There can be a major difference between the best authors of a genre, my favorite authors of a genre, and the most influential authors of a genre. While any top ten list like this will be somewhat controversial, here is a list of authors who have had a great and lasting influence on the science fiction genre.
Douglas Adams may be one of the most popular authors on this list, and when his works first came out, they were very unique. Adams is best known for his “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series, which was ground breaking. These works introduced a comedic and strange (maybe almost surreal) element to science fiction writing that is still adored by fans even today.
Orson Scott Card is the author of one of the most popular science fiction series in history. The Ender’s Game sagas rate right up there with Dune as one of the most popular series of books of all time, and certainly the most popular of modern times. If William Gibson is the father of Cyber-punk science fiction, then Orson Scott Card is the modern voice that set the direction of modern science fiction.
Robert Heinlein was an extremely influential science fiction writer who may have been overshadowed in the long run by Isaac Asimov, but Heinlein is well known and loved among science fiction fans. He was both popular and controversial and he concentrated on “hard” science fiction — science fiction that took its science very seriously. He won four Hugo Awards for his novels, and along with Asimov and Clarke was known as one of “The Big Three of Science Fiction.” Talk about influence!
William Gibson is an extremely popular and controversial science fiction writer who is known as the father of the modern “Cyber Punk” novel. While people and fans still argue over what kind of an influence Gibson has had on the science fiction genre, there’s no doubt his mark has been made. As one anonymous critic put it: “Whether he’s saved the genre or destroyed it, only time will tell.” A little bit overboard, but it gives an idea of the influence this author of “Johnny Mnemonic” and “Neuromancers” has had.
While most famous for writing his smash hit novel “Fahrenheit 451,” one of (if not the) greatest dystopian science fiction novel of all time, Bradbury wrote a lot of science fiction and fantasy and was a major influence to literally thousands of future science fiction writers. Not only was “Fahrenheit 451″ one of the best science fiction novels of all time, but “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” “Dandelion Wine,” and “The Martian Chronicles” are all works that each were amazing enough to make an author’s career, and Bradbury was the author of all of them. It’s amazing he’s only #6, but this is a genre that has amazing number of giants.
Even before the “Dune” series was made into a mini-series for the Sci-Fi channel, this series of books had a huge and devout following that rivaled that of “The Lord of the Rings.” This great series took place over 1,000s of years, and originally consisted of the novel “Dune” and five sequels, although other related novels have been published by his son since then. This series is amazingly wide ranging, often dealing with themes like human survival, evolution, ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, and power. “Dune” is thought to be the single best-selling sci-fi novel of all time.
Considered one of “The Big Three of Science Fiction,” Arthur C. Clarke is known for his Space Odyssey series, particularly the novel “2001: A Space Odyssey,” which has become one of the most influential science fiction novels ever written, and was also a wildly popular movie, helping to bring the genre into the mainstream. There were several other books in the series, and Clarke is also known for his short stories and his work in encouraging emerging science fiction writers. He is also a long time member of the H.G. Wells society.
Asimov is perhaps the most famous of “The Big Three of Science Fiction” and is one of the most prolific writers in sci-fi history. He published or edited over 500 books, and an estimated 90,000+ letters and postcards. He has published non-fiction as well as fiction, with books under every section of the Dewey decimal system except for philosophy. He is best known as a science and science fiction writer, whose Robot series and Foundation series laid the groundwork for most modern science fiction and are still widely read today.
Verne’s writings made him the pioneer of science fiction, and one of its finest writers. He, in fact, published his first science fiction novels around the time H.G. Wells was born. “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” and “Around the World in 80 Days,” are classics that changed fictional literature and gave birth to what would become the science fiction genre. Verne wrote incredibly detailed stories about space travel and submarines before any such travel on a large scale was practical, and he laid the foundation for arguably the greatest science fiction writer ever.
He might be both the best and the most influential science fiction writer ever. H.G. Wells’ classic books are still read and loved today. “The Time Machine,” is considered by many to be the best science fiction novel ever written, and “The War of the Worlds,” and “The Invisible Man” are hardly slouches, either. Over a century after they are written, these books are still fresh and strong enough to be made into Hollywood films. Wells set the bar for everyone else, and laid the foundation to ensure that science fiction would be very alive and well into the 20th century and beyond.
