Over the next two or three eight to ten weeks months I’m going to discuss my 10 favourite science fiction novels. Considering I’m already referring to these while reviewing other books, this will probably help you interpret my reviews while also giving you a checklist for “Must Read” stories. ASIDE: If you’re looking to get into reading science fiction, you should start with these classics first. They will give you a solid understanding of the main themes in the genre and they are excellent and well written stories. I’ll update this post to fill in the blanks (with links) below as I go, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise in advance.
- Review: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A Heinlein (Amazon)
- Review: A Deepness In The Sky by Vernor Vinge (Amazon)
- Review: Earth Abides by George R Stewart (Amazon)
- Review: The Forever War by Joe Haldeman (Amazon)
- Review: Gateway by Frederik Pohl (Amazon)
- Review: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (Amazon)
- Review: Startide Rising by David Brin (Amazon)
- Review: The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov (Amazon)
- Review: Spin by Robert Charles Wilson (Amazon)
- Review: More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon (Amazon)
There are also a few honorable mentions that didn’t make the list for various reasons, so I’ll name them here and hopefully review them sometime in the future (if none of the other reviewers gets to them first). While I’m filling in the list above, these may also give you some clues about what might show up in my top 10. Honorable Mentions (should also be considered “Must Read” even if just for the historical context of speculative fiction):
- The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
- Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
- Hyperion by Dan Simmons
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
- The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement (if you can find it)
- The Stars my Destination by Alfred Bester
- Way Station by Clifford D. Simak
Enjoy.
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{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
So why does “The Stars My Destination” only get an honourable mention? What didn’t you like about it?
Hi Vince,
There is nothing that I didn’t like about “The Stars my Destination,” but as the rest of my list emerges I hope you’ll agree that it was a VERY tough decision.
I consider all of the books on my HM list to be on my list of “must reads” (which is probably 20-30 novels long). Maybe in the future I’ll review all of these as well, but I have a lot of catching up to do.
If you feel strongly about it, you’re more than welcome to submit a guest review of this awesome novel! Guest reviews can use their own Amazon Associate ID
Do you know how long your list is going to take? I am currently writing a curriculum to be adopted for a science-fiction literature course, and I am curious about your choices (many some of my favorites already). Thanks! Rain
Hi Rain,
I didn’t know anyone was still reading this site. I didn’t get any great uptake when I started writing these so I switched to reading more instead. However, if I have even one reader then I’ll keep going. It’ll take a bit longer, but I’ll try and get the next one up in a day or two.
Thanks for reading!
Cam
Cam,
Great List. Glad to see Heinlein and Herbert. How far down your list would you put Sheckley and PKD?
Al L.
Well, I haven’t heard of Sheckley, so why don’t you suggest one for me.
As for PKD I liked Andorid’s dream and also Man in the High Castle, as well as Pay Check (not the movie). However I’ve had trouble relating to any of his other works and reading his collections, while they’re on my shelf, has never been a high priority. Care to suggest one I may have missed?
Hmmm… I’ve just noticed Dune on the honorable mention list! Personally I would struggle to put much ahead of Dune. The realization of the alternate ecology and sociology of Dune make this a landmark work in fiction, not just science fiction.
As you have indicated, you are ranking your top 10 on the reading experience and what a book means to you, so I can understand not having this or that book in your Top10. Similarly I would put Dune at #1 in my list as it was one of the first scifi books I read and it’s impact on me could only be described as profound!
Hyperion is also interesting on the honorable mention list. Initially it would not have made even that list for me! It was not until I re-read it more than 10 years later, followed up by The Fall of Hyperion that the book acquired a much larger significance in my scifi experience. So it would appear (these days) in my own top10 but as Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion which makes sense because it was written as one book put published as 2 separate books.
Cheers,
James
HI James,
Dune is indeed an important work, which is why I couldn’t ignore it completely. However I read it very early on and I’m sure I missed some of the significance as a result. What dragged it down for me was the utter weight of it. It was not a FUN read, even though it was very interesting. It was so interesting in fact that I had to go and find a used book store while on vacation to get the sequel. so, it certainly was compelling.
If this was a top 20 list, it might be #11 or 12. So it’s not too far out of the running in my books (pun intended). But for me the story needs to have more than JUST good ideas, it needs to be fun, have good characters and be unpredictable too. Dune has the last two, but it wasn’t fun enough to land it ahead of the top 10 on my list.
