Science Fiction is one of the greatest genres of literature – it is full of new ideas and interesting unique characters. It has become a great source of writing for movies and, indeed, some of the best movies of all time have come from Science Fiction (2001, Bladerunner). This “Your View” is a much more specific one than others because we are only looking for the best of one genre. Think carefully and tell us why you made your choice.
What is the Best Science Fiction Book ever Written?
My answer to this is 1984, by George Orwell. The reason for my choice is that this book is not only known by millions of people outside the Science Fiction genre (thanks in part to the movie), but it has provided the de facto definition of what a totalitarian state is for most people. This is definitely more grim than many science fiction books, but its influence is very far reaching.
Illustrated man by Ray Bradbury
one more vote for “frankenstien” here…
it saddens me how many people think they know this story just from watching the old movies.the frankenstien monster was such a tragic character.i really found myself feeling so sorry and simpathetic towards him.it was quite depressing.
by the way:the new ‘your view’ idea is great i think…
-d-
I’m really glad a bunch of people already said Hitchiker’s Guide, Douglas Adams is, by far, my favorite sci-fi author.
#8 Slaughterhouse Five, Vonnetgut said he never wrote a word of Science Fiction, on the list partially for that reason.
#7 The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis The letters from the Devil to one of his agents on Earth.
#6 Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra and (barely making it), That Hideous Strength Ibid.
#5 I, Robot (and the rest of Aasimov’s Robot series). Slightly dated, now, but very solid in morality and concepts.
#4 The Martian Chronicles, Bradbury One of the towering geniuses of SF. I got his autograph by mail. A great guy, too!
#3 Ringworld, Niven. Fabulous concept. Expanded my expectations of populating space, interspecial interaction.
#2 Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert Heinlein The Dean of Science Fiction Writers. At speaking engagements, he was referred to as “The Master”. A rabid anti-communist, I would love to hear his take on the current world situation. Unsurpassed concepts, and continuity from book to book or across vast rivers of time, this could easily be number One, but that honor goes to:
Dune, and the first sequel, followed closely by The White Plague. By the third Dune sequel, Frank Herbert seemed to have forgotten a couple of the basic premises of the Saga, rendering most of what came before a sham. If one could suspend disbelief well enough, it’s quite a ride.
I read through all the posts and found that many of the titles chosen were chosen on personal tastes as opposed to mentioning a title for its contribution to the sci-fi genre as a manuscript of note…. Neertheless, I have spent some time and compile a list below of most of the titles listed here. Maybe someone else could take some time and rank them all withe appropriate titles (including series titles) and author……
Sci fi books to get
Ender game,Shadow of the Giant,Shadow of the Hedgemon, – Orson Scott Card
Discworld series – Terry Pratchett
Peter F Hamilton’s “The Reality Dysfunction”
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea – Jules Verne
fishing4monkeys:
1984
frankestein
slaugtherhouse five
farenheit 451
neuromancer
Robert Heinlen’s Stranger in a Strange Land
The Illustrated Man is great and “Zero Hour”
E.Doc Smiths Lensmen Series
Stephen Donaldsons Gap series
Ursula le Guin
Riverworld series by Phillip Jose Farmer
Dune
brave new world
Childhoods End” by Arthur C. Clarke
Armor by John Steakley
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
Ray Bradbury: The Martian Chronicles as well as his Collected Stories
Split Infinity by Piers Anthony (followed by Blue Adept and Juxtaposition. Great stuff
Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis (followed by Perelandra and That Hideous Strength
Titan by John Varley
The Time Machine by HG Wells
Jurassic Park (not really time travel, but the effect is the same) by Michael Crichton
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep by Philip Dick
The foundation booksIsaac Asimov
robot novelsIsaac Asimov
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
Lewis’s Ransom Trilogy
War of the Worlds (H. G. Wells
The Inconstant Moon (Larry Niven
Robert Heinlein’s “Job: A Comedy of Errors”–
Homecoming saga, both by Orson Scott Card
Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
Dan Simmons’ Hyperion Cantos and Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun are close seconds
1. The Mote in God’s Eye by: Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
Lucifer’s Hammer by: Niven & Pournelle
Ringworld: Larry Niven (see a pattern developing)
Martian Chronicles by: Issac Assimov
THe Prince of Sparta by: Jerry Pournelle
1632 by Eric Flint
Rocketship Galileo (Heinlein
Eon by Greg Bear
WorldWar: In the Balance by Harry Turtledove.