Contributor: Shane Dayton
About L. Ron Hubbard:
A) The less attention paid that slimy fake and his fake religion, the better… and
B) Hubbard's influence was *outside* the realm of sci-fi literature. As a sci-fi author he was and is viewed as an untalented hack. So I say no… he doesn't belong on this list.
Philip K. Dick, however, *does* belong here.
I disagree. Battlefield Earth was a great book.
Battlefield Earth was a hack ripoff of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantastic_Planet
*looks*
No Philip K. Dick
No Ursula K. LeGuin
No Kurt Vonnegut
Submitter has an anti-K thing going on.
List writer is a k sist!
Can people PLEASE stop suggesting L. Ron Hubbard? It's like he's the only sci-fi author some people know.
If you'd read any of his work, you wouldn't suggest him for this list, regardless of Scientology. And if you don't know anything about sci-fi, then don't make suggestions.
And also note all the previous posters (including myself) who have spoken AGAINST including Hubbard, before you go suggesting he be included.
Cripes.
This post assumes that posters read the older posts before posting!
I totally agree with the comments posted on this list in regards to L. Ron Howard and his Scientology methods. Look at what Scientology has done to a believer in that crusade, namely the actor TOM CRUISE. It made him jump up and down on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show like a small child using a bed as a trampoline. And his ever so wonderful interview with Matt Lauer on the TODAY show a few years ago saying that pharmaceutical medication is not necessary for any medical problems. That was the one that really ticked me off about him !! I suffer greatly from Anxiety attacks and when I feel one coming on, I best be sure that I have either some Lorazepam, Clonapam, Atavin, Diazepam, Alprazolam, or Valium in my medicine cabinet. I mean lets think about Tom Cruise. He gets divorced from Nicole Kidman and then does an about face and marries a bubble-gum chewing teeny-bopper like Katie Holmes ?? His head is definitely screwed on wrong. Thanks Mr. Hubbard, your a real contribution to the human race !!!!
I'm surprised that Michael Moor*****and Gene Wolfe aren't on the list.
Another proper noun blasted to oblivion by an over sensitive filter!
Good list! H.G Wells and Jules Verne were the most influential writers in sci-fiction.Wells thoroughly deserves the first place.
Awesome list, “Shane Dayton.” (That sounds way too formal for this site, but whatever. Can I call you Shad?) I love A.C. Clarke and Orson Scott Card, but I was sad to find that you left Madeline L’Engle off this list! She’s the one that got me interested in quantum physics.
Come on you cant leave out Philip K Dick…literay sci fi mind, definitely one of the greatest of the 20th century. Blasphemy!!!!!
what he said ^^^^^
PKD is my new favorite so i agree.
Good List!
On a lighter note, Asimov really looks like a sci-fiction writer in the picture overhere, i was wondering if i could grow a similar beard when i am older.
sid: I wouldn’t recommend it
Kurt Vonnegut and Philip K Dick are conspiciously missing…
what he said too ^^^^^
It pains me to say this, but if you’re talking ‘Most influential’ – you’ve got to put L Ron Hubbard at #1. He’s ‘influenced’ far more people, for better or worse, than all of the others put together.
g c: what positions do you think they should have on the list – and who should they knock off the list?
I gotta agree with “theruggedman” (though not in the slightest with his nom de plume, yick) leaving Philip K. Dick off this list is a bad oversight. I’d replace Frank Herbert (a mediocrity) with Dick (a minor genius). Otherwise the list is pretty good.
At first I was thinking, well where’s A.E. Van Vogt and Poul Anderson? Where’s L. Sprague DeCamp and Piers Anthony? And so on and so on? But then I got into the spirit of this… it’s the Most INFLUENTIAL Sci-fi authors. And while there are many greats left off the list… you can’t argue with most of the list as presented that these guys were the big influences. And so the only thing I’d REALLY change is losing Herbert or maybe Douglas Adams, and replace one of them with Philip K. Dick.
oh.. and I’m waiting for the Harlan Ellison fans to come on and raise a stink about his absence from the list. I am ever and always ready to knock that overrated egotist down a few pegs.
