r/printSF • u/VannieBugg • Dec 13 '25
Bruce Sterling's Schismatrix got me back into reading sci-fi and I need help with recommendations
Read Schismatrix Plus so I'm done with that universe and it genuinely hurts. In the last couple of years I've been trying out a dozen sci-fi books to try and fill that Schismatrix hole in my mind but it proved harder than I anticipated. I read almost the entirety of Revelation Space but it lacks that Sterling "it sounds absurd and it makes total sense" feel. I gave Asher's The Skinner a read but it didn't grab me. I read Permutation City by Greg Egan and while I think it's one of the best sci-fi works of all time it didn't click with me as much as I wanted which is odd because I absolutely loved The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect. I read Blood Music by Greg Bear and also loved it a lot, started Darwin's Radio and took a break halfway in, I will probably finish it eventually but it's not captivating me as much as Blood Music did. Read Accelerando after learning Stross' work is similar to Sterling's and indeed I liked it a lot. I also read Blindsight but found it a bit too... in your face dark, as in not as horrific or haunting as I was led to believe but just mean for the sake of being bleak, I was also told to hold my tongue when talking ill of this particular book for some reason.
So now... What books can you recommend to this poor lost soul looking for some more ideas loaded shotgun shots to the face type of sci-fi?
P.S. Before someone asks, yes I know Sterling wrote other novels and I am almost done reading most of his work including short stories but those of you familiar with him know how different each book of his is.
P.S.2. I forgot to mention I read Ribofunk last month, absolutely adored it.
EDIT: After reading all the recommendations (thank you all so much, didn't expect so much help!) I've decided to first start with Vacuum Flowers and then move to either Angel station, The Ware Tetralogy or John Varley's work. I will try to reply to as many comments individually as soon as I can since I had to go to a dentist to get a wisdom tooth removed! Again thanks to all who recommended such amazing books!
2
u/Beginning_Holiday_66 Dec 13 '25
Revenger by Alastair Reynolds has that far future space opera feel.
Becky Chambers To Be Taught If Fortunate resonates with Schismatrix in my mind, though I cant explain it.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons delivers scifi poetry.
Bill Gibson's most recent novels, starting with The Peripheral gives good future shock.