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Message started by Webbie on Dec 7^th, 2013, 7:17am

Title: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Post by Webbie on Dec 7^th, 2013, 7:17am

Rank Author/Editor Title Year
1 Frank Herbert Dune 1965
2 Orson Scott Card Ender's Game 1985
3 Isaac Asimov The Foundation Trilogy 1951
4 Douglas Adams Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy 1979
5 George Orwell 1984 1949
6 Robert A Heinlein Stranger in a Strange Land 1961
7 Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 1954
8 William Gibson Neuromancer 1984
9 Arthur C Clarke 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968
10 Philip K Dick Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 1968
11 Robert A Heinlein Starship Troopers 1959
12 Isaac Asimov I, Robot 1950
13 Larry Niven Ringworld 1970
14 Arthur C Clarke Rendezvous With Rama 1973
15 Dan Simmons Hyperion 1989
16 Aldous Huxley Brave New World 1932
17 H G Wells The Time Machine 1895
18 Arthur C Clarke Childhood's End 1954
19 Joe Haldeman The Forever War 1974
20 Robert A Heinlein The Moon is a Harsh Mistress 1966
21 H G Wells The War of the Worlds 1898
22 Ray Bradbury The Martian Chronicles 1950
23 Kurt Vonnegut Slaughterhouse Five 1969
24 Ursula K Le Guin The Left Hand of Darkness 1969
25 Neal Stephenson Snow Crash 1992

Agree or dis-agree?

What strikes me about this list is how many classic authors are on it. New writers aren't well represented by and large. I have to wonder why this is. Some of my thoughts include movies taking over the popular culture, a lack of readers in general, the business of publishing going on-line (ie. the Amazon effect), lifestyle changes or maybe it's just the dizzying pace of modern life being science fiction itself?

After looking at the list again I highlighted all the titles that I'm sure have made it to film. Looking at the list again I'm wondering how many people see a movie then buy the book.

What do you think some of the causes are for this?

partial list from http://scifilists.sffjazz.com/lists_books_rank1.html

Title: Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Post by Gary A. Markette on Dec 9^th, 2013, 1:28am

Not sure where this list came from but I don't agree with number 1. I could almost go with number 2 as number 1. I'd have to think about it. I liked Dune, but liked none of the dozens of sequels, prequels, junkquels. Further, I liked none of Herbert's other work so it's hard for me to elevate even this masterpiece to best of all time status. On the other hand, I've enjoyed all of the Enders series and it never seems to have devolved to "soap opera." Anyway, thanks for the thought provoking, webby.

Title: Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Post by gschaade on Dec 9^th, 2013, 9:00am

Of course any list like this depends on personal preference. My #1 would be The Foundation series because I initially used Asimov to hone my writing skills. I loved the way he eventually brought together the Robot series, Galactic Empire series, and the Foundation. Total genius.

Title: Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Post by ahmedakhan on Dec 10^th, 2013, 10:09am

I am missing Jules Verne in this list. How can any list of top SF books be complete without "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", "Journey to the Centre of the Earth", etc?

Title: Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Post by Webbie on Dec 10^th, 2013, 3:21pm

The list was based on book rankings in sales. Recent sales that is, not all time.

The classics are not well represented by the list. Kinda surprised to see 'Snow Crash' on the list. Being as it's a kinda odd story in the cypher punk kind of style/genre. The genre being kind of an acquired taste as it were.

I'm still thinking about the movie angle vs. sales of books.

Title: Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Post by ente per ente on Dec 12^th, 2013, 9:14pm

Well,in my opinion, the list should be as follows, given my personal preferences... ;)

1 Dan Simmons Hyperion 1989
2 Robert A Heinlein Starship Troopers 1959
3 Robert A Heinlein Stranger in a Strange Land 1961
4 Neal Stephenson Snow Crash 1992
5 George Orwell 1984 1949
6 Joe Haldeman The Forever War 1974
7 Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 1954
8 Arthur C Clarke 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968
9 Aldous Huxley Brave New World 1932
10 H G Wells The Time Machine 1895
11 Orson Scott Card Ender's Game 1985
12 Frank Herbert Dune 1965
13 Isaac Asimov The Foundation Trilogy 1951
14 Douglas Adams Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy 1979
15 William Gibson Neuromancer 1984
16 Philip K Dick Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 1968
17 Isaac Asimov I, Robot 1950
18 Larry Niven Ringworld 1970
19 Arthur C Clarke Rendezvous With Rama 1973
20 Arthur C Clarke Childhood's End 1954
21 Robert A Heinlein The Moon is a Harsh Mistress 1966
22 H G Wells The War of the Worlds 1898
23 Ray Bradbury The Martian Chronicles 1950
24 Kurt Vonnegut Slaughterhouse Five 1969
25 Ursula K Le Guin The Left Hand of Darkness 1969

Well, that's just my thought, anyway...eh,eh :)

Title: Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Post by Webbie on Dec 13^th, 2013, 1:01pm

That's quite a list! :)