If you nitpick the term influential, then Philip K. Dick should be there, and I’d seriously question the presence of Card. Sure Card is prolific, well liked, and successful, but influential means the author has influenced others with ideas and style. It’s problematic to put Card in the top ten. (Contrast to Fred Saberhagen, respected but not as successful perhaps, and perhaps no-one would put him on the list, but the Berserker concept is influential (just think Star Trek Doomsday machine, Battlestar Galatica, more).
Nice list. I havent read nearly enough of the books by people on this list… LOVE Douglas Adams, Scott-Card is great, all I know of Ray Bradbury are some short stories I had to read in English at school a couple of years ago that I hated. Maybe because the teacher kept going on about how scary they were when they REALLY were not. I really need to get round to reading ‘Dune’ sometime. I know one of my friends has & he really liked it. I’ve read ‘War of the worlds’ and ‘The time machine’, though I wouldn’t say the latter is the greatest sci-fi book of all time. I loved the film made a few years ago of ‘The Time Machine’ as well.
A lot of these 19th Century and early 20th Century writers such as HG Wells and Isaac Assimov are way beyond their time and are given credit as so
happy to see Uncle L Ron Hubbard not here
I’m missing Philip K Dick, too …
Any reason why he’s not included?
What about Lovecraft? He wrote mostly ‘horror puplp’ stories, but he dipped into sci fi, too. He’s undoubtedly influential.
romerozombie:
Lovecraft’s influence over sci-fi is nil. His influence over modern horror, on the other hand, is fairly extensive. This, being a list on sci-fi, doesn’t include him. A Horror List perhaps should.
I’m slightly partial, but I think OSC should’ve been higher.
And you missed some great ones.
However, I love this list, simply because science fiction is teh bizzle bomb.
The Cthulhu Mythos is sci fi though, I’d say. Cosmic gods trying to gain control of the universe is pretty sci fi.
romerozombie:
The Cthulhu Mythos, *overall,* has a sci-fi angle to it, yes. But each story concerned with that story thread is considered more “horror” than sci-fi. Lovecraft’s followers (and Lovecraft himself) considered him a writer in the supernatural/horror vein.
I mean, if you want to make this argument, then “Frankenstein” becomes sci-fi, as just one example.
But we know there has to be a dividing line somewhere. Lovecraft is horror, not sci-fi.
I waan’t making it into argument at all. :S
But yeah, each individual story is more horror.
Great list. I can think of many that I would have included, but as there is no one that I’d remove, I think I’ll hold off.
Thanks Jamie.
Great list, Douglas Adams is my favourite, I love him!Genius!
h.g. wells is definitely the best, war of the worlds is the greatest book i’ve ever read
I hate scientology, but having invented a “religion” on a science fiction book is pretty amazing sad to say. L. Ron Hubbard should be on this list. other then that, Fantastic list
I dont like scientology, but having invented a “religion” on a science fiction book is pretty amazing sad to say. L. Ron Hubbard should be on this list. other then that, Fantastic list
I would also like to point out, i would take Frank Herberts beard anyday. keep me warm during these cold winter months
Add another vote for Phillip K. Dick. Lose Douglas Adams. Put Dick in the middle somewhere (no innuendo intended).
Sad Dick isn’t here too. Aldous Huxley should be on here too. And George Orwell.
No way Cthulu does not constitute sci-fi. Anyway the author didn’t ‘influence’ anythng in terms of sci-fi, thats wat this list is about anyway!
I’m glad I didn’t write this list- it would be way too subjective for me!
are the only ones to speak of and they haven’t had as much of an influence as Lovecraft (one of the founding fathers of science-fiction) or success as PKD (influenced 5? movies).
As much as I love Ray Bradbury, I think he should be bumped down or removed. At least put notable omissions for PKD and Lovecraft if not replace Bradbury and Adams with them. I love Adams, too, and his influence was different than the others, but the major five in his trilogy
Good job, though, I know writing lists like this are hard.