AREA 51 by Robert Doherty.
The Neanderthal Paralax by Robert Sawyer.
And Titan By Stephen Baxter
The Man in the High Castle, Philip K. Dick
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Uplift” trilogys by David Brin
Rendezvous with Rama -Clark
The Forever War –Haldeman
Signal to noise, Signal Shattered, or A game of universe. all written by the same author, (Eric Nylund
A Deepness on the Sky by Vernor Vinge, with the companion A Fire Upon the Deep.
2)Hyperion- Simmons
3)Lord of Light- Zelazny
4)Ringworld- Niven
The Shadowmaster Series
“Starmaker” (1937) by Olaf Stapledon.
Bicentennial Man
Colin Wilson’s “The Mind Parasites” or the 4-volume “Spider World”, or “Space Vampires”
Voyage To Arcturus” by David Lindsay
The Master and Margarita (Bulgakov)
Stand On Zanzibar
The Demolished Man, The Stars My Destination
Lord of Light
Michealmas
Sirens of Titan, God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, Cat’s Cradle, etc.
Just about anything by Philip K. Dick
Time Enough For Love – Robert A. Heinlein.
The Dark Tower series.
i am legend.
starship troopers.
the time machine.
The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe
Heinlein’s “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Frank Herbert’s “The White Plague
The Berserker Series by Fred Saberhagen
Spider Robinson’s “Callaghan’s Crosstime Saloon” Series
An Inconvenient Truth
The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis
I, Robot (and the rest of Aasimov’s Robot series
Gateway by Fredrick pohl
Here’s a couple of books not mentioned.
1. The Martian Chronicles
2. When Worlds Collide
3. After Worlds Collide
4. The Invisible Man
5. Sphere
I don’t think anyone has mentioned Karel Capek. He is credited as the first person to use the word robot and his War of the Newts is excellent.
I also just finished reading Philip K. Dick’s Ubik and that is very good as well.
Brave New World all the way!
There’s one book I’ve tried to read twice but never managed to finish and that is The Lucifer Cell by William Fennerton.
Foundation by Asimov (allright, all the saga, and the robot’s novels also)
Ubik by Philip k. Dick
Brave new world by A. Huxley
Ringworld by Larry Niven
Surfmic, the discworld series (I loooove those books) and Ursula K Leguin books are more fantasy than SF. If you like Leguin, give Liliana Bodoc a try, I think her books are now available in English
I’ve heard that 1984 is a good book, but I’ve never read it. I’m planning on reading it sometime this summer. Of the books I have read, I have to say the best science fiction novel is The Green Mile by: Stephen King.
My favorite has to be Maximum Ride.
Eon by Greg Bear
I checked out this list because I need something new to read–this has given me some great ideas. Thanks!
Of course, I cut my teeth on Heinlein. Stranger, Job, and Friday are the best.
Also–and I don’t know the authors:
Snow Crash
The Stars, My Destination
The best sci-fi Stephen King ever did (or the closest to it) is Tommyknockers.
Back to Heinlein: A short he wrote in 58 you can find on line for free: All You Zombies. You want time travel? That’s some time travel.
I haven’t read a lot of Niven, but what I have is great. The shorts, mostly, in N-Space.
Anyone with L Ron on their list is immediately disqualified.
I don’t know about the “best” science fiction book. I do know my favorite is “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeline L’Engle
Let’s see…
Ender’s Game
I, Robot
The Illustrated Man
Jurassic Park
The Andromeda Strain
Chasm City
Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Sphere
2001: A Space Odyssey
And undoubtedly others I cannot remember at the mo’.
