Comments on: Ten of the best…science fiction novels

By: Gabriela

Gabriela — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:41:35 +0000

Your missing Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series which has a huge following and revolutionized dragon and dragon rider stories. It’s a really well written bunch of novels, and goes into perfect detail explaining the setting, the characters, and the circumstances. Her other novel are also really good reading material.

By: ben

ben — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:02:28 +0000

Frederick Pohls, Gateway is one of my favourites
Did not think much of Stranger in a strange Land, did not like religious themes and found it plain boring
Snow Crash, Neal stephenson – very unique and interesting
Eon, Greg Bear- cool concept.
Arthur C Clarke, Rendezvous with rama – awesome
Dune, Frank Herbert – totally original and epic with plenty of political intrigue and action.

Im guilty of liking a little action and excitement in my science fiction. I absolutely hated Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon. Yes it is poetically written and gives a profound view to our place in the universe, but it is just unbelievably dull and waffles on and on.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:04:59 +0000

srsly nobody mentioned Perry Rhodan?

By: NottyImp

NottyImp — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:17:43 +0000

I used to read a lot of SF as a teen and twenty-something, but the only stuff I’ve read recently has been Bradbury (“The Tattooed Man” – amazing). Having read a lot of the “classics”, I rather lost faith with it all. I sometimes wonder what the current state of the genre is and, having just perused a fair few “Top” listson the internt that rarely seem to cite post-1980 works, it would seem pretty moribund.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:54:46 +0000

HG Wells – War of the Worlds
Ignore the films, the book is truly awesome SF. written at a time before computers, mobiles it still makes perfect sense.

By: Erniefred

Erniefred — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:44:42 +0000

Great list and so many more good reads in the comments.
I’m surprised Edgar Rice Burroughs was not mentioned more.

By: Pherl Lane

Pherl Lane — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:44:52 +0000

I hope someone gets the ‘Pherl’.
Great list – 4 I haven’t yet read.
I so agree with Bester besting. Wonderful book
Dune changed the way I viewed the world. Politically, sociologically and opened up my views on religion…Still an atheist tho…and less tolerant of organised religions.
H.G.Wells
Iain Banks Culture Novels.
Asimov may not have been the best writer, but great hard SF – The Gods Themselves. The Caves of Steel.
Alastair Reynolds – Revelation space series (although Chasm City was pretty awful).
Farenheight 451
I can’t stand Gibson or Zelazny or Donaldson (the Pretender).
JG Ballard
P.K. Dick
What about Brian Aldis – Heliconia and Non-Stop
Definitely more Heinlien. I used to be an addict of his stuff.
Huxley – Brave New World
Anthony Burgess
Jules Verne
C.S.Lewis
Joe Haldeman – loved it.
Thanks X

By: Dhanesh

Dhanesh — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:19:30 +0000

Great list
My personal favourite is David Zindell’s Requiem for a Homo Sapien series. If you haven’t you must read.

By: R E C

R E C — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:31:08 +0000

I’ve read all of the books in the list and a few others that people commented on, for those who commented on Dune, yes can be slow at times, but the only relevant books to read are those written by the Author himself, the first 6; those that come after are from his son trying to profit on his fathers success. Number 6 “Chapterhouse” was written as the last book and realize it was not complete before his death. I was honored to meet Herbert before his death, as same as meeting Heinlein… For those who hate on “Ender’s Game” I am sad for you, but “Ender’s Shadow” will explain more for those who got lost…

By the way, I do not use the kindle or e-readers, I read the book forms; I found many editing issues with electronic media, I do have almost all of my books archived in electronic form, but I have a book copy of every book I have in my archive collection. I have a solid archived collection of around 450 books that are also detailed in a personal list of what I feel are the best written books that I provide to friends and those who ask (Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror)… I just put a few below that I recommend beyond what others have stated.

Baldwin, Bill Helmsman
Bova, Ben Mars
Bova, Ben the Exiles Trilogy
Brin, David – Uplift books
Campbell, Jack – the Lost Fleet
Cherryh, C J – Cyteen
Cooper, Edmund – Transit
Drake, David – Redliners
Farmer, Philip Jose – Dayworld
Gerrold, David – A Matter for Men, A Day for Damnation, etc
Heinlein, Robert A – (so many good books, choose a few) and he did add “Moon” as # 10
Hogan, James P – the Giants Novels
Pohl, Frederik – Gateway
Schmitz, James H – the Witches of Karres (not edited by Eric Flint) Flint is a butcher, sad person
Shaw, Bob – Orbitsville
Stableford, Brian – Journey to the Center
Van Vogt, AE – the War against the Rull

Frost, Gregory – Tain (If you can find it) “ancient Celtic theology/history/mythology” dark read

Don’t laugh, but also read Miguel de Cervantes’ s Don Quixote, not science fiction, but a fiction that stands the age of time, yes, a classic and many will dread trying it out, but just a thought. Only real classic I will most-likely ever recommend.

Schmitz, James H – the Witches of Karres (not edited by Eric Flint) I was able to find another copy and I tore it apart in order to scan the book into an electronic form.

By: rob.b1519

rob.b1519 — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 02:34:52 +0000

No Sirens of Titan by Vonnegut, no read.