Read the debate on the Charles Stross Singularity Sky review. I suspect I’m in the minority again
Dune as honorable mention? Considering the impact it has had (Hmmm, George Lucas owes the Herbert Estate what – a few billion in royalties?) and not to mention being a great read, I would have a hard time keeping it off the Top-10.
Earth Abides definitely rates, as does Enders Game, but no PKD bothers me.
Maybe not individually, but in total, PKD has had as much influence on society, SF and the Movies as anyone. Put him down as no home runs, but a lot of doubles and RBIs. And that wins games.
Not having Dune on the list is contentious indeed, but having read it twice now I fail to see how it has something the others does not.
Sure, it was released in a time when few titles were compelling, it it took the “strange world” idea quite far, but can not the same be said about the others on the list? Of them, only Spin has yet to stand the test of time.
As for PKD, you’re right on both counts. No home runs, so not on my top 10 NOVELS list. If I do a top 10 SciFi Authors he’d be near the very top… interesting idea.. I feel some writing and research coming on. Frank Herbert might even be on that list
I’m one of those “heretics” in the sci-fi world and agree with Cam that Dune deserves only an honourable mention (and it wouldn’t even make that on my own list). Yes, I know, saying this on a sci-fi blog out loud is tatamount to discussing Hitler in a contentious newsgroup argument.
I’ve only been reading sci-fi since the early 1970s … hanging out at the late Bakka on Queen Street West and the huge (at the time) sci-fi section in the World’s Biggest Bookstore. I grew up on Vinge, Vance, Asimov, Clarke, JP Hogan, Brin, Bear, Tolkein and their ilk. But I never found Herbert’s work even a satisfying, fun or even interesting read at all.
I found it was heavy and far too weighty … heavy like Margaret Lawrence dreadful Swamp, err, Stone Angel.
Label me a heretic if you must, but to my mind there is better sci-fi out there that is far more joyous to read. But to each his own, I suppose … one man’s fish is another man’s poisson.
It’s purely personal and somewhat subjective. If they are your top ten then that’s for you to say and decide. No one else.
I wondered why you chose The Gods for Asimov? I personally think there are a half dozen far bnetter examples of his greatness. Not criticising, just intrigued why this one?
Why nothing by ACC?
Have you read anything of Edmund Cooper at all?
Hi Bill,
To answer your questions:
1. I chose “The Gods Themselves” for Asimov for a number of reasons that I list in the linked review. Notably that is an excellent example of unpredicted technological consequences, one of the few times he did Aliens instead of Robots, and a great story to boot.
2. I’m not familiar with the acronym AAC. Who is that?
3. No. Why not suggest something. I’m always looking for new authors.
I presume ACC mean Arthur C. Clarke (e.g., 2001, though I liked 2010 better).
Everyone’s different–Dune‘s one of my all-time favorites, while I didn’t care for Spin at all. (I couldn’t even make myself finish it.) (grin&shrug) There’s no accounting for tastes, eh?
-Kendall, coming here via Scalzi’s pimp thread
Hey,
you should read some books from Peter F. Hamilton (http://www.peterfhamilton.co.uk/). While most of them are a long read I think one of his books should definitely make it onto the honorable mention list.
@James, the Hyperion series covers 4, not 2 books (the Endymon books). Only with them the whole story is complete (albeit really long). Another book I loved was Dan Simmons’ Ilium.
Hi Cam!
I’m glad that you picked the book that started you on your journey!
You need to start another list now. How about best short stories? That would be fun!
Some early nominations:
Blood Music
I have no mouth & I must screen
The last question
Actually it’s pretty hard to think of short stories off the top of ones head! So could be a good thoughtful list!
Cheers,
James
Short stories eh? I’d need to take nominations for that one. I don’t read shorts often. usually only when I’m on an author binge and need one last fix before I move on.. Once I’ve read all of the novels, I sometimes pick up an anthology, but I fear that wouldn’t be a good representation of the genre and format.
I mentioned Sheckley and PKD, but I think my favorite Robert Sheckley stories were shorts, so of course its in a different category. I guess novel wise, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep probably isn’t a top ten; no doubt PKD had some great ideas, and had the ability to project familiar human reactions in unusual circumstances. Glad to see Simak in the also rans.
