Best All-Time Sci-fi Novel? - Page 3

DiapDealer · 07-08-2011, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwidude

For instance I am a big Robin Hobb fan, loved the Farseer stuff yet there are others here who have posted how painful they found that to read.

The original Farseer trilogy was fantastic, IMO... it's Hobbs' later stuff, like the Soldier Son trilogy, that was painful. Biggest turd of a protagonist I ever read.

As far as sci-fi goes, my favorites would be:
Dan Simmons' Hyperion books.
Stephen R Donaldson's Gap series.
Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga + Void trilogy.

I love classic sci-fi, but it's mostly a nostalgic (pot-roast and potatoes) kind of love for me... and I consider most of it to be the foundation for more satisfying contemporary efforts. *shrugs*

lestatar · 07-08-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ransom

Yeah, I've read all four books in the series. That was a good one. The last one was the worst, but worth reading.

Agreed...Exactly as I found the series as well.

ebusinesstutor · 07-08-2011, 03:37 PM

Childhood's End was a shocking book to me as a teen. A whole new level of where science fiction could go.

But I think my all time favorite is Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven. The aliens were much more realistic to me than most other books and their society and culture were amazing.

Timoleon · 07-08-2011, 03:56 PM

In the last decade or so, Vernor Vinge's Fire Upon The Deep has been the most compelling science fiction read for me. Really looking forward to his sequel, Children In The Sky, coming out this summer.

ilovejedd · 07-08-2011, 04:13 PM

Foundation series - Isaac Asimov

carpetmojo · 07-08-2011, 04:28 PM

Anyone any idea how long it'll take to read all the suggestions herein ?

I got to around 3 years and wilted.....

Ruthless selection is the answer - oh bugger, Diap's waded in again...

That's another couple of months.....

Ransom · 07-08-2011, 05:22 PM

Some of these I've heard of and know a little about and others I've never heard of at all. Lots to check out. That's kind of why I started the thread. I like sci-fi best, and I'm having a hard time finding anything new to read. I should be able to find something good out of all this!

Hamlet53 · 07-08-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebusinesstutor

But I think my all time favorite is Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven. The aliens were much more realistic to me than most other books and their society and culture were amazing.

I had forgotten about that one. I recall really enjoying it. The idea of the alien society collapsing over and over due to over population. As a teenager my favorites were:

The Stars Are Ours by Andre Norton

Night of Masks by Andre Norton

The Time Traders by Andre Norton

Citizen of the Galaxy by Heinlein

As and adult now I would say:

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

There is probably a lot of more recent stuff, over the last three decades, that I am just not aware of that I might like. Science Fiction hasn't been a priority for years.

lestatar · 07-08-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Anyone any idea how long it'll take to read all the suggestions herein ?

I got to around 3 years and wilted.....

Ruthless selection is the answer - oh bugger, Diap's waded in again...

That's another couple of months.....

Here ya go:

RDaneel54 · 07-08-2011, 08:58 PM

Best All-Time Science Fiction Novel is indeed difficult to name.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert A. Heinlein

Closely followed by a bunch of other books by Heinlein, Asimov, etc.

It's a wide, deep and long field with many a sub-genre spanning at least 3 axes in time.

rkomar · 07-09-2011, 01:08 AM

How about some Eastern European choices (if you want a little garlic in your stories):

War with the Newts, Karel Capek
Fiasco, Stanislaw Lem
Omon Ra, Victor Pelevin

Ninjalawyer · 07-09-2011, 12:30 PM

1984 and A Canticle for Leibowitz are my two all time faves. A few people already suggested the Hyperion books, but I'd only go so far as Hyperion and then The Fall of Hyperion (they're effectively one book).

The Frank Herbert Dune books are also a good choice.

Maybe John Scalzi's The God Engines for something different.

pwalker8 · 07-09-2011, 02:42 PM

It depends if you limit it to books that available as ebooks or not, it also depends if you mean SF or SF/F.

