101 science fiction books to read?

[dadioflex]

Edit.

[shootingMaNs]

Originally Posted by Bossman

Check out

http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersy...oks_rank1.html

That's a nice list. I've actually read 72 of those.

Everyone has given you lots of great recommendations, but if you like short stories, check out Harlan Ellison. My most favorite by him is "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream."

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by David Munch

I'm pretty new to the SF field when it comes to books, so if you guys could give me some totally basic must read recommendations, I would love it..

Here's my contribution - one book per author. Some aren't available in ebook format (yet), and so don't have a link. Green Links are free.

This list is generated by going through my ebook collection, and glancing at my shelves.

The Hitch-Hikers' Guide To the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson
Eon by Greg Bear
Coredlia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Midnight at the Well of Souls by Jack L. Chalker
The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke (short story)
Heavy Planet by Hal Clement
Resonance by Chris Dolley
Ranks of Bronze by David Drake
To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip José Farmer
Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward
Rats, Bats and Vats by Dave Freer
The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin
The Two-Space War by Dave Grossman
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
The Stainles Steel Rat by Harry Harrison
The Rolling Stones by Robert A. Heinlein
Think like a Dinosaur by James Patrick Kelly (short story)
The Complete Bolo by Keith Laumer
Crystal Soldier by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
A Logic Named Joe by Murrey Leinster
Restoree by Anne McCaffrey
Flatlander by Larry Niven
Time Traders by Andre Norton
Emergence by David R. Palmer
Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper
King David's Spaceship by Jerry Pournelle
There Will Be Dragons by John Ringo
The Stardance Trilogy by Spider and Jeanne Robinson
Berserker Throne by Fred Saberhagen
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Telzy Amberdon by James H. Schmitz
The Compleat McAndrews by Charles Sheffield
Way Station by Clifford D. Simak
We the Underpeople by Cordwainer Smith
Tinker by Wen Spencer
Boundary by Ryk E. Spoor
The Winds of Gath by E. C. Tubb
The Weaponshops of Isher by A. E. van Vogt
On Basilisk Station by David Weber
Hospital Station by James White

[Gibbo]

Originally Posted by weateallthepies

Actually I have no idea now you ask. I've only ever read it in paperback, I used to buy multiple copies and give them out to friends.

I've got an audiobook of it but I've never looked for an ebook version.

B&N has it for $4.95 in ePub which can be converted with the proper tools here's the link http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...=2940000055403

[greencat]

Originally Posted by Katosen

Then, move to the Robot Series, a trilogy of books following the murder mysteries of Elijah Baley in a distant future where robots are everywhere.

And try Robots & Empire as it bridges the Robot & Foundation series (particularly with if you try Prelude to Foundation).

My vote has to be for The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester. I first read it when I was 14 and have probably read it at least once every 5 years since. It is cyberpunk - but written in the 1950s and the very definition of a galloping sci-fi adventure.

[weateallthepies]

Originally Posted by Gibbo

B&N has it for $4.95 in ePub which can be converted with the proper tools here's the link http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...=2940000055403

Sadly I think that is just a reading guide rather than the book.

I can find dodgy copies but none from legal sources. Though I have bought the book at least twenty times so I am tempted to grab a dodgy copy, shouldn't need to though.

[Rootman]

Originally Posted by Badandy

Just searched Kindle Store and it says it's H.G. Wells. I'd like to read it very much if that is the correct version and you made a small typo. If not, is there availability for the Jules Verne reason?

Yes, Wells. I had just read From Earth to the Moon by Verne and got the titles mixed up. The Wells book is a goofy (by modern standards anyway) lovely story of an inventor of an antigravity substance that creates a sphere coated in the stuff and manages to get himself to the moon to meet up with the subterranean moon dwellers - hence first men IN the moon. I've read it maybe 20+ times. I finally gave my old worn out paperback to a grand nephew who appreciates books - he was delighted with it.

You can get both for free:
Wells: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1013
Verne: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/83

[Rootman]

Also, something I've not managed to read yet but s supposed to be great: The Man in the High Castle
http://www.amazon.com/Man-High-Castl...2813129&sr=1-1

Amazon has it, surprised that a book written in the '60s costs so much ($10)

[DixieGal]

I suggest trying Asimov's Foundation series or Herbert's Dune to begin with, mostly because they sort of brought together all of the main themes that we rocognize as "standard" for scifi nowadays. They are very easy to read and hard to put down.

[Manichean]

Surprisingly, neither Stanislaw Lem nor the Strugatzki brothers have been mentioned. Both well deserving a read, although I don't know if ebooks are available.
From Stanislaw Lem I'd recommend Eden, The Invincible, His Master's Voice, Solaris and the two volumes of short stories of pilot Pirx.
The Strugatzki brothers wrote a couple of stories that take place in the same "universe", of those I'd recommend Far Rainbow, Space Mowgli and The Inhabited Island. I'd further recommend reading Roadside Picnic (which, like Lem's Solaris, has ben made into a film by Tarkovsky) and The Doomed City.

[David Munch]

Heh, I think I got the next 10 years covered in this thread.. Thanks a lot guys!

I have Dan Simmons's Hyperion at home, and I've also started on it. For those of you that have read it, what is your take on it? (General terms, no spoilers, I haven't finished it yet.)

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by David Munch

I have Dan Simmons's Hyperion at home, and I've also started on it. For those of you that have read it, what is your take on it? (General terms, no spoilers, I haven't finished it yet.)

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Hyperion' - fabulous stuff!

I've just started Simmons' 'Drood', and I'm liking what I've read of that so far too.

[mediax]

Originally Posted by Bossman

I really enjoyed Enders game. you should give it a try

It's now on my reader, awaiting it's turn

[kennyc]

Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany is my #1 SF novel. Unfortunately it's not available in ebook form.

Foundation Trilogy - Asimov

Ringworld - Larry Niven

This is a great list of classic SF Novels:
http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersy...oks_rank1.html

and short stories:
http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersy...t_stories.html

I just re-read:
A Rose For Ecclesiastes Roger Zelazny
available here: https://www.msu.edu/user/carterca/rose.htm
and
Those Who Walk Away from Omelas - Ursala K. Leguin
available here: http://harelbarzilai.org/words/omelas.txt

both are excellent.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Bossman

Check out

http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersy...oks_rank1.html

Oops. I see you already posted that link. Ah well, the more the merrier!