What type of Sci-fi is this?

[Moore]

Hello,

I've recently started reading science fiction books and listen to podcasts, and I have to say that they seem like the perfect recipe for fiction. The only thing is that I've also taken interest into a sub-genre that I can't quite pinpoint or describe, and I would like to read more of it.

Ted Chiang's "Exhalation" and "What's Expected of Us" are the closest I can come to explaining this. It's a deep type of sci-fi that deals strongly with concepts--something to make you think. Although I have read other stories that I have very much enjoyed, they haven't engaged me as much as this type of writing.

Sorry I can't be much help with this. Perhaps I'm just a picky reader, but any info or recommendations are still welcomed.


thanks

[mkp]

I am a picky reader too. No matter how many awards a book has won sometimes it just won’t make sense to you. I often fail to get connected with the author but I almost loved all the works of Ted Chiang. Did you try the merchant and alchemists gate? I loved it. Try reading it; you most probably will like it too. The last question and night fall by Isaac, all summer in a day and sound of thunder by ray are some of my favorites.

[knigget]

I *think*  I know what you mean.  Try these:

http://web.me.com/normsherman/Site/Podcast/Entries/2009/10/21_Drabblecast_135-_%E2%80%9CHello%2C%E2%80%9D_Said_the_Stick_by_Michael_Swanwick_Drabble-_Eat_the_Dog_by_Reverend_John_Sleestaxx.html

http://web.me.com/normsherman/Site/Podcast/Entries/2010/3/11_Drabblecast_154-_Family_Values_by_Sara_Genge_Drabble-_The_Stone_Who_Loved_by_Nathan_Lee.html

http://web.me.com/normsherman/Site/Podcast/Entries/2010/3/31_Drabblecast_157-_Brief_Candle_by_Ruthanna_Emrys_Drabble-_BDSM_Bordello_by_A._Bell.html

I hope you like them.

[Planish]

It's a deep type of sci-fi that deals strongly with concepts--something to make you think. Although I have read other stories that I have very much enjoyed, they haven't engaged me as much as this type of writing.

To answer your original question of "What type of Sci-fi is this?", I'd call it "The Good Stuff", or "Good SF" (to broaden it to "speculative fiction").

As far as printed SF goes, have you seen the anthology "The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, 1929–1964"?
Short stories, they're all good. Highlights that I remember from my youth as a new SF reader are “First Contact”, "Microcosmic God", “That Only a Mother”, “It's a Good Life”,“The Nine Billion Names of God”   and “Born of Man and Woman”

Also The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two, novellas.
From Volume Two, my favourite is Vintage Season by Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore (under the joint pseudonym "Lawrence O'Donnell"). The rest of the titles aren't really burned into my memory as with Volume One, but are still pretty good.

Both of those should be in any respectable public library.

[sketchylines]

Hard SF. Sub category maybe "Conceptual/Theoretical SF", as opposed to "gadget/technology SF".
They are the good, true, and rare type of SF. I love Ted Chiang too.

As opposed to stories with an SF setting but a drama storyline, and masquerading around as SF.

[bolddeceiver]

It's also called "anything by Ted Chiang" -- seriously, if idea-heavy is your thing, pick up Stories of Your Life and Others.  Not all the stories are exactly science fiction (some are actually very hard to place in a genre), but all are about big ideas.