Sci-fi series which I can't REMEMBER

[Lourdin]

About a year ago we rented a house on a lake, and there were books there. One of them was this great science fiction book that I read almost in one sitting, but for the life of me I can't remember the name...there were others in the series, and I'd love to read them. I don't have much to go on, but maybe it'll spark someone's memory.

One of the main characters was a female captain of a spaceship, and they were investigating a planet that had very old structures on it from, they believed, some lost society. There was another part of the book where they found a giant asteroid - which turned out to be a massive spacecraft traveling at a high rate of speed - and they had to do all sorts of things to get their ship going fast enough so they could board the thing. It was a giant ship with nobody on it, but with tons of relics from past races, societies, etc. They had to do a daring rescue to get their people off the ship.

Well, that's about all I got. Hopefully it'll be someone's favorite book or something, and they'll remember the name.

[Brand]

Jack McDevitt's Chindi

[DoctorSpooge]

Asshole has like 437 Nebula noms.

[Mymn]

Originally Posted by Brand

Jack McDevitt's Chindi

now thats fast service, lol

[Zeste]

El Abyss!

[Lourdin]

thanks!

[Zarcath]

Sounds cool, think i'll pick it up.

[T-rex]

I read another of McDevitt's novels, the Seeker, almost completely because it won the nebula award for best novel.

It was, at the very least, engrossing. It isn't in the same series as the novel you read, but it seems like it is moderately similar in terms of subject with a semi-anthropological sci-fi story.

[Lenardo]

T-rex you have to read a talent of war first, since that is the first book that introduces the characters


i've read a talent for war, seeker and polaris by mcdevitt and they were pretty good.

[T-rex]

I never really felt disconnected from the characters in that large of a way. I knew it was part of a series, but it never seemed like I was missing much. If there was any super heavy characterization that was necessary to contextualize the story, then I might have to go back and read the older novel. I'll probably do it anyways, mostly because it was interesting enough and a fun read. Sometimes, for novels such as these, reading the first book last works better. Sort of like getting to know someone at the end of their life and listening to the stories of their younger days. Gives you a totally different perspective on it, which can be very interesting.

[Lenardo]

those 3 books are pretty stand alone so you really do not have to read them in order, imo the first was the more interesting of the 3 but that is me-all were good though.

[Vardisk]

Just recently read through McDevitt's Academy Series, aka Priscilla Hutchins's Story:
The Engines of God
Deepsix
Chindi
Omega
Odyssey
Cauldron

Just to note from the list, but Chindi is the third book in the series. Luckily he writes in a way where it doesn't too much matter to start from the beginning, as he always fills in the reader a little about the previous books, still a good idea to though. But yea, same as the OP, several times I went deep into the night reading the books in this series. One of the better Sci-Fi series I've read in awhile.

[Ogun Nagoura]

OK, I'm trying to remember the titles of two books I read in the 1980's.

First book: The book was about humans who come to a planet that's enviroment is extremely hostile and in order for folks to colonize it you had to become phyiscally faster/stronger to react to it. One image I remember reading was about a small insect that was like a wasp that would fly almost as fast as arrow or bullet and when it hit humans it would go right through them. Another part I remember was if you went off planet for a period of time you had to be retrained to get back your skills before you were allowed back on it.
EDIT: The Deathworld Series Correct it was the Deathworld series from the 1960's

Second book: This had a group of people who were amazing warriors, it focused on some women were spectacular killers and leaders. One scene had a matriarch who was in advanced age, wheelchair bound, killing a group of assiassins with a shotgun and knives. Another thing I remember was this society would engage in massive wars and they had a group of siege warriors called Titans who were phyiscally gigantic, and these guys would soften up the defenses, breach walled fortresses and then let the smaller warriors spill inside and cause havok.

It's not much to go on I know. Anyone know if these novels?

[Zaniel]

Are both from the same series because your first book sounds just like Harry Harrison's Deathworld series. High-G world filled with viscious lifeforms, colonists evolved into superhuman soldiers.

However, your second book is definitely not part of this series and it rings no bells. So if they both from the same series then you are definitely looking for something else.