But if I had to pick one, it would be Ender’s Game.
The very best scifi literature comes from Arthur C. Clarke, Alastair Reynolds and Stephen Baxter.
“Rama” and “Rama II” are genious,
also “Pushing Ice” and “Time”.
By the way, I am a science-fiction novelist as well – but I do write in german.
Oliver
For me, the best sci-fi book of all time is Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve, as well as its three sequels. Allthough it describes a world with almost nineteenth century technology, it soon becomes aparent that this is millions of years into the future- the Ancients, as we are called, have developed amazing weopons which ‘drew their power from other dimensions’- before anhialating themselves and all knowledge of their high technolgy in a devastating war which lasted just sixty minutes. Oh, and all the cities drive around on wheels and caterpillar tracks. I know that it starts off with a pretty weak and improbable premise, it deals with an endless array of topics- bionics, evolution, nuclear war- all entirely within context, so you almost don’t notice the references. This is the one peice of fiction which has ever made me cry, but its not depressing. Long live the Stalker Fang and the Green Storm!
I enjoy SF but it is not what i read most of the time
My top five SF in no particular order
the mote in gods eye
dune
battlefield earth – notwithstanding who wrote it
20,000 leagues under the sea
cant get the fifth one
I read enders game and dont get the love for it. it was a short unfulfilling kids book.
never read hitchhikers guide i’ve got to read that one
I remember reading the old classics, but will have to read them again before i can offer an informed opinion
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
Dune
All of Anne McCaffrey’s books
All of Pierce Anthony’s books
I would agree with 1984 and Brave New World as very good influential sci fi books, but both were slow reads. 1984 definitely brought up good points, but it was a little on the dry side. Brave New World was a slightly easier read, but, at least for me, it didn’t have the same impact as it seems to have on others. Of course this could be because I’m fairly young and the concept has been used many times since the book came out.
As far as most enjoyable reads go, I really liked Next by Michael Crichton. I’m a science geek and I’m very interested in considering the consequences of genetic engineering, but I think that that book would be easy enough to follow and enjoyable for anyone.
Nova-Samuel R. Delany
The Stars My Destination-Alfred Bester
To Open the Sky-Robert Silverberg
my personal favorite is called the white mountain. i read it in 6th grade for a school project and oh my god i couldnt put it down. thats the book that got me into reading. unfortunately…i dont remember the book at all!! but i still remember not being able to put it down.
I’m fully aware it’s a rather childish opinion, but for some reason I really enjoyed Max Brookwell’s “World War Z”
Maybe it was just the zombies, or aybe the style of prose but, I’d have to say it was one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in the sci fi genre.
That said, I’ve heard lots of good things about “Ringworld” and would really like to get a copy of it.
The light of other days by Arthur C Clarke
It’s difficult to pick just one…
Nightfall by Asimov (either the short story and the novel with Silverberg).
But I won’t give away Clifford Simak’s “Cosmic engineers”.
The best sci-fi book: Last and First Man by Olaf Stapleton – the man who influenced Heinlein.
SvenCollins
Totally agree with SvenCollins.
Last and First Men is a masterpiece of epic scale. All of Stapledon's books are on this scale, and show rare vision, especially when you consider that he wrote a history of the universe (obviously fictional) before the invention of tv, and when trains were still the main mode of transport.
A great book by a great author. Get it if you can.
Best? 1984, for the same reasons you listed. Favorite? Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein.
I really don’t know, but probably something by Philip K. Dick. Maybe Ubik or Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said.
I don’t comment, however I looked at a few of the remarks here %NAME%. I do have a few questions for you if you tend not to mind. Could it be only me or does it look like like a few of these responses come across like they are written by brain dead visitors?
And, if you are posting on additional places, I’d like to keep up with anything new you have to post. Would you list of all of your shared sites like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?