The Top 100 Must-read Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of All Time Poll.

pdknz · Oct 11, 2011

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Anson Heinlein
Too obvious to leave out--the story of revolution on Earth's moon colony, incorporating (probably) the first mention of artificial intelligence, plus electromagnetic rail launchers, and Heinlein's usual kinky social organizations.

This is a great thread, BTW, and I'm gratified to find that most of the entries are old friends. Newer stuff is getting by me way too fast.

Oh, and. We have to mention the Lenseman Series by EE Smith. Cheesy space opera by modern standards, but it was the first.

GreenEpic · Oct 17, 2011

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, 2003, Science Fiction
Post-apocalyptic adventures of one of the last humans alive living among strange, human-like people; his flashbacks to life before the apocalypse describe his unique culture and how the near demise of the human race came to be.

Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree Jr, 1990, Science Fiction/ Fantasy
A Wonderful collection of short stories by Tiptree including "The Girl Who Was Plugged In" and "Love Is the Plan and The Plan Is Death."

Elise-K-Ra'sha · Oct 17, 2011

I'm going to be a bit of a magpie here but here are the ones I recommend.

1 - The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954, 1955); fantasy

It's an epic fantasy adventure that contains the classical battle of good vs. evil, teaches the lesson that we should be careful in how we live lest we destroy our home and ourselves, and it's the inspiration for me to become a writer.

2 - Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953); science fiction

A very interesting what-if for the future of our world.

3 - I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (1950); science fiction

One word: Robots! He wrote about them long before they ever existed.

4 - The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King (1987); fantasy

The evil is a tangible person in the form of Randall Flagg, someone King uses throughout nearly all of his novels.

5 - The Dark Tower, books One through Three by Stephen King (1982, 1987, 1991); fantasy

The beginning of an epic and unusual fantasy adventure, though I've only gotten as far as Book Three.

Note: I know Stephen King isn't necessarily considered a fantasy author, but the books I've mentioned I've read and they're really good.

MichaelZWilliamson · Nov 3, 2011

Starship Troopers and
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, already mentioned above.

House of Stairs, I think it was by William Streator, about programming children to respond to colored lights and sounds...written in the 50s.

Venus Plus X, Theodore Sturgeon. A disturbing debate over whether gender is developmental or genetic, written in the 1960s.

2001: A Space Odyssey, about human evolution and development to the next level, under the guidance of a superhuman intelligence.

Pthom · Nov 3, 2011

Just a reminder for those participating in this venture: By all means, list the titles you consider important, in the top 100, whether or not they have been mentioned before! It is the number of votes for a title that will make this work, not just that it is mentioned somewhere in this thread.

CScottMorris · Nov 4, 2011

Neuromancer by William Gibson, because it helped define and birth Cyberpunk
The Difference Engine, by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson, because it helped define and birth Steampunk
A Canticle For Leibowitz by Walter M Miller as my obscure vote, and because it is just freaking awesome.
And of course Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlien, because frankly it's the best science fiction novel of all time.
OF.
ALL.
TIME.

ant123 · Nov 9, 2011

Oryx and Crake 2003 and whilst we are at it The year of the flood 2009 by Margaret Atwood.

Funny and chilling Science Fiction.

Glen T. Brock · Nov 10, 2011

Hello folks,

One of my favorite authors you may never have heard of. Tom Godwin's novel, THE SURVIVORS (published in paperback as SPACE PRISON)was a great read when it was published in 1958. Godwin is best noted for his story Cold Equations." published in Astounding magazine.

I AM LEGEND, by Richard Matheson remains my favorite twist on the vampire novel. One man remains alive in a world of vampires. Also very strange is Ted Sturgeon's SOME OF YOUR BLOOD, where a psychotic draftee is evaluated by a military psychiatrist because of his peculiar taste for blood.

Don't forget Edgar Rice Burroughs with his Martian series, Venus series, Pellucidar and Land that time forgot!

Glen T. Brock

Alessandra Kelley · Nov 20, 2011

Pthom said:
Just a reminder for those participating in this venture: By all means, list the titles you consider important, in the top 100, whether or not they have been mentioned before! It is the number of votes for a title that will make this work, not just that it is mentioned somewhere in this thread.

Oh, I didn't realize it was number of votes. I had visions of everybody nominating different books, and then people voting on them altogether. In fact, I was being scrupulous to nominate books I hadn't seen here and avoid treading on other nominators' toes. Whoops.

Well, then, I'd like to add my votes for The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, A Wizard of Earthsea, Something Wicked This Way Comes, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and I, Robot.

Please have a look at all the nominations, folks -- it's not that onerous a list -- and if you see ones you agree with, add your voice.

brutus · Nov 20, 2011

"Solaris" 1961 by Stanisław Lem. The movie was a drag, but the book is brilliant.

