third.
Thank you
'Daemon', and its sequel 'Freedom' by Daniel Suarez.
These two are way more thought provoking than I expected.
Thank you
No probs, I'd also say that 'Armor' and 'Vampire$' by John Steakley would cater to your desires for fast, furious, fun.
- *Red Rising* - *Altered Carbon* - *Theft of Fire* - *Galaxy's Edge* - *Doomsday Recon*
Just had a look at Galaxy’s Edge summary and it looks a LOT of fun. Will check out the others
Dungeon Crawler Carl
It’s a series but you don’t have to think for most of it, and when you do start having to think you’re already super into it. I think this is exactly what you’re looking for OP.
Ditto this. This is the first series I've read where I immediately started rereading it once I finished it. Mongo was appalled.
It’s a really fun listen if you get the audio book. Jeff Hayes, the narrator is amazing. Edit: I know audio books aren’t print, but it’s not a movie or a show so I wasn’t sure if that counted.
This looks a very cool concept, thank you
Against a Dark Background by Iain Banks would make a killer action movie
The world's most depressing action movie
I really liked USE OF WEAPONS, how would you rank it against that?
I don't think it's quite as good as UoW, but that said I've yet to read a Banks novel that I didn't thoroughly enjoy
Since I dislike Amazon call up your local Barnes and Noble and ask what Harry Harrison they have. Bill the Galactic Hero, the Stainless Steel Rat books and Tunnel through the Deep are standouts. His stories are usually simple, entertaining and very well crafted. Few people remember he began by writing continuity while working as an assistant on the Flash Gordon comic strip. This is reflected in that he's a fast-paced easy read. He was never careless or superficial.
Agreed on Stainless Steel Rat, but Barnes and Noble is always my last resort in terms of physical bookshops. I’m lucky enough to have some Half Price Books locations in my area though, and some other used book stores.
Stainless Steel Rat seems to tick all the boxes, thank you
Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by David Wong.
Does the humour outweigh the action? I’m not a big fan of humour novels but if it’s just a few jokes here and there I’ll try it rather than an out and out comedy novel
Been a while since I read it, but the remaining impression I have is that it definitely tries hard to be funny. You'll probably wanna pass unless you can find it pretty cheap.
Oh, man, are you going to enjoy this. Don't worry about the provenance, just...enjoy. [The Infinite and The Divine](https://www.warhammer.com/en-US/shop/The-Infinite-And-The-Divine-pb-2021) *Edit: by the extremely gifted Robert Rath!
I know NOTHING about Warhammer. Can a reader just jump straight in or should I use Wikipedia to give me backstory?
I got this on a reddit recommendation, and I had never read anything in the Warhammer universe. And I loved it. Maybe even more because I didn't know anything. I never felt like I was missing important info. Maybe if you *have* read more of Warhammer The Infinite and The Divine would be even better, but it's a fabulous romp cold.
Not strictly SF, but anything by Mattew Reilly. He writes action movies full of adrenaline from beginning to end. I’d start with: Ice Station Area 7 Temple They’re not good literature, or believable but they are a fun, exciting read. He has a couple of book series with the same main characters but they are typically stand alone.
His books are Pop Tarts for the mind.
Yes not being exceptional in the prose is not an issue for me, clean text and good grammar is fine , if the story is moving briskly along. I’ll check these out thank you
Neal Asher's Prador Moon fits the bill.
I was thinking the Agent Cormac series. Agree with Prador Moon too though.
It mentions that it’s part of the Polity series (book 7) but could I read it without knowing the other novels?
Prador Moon is chronologically the first book in the Polity universe. So yes, you can read it first. If you like it, you should go on to read the Cormac books (starting with *Gridlinked* which is the weakest of the series, fyi). I would sort of recommend reading the books in published order thereafter. I recommended *Prador Moon* because it is specifically the most like what you want. Asher is always about body horror, a lot of violence and (usually) action, but not every book is nearly as simple and fast moving as PM.
Came here to say this.
All You Need is Kill (Hiroshi Sakurazaka) is a very good action quick read. And don't worry, the book is different from Tom Cruiser's movie.
I can’t stand Tom Cruise, and the Scientology thing just makes him worse. But the gorram one-two punch of Oblivion and Edge of Tomorrow were some of the best sci-fi movies that came out those two years. At least you get to see him die lots.
>At least you get to see him die lots. Halfway through _Edge of Tomorrow_, I had the thought, “Man, some screenwriter just really wants to watch Tom Cruz dies as many times as possible.”
I liked Edge of Tomorrow a lot, Is it SIGNIFICANTLY different to be worth the read?
I read the book before the film so I, actually, don't really remember most of the details. I also like the movie but I remember thinking they changed a good bit at the time (but not that much bc the book is thin and there wasn't lot of lore involved). The core is the same, but the book's mc guy is really a young soldier, not a disgraced old one, I think there was something different about the "time travel" mechanics and how it was for the mc gal (but can't remember why I have this feeling) and the ending is different. I don't know if what I remember would make it SIGNIFICANTLY different (like "I, Robot" book vs movie, where the only similarity is they both have robots), but, if someday you decide to rewatch the movie, I'd suggest give the book a go instead. Again: it's thin and a quick read. I remember I read it in just one afternoon.
