good next gen SF
Try my man Dan Simmons' "Illium" which covers nanotech and Greek Gods. Sequel published in july 2005. More standard fare would include any of ESA astronomer Alastair Reynold's hard SF novels, limited by lightspeed.
I'm also reading Peter Hamilton's stuff which is good.
Among the newest hard SF is "Singularity" a novel about Tungusta (you'd like that, Uncle Eddie) mini black holes and the unexplained mysterious death of the Soviet Union's Andropov. Recommended by BH theorist physicist Kip Thorne. Reads like a thriller.
-p (likes his SF, booze and other items hard)