From Wikipedia: Solaris is about the ultimate inadequacy of communication between human and non-human species.
In probing and examining the oceanic surface of the planet Solaris from a hovering research station, the human scientists are, in turn, being studied by the sentient planet itself, which probes for and examines the thoughts of the human beings who are analyzing it. Solaris has the ability to manifest their secret, guilty concerns in human form, for each scientist to personally confront.

Other favorites: The Hitchhikers Guide..., The Time Machine, Dune, Stranger in a Strange Land, Frankenstein (Frahnk-en STEEEEN!), 1984, Jurassic Park, and a lot of others I can't think of right now...

gyulameszaros · Nov 23, 2011

Old man's war by John Scalzi, 2007

When John Perry gets 75 years old, he joins the Colonial Defense Force. He receives a new augmented body and goes to war. The story is fresh, the characters are well written.

Friendly Frog · Nov 23, 2011

Man, it's hard to avoid just picking your favourites...

Agreeing with all following nominations:

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin (1968) fantasy. Great coming-of-age story with good world-building.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953) sci-fi. No other story portrays quite as well what the loss of books and literature means to a society.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, (1979) sci-fi. No one does absurd humour quite the way as Adams.

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954) fantasy. The book that defined epic fantasy.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818) sci-fi. Featuring probably literature's first mad scientist.

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (1895) sci-fi. May not have aged quite as well, but it is and remains one of the most influential sci-fi books.

20,000 Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne (1870) sci-fi. Still as powerful as two centuries back, not a small feat!

Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897) fantasy - Responsible for inspiring every vampire novel since.

The Merlin Conspiracy by Diane Wynne Jones (2003). I realise just now that I have read far too few of her books (which must be remedied) but this one remains one of the best YA books I have ever read.

And including (I don't think they've been mentioned before):

Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett (1991) fantasy - It's hard to pick a Discworld novel, but this one is often mentioned as a good example or start and Pratchett simply must be included.

The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle (1912) sci-fi. To this day one of the best stories that puts the modern world in touch with the distant past.

Alessandra Kelley · Nov 27, 2011

I'd like to express my agreement with

L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz (1900)

H. G. Wells, The Time Machine (1895)

Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man (1991)

and add the heartbreaking

Ray Bradbury, The Martian Chronicles (science fiction, 1950)

as well as the eerie

C. L. Moore, Shambleau and Others (sf/fantasy/horror, 1953)

Alessandra Kelley · Nov 27, 2011

Ooh! And I agree with David.Justiss' nomination of

The Odyssey, Homer (?fifth century BCE?)

Alessandra Kelley · Nov 27, 2011

Man, I cannot believe I overlooked:

Little, Big, John Crowley (fantasy, 1981)

A sweet fantasy fairy tale romance set in an impossible family in an impossible house

Aegypt series, John Crowley (fantasy, 1987 - 2007)

A mind-boggling secret history story which blends an allegorical landscape of upstate New York with Hermetic philosophy of the Renaissance as we follow the career of a somewhat annoying academic through all sorts of alchemical transformations

This series is to "The Da Vinci Code" what a Beethoven symphony is to an ice-cream truck jingle.

Alessandra Kelley · Nov 27, 2011

Here's a list of what's been nominated so far, just to tidy things up. I hope I haven't missed any. Feel free to add your votes for this or that, and add new titles which are fantasy and science fiction must-reads (Needless to say, my list here does not count as votes!).

Remember, the number of people speaking up for a title is what matters.