Many of the old classics (Zelazny's books for example) aren't available in ebooks yet and they are certainly in the mix for my favorite SF books.

Just books that are available as ebooks and SF rather than SF/F - Certainly Asimov's Foundation trilogy. I would throw in to the mix some of James Hogan's books, especially his early books (The Gentle Giants series). Many of the Pournelle/Niven books such as the previously mentioned Mote in God's Eye. Probably some of David Weber's books (not great literature, but great stories). For the most part, which one is best really depends on what mood I'm in.

westparker · 07-09-2011, 04:16 PM

The Mote in God's Eye - Niven
The Gripping Hand - Niven

pwalker8 · 07-10-2011, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westparker

The Mote in God's Eye - Niven
The Gripping Hand - Niven

Technically Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, not just Larry Niven.

07-08-2011, 04:13 PM	#35
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,111 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	Foundation series - Isaac Asimov Last edited by ilovejedd; 07-08-2011 at 04:16 PM.

07-08-2011, 04:28 PM	#36
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Too many books, too little time.... Anyone any idea how long it'll take to read all the suggestions herein ? I got to around 3 years and wilted..... Ruthless selection is the answer - oh bugger, Diap's waded in again... That's another couple of months.....

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07-08-2011, 03:37 PM	#33
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Childhood's End was a shocking book to me as a teen. A whole new level of where science fiction could go. But I think my all time favorite is Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven. The aliens were much more realistic to me than most other books and their society and culture were amazing.

07-08-2011, 03:56 PM	#34
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	In the last decade or so, Vernor Vinge's Fire Upon The Deep has been the most compelling science fiction read for me. Really looking forward to his sequel, Children In The Sky, coming out this summer.

07-08-2011, 05:22 PM	#37
Ransom Banned Posts: 242 Karma: 51054 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belleville, IL Device: Kindle-3	Some of these I've heard of and know a little about and others I've never heard of at all. Lots to check out. That's kind of why I started the thread. I like sci-fi best, and I'm having a hard time finding anything new to read. I should be able to find something good out of all this!

07-08-2011, 08:58 PM	#40
RDaneel54 Aging Positronic Brain Posts: 633 Karma: 2155452 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aurora (when off-Earth) Device: Amazon Oasis; iPhone, iPad Mini	Best All-Time Science Fiction Novel is indeed difficult to name. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert A. Heinlein Closely followed by a bunch of other books by Heinlein, Asimov, etc. It's a wide, deep and long field with many a sub-genre spanning at least 3 axes in time.

07-09-2011, 01:08 AM	#41
rkomar Wizard Posts: 2,985 Karma: 18343081 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	How about some Eastern European choices (if you want a little garlic in your stories): War with the Newts, Karel Capek Fiasco, Stanislaw Lem Omon Ra, Victor Pelevin

07-09-2011, 12:30 PM	#42
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 826 Karma: 18573626 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Nexus 7 (2013)	1984 and A Canticle for Leibowitz are my two all time faves. A few people already suggested the Hyperion books, but I'd only go so far as Hyperion and then The Fall of Hyperion (they're effectively one book). The Frank Herbert Dune books are also a good choice. Maybe John Scalzi's The God Engines for something different.

07-09-2011, 02:42 PM	#43
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,195 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	It depends if you limit it to books that available as ebooks or not, it also depends if you mean SF or SF/F. Many of the old classics (Zelazny's books for example) aren't available in ebooks yet and they are certainly in the mix for my favorite SF books. Just books that are available as ebooks and SF rather than SF/F - Certainly Asimov's Foundation trilogy. I would throw in to the mix some of James Hogan's books, especially his early books (The Gentle Giants series). Many of the Pournelle/Niven books such as the previously mentioned Mote in God's Eye. Probably some of David Weber's books (not great literature, but great stories). For the most part, which one is best really depends on what mood I'm in.

07-09-2011, 04:16 PM	#44
westparker Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Texas Device: entourage pocket edge	The Mote in God's Eye - Niven The Gripping Hand - Niven