5 fave sci fi books

[MR.MXYZPTLK]

I did'nt really no which forum to put this on but this one seemed ok as im sure you can tell by the title in this thread you pick your top 5 fave sci fis ille start


War of the worlds
i dream of eletric sheep
Foundation
a brave new world
I.robot

[Lord Dalek]

1. Dune - Frank Herbert

2. The Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham

3. The War of the Worlds - H.G. Wells

4. Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke

5. The Martian Chronicles - Rad Bradbury

[MR.MXYZPTLK]

oh i forgot about day trifids that was a great book though i prefered war of the worlds

[Stuckey]

I doubt I've read five sci-fi books. Until recently I avoided them because I don't like Star Wars or Star Trek and I assumed, since fans of those franchises like sci-fi books, that they'd all be like that. Bascially, I'm an idiot. Anyway, from what I've read I really enjoyed Dr Bloodmoney and Time Out Of Joint by Philip K Dick as well as his short stories I've read. I've been reading Radio Free Albemuth (I think), for about a year and just can't finish, though. I also recently picked up the Hitchhiker's Guide "anthology" and I'm enjoying it so far.

[Superperson]

The only real sci-fi book I read was Ender's Game, it was good, not quite as great as everyone was saying it was but still a really good book.

[Phantasm]

Science Fiction is not my favorite genre in literature and one that I read quite rarely if ever. The recent, closest thing to Sci-fi I've read is Audrey Niffeneger's The Time Traveler's Wife (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1931561648/002-8589978-1409646?v=glance).

Best book I've ever read.

[Gatomon41]

1. The Foundation Trilogy - (it's one big book!) Rise and fall of the Galatic Empire, and inspiration for alot of science fiction seires.

2. Fahrenheit 451 - Bradbury's attack on Censorship is poetic and awesome.

3. A Canticle for Leibowitz - The Best Post-Apocalypse scifi novel, and the best Religous scifi novel.

4. The Mote in God's Eye - Hard science fiction at it's best.

5. The Dosadi Experiment - Writen by Frank Herbert, less well known as Dune, but one of his best.

[MR.MXYZPTLK]

1. The Foundation Trilogy - (it's one big book!) Rise and fall of the Galatic Empire, and inspiration for alot of science fiction seires.

2. Fahrenheit 451 - Bradbury's attack on Censorship is poetic and awesome.

3. A Canticle for Leibowitz - The Best Post-Apocalypse scifi novel, and the best Religous scifi novel.

4. The Mote in God's Eye - Hard science fiction at it's best.

5. The Dosadi Experiment - Writen by Frank Herbert, less well known as Dune, but one of his best.
The foundation trilogy is in my opinion one of the best sci fi books ever made. I read farenhaeit 451 years ago I remember enjoying it

[MR.MXYZPTLK]

Science Fiction is not my favorite genre in literature and one that I read quite rarely if ever. The recent, closest thing to Sci-fi I've read is Audrey Niffeneger's The Time Traveler's Wife (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1931561648/002-8589978-1409646?v=glance).

Best book I've ever read.
that was a very good book i read it about a month ago not really sci fi but a good book none the less

[James]

Not massively into original scifi fantasy books. Anyhow..

1. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams
2. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? - Phillip K Dick
3. Bill The Galactic Hero - Harry Harrison
4. The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You! - Harry Harrison
5. Blade Runner 4: Eye And Talon - KW Jeter (it's a mix of film tie in and based on Dick's original novel thrown together, so it sort of fits in this list... plus it's also the last scifi I read which I really enjoyed..)

[Kagetsu]

I don't read many books at all, scifi least of all though I'm a great fan of the stories and shows. I read the greats, StarWars, MartianCronicles(should have read I Robot, but never did, the movie was good). Dune lost me in the first chapter. Dragon Riders of Pern was more fantasy in the beginning but became more scifi-ish as it went on, only the first six books were any good.

A set of wierd books was Sieze the Night and Fear Nothing, not great but very different. The mutant monkeys were the best part. I liked The Stand better. The only King book I ever read.

[I.R Joey]

1. Dune: Herbert was a master of internalizing stream of thought. He also mixed philosiphy, religon, politics, and action into a wonderful package,

Unfortunately I haven't read as much as Sci-fi as I should. But I like.

1984: I don't know if I like it as much as much as Animal Farm but it was still really good. And the ending was creepy.

Farenhite 451: A great commentary on censoring, commercialism, and the decline of literacy.

The Hitchikers guide to the Galaxy: I'm still reading it but if that book isn't the funniest Sci-fi I've ever read than I don't know what is. The fact that it's narrative structure is loose seems like it would be to its detriment, but it isn't. And you don't even notice it because you're having such a great time.

Brave New World: Kind of the polar opposite to 1984. Instead of representing a future where oppression is dished out do to a lack of freedom, it is a dysutopian tale that shows us what happens when morality is too loose.

[ZephyrSamba]

Wow, only 5? That's a tough one! I think that every time I tried to answer this my list would change somewhat, and I'm sure that I'll think of others I wished I'd included after I post this, but as of this moment I'm pretty happy with my list as it stands:

1. Cloud Atlas (D. Mitchell) - Shortlisted last year for the Booker award; contains some sci-fi components though I wouldn't call it a "hard sci-fi" book, but either way it's cleverly written and completely engaging; unusual and interesting with a real "human" element if that's not too cheesy - it really stuck with me long after I finished it.

2. The Man Who Fell to Earth (W. Tevis) - a quick and easy read but oh, I just loved it. Great "alienation"/social outcast sort of book.

