What do you recommend?

I'm looking to get into reading more sci-fi books, but I don't even know where to start. I used to read a lot when I was a kid, but then I started to get more interested in making movies, that I ended up constantly watching and analyzing movies. I feel that if I read more, it might offer some insight into writing and story-telling.

So, does anyone have anything they would recommend in the sci-fi genre? Particularly, something thought-provoking or something with an outer-space setting? (short stories preferred over long novels or series, just because I don't have a lot of free time, lol)
 
Hi Mike,
While there are many threads on many SciFi fandom sites to find recommendations it's interesting that you choose CoolSciFi to ask the question. Even here, by reading back a bit in the archives there are dozens of recommendations and many excellent reviews to view.

The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle is a great choice. You may even be able to find it free online if you look.

The Baen Free Library offers a multitude of Science Fiction and Fantasy short stories and excerpts.
https://www.baenebooks.com/c-1-free-library.aspx

In Addition, For short stories, The Years Best Science Fiction has great stories by leading authors that currently spans 30 Years. The 2014 release has not yet been published.
Terry Bisson has a story titled THEY'RE MADE OUT OF MEAT which is fun to read.
http://www.terrybisson.com/page6/page6.html

If libraries are your thing, You might be able to get a hold of some old publications like
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Fantasy and Science Fiction
Analog Science Fiction and Fact http://www.analogsf.co.m/0906/issue_06.shtml
Asimov's Science Fiction Home of the World's Leading Science Fiction Magazine | Asimov's Science Fiction
Strange Horizons http://www.strangehorizons.com
Space and Time Magazine http://spaceandtimemagazine.com/wp/
Interzone TTA Press - Interzone: New Science Fiction & Fantasy - Latest News
Weird Tales Weird Tales
Not one of us, http://not-one-of-us.com
Challenger http://www.challzine.net/
Clarkesworld Magazine
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/

Here is Sheena 5 (Talking Squids in Outer Space) by Stephen Baxter
Talking Squids in Outer Space - Blog Talking Squids in Outer Space

Dark Planet Fiction Archives also has short stories to be read:
Dark Planet: Fiction Archives
 
thanks for the suggestions! I'll try to find Mote in God's Eye because it seems interesting. I looked up the synopsis and it seems like something I'd enjoy reading, first contact with an alien species
 
'Martian Chronicles' by Ray Bradbury
'Starship Troopers' by Robert A. Heinlein (much better than the movie)
'Roadmarks' by Roger Zelazny
'A Case of Conscience' by James Blish
 
How about The Island of Stability by Steven Edwards and Andrei Petcu? Sounds like what you are looking for. Available on Amazon for Kindle too.
 
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