Best All-Time Sci-fi Novel? - Page 8

taosaur · 08-24-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looler

Since I really liked Ender's Game I thought I'd give his new book Pathfinder a shot. It sucked. Just saying.

I've read a fair smattering of OSC, and I'd say his best and most original work was Pastwatch.

Timoleon · 08-24-2011, 09:16 PM

A few more:

Kim Stanley Robinson's Red/Green/Blue Mars Series --- truly epic, and very well written.
Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon --- couldn't put it down, despite the "frank"

language.

An as an

off-topic bonus, two of the best SF short stories ever: The Last Question, by Isaac Asimov, and The Monster, by A.E. Van Vogt. What a great read!

Nancy Fulda · 08-25-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

I've read a fair smattering of OSC, and I'd say his best and most original work was Pastwatch.

I loved Ender's Game and a few of his other books, but haven't been very satisfied with his recent work.

I haven't tried Pastwatch, though.

richrock · 12-27-2011, 06:27 PM

Hmm. Spoilt for choice, making it all the harder.

My immediate 'gut instinct' favourite is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Must have read it about 20 times now.

EVE: The Empyrean Age is also a favourite. Never played the game, but love the concept, and this book's been read about 4-5 times. Tony Gonzales has a new one out next year and I'm very much looking forward to it.

There could be so many more, but these two stick in my mind as memorable and just fun to read.

BlackVoid · 12-28-2011, 07:55 AM

Dune
----------

BlackVoid · 12-28-2011, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatingPie

In the later books, he gives in, and there is no remorse, or even suggestion that he did anything wrong.

-Pie

10+ years of marriage does that to you. No other explanation needed.

dengar · 12-28-2011, 02:42 PM

Enders's game

TechnoCat · 12-28-2011, 03:41 PM

I'm not qualified to choose the "Best" SF novel... from the posts here, it looks like that means influential with gobs of social commentary.

But my favorite and most influential choice is the Hitchhiker's Guide series by Douglas Adams. And I actually reread it much more often than any of the others mentioned in this thread.

So why is it my best?

I reread it more often than all other SF books together. IMO, this should be a prime requirement for "good"; a book that has pretentions and commentary, but that you don't enjoy enough to read repeatedly, is not really a good book.
It has spawned more than any others I can think of - radio shows (okay, they spawned the books), movies, TV show, even a few towels.
At least in my world (computer science), it is probably the most likely single bit of culture to be known by almost everyone, including many people not born when it came out
How can you go wrong with "Don't Panic"?

Apache · 12-28-2011, 04:09 PM

Armor by John Steakley is one. There are to many books ouot there that qualify for the title.
Apache

taosaur · 12-28-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

Armor by John Steakley is one. There are to many books ouot there that qualify for the title.
Apache

I think that's the second or third nomination, and I actually read the book on the basis of the earlier one(s), and I just don't get it. It was good pulp: enjoyable, action-packed, and wearing its themes on its sleeve. It was a fun read and I appreciate the recommendation, but how is above-average Starship Troopers fanfic anyone's "best of" anything?

As discussed above, we'd appreciate some exploration of why you consider it the best.

bookhound78 · 12-28-2011, 09:49 PM

I'm just starting to read sci-fi (my background is mostly horror), but so far my favorite has been Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. I have a number of the books mentioned in this thread, so I know I have some good reading ahead of me.

cearbhallain · 12-29-2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookhound78

I'm just starting to read sci-fi (my background is mostly horror), but so far my favorite has been Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. I have a number of the books mentioned in this thread, so I know I have some good reading ahead of me.

My absolute favorite is The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. DADOES is a close second.

crich70 · 12-29-2011, 01:43 PM

One I really like is Warp Speed by Travis S. Taylor and its sequel The Quantum Connection. Both are available through Baen as free books which is how I came to read them.

ametzler · 12-29-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timoleon

A few more:
[...]
Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon --- couldn't put it down, despite the "frank"

language.

[...]

Really a great book (the sequels aren't lame either): A nice innovative idea with the world to go with it. Lots of action without being a guilty pleasure.

I have been missing Neal Asher in this thread, most notably In the Line Polity. - The Fauna on Masada is hard to improve on.

AndrewH · 12-29-2011, 03:27 PM

My favorites would have to be:

The Dune series by Frank Herbert
Raising the Stones by Sheri S. Tepper
City by Clifford Simak
Earth by David Brin

I'm not sure if it really fits into the science fiction genre, but:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

12-28-2011, 03:41 PM	#113
TechnoCat Zealot Posts: 131 Karma: 150390 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pacific NorthWest Device: Kindle Fire	I'm not qualified to choose the "Best" SF novel... from the posts here, it looks like that means influential with gobs of social commentary. But my favorite and most influential choice is the Hitchhiker's Guide series by Douglas Adams. And I actually reread it much more often than any of the others mentioned in this thread. So why is it my best? I reread it more often than all other SF books together. IMO, this should be a prime requirement for "good"; a book that has pretentions and commentary, but that you don't enjoy enough to read repeatedly, is not really a good book. It has spawned more than any others I can think of - radio shows (okay, they spawned the books), movies, TV show, even a few towels. At least in my world (computer science), it is probably the most likely single bit of culture to be known by almost everyone, including many people not born when it came out How can you go wrong with "Don't Panic"? Last edited by TechnoCat; 12-28-2011 at 04:55 PM. Reason: Added -why-

12-29-2011, 03:27 PM	#120
AndrewH Fanatic Posts: 553 Karma: 1234566 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver, WA Device: Sony PRS-T1, & Kobo Mini	My favorites would have to be: The Dune series by Frank Herbert Raising the Stones by Sheri S. Tepper City by Clifford Simak Earth by David Brin I'm not sure if it really fits into the science fiction genre, but: Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

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08-24-2011, 09:16 PM	#107
Timoleon Time Enough at Last Posts: 387 Karma: 1151316 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England Device: iPad 3, iPhone 5, Kindle 3, Fire, Sony PRS-350	A few more: Kim Stanley Robinson's Red/Green/Blue Mars Series --- truly epic, and very well written. Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon --- couldn't put it down, despite the "frank" language. An as an off-topic bonus, two of the best SF short stories ever: The Last Question, by Isaac Asimov, and The Monster, by A.E. Van Vogt. What a great read!

12-27-2011, 06:27 PM	#109
richrock Sony Reader Fanatic Posts: 43 Karma: 254098 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS 505	Hmm. Spoilt for choice, making it all the harder. My immediate 'gut instinct' favourite is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Must have read it about 20 times now. EVE: The Empyrean Age is also a favourite. Never played the game, but love the concept, and this book's been read about 4-5 times. Tony Gonzales has a new one out next year and I'm very much looking forward to it. There could be so many more, but these two stick in my mind as memorable and just fun to read.

12-28-2011, 07:55 AM	#110
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	Dune ----------

12-28-2011, 02:42 PM	#112
dengar Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 2810 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: PW2, K3, Ipad 4, Kindle Fire	Enders's game

12-28-2011, 04:09 PM	#114
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,137 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Armor by John Steakley is one. There are to many books ouot there that qualify for the title. Apache

12-28-2011, 09:49 PM	#116
bookhound78 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Carolina Device: Kindle	I'm just starting to read sci-fi (my background is mostly horror), but so far my favorite has been Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. I have a number of the books mentioned in this thread, so I know I have some good reading ahead of me.

12-29-2011, 01:43 PM	#118
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	One I really like is Warp Speed by Travis S. Taylor and its sequel The Quantum Connection. Both are available through Baen as free books which is how I came to read them.

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