Cedestra:
Calling HP Lovecraft one of the “founding fathers” of sci-fi is completely inaccurate. Come now.
And the idea of removing BRADBURY and replacing him with Lovecraft—sheesh.
I think you’re just plain confused with what sci-fi is. Lovecraft HIMSELF did not view his writings as science fiction. Neither did his followers (August Derleth, L. Sprague DeCamp,etc.) His writings were supernatural/horror with occasional elements of sci-fi. He considered himself a follower and even a successor to Poe, not Wells or Verne. Moreover—the latter two were already writing science fiction before Lovecraft was even born.
Lovecraft can be called one of the precursors of modern science fiction *perhaps,* but hardly a major influence on the genre. His influence was elsewhere.
And let’s also not make a vaunted saint out of Lovecraft. His stories, while often spooky and moody and atmospheric, are more than occasionally hampered by meandering, inconclusive plots. And his writing was consistently over-the-top prosaic—to the point of being almost purple-prosey. There’s also a lot of evidence that Lovecraft was a racist—and while others on this list probably have their own foibles—we ought to recognize that Lovecraft isn’t the best guy in the world to feel “influenced” by anyway. But really more to the point—if we were talking horror here, I think you’d have a case to make for Lovecraft’s inclusion—but sci-fi? No… John Campbell should be here more than Lovecraft, in terms of influence. Or A.E. Van Vogt. Or a dozen others I could name.
Huh, I would never have thought of myself as someone who reads a lot of Sci Fi, but I’ve read 5 of these authors and seen movies based on the work of 4 (though I’ve heard I, Robot can’t really be considered to be more than distantly based on the book).
I love Douglas Adams, his Hitchhiker series is hilarious, and his other books are excellent, if a bit weirder. His books probably aren’t the best out of the ones I’ve read from the authors on this list, but I do reread them the most.
As for L.Ron Hubbard – His followers don’t think the “fiction” part of “science fiction” applies. So there ya go.
No Philip K. Dick?!?
This is the first list that gave me a BF (***** fit).
Stanislav Lem is definitely a candidate for a spot high on the list. ‘Solaris’ and ‘Star Diaries’ might be his most popular works.
I would have put Jules Verne in first (i mean come on.. he invented the genre!)
And the fact Philip K. Dick is actually missing is total blasphemy. If i’m not mistaken Dick did invent or at least boost the “parallele universe” sort of thing with his infamous Man in the High Castle (a world in which the Axis won the war). Not to mention one of the greatest movies ever is adapted from one of his stories… thats Blade Runner.
Also Dick did introduce or contribute (enormously) to the post punk apocalyptic atmosphere in Sci-Fi.
Other than that its a pretty good list
Great list and thank god I read them all
Great list! Bradbury is just about right — could be a little higher. His short stories covered a multitude of genres, but Sci-Fi seems to have been his comfort zone. I got lost in his works on many a rainy dayreading his collected stories.
As for Douglas Adams — comedic brilliance. It’s hard to write something nowadays in the humor vein that doesn’t mimic something he had already done.
Oh yeah, Hubbard does not belong anywhere near this list. He could create a good story every now and then, but his infamous reputation proceeds him. If you ever want to read really bad, cornball sci-fi, he’s your man. “The Mission Earth series, anyone? Bleh.
Its good to see two of my favorite writers on the list, H.G. Wells and Ray Bradbury, they wrote some of the best sci-fi ever! I am extremely glad to not see L. Ron Hubbard!
At least these writers didn’t start a cult like L. Ron did!
I think Ray Bradbury wrote the best short stories, while not all of them were sci-fi, those that were sci-fi were the best.
What about L Ron, Maybe not for his sci fi writings. Although Xenu tends to be a hit with those folks. Ha ha.
Ive never read any Philip K Dick, and I knew he shoulda been there, just for the movies (blade runner, screamers) he caused
i loved adams hitchhikers series greatly, but influential, nope.
i dont remember a huge wave of cheeky, smart-alecky, brilliant, britishy novels about bad poetry and a towel carrying alien
Randall:thank goodness someone said that, no one likes L Ron except Tom “Xenu’s *****” Cruise!
