Any Sci-fi fans?

I just started to get into Science Fiction, and am surprised how much I enjoy them.  The format allows for the exploration of deeper issues of morality, humanity, society, and spirituality that would be harder to explore in modern fiction without it being pretentious.  Even so, I find modern fiction extremely petty and vain. 

I have started with the clasics, most that have won Hugo awards, and have enjoyed many of them.  I've read so far..."Stranger in a Strange Land" and "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Heinlein, the Foundation books by Asmirov, "Enders Game" by Card, "The Dispossessed" and "The Lathe of Heaven" by Le Guin, "Hyperion" by Simmons, "Dune" by Herbert, and "Altered Carbon" by Morgan.

If your a Sci-fi fan, what are some of your favorites?

I love Sci-Fi.  Its always really interesting and thought provoking. I haven't had a chance to do as much reading lately.  The last Sci-Fi book I read was Hitchhiker's Guide by Douglas Adams and that was fantastic.  Arthur C. Clark did a great series that I read awhile ago.  I think it was called Rama or Rendezvous with Rama.  Anyway it was fantastic.  My DH is a big fan of Tad Williams and the Otherland series.  I'm probably going to tackle those next. 

I've read and loved all of the classics mentioned above.  Don't ask me to pick a favorite.  I love them all for various reasons.

Lately I've been reading Terry Pratchett's books.  I started with his children's books and moved along to the Discworld series.  I love satire, and he does it so well!

I tend to be one of these people who flits back and forth among various genres, sci-fi being one of them.
I have read Ender's Game, the Hyperion series and Dune which you've mentioned.  I do find that there are always so many books out there, sci-fi and otherwise, that I want to read but finding the time to do so is always difficult.

I've recently got into Margaret Atwood having read Oryx and Crake, which was excellent.  I'm now beginning The Handmaid's Tale.  I've also been into Vonnegut who I wouldn't put under the Sci-Fi label but has written some sci-fi-ish books and short stories, really brilliant he is.

I'd completely recommend the Phillip Pullman His Dark Materials trilogy, fantastic stuff.
And more along the fantasy lines, The Dark Elf and Icewind Dale trilogies by RA Salvatore.

Getting back to Sci-Fi, I'd like to read Philip K Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

Matt

I tend to be one of these people who flits back and forth among various genres, sci-fi being one of them.

I'd completely recommend the Phillip Pullman His Dark Materials trilogy, fantastic stuff.
...Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

A very strong DITTO!!  I could not put the Dark Materials books DOWN, and immediately bought tickets to see it at the National when it was on.

I'll also add the classic, The Martian Chronicles.  Never thought I'd get into it, but another one I loved.  I don't think you can go too wrong with Bradbury.

I just started to get into Science Fiction, and am surprised how much I enjoy them. The format allows for the exploration of deeper issues of morality, humanity, society, and spirituality that would be harder to explore in modern fiction without it being pretentious. Even so, I find modern fiction extremely petty and vain.

This is exactly the same reason I read - and love - high fantasy.  I don't find the same fulfillment, however, out of reading sci-fi.  I prefer my sci-fi to come in doses of TV and movie (i.e. Star Trek), however, I thought that Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card is a master) was truly brilliant - having such a powerful message - and I agree with it being required reading in schools (as it is, in some schools, in the States). High Fantasy remains my genre of choice, consistently, because of the afore mentioned exploration of REAL life issues.  I even wrote an article about it a few years back entitled, An Essay of The Heart - Why I Read Fantasy.  In that article, I examined the worth and message of the books I am drawn to over the modern - and usually disgustingly jejune - fiction novels out there that people seem to mindlessly feed upon, and get sick on, like too much Halloween candy.  I used to manage a bookstore, so I had quite a while to observe my consumers "diet" - a foolish diet, for the most part, a lot of the time, in my opinion.

It does not surprise me to hear that you find such substance in the novels you have mentioned; they are ever more than "just a good story"; while they are entertainment, they are also so much more.  Keep reading...and adventuring.  And, let me suggest to you, that if you are finding such enjoyment from these books you might also find such in my favourite genre as well...for the same reasons.