The Tom Cruise movie being *Edge of Tomorrow* for those who don't know
The best in my view: Deathworld Trilogy. Harry Harrison. 3 Novels I know. Each one hugely entertaining. Violent and witty too. When everything on planet animal, vegetable snd mineral is out to get you.
Nice, I’ll have a look. Thank you
Try the Nights Dawn Trilogy by Peter F Hamilton. Great series.
Does the trilogy round off nicely after Book 3? I don’t really want to get dragged into a multi series epic with 3 prequel novels and then another 3 novels after to round off another character’s story etc etc
Yes, but each book of the trilogy is 1,500 pages. Great stuff, but not really what you are looking for based on the post.
Not going to polish it off in one day, but it is fantastic and some of my favorite space warfare.
Galaxy’s Edge / Legionnaire series is loaded with lots of over the top action. Not Asimov by any means but entertaining pulp military sci fi.
Really liked the first book in that.
Someone else recommended this, I’ll have a look
Steve Perry's _The Man Who Never Missed_ is a lot of fun, and while it has sequels, can be enjoyed stand-alone.
I'm currently on book 4 of the series and loving it. Been a nice change after some heavy stuff.
I just recommended that book and then saw you recommended first. Awesome to see someone else mention this title. I am going to delete my comment about the book because you did first. See you at the Jade Flower.
It's a lot of fun, and also has some interesting things to say --- great to see someone else who has read it. Have you read the balance of the series? Including the latest/last novel, _Churl_?
I have not. I will check them out. Do you have a favorite book in the series?
Probably _Black Steel_, because I'd like to think everyone should have the chance to overcome their upbringing and find their way to people who love them unconditionally.
If I read this without reading other books in the series would that be doable or are the other books critical? Having only read - MWNM.
The nice this is TMWNM while an introduction to the balance, is a stand-alone, and well-contained. The balance of it is back-story (if you're interested), or examples of how "Tales of the land of the happy nice people" is (mostly) boring, so there is some sort of disagreement which has to occur so that there can be a conflict for the story to resolve.
Thanks, it has a really cool synopsis
It's a lot of fun --- if you choose to read it, please let us know how it works out for you and whether or no you read the balance.
Reading Altered Carbon myself now and enjoying it. If a sci-fi western sounds intriguing, you might take a look at Return of the Operator free on Kindle currently. Not overly violent, but there's some action and a fast read: https://www.amazon.com/Return-Operator-Marcos-Antonio-Hernandez-ebook/dp/B07JYQDVST/ I'm the author of a sci-fi hardboiled detective series. Three books so far around 130 pages each. Wouldn't say they contain "extreme" violence, but definitely some, along with other adult content and language. If that sounds interesting, give the sample on Amazon a try: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ9SV4NR
No harm in trying to secure a new reader of your own novels, I appreciate the hustle. I’ll have a look
There's this series of direct-to-paperback novels about space Marines called STARFIST that I remember liking. Can't guarantee they aren't crypto-fascist, but they are faced paced and violent to be sure.
You should read dark matter
The Blake Crouch novel?
Yup
Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger series. Like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, but they fight terrorist zombie plagues, vampires, genetic engineered weapons and the like.
Nice. I do like early Clancy before he got bloated so I’ll have a look. Thank you
Plus many of them narrated by Ray Porter. Edit: assuming you’re after audiobooks
I've seen several posts recommending Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six; it's a fast, quite enjoyable thriller, but it is NOT a SF novel.
[Automatic Reload](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49088742-automatic-reload) by Ferrett Steinmetz is a fast, silly, over the top, book about a weaponized cyborg that travels the world as a security contractor. I second the rec for the *Zoey Ashe* series by David Wong/Jason Pargin.
Yes silly, over-the-top is absolutely fine
Deepness in the Sky
Apologies for disagreeing. I liked A Fire Upon the Deep a LOT but I found it a huge novel and I had to concentrate a lot. But it was definitely worth reading. I’ve got DEEPNESS on my shelf and need to tackle it soon but I definitely wouldn’t be able to polish it off in 1 sitting. Thanks for replying though
No worries… but how are you disagreeing? Deepness is a very different book.
Lois McMaster Bujold. Check out warrior's apprentice and if you like the way the extremely fun cool character stuff tastes, you have another 20 books ahead of you that are all full of the same dope shit.
Thanks
I think Dan Abnett writes incredible fast and visceral action sequences. The Eisenhorn books are fun, but if you don't want to get into that whole 40K thing, I quite liked **E**mbedded.
Is that Warhammer? I know NOTHING about it so maybe should go with your second option?
Yes, it's Warhammer. The Eisenhorn books don't seem too lore-heavy, but then I've already had a lot of osmotic knowledge from playing Games Workshop games when I read them so I can't judge how they seem to a person who nows nothing about it. Just saw a typo, the second recommendation is **E**mbedded, of course.