Regarding dune and fun try God Emporer…its one of my top 5 but its a dull read just lots of interesting ideas. Dune still has a good story. I thought books 2,3 5 and 6 were a let down till i read Mr Andersons prequals talk about bad.
I liked stranger in a strange land but it wouldnt make my top 10. Lots of interesting ideas (though less so than Dune and God Emperor) but the story was a bit dull.
Love all Peter F. Hamilton stuff must read very enjoyable.
Regards,
Ben
I am new to science fiction, and I have to say.. this is a great list. Many subjects of interest, I’ve just started reading “The Gods Themselves” and plan to read the 9 other books too.
Have to say, I’m kind of glad I broke my leg, now I have time to read all of this
@rpod: Sorry to hear about your leg. Get well soon. Enjoy the list
An interesting list. I have been an enthusiast of the science fiction genre for a number of years now, not only as a reader, but also as a collector of first edition works. It is interesting to note how with the popularity of some of these authors how incredibly expensive their first editions can be. I must be honest, as a result of my passion for collecting the books; I have tended to stick to a select number of authors, so have not read some of those on your list.
My comments would be, as many have mentioned, Dune would definitely be in my top 10 (no I can’t afford this 1st edition). I tend to look at the era in which these books were written, at the time this was a ground breaking book, with unique idea’s, and as such deserves it’s place. In saying this I have tried to read some of Herbert’s works outside of the Dune novels and find many of them incredibly tedious and navel gazing, Destination Void is one example that springs to mind, I guess this can be a problem when you co-write with a poet.
I note you have David Brin in your list and couldn’t agree more. His entire Uplift series is fantastic. The idea’s he explores, the richness of his characters and the plots he develops are an excellent example of how, just because you are first-and-foremost a man of science doesn’t mean you can’t write a great story. One author who, unfortunately in my opinion, hasn’t been able to make this crossover from scientist to writer is Gregory Benford. Great scientific concepts in his stories, but very weak at putting these ideas into a storyline and developing characters.
Also have to agree about Asimov, The Gods Themselves has to be one of the greatest si-fi novels, again simply because of the time in which it was written, truly ground breaking idea’s. Having said this, I consider, like many, Asimov to be the benchmark, and any number of his stories could have sat equally well on this list, but TGTS is a personal favourite of mine.
I note, some have mentioned as not being on your list, whom I would have also, is Arthur C Clarke. If you haven’t read it, give Childhood’s End a read, right up there with The Gods Themselves with regards ground breaking ideas.
Nice to see the Hyperion novels on there also. Some find them a bit weighty, but I feel we are starting to get into an era where many similar themes just seem to be getting repeated. With the Hyperion novels Dan Simmons has managed to develop some incredibly original ideas.
If you are interested in classic si-fi, give John Wyndham a go, in his day he was considered the successor to HG Wells. Novels such as Day of the Triffids, The Midwich Cuckoos and The Kracken Awakes were hugely original in their day and still rank right up there as fantastic reads even today.
Regards,
Richard
After reading Enders Game, More Than Human, The Forever War and Earth Abides from your list, I’m starting to question my ability to separate and classify a GOOD book from a GREAT book. In your opinion, what makes a science fiction book great and where do you draw the line between science fiction and fantasy?
The short answer to what makes a great book? Basically, if I can remember the entire major elements of the plot years afterward and retrieve it when someone asks “have you read any good books?” then it’s a great book. I tend to promptly forget “just ok books” unless I was really looking forward to reading them. In that case I remember but for the wrong reasons…
SciFi versus Fantasy? that’s the age old question eh? no one can agree so why bother classifying? Can’t we all just enjoy reading?
Cam,
Well, I just finished Spin and I liked it a lot. Robert Wilson did a good job with his character development and story telling. By flip flopping back and forth with the story time line I never once got tired of reading. All and all, for me, it was a very good book. I put it just behind Ender’s Game on your list.
I’m half way through the list now and even though I would agree that all of the books are good…I would rank them differently. So far I have them ranked 6,9,4,3,10 and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books on the list. I’m HOOKED!
