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Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far... (Read 2004 times)
Webbie
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Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Dec 07th, 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
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Gary A. Markette
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Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Reply #1 - Dec 9th, 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.
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gschaade
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Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Reply #2 - Dec 9th, 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.
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ahmedakhan
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Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Reply #3 - Dec 10th, 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?
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Webbie
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Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Reply #4 - Dec 10th, 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.
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ente per ente
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Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Reply #5 - Dec 12th, 2013, 9:14pm
 
Well,in my opinion, the  list should be as follows, given my personal preferences... Wink

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 Smiley
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Webbie
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Re: Top 25 Science fiction books of all time. so far...
Reply #6 - Dec 13th, 2013, 1:01pm
 
That's quite a list! Smiley
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