They don't write them like they used to. Well, a few do.
Read David Weber's Honor Harrington series a while back. He seemed to be able to keep his concepts (and large naval space battles) straight.
Chris Bunch writes well, so does Timothy Zahn when he's not hacking out Star Wars books (the Quadrail series was entertaining).
The late Roger Zelazny... I think I've read everything that he ever had published. Lots of science in his science fiction, some fantasy elements, excellent character development, solid plots and storylines. Who needs movies when there's a shelf in the house with his books on it? The most remarkable author in the genres that he wrote in. Probably always will be.
Terry Pratchett - Science? Rules? Well... Yes, but first you've got to figure out what the rules actually are, lol. Reading his novels is a humor-based IQ test. And a million (estimated) noteworthy quotes in every novel:
- Always be wary of any helpful item that weighs less than its operating manual.
- I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it.
- It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.
- The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.
- The truth may be out there, but the lies are inside your head.
- In the begining there was nothing, and it exploded.
- Give a man a fire and he's warm for the day. But set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life.
- Stupid men are often capable of things the clever would not dare to contemplate...
- Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
- Seeing, contrary to popular wisdom, isn't believing. It's where belief stops, because it isn't needed any more.
- Bishops move diagonally. That's why they often turn up where the kings don't expect them to be.
- No. Men should die for lies. But the truth is too precious to die for.
- God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of his own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players, to being involved in an obscure and complex version of poker in a pitch dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time.
- He says gods like to see an atheist around. Gives them something to aim at.
- Gods don't like people not doing much work. People who aren't busy all the time might start to think.