I’m just a newbie SF dabbler, but Dune and Ender would top my list. Also LOVE Last Centurian by Ringo (is that SF?), Ethos Effect by Modesitt, Starship Troopers by Heinlein, and In Death Ground/Shiva Option by Weber. Not a big fan of Hamilton, Bova, or Clarke. Any others share these opinions/thoughts?
There is a little-known science fiction that I’d like to recommend: THE STAR MAKER, by Olaf Stapledon. It was written in the 1930′s (!) but managed to anticipate dozens of later science-fiction novels in its ideas. For example: immense artificial structures (RINGWORLD, RAMA), unisex aliens (LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS), alien races bound together by telepathy, two intelligent species evolving together without conflict, a species whose dominant sense is smell instead of sight, intersteller wars, a species whose eugenics project backfires and wipes them out, utopian politics, parallel universes, and finally the end of the universe as all the energy runs out. The catch is that you have to get used to Stapledon’s Oxford-don style, which sounds more like H.G. Wells than a modern sci-fi writer. Definitely the most imaginative science-fiction novel ever written.
I would recommend also:
“nSpace” by Dovin Melhee
completely out of the box sci fi novel
John Brunner- “Stand on Zanzibar” should be on anyone’s top 10, Iain Banks – anything, PKD – The World Jones Made, Flow my tears..,The three Stigmata.., Ubik, Martian Time Slip etc, etc. – all great, Haldeman – “Mindbridge”, nearly as good as “The Forever War”
thanks for all this information! I was having a massive bout of indiscision on which books to buy as a gift, these reviews and suggestions really helped!
Thanks for the list. I’ve read half of the books and some of them aren’t in my top 20 but hey, thats all about taste.
Have a great 2010.
-> Well, I haven’t heard of Sheckley, so why don’t you suggest one for me.
He didn’t suggest something so I will.
Robert Sheckley’s Mindswap is among my personal fav. It has, maybe, the best and most unexpected ending in the history of SF.
Robert Sheckley (July 16, 1928 – December 9, 2005) was a Hugo and Nebula nominated American author. First published in the science fiction magazines of the 1950s, his numerous quick-witted stories and novels were famously unpredictable, absurdist and broadly comical.
That’s from Wiki. I would like to note that much of his books are in Douglas Adams style, or should I say Douglas Adams books are in Sheckley style because Robert was writing before Adams.
“I had no idea the competition was so terrifyingly good.” — Douglas Adams (on Sheckley books)
Ok. Time for another Amazon.com order. Based on these comments I’ll be ordering (at least):
John Ringo – The Last Centurian
Olaf Stapledon – The Star Maker
Dovin Melhee – nSpace
John Brunner – Stand on Zanzibar
Joe Haldeman – Mindbridge
Robert Sheckley – Mindswap
Thanks everyone!
Great. Another list of ‘great\ must read ! SciFi …from someone who’s never heard of Robert Sheckley. So much for your list.
@35 (S Cific). Why so Serious?
1. This list is fairly old. I’ve read quite a few more since then and might consider changing this list around a lot now.
Everyone has different tastes. I didn’t include Dune and almost EVERYONE took offense to that. Do you?
2. These are all still great reads, so why would the absence of ONE AUTHOR invalidate the fact that these are worthwhile if you haven’t tried them?
3. It’s my list
4. It’s a primer. Meant for people who haven’t read ANY SciFi yet. I know of at least 2 teachers who’ve used this as the basis of their “Comparative Science Fiction Literature” courses in high school.
Thanks for stopping by and participating.
Wow Arthur C. Clarke didn’t even make your list? Rama Revealed is a classic sci fi must read and should have at least made the list not to mention 2001 A Space Odyssey and several other honorable mentions.
Hi Megan,
You’re right there is no Clarke. Keep in mind this is MY top 10 list. If you have your own please do post a link here.
I seriously considered ACC for my list a number of times, but in the end I was looking for books that were self-contained and didn’t span many many volumes before they became “compelling”. You’ll notice that Lord of the Rings and the Foundation series are also not on my list.
In short, I’d need 100 book long list to do the genre justice in the eyes of most of you. For me, these are the ones I return to over and over when getting people hooked and they’ve worked quite well.
Your mileage may vary of course.
Thanks for visiting.
“The Invention of Morel” by Adolfo Bioy Casares. It’s from 1940 and written in Argentina, but Jorge Luis Borges and Octavio Paz have nothing but praise for it.