3. The Player of Games (I.M. Banks) - actually there are a few Iain M. Banks books that might make my favourites list but this is the first of his that I'd read and as such it occupies a special place. Besides, the main character is a professional game (not sports!) player and darn it, that's just plain cool =)

4. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (D. Adams) - Actually I think this about ties with Harry Harrison's Bill the Galactic Hero for me; they're both so marvelously goofy and cynical ... such fun!

5. The Troika (S. Chapman) - Has anybody else ever heard of this one? It was published by a small company back in the mid/late 90s and might even be out of print now but, oh, it's -so- good and -so- bizarre. Centers around the stories of a family consisting of an old Mexican woman, a sentient Jeep, and a dinosaur ... no, really. Great imagery and fascinating concepts all the way through; definitely worth picking up should you ever find a copy.

[MR.MXYZPTLK]

Wow, only 5? That's a tough one! I think that every time I tried to answer this my list would change somewhat, and I'm sure that I'll think of others I wished I'd included after I post this, but as of this moment I'm pretty happy with my list as it stands:

1. Cloud Atlas (D. Mitchell) - Shortlisted last year for the Booker award; contains some sci-fi components though I wouldn't call it a "hard sci-fi" book, but either way it's cleverly written and completely engaging; unusual and interesting with a real "human" element if that's not too cheesy - it really stuck with me long after I finished it.

2. The Man Who Fell to Earth (W. Tevis) - a quick and easy read but oh, I just loved it. Great "alienation"/social outcast sort of book.

3. The Player of Games (I.M. Banks) - actually there are a few Iain M. Banks books that might make my favourites list but this is the first of his that I'd read and as such it occupies a special place. Besides, the main character is a professional game (not sports!) player and darn it, that's just plain cool =)

4. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (D. Adams) - Actually I think this about ties with Harry Harrison's Bill the Galactic Hero for me; they're both so marvelously goofy and cynical ... such fun!

5. The Troika (S. Chapman) - Has anybody else ever heard of this one? It was published by a small company back in the mid/late 90s and might even be out of print now but, oh, it's -so- good and -so- bizarre. Centers around the stories of a family consisting of an old Mexican woman, a sentient Jeep, and a dinosaur ... no, really. Great imagery and fascinating concepts all the way through; definitely worth picking up should you ever find a copy.

if you want you can put more in oh and that troika one sounds good but what makes it sci fi?

[purplehairedwonder]

1984: I don't know if I like it as much as much as Animal Farm but it was still really good. And the ending was creepy.

Brave New World: Kind of the polar opposite to 1984. Instead of representing a future where oppression is dished out do to a lack of freedom, it is a dysutopian tale that shows us what happens when morality is too loose.We read both of these in English this year, I think.

I really tend to read mym sci-fi/fantasy in series. I really need to broaden my horizons in this respect, but oh well.

My favorite series (probably more fantasy than sci-fi, but I think we can deal) :
- Wheel of Time
- Sword of Truth
- Redwall
- Shannara (which is actually several series in one)
- Harry Potter :p

[JohnCrichton]

Hyperion - By Dan Simmons
ILIUM & OLYMPUS - By Dan Simmons
Foundation Books - Isaac Asimov
Drizzt Do' Urden Books - By R.A. Salvatore
Hollow Man - By Dan Simmons
Singularity - By William Sleator

[Gatomon41]

SF , in my opinion, is very seperate from fantasy. Science Fiction deals with technology, science, fictional sciences, and the impact of science on society. Fantasy deals with the supernatural (magic) and has little to do with science.

Science Fantasy is an interesting case. It uses both supernatural and science, often blurring the two. Star Wars and the Shannara series are members of this genre.

[Punisher]

While I don't typically read any sci-fi books, I have read a few that were really good reads.

Jurassic Park-I saw the movie before this, but I like the novel far better, even if it is inacurate on some things(procomsognathus is not a real dinosaur)

Dune-I only got halfway through this, and stopped for some unkown reason. But it was enjoyable from what I remember.
Denduron-I am currently reading this now, and I like it so far.

War of the Worlds
The Time Machine
and I can't think of another book. I need to read some more sci-fi.

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

I read a ton of Star Wars novels in the past and liked them all (the "Tales" and Han Solo books were standouts for me). I've also read the Hitchhiker's "trilogy" and enjoyed it. But my favorites are definitely the books based on the series Red Dwarf. I also have a big leatherbound H.G. Wells book containing many of his novels that I haven't gotten into yet, but am sure I will enjoy once I do. First, I have Douglas Adams' 'Dirk Gently' books to read. :)

[MR.MXYZPTLK]

Foundation Books - Isaac Asimov


yay lots of people like foundation

[MR.MXYZPTLK]

We read both of these in English this year, I think.

I really tend to read mym sci-fi/fantasy in series. I really need to broaden my horizons in this respect, but oh well.

My favorite series (probably more fantasy than sci-fi, but I think we can deal) :
- Wheel of Time
- Sword of Truth
- Redwall
- Shannara (which is actually several series in one)
- Harry Potter :p
Im a big fan of sci fi but ive never read a wheel of time before though ive heard its name before whats it about? ive read red wall cool book and yeah you can do fantasy if you want

[Alex Toon]

All of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 5 book trilogy
The Dark Tower
Harry Potter

[Kagetsu]

I read a ton of Star Wars novels in the past and liked them all (the "Tales" and Han Solo books were standouts for me).
Some one else actually read the Han Solo adventures? The plots were simple and as I look back on them they read a little like stories from RP games, but I just loved them. Better than The Splinter of the Minds Eye.

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

Yeah, I read the old Han Solo adventures as well as the newer Han Solo trilogy. I read Splinter of the Mind's Eye as well, and though I didn't think it was great, I did enjoy it, mostly because it was fun to see what the writers would do not knowing what would happen in Empire. Plus, there was some good foreshadowing in it.