Must read SF books?

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  • shal

    12 months ago

    
    
    

    Robot series - Isaac Asimov

    Robot series - Isaac Asimov

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  • John Goodwin

    12 months ago

    
    
    

    Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy (first 3) - Douglas Adams
    Rendevous with Rama - Arthur C Clarke
    Do Android Dream of Electric Sheep - Philip K Dick
    Permutation City - Greg Egan (a bit of modern sci-fi there, and so far the only one of Greg's books I've read)
    Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson
    Only Forward - Michael Marshall Smith (not sure if this book is sci-fi, horror or a thriller or all of the above)
    
    Loads more I can't think of right now...

    Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy (first 3) - Douglas Adams<br />Rendevous with Rama - Arthur C Clarke<br />Do Android Dream of Electric Sheep - Philip K Dick<br />Permutation City - Greg Egan (a bit of modern sci-fi there, and so far the only one of Greg's books I've read)<br />Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson<br />Only Forward - Michael Marshall Smith (not sure if this book is sci-fi, horror or a thriller or all of the above)<br /><br />Loads more I can't think of right now...

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  • Patrik Johansson

    12 months ago

    
    
    

    Thank you! I've read some of the Foundation books by Asimov, not the robot series though.
    And Hitchhikers Guide of course!:)
    But some books on the list that I will check out, keep 'em coming! :p

    Thank you! I've read some of the Foundation books by Asimov, not the robot series though.<br />And Hitchhikers Guide of course!:)<br />But some books on the list that I will check out, keep 'em coming! :p

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    • shal

      12 months ago

      
      
      

      hé hé ... The three laws of robotics ... very exciting :) I strongly recommend it!!

      hé hé ... The three laws of robotics ... very exciting :) I strongly recommend it!!

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  • John Goodwin

    12 months ago

    
    
    

    Another trilogy that occurred to me on the way to work was the Brentford Trilogy (the first three at least) by Robert Rankin. These would appeal to Douglas Adams fans. Humourous novels revolving around aliens, strange goings on and British pub culture.

    Another trilogy that occurred to me on the way to work was the Brentford Trilogy (the first three at least) by Robert Rankin. These would appeal to Douglas Adams fans. Humourous novels revolving around aliens, strange goings on and British pub culture.

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    • Patrik Johansson

      12 months ago

      
      
      

      I checked out The Brentford Trilogy, looks good. I will try to read the first book when I can!

      I checked out The Brentford Trilogy, looks good. I will try to read the first book when I can!

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  • frank smith

    12 months ago

    
    
    

    Try anything by David Brin. I would HIGHLY suggest his novel Earth.
    
    Also great is Kim Stanley Robinson's RGB Mars Trilogy
    
    +++ to Snowcrash!

    Try anything by David Brin. I would HIGHLY suggest his novel Earth.<br /><br />Also great is Kim Stanley Robinson's RGB Mars Trilogy<br /><br />+++ to Snowcrash!

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  • Andrea Santambrogio

    12 months ago

    
    
    

    I would go for the following as well:
    
    - Ray Bradbury: Martian Chronicles, Farenheit 451
    - Phillip K Dick: Tales, Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch
    - Orson Scott Card: Ender's Game quadrilogy
    - Isaac Asimov: The complete robot stories
    - Aldous Huxley: Brave New World
    
    Other good authors: Ursula K Le Guin, Vernor Vringe, Robert Silverberg, Arthur C Clarke, Robert A Heinlein
    
    I would leave out "The hitchikers guide to the galaxy", being overly absurd and too clowny IMHO.

    I would go for the following as well:<br /><br />- Ray Bradbury: Martian Chronicles, Farenheit 451<br />- Phillip K Dick: Tales, Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch<br />- Orson Scott Card: Ender's Game quadrilogy<br />- Isaac Asimov: The complete robot stories<br />- Aldous Huxley: Brave New World<br /><br />Other good authors: Ursula K Le Guin, Vernor Vringe, Robert Silverberg, Arthur C Clarke, Robert A Heinlein<br /><br />I would leave out "The hitchikers guide to the galaxy", being overly absurd and too clowny IMHO.

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  • Tomas Aurelius

    12 months ago

    
    
    

    Although not technically "sci-fi," I also recommend "the Magician's Nephew." Good book. Ender's Game is also an american cult classic.
    