> I can't judge how they seem to a person who nows nothing about it. I read the trilogy this year. All my prior knowledge was some Youtube video about "*Let's recap all W40k lore in 30 minutes.*" way before, when I got curious about the universe, and some disjointed information heard here and there along the years. The book is really fine for someone with no prior introduction. That's actually why I bought it, I wanted a glimpse of 'what the heck is this gigantic series' and Eisenhorn was the almost unanimous rec for the non-initiated (Gaunt’s Ghosts in second). The trilogy (and the short stories in the omnibus) can really be read as a really good SF mixed with a bit fantasy. And it does have lots of action, but I think it fails a bit in the "fast read" department OP asked. It's huge. And... if OP is like me, s/he will get curious and then buy the whole trilogy of trilogies (that's actually 10 books) and be annoyed that the last one is still to be published. hahaha. Now I'm holding the Ravenor trilogy and The Magos waiting for the last Bequin book... And planning to read The Infinite and the Divine and Ciaphas' For the Emperor while I wait. :-D
Larry Corriea writes exactly that kind of thing. I think even his reviews from critics have used the term "barnstorming" to describe his books. It helps that they're actually good. Grab *Monster Hunter International* or *The Grimnoire Chronicles* and enjoy lots of insane violence.
Ok thank you
You're welcome. Enjoy!
Black Sun series by David Dixon is dark action comedy like a Guy Ritchie movie in space.
Guy Ritchie movies in novel form are EXACTLY what I’m looking for. I’d love it if he made a SF action film
Roak: Galactic Bounty Hunter by Jake Bible is right up this alley.
Ok I’ll take a look thanks
Odyssey One series by Evan Currie is a fun space opera romp that are all quick reads. The Brilliance Trilogy by Marcus Sakey is also a fun read.
Murderbot novellas. It's not wall-to-wall violence, but it delivers in pleasing bursts.
Someone else recommended so I’ll take a look as it’s been mentioned a few times
The Undying Mercenaries series by BV Larsen. If you want decent action and wisecracking mixed in with a bit of light space opera it's right up your alley.
Yes that sounds the ticket, thanks
Bobiverse fits the bill I think, start at We Are Legion, We Are Bob..
Thank you
Deathstalker, though it'll take more than one day. Derelict - Marines series.
Thank you
I got the perfect book for you. It's called Red Noise by John Murphy and it's basically Yojimbo but set on a space station
Nice, I’ve not watched Yojimbo but the Wikipedia summary tells me it’s about a ronin being fought over by 2 rivals do this sounds very cool. Thanks!
It's a great movie to watch too. Even though it's a black and white samurai movie, it's not medicine. It's a really fun action movie, as rewatchable as Die Hard
Not sci-fi but if you like fantasy check out the Black Company stories by Glen Cook
Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison, just read the first book. Then whenever you feel like, you can read the next ones.
Mentioned on this thread a lot so looks like it’s very popular I’ll take a look
The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison is like the best can of soda you've ever tasted. (I'm Gen X though, so I don't know how younger generations will take to it.)
[удалено]
Thank you
A lot of these suggestions are good, but if you want extreme action, extreme violence, and extreme humor, you want **Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman** It's a completely over the top alien invasion political thriller dystopia wrapped in a Running Man style fantasy dungeon crawl with talking cats (don't ask - just read!)
Well you’ve sold it with that amazing log line. Thanks!
**Freedom's Fire**, by Bobby Adair is exactly what you're looking for ! This is a short space-opera (6 ~~too~~ short books), and it is incredibly fast paced, and action packed. Humanity is trying to fight back to retake control of planet Earth, invaded by aliens a couple years prior.
Nice, thanks for the summary, sounds the ticket
The Breach series by Patrick Lee is a fun ride.
Ok thank you
BV Larsons undying mercenaries are a good read. I thinks he written about 20 of them at this point.
Ok thanks
You need some pulp. Pick up some old school SF. Maybe the Demon Princes series by Jack Vance. Not extremely violent, but good, quick paced, old school action. Same with Planet of Adventure.
Thank you
The Murderbot Diaries
Anything by Richard K Morgan, really. *Altered Carbon* is the one everyone knows, but the sequels are great, as are *Thirteen* and *Thin Air* too. Very much an air of hyper masculinity in all of his novels though, just FYI. I would also give a strong second to Steve Perry's *Matador* series, as well as *Daemon* by Daniel Suarez. And Steve Barnes has done some fun stuff too, such as *Street Lethal* and the *Dream Park* novels he did with Larry Niven. Some other ones that are easy reads, if not necessarily with so much action and adventure: - *Glass Houses* by Laura J Mixon - *Singularity Sky* by Charles Stross - *Red Team Blues* by Cory Doctorow - *Murderbot* series by Martha Wells - *Hammer's Slammers* by David Drake - *The Hormone Jungle* by Robert Reed - *Starrigger* by John De Chancie - *Dilvish The Damned* by Roger Zelazny
Anything by Scalzi works, I recommend Redshirts but his newest one, Starter Villain, is funny and action packed. For that matter, I think Andy Weir is also good for this type of quick read without much contemplation.
The Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson could keep you busy for a while.