Leaving out Stanislaw Lem in such list is simply a crime….
an excellent list and delighted to see that Wells is placed at number 1. all of his works (Including the non “Scientific Romances”) are still as relevant today as he wrote about people as much as circumstances and whilst circumstances change people never do. can i suggest someone out there tries The Wheels Of Chance which is one of the most beautiful and amusing books he ever wrote
erem:
Why Stanislaw Lem so much, as opposed to Piers Anthony or Roger Zelazny or Larry Niven or Norman Spinrad or Judith Merrill?
I mean, this is a list about the most *influential* sci-fi writers… not simply the best, or someone’s favorite.
I don’t see how Lem was all that influential.
And somebody up above basically said Adams *wasn’t* influential… I think that’s arguable… the thing about Adams is, he introduced or re-introduced the comedic/absurdist edge into sci-fi. Now how many people he influenced in doing that, I can’t say. But it *sounds* like a fairly major contribution anyway.
OK, As the first one to suggest L Ron Hubcap, I gotta speak up.
1) I know he’s a hack. He qualifies as a SF writer the same way Billy Preston does when he writes about a spacewar for his 10th grade creative writing class.
2) He only influenced other SF writers in the manner of “Jesus H Christ, that’s a steaming pile of crap. I’m not going to write like that.”
3) But the descriptor of the list is “most influential,” not “best” or “most creative” or “most inspiring.” For this alone, he qualifies. No other writer on the list has had the far-reaching influence this guy has. Who else has made so many people flush their lives down the toilet?
I think we can all agree on those points, no?
PS – I earlier I said he influenced the most people, for better or for worse. I was being polite. I see I’m among friends, so I retract that, and just say “for worse.”
As a life long lover of all things scifi its a crime not to see roger zelanzy on this this.
I like Terry Brooks and Pierce Anthony and Laurell K. Hamilton. ALl very good writers and excellent story tellers. Good Vocabulary and well written books.
How about John Wyndham – Midwich Cuckoos (made into two separate movies), the Chrysalids, Day of the Triffids (made into a tv series) to name just a few.
Jim C:
When a list is named “Top 10 Most Influential Science Fiction Writers,” then it IMPLIES that the persons cited on that list will be included for *their influence over science fiction”—NOT for their influence in other arenas.
I mean, suppose we had a guy who wrote the screenplay to a bad western once, and this same guy later went out and made a killing in the market selling, oh… I don’t know…. some new kind of deodorant. And he revived the whole freakin’ economy for us, and bought up half of New Jersey or whatever, and turned into a gigantic Euro-spa?
Would we naturally include that guy on a list of the Top 10 Most Influential Writers of Westerns?
No, of course not. That would be a marginal part of his career life, and stretching the definition of “influential” in this *context* would be inaccurate and even disingenuous.
No. L. Ron Hubbard influenced a lot of people. But not for his science fiction writing–but rather for the slimy scam he created to make a name for himself and a buck or two off the gullible.
He shouldn’t be dignified with being included on this list.
L Ron Hubbard does not belong on this list. I’m pretty sure that, while not stated explicitly, the idea behind this list is the authors that were the most influential on the genre of science fiction. His works of literature (and I use that term loosely) did not influence the genre in any way. Arguing that because he invented a religion for the demented he is in some way influential to the genre makes no sense. And if the list is to be about the most influential science fiction writers in every capacity, then why make it science fiction writers at all? Why not the most influential maids? No, I’m pretty sure that this list regards their influence on science fiction.
Canuck:
*There* you are. I left a note for you over in the Alien Life thread a few days ago.
As you can see, we DO agree here.
What about Kim Stanley Robinson?
The Mars trilogy was amazing and so was the California series.
He may be younger than some of the others but I think he will be, if he is not already, one of the top ten sooner than later.
Otherwise good list, though I think HG Welles is overrated
Randall: Yeah, I decided against raising my blood temperature over an argument I have no possibility of winning about five minutes after writing the post when I realized I was still thinking about it, although thanks for your concern. And we certainly do agree here.
Although I did read the post, and it was well written.