    Second question - Does anyone know the title of a sci-fi book about the crisis that occurs when we learn how to instantaneously transport from one place to another? I know that's a vague description. I read the book about 6 years ago and can't find it...

    Although not technically "sci-fi," I also recommend "the Magician's Nephew." Good book. Ender's Game is also an american cult classic. <br /><br />Second question - Does anyone know the title of a sci-fi book about the crisis that occurs when we learn how to instantaneously transport from one place to another? I know that's a vague description. I read the book about 6 years ago and can't find it...

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  • facyla

    12 months ago

    
    
    

    Books : Dune (Frank Herbert), Mars (trilogy)..
    Authors : Norman Spinrad, Edgar Allan Poe, Jules Vernes..
    
    + many books you can't tell what's fiction or reality... ;~)

    Books : Dune (Frank Herbert), Mars (trilogy)..<br />Authors : Norman Spinrad, Edgar Allan Poe, Jules Vernes..<br /><br />+ many books you can't tell what's fiction or reality... ;~)

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  • frank smith

    12 months ago

    
    
    

    I agree that Vernor Vinge's stuff is fantastic!
    
    Also check Greg Bear and Gregory Benford. The two of them and David Brin are known as the Killer B's.

    I agree that Vernor Vinge's stuff is fantastic!<br /><br />Also check Greg Bear and Gregory Benford. The two of them and David Brin are known as the Killer B's.

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  • Dominic Wan

    10 months ago

    
    
    

    Science fiction works that have affected me profoundly and that I always return to:
    
    1. Ursula le Guin - The Dispossesed, Always coming home, The left hand of darkness
    2. Stanislaw Lem - His Master's Voice, Solaris
    3. Alan Moore - Watchmen
    4. Philip K Dick - Valis, Ubik
    5. Roger Zelazny - Lord of Light
    6. Frank Herbert - Dune
    7. Daniel Keyes - Flowers for Algernon
    8. Robert Heinlein - Stranger in a strange land
    9. Gene Wolfe - The Book of the New Sun
    
    Many sci-fi writers don't have an elegant turn of phrase or a way with words; the above (perhaps excepting Dick, Heinlein and Keyes) hold up to the rigours of literature. I leave you with a quote by Gene Wolfe, in a letter to Neil Gaiman: "My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure."

    Science fiction works that have affected me profoundly and that I always return to:<br /><br />1. Ursula le Guin - The Dispossesed, Always coming home, The left hand of darkness<br />2. Stanislaw Lem - His Master's Voice, Solaris<br />3. Alan Moore - Watchmen<br />4. Philip K Dick - Valis, Ubik<br />5. Roger Zelazny - Lord of Light<br />6. Frank Herbert - Dune<br />7. Daniel Keyes - Flowers for Algernon<br />8. Robert Heinlein - Stranger in a strange land<br />9. Gene Wolfe - The Book of the New Sun<br /><br />Many sci-fi writers don't have an elegant turn of phrase or a way with words; the above (perhaps excepting Dick, Heinlein and Keyes) hold up to the rigours of literature. I leave you with a quote by Gene Wolfe, in a letter to Neil Gaiman: "My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure."

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  • dekaysion

    10 months ago

    
    
    

    Anything by Frank Herbert: not only the Dune series (which is great), but many of his other books and stories are great, too.
    
    +1 for Ender, but rather the later books of the Series. Ender's Game is good and stimulating, but a bit too military/agressive IMHO.
    
    The Illuminatus Trilogy by Robert Shea & Robert A. Wilson

    Anything by Frank Herbert: not only the Dune series (which is great), but many of his other books and stories are great, too. <br /><br />+1 for Ender, but rather the later books of the Series. Ender's Game is good and stimulating, but a bit too military/agressive IMHO.<br /><br />The Illuminatus Trilogy by Robert Shea &amp; Robert A. Wilson

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  • JDP

    9 months ago

    
    
    

    Some oldies but goodies (some of my favorites) -
    
    Stranger In A Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
    Stand On Zanzibar - John Brunner
    Ringworld (one novel, several following books) - Larry Niven
    Neuromancer (and other cyber punk works of) - William Gibson
    Cheela series - physics based sci fi from Robert L Forward (Dragons Egg, Starquake)
    
    Representative / mostly good lists at http://classics.jameswallaceharris.com/, http://www.starrigger.net/recommended.htm, sci-fi award winners at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_joint_winners_of_the_Hugo_and_Nebula_awards and http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/sf/nh2.htm