Douglas Adams, The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Isaac Asimov, Foundation
Isaac Asimov, I, Robot
Robert Asprin, Thieves' World
Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake
Margaret Atwood, The Year of the Flood
L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
Ray Bradbury, The Martian Chronicles
Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes
Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Land That Time Forgot
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Martian series
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Pellucidar
Octavia E. Butler, Dawn
Octavia E. Butler, Wild Seed
Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game
Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
C. J. Cherryh, The Chronicles of Morgaine
Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood's End
Arthur C. Clarke, 2001: A Space Odyssey
Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park
John Crowley, Aegypt series
John Crowley, Little, Big
Stephen R. Donaldson, Lord Foul's Bane
Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World
Harlan Ellison, Dangerous Visions
Harlan Ellison, Deathbird Stories
Carol Emshwiller, The Mount
Philip José Farmer, To Your Scattered Bodies Go
Alan Dean Foster, Icerigger
Neil Gaiman, Sandman
William Gibson, Neuromancer
Tom Godwin, The Survivors
William Goldman, The Princess Bride
Joe Haldeman, The Forever War
Robert Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers
Robert Heinlein, Stranger In a Strange Land
Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough for Love
Frank Herbert, Dune
Homer, The Odyssey
Robert E. Howard, the Conan series
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Diana Wynne Jones, The Merlin Conspiracy
Stephen King, The Dark Tower series
Stephen King, The Eyes of the Dragon
Katherine Kurtz, Deryni Chronicles
Tanith Lee, The Silver Metal Lover
Ursula K. Le Guin, The Dispossessed
Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness
Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea
Fritz Leiber, the Fafhrd & Gray Mouser series
Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time
C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Stanislaw Lem, Solaris
Sergei Lukyanenko, Nochnoi Dozor (The Night Watch)
George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire
Richard Matheson, I Am Legend
Dennis McKiernon, the Mithgar series
China Miéville, Perdido Street Station
Walter M. Miller, A Canticle For Leibowitz
David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas
L.E. Modesitt, Jr., the Saga of Recluce series
Elizabeth Moon, The Deed of Paksenarrion
Michael Moorcock, the Elric series
C. L. Moore, Shambleau and Others
Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle, Lucifer's Hammer
Ben Okri, The Famished Road
George Orwell, 1984
Tim Powers, The Anubis Gates
Terry Pratchett, The Colour of Magic
Terry Pratchett, Hogfather
Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn: The Final Empire
Robert J. Sawyer, Calculating God
John Scalzi, Old Man's War
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus
Dan Simmons, Hyperion
William Sleator, House of Stairs
E. E. "Doc" Smith, the Lensman series
Neal Stephenson, Anathem
Neal Stephenson, The Baroque Cycle
Bruce Sterling and William Gibson, The Difference Engine
Mary Stewart, The Crystal Cave
Bram Stoker, Dracula
Theodore Sturgeon, Some of Your Blood
Theodore Sturgeon, Venus Plus X
Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels
James Tiptree, Jr., Her Smoke Rose Up Forever
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion
H.G. Wells, The Time Machine
T.H. White, The Once and Future King
Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Scott Westerfeld, The Succession
Virginia Woolf, Orlando

Alessandra Kelley · Nov 27, 2011

Sigh. And now that I've compiled that list, I thought of some more to nominate.

Ingathering: The Complete People Stories of Zenna Henderson, Zenna Henderson (science fiction, 1952-1983)

Sweet, spiritual stories of humanoid aliens stranded on Earth

Midnight Robber, Nalo Hopkinson (science fiction, 2000)

A downbeat hard sf novel, founded on Caribbean culture

The Snow Queen, Joan D. Vinge (science fiction, 1980)

A science-fiction retelling of the original Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, dark and deep

Crayonz · Dec 5, 2011

Am throwing my two cents in:

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit and entire Lord of the Rings series
Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea
C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
William Goldman, The Princess Bride
Stephen King, The Dark Tower series
Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
Douglas Adams, The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Thank you, Alessandra Kelley, for providing the list!

Jon Rowlison · Dec 6, 2011

Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire), George R.R. Martin

Gondomir · Dec 7, 2011

Top 10 Sci-Fi/Fantasy

1. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
2. Asimov's Foundation series
3. Niven & Pournelle's Mote in God's Eye
4. Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
5. David Weber's Honor Harrington Novels
6. G RR Martin's Song of Ice & Fire series
7. Alan Moore's Watchmen
8. Gaiman's American Gods
9. Douglas Adam's Hitchhikers Guide Series
10. Asimov's Robot Books--they are all equally awesome
10. David Drake's Lord of the Isles series

Yes, there is a tie for # 10.

Alessandra Kelley · Dec 14, 2011

Manly Wade Wellman, Who Fears the Devil, fantasy, 1963

Short stories of Silver John, a traveling guitarist who meets up with preternatural critters in the American South, a sort of Woody Guthrie meets Edgar Allen Poe and H. P. Lovecraft via American folklore, with a lovely, authentic Carolinan voice.

Friendly Frog · Dec 15, 2011

After having a look at the list (thanks for compiling, Alessandra) adding my nominations for:

Isaac Asimov, Foundation
Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park
Frank Herbert, Dune
Homer, The Odyssey
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
T.H. White, The Once and Future King

David.Justiss · Dec 15, 2011

My votes for books that other people have nominated:

Douglas Adams, The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game
Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time
C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Terry Pratchett, Hogfather
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

There's at least a couple others I'd like to vote for, but I'm limiting myself to voting for things I've already read. (There are several I want to read but haven't gotten around to yet).
There are also a couple that I feel like giving a negative vote to, but I'll keep my mouth shut...

Grunkins · Dec 29, 2011

-Song of Ice and Fire, GRRM
epic in every sense of the word, as engrossing as anything I've ever read.

-Tigana, Guy Gavriel Kay
-Lions of Al-Rassan, Guy Gavriel Kay
he's a beautiful writer, no one else writes books like he does, he's really almost a genre to himself.

-Blood Meridian, Cormac McCarthy
brutal and terrifying wild west retelling of the odyssey.

WordCount · Jan 16, 2012

Old thread, but I wanna vote!

First off, there's no The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells, 1898! Unacceptable!
The War of the Worlds presents itself as a factual account of the Martian invasion.

I'm voting in for Frankenstein, The Time Machine, Fahrenheit 451,The Dark Tower Series, and The Lost World.

The Top 100 Must-read Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of All Time Poll.

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