IF YOU LIKED AVATAR, YOU WILL LOVE…
January 5, 2010 – 5:11 pm by Andrew Paul Wood
Given that everything that Hollywood has produced since ET is derivative, it strikes me that if you enjoyed the movie Avatar, you will probably enjoy the following novels exploring similar themes – I know I do:
The Sparrow, Maria Doria Russell, 1996.
The Left hand of Darkness, 1969, and The Word for World is Forest, 1972, Ursula K. Le Guin.
A Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert A. Heinlein, 1961.
Cycle of Fire, Hal Clement, 1957.
The Winds of Altair, Ben Bova, 1983.
King of Argent, John Phillifent, 1963.
The Dune series by Frank Herbert, 1965-1983, but not the inferior cynical cash-in prequels by his son.
Transfigurations, Michael Bishop, 1979.
Alien Influences, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, 1995.
Brightness Falls from the Air, James Tiptree Jr, 1985.
Night of Light, Philip José Farmer, 1966.
Leviathan’s Deep, Jayge Carr, 1979.
The Right hand of Dextra and The Wildings of Westron, David J. Lake, 1977.
Any of the Polesotechnic League novels by Poul Anderson.
Dragon’s Egg, Robert L. Forward, 1980.
Any of the Culture novels by Ian M. Banks.
The Fourth Hemisphere, David Lake, 1980.
The Rival Rigelians, Mack Reynolds, 1967.
Shadow Man, Melissa Scott, 1995.
The Rakehells of Heaven, John Boyd, 1969.
The Helliconia novels of Brian Aldiss, 1982-85.
A City in the North, Marta Randall, 1976.
Fire Time, Poul Anderson, 1974.
Jem, Frederick Pohl, 1979.
Any book by Mike Resnick – and he’s a really cool guy.
A Case of Conscience, James Blish, 1958.
Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide, Orson Scott Card, 1986-91.
Out of the Silent Planet, C. S. Lewis, 1948 (and no, nothing like Narnia)
Medea: Harlan’s World, (ed) Harlan Ellison, 1985.
Mission of Gravityand Star Light, Hal Clement, 1954-71.
Stations of the Tide, Michael Swanwick, 1991.
The Mote in God’s Eye and The Gripping Hand, Larry Niven (also a thoroughly nice guy) and Jerry Pournelle, 1974-97.
Downtime, Cynthia Felice, 1985.
Omnivore, Piers Anthony, 1968 (long before the endless tediousness of the Xanth novels)
Rogue Queen, L. Sprague de Camp, 1951.
Penterra, Judith Moffett, 1987.
The Flight of the Dragonfly, Robert L. Forward, 1984.
Highwood, Neal Barrett Jr, 1972.
Total Eclipse, John Brunner, 1975.
Remnant Population, Elizabeth Moon, 1996.
Unearthly Neighbours, Chad Oliver, 1960.
Little Fuzzy, The Other Human Race and Fuzzies and Other People, H. Beam Piper, 1962-84.
8 Responses to “IF YOU LIKED AVATAR, YOU WILL LOVE…”
The Jesus Incident, Frank Herbert.
By Kim Lowe on Jan 11, 2010
Perhaps we should collect the above for a spontaneous bit of book burning.
By flake on Jan 25, 2010
What I’m actually saying is that the movie is a pastiche and that these books are infinitely better. And frankly, I ‘m rather of the opinion that anyone who advocates book burning, even in jest, probably deserves a place on the bonfire (with possible exceptions for J K Rowling, Dan Brown, Gentry Lee and the guy who wrote the “Left Behind” series).
By Andrew Paul Wood on Jan 26, 2010
Ahh Humour at my expense, how I don’t miss Neut Zealand. Andrew your fear is as plain as your pitiful comment, humour escapes you.. are you some sort of Zionist Jew? Of course no offence if you are, only you know there have been more Holocosts than Nazi Germany you fuck. I was disgusted that you should so passively associate DUne, alone.., with such a trite piece of Faschist recruitment propoganda such as Avatar. Hence comment. You identiy perhaps strongly with your Patrichal dominate genre, nerd
By flake on Feb 13, 2010
Really? Na’vi = Zen-Sunni Freemen, Harkonnens = imperialist oppressors, Paul Atriedes = messianic convert to the local cause.
Sorry, I really don’t find the idea of book burning funny.I’m pretty sure that just makes me a liberal humanist with a grasp of history, not a Zionist (definitely not a Zionist). Nor am I Jewish, but you sound like a screaming anti-Semite.
And really, if you thing tirades of abuse like that are in any way clever or endearing, I earnestly suggest you seek some psychiatric help, because I don’t want to play.
By Andrew Paul Wood on Feb 14, 2010
ugh, Dune at least had the foresight, as did lord of the rings to build in the unavoidable repetition of war, like this argument, once touched always inflamed. Tirades of abuse are simply part of this medium Andrew or have you not noticed, and play is exactly what you are doing.
By flake on Feb 20, 2010
M m m m – me thinks flake has lost the plot. First, Dune and the Ring Lord are figments of someone’s imagination, let’s not forget our grip on reality. Second,the original post was not inflammatory and where the book burning suggestion came from is a mystery – a right wing paranoid personality defect perhaps? Peronally, I found APW’s list impressive: how long did it take to compile, and what swot has all that at their fingertips?? Keep up the good work, man.
By spitfire on Apr 4, 2010
such a liar, if you didn’t want to play you’d simply remove the comment and/or not reply. We both like to trade openly, everything is fair game.. to a point. I was offended that you took my book burning quip seriously. That is all. It demeaned your intelligence and mine.. I offered you ways out but your ego being what it is . well your comments say it all. Good for you though letting it all hang out! I applaud.
Spitfire, readings fun huh.. don’t give up.
By Flake on Apr 11, 2010