    Some oldies but goodies (some of my favorites) - <br /><br />Stranger In A Strange Land - Robert Heinlein<br />Stand On Zanzibar - John Brunner<br />Ringworld (one novel, several following books) - Larry Niven<br />Neuromancer (and other cyber punk works of) - William Gibson<br />Cheela series - physics based sci fi from Robert L Forward (Dragons Egg, Starquake)<br /><br />Representative / mostly good lists at <a href="http://classics.jameswallaceharris.com/," rel="nofollow">http://classics.jameswallaceharris.com/,</a> <a href="http://www.starrigger.net/recommended.htm," rel="nofollow">http://www.starrigger.net/recommended.htm,</a> sci-fi award winners at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_joint_winners_of_the_Hugo_and_Nebula_awards" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_joint_winners_of_the_Hugo_and_Nebula_awards</a> and <a href="http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/sf/nh2.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/sf/nh2.htm</a>

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  • Calvin Smith

    9 months ago

    
    
    

    Some sci-fi that I've really enjoyed, in no particular order, with those I recommend most highly emphasized:
    
    Robert Heinlein: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
    Vernor Vinge: True Names; A Fire upon the Deep; A Deepness in the Sky
    Stanislaw Lem: His Master's Voice; The Cyberiad; Fiasco
    Arthur C. Clarke: Rendezvous with Rama; Childhood's End
    Gregory Benford: Timescape
    David Brin: Sundiver; Startide Rising
    Dan Simmons: Hyperion
    Robert J. Sawyer: Hominids
    Robert Charles Wilson: Blind Lake; Spin
    Greg Egan: Diaspora
    Greg Bear: Darwin's Radio; The Forge of God
    Charles Stross: Halting State; Singularity Sky; Iron Sunrise
    Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle: The Mote in God's Eye; Lucifer's Hammer
    Richard Powers: Galatea 2.2: A Novel

    Some sci-fi that I've really enjoyed, in no particular order, with those I recommend most highly <i>emphasized</i>:<br /><br />Robert Heinlein: <i>The Moon is a Harsh Mistress</i><br />Vernor Vinge: <i>True Names</i>; <i>A Fire upon the Deep</i>; <i>A Deepness in the Sky</i><br />Stanislaw Lem: <i>His Master's Voice</i>; <i>The Cyberiad</i>; Fiasco<br />Arthur C. Clarke: <i>Rendezvous with Rama</i>; Childhood's End<br />Gregory Benford: <i>Timescape</i><br />David Brin: Sundiver; Startide Rising<br />Dan Simmons: Hyperion<br />Robert J. Sawyer: <i>Hominids</i><br />Robert Charles Wilson: Blind Lake; <i>Spin</i><br />Greg Egan: <i>Diaspora</i><br />Greg Bear: Darwin's Radio; The Forge of God<br />Charles Stross: <i>Halting State</i>; Singularity Sky; Iron Sunrise<br />Larry Niven &amp; Jerry Pournelle: <i>The Mote in God's Eye</i>; <i>Lucifer's Hammer</i><br />Richard Powers: <i>Galatea 2.2: A Novel</i>

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  • shal

    9 months ago

    
    
    

    I can see that I'm terribly late with my to-read-list now ...

    I can see that I'm terribly late with my to-read-list now ...

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  • Lynn Leitte

    9 months ago

    
    
    

    Many that I'd recommend are already listed. I give a hearty "second" to the nomination of
    Dragon's Egg (Forward)
    Rendezvous with Rama (Clarke) and other books in that thread
    Mote in God's Eye (Niven & Pournell)
    Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Heinlein)
    
    Others I'd add are
    short stories in the Ship Who San Series (Anne McCafferty, et. al.)
    White Plauge (Frank Herbert)
    short stories and novels by John Varley
    Expendable and other explorer corps books (Jame Allan Gardner)

    Many that I'd recommend are already listed. I give a hearty "second" to the nomination of <br />Dragon's Egg (Forward)<br />Rendezvous with Rama (Clarke) and other books in that thread<br />Mote in God's Eye (Niven &amp; Pournell)<br />Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Heinlein) <br /><br />Others I'd add are<br />short stories in the Ship Who San Series (Anne McCafferty, et. al.)<br />White Plauge (Frank Herbert)<br />short stories and novels by John Varley<br />Expendable and other explorer corps books (Jame Allan Gardner)

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