At least one of The Lathe of Heaven, The Dispossessed, or The Left Hand of Darkness should be on any all-time sci-fi book list. The Earthsea series were written as YA, so some adults might be turned off and miss her other, better novels.
It's a good list - the only omission I would definitely find a spot for is Hyperion (like many people I think you can probably skip Endymion). I don't think there is anything quite like it.
Currently rereading the Diamond Age and enjoying as much as the first time 20+ years ago.
Recently read Kurt Vonnegut first novel Player Piano about the automation of work and the social impact. I am starting to believe he really did do some time travel. So it goes.
I would be tempted to add a seventh short story collection to your list "The Rediscovery of Man" (1993) which brought together the short stories by Cordwainer Smith, which are largely set in his future Instrumentality of Man. Frederick Pohl made the initial decision to buy and publish the original stories as Editor of Galaxy in the 1950s, which is about as good a recommendation as you can get.
I would go so far as to say that Ender's Game is the one book in the series that you can skip without really missing anything important. The rest of the series is where the real payload lies.
Ted Chiang? ‘Stories of Your Life and Others’ and in particular, his famous short story published in Nature magazine ‘Catching Crumbs From The Table’ when scientific research by AI agents is too advanced for humans to understand it and no human-authored research piece has appeared in Nature for 25 years. Kind of heartbreaking, the impact on humans.
Stories of Your Life and Others is in the 'top short story collections'! Agree it is brilliant.
Looking back at the review I wrote at the time, I had Catching Crumbs as one of the few in there that didn't do it for me; will have to go back and reread to see if I feel the same given the progress in AI.
Roadside Picnic ought to be in there - one of the greatest novels I've read in any genre. While we're in the 1970s, Samuel R. Delany's Babel-17 is terrific - a queer space-opera about linguistics, and works on all of those levels. J.G. Ballard ought to be there, too, possibly under short stories. More recently, I might have nominated Christopher Priest (The Islanders (ss)) and Adam Roberts (New Model Army, Adam Robots (ss)). But of course once you start putting more names in there's the quesiton of what and who to leave out...!
This is not a genre I’ve read much of, so will take some of these tips (particularly Ian M Banks, as The Business made a big impression on my as a kid). I recently read The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin, anywhere near your top 25?
I've personally never found Le Guin that enjoyable, including The Disposessed. I recognise she's both technically good and influential, but didn't want to have any books I couldn't wholeheartedly recommend on the list, which is why I comlromised by leaving her off but putting her Omelas collection in the top short stories collection.
Yet you included Orson Scott Card’s derivative work, which was nothing more than a short story itself until he went back and fully read the original source material for his borrowed ansible, and then suddenly Andrew Wiggin morphed into a remarkably familiar sort of interstellar xeno-sociological adventurer. 👀 👀 👀
As I scrolled through the list, I was feeling disappointed that Three Body Problem wasn’t listed - until I reached the end and found it at #2. Its middle book - The Dark Forest - is its zenith and an incredibly thought provoking book. One of my favorite books ever.
Though I found the 3rd book somewhat tedious the overall picture is such an interesting thought on our place in the universe
Dune was a principal reason for avoiding further sci-fi.
At least one of The Lathe of Heaven, The Dispossessed, or The Left Hand of Darkness should be on any all-time sci-fi book list. The Earthsea series were written as YA, so some adults might be turned off and miss her other, better novels.
It's a good list - the only omission I would definitely find a spot for is Hyperion (like many people I think you can probably skip Endymion). I don't think there is anything quite like it.
I know a lot of people liked Hyperion, but it has never really grabbed me - probably me, rather than it.
The Hyperion Cantos rocks hard. Awesome stuff.
FIne list thanks.
Currently rereading the Diamond Age and enjoying as much as the first time 20+ years ago.
Recently read Kurt Vonnegut first novel Player Piano about the automation of work and the social impact. I am starting to believe he really did do some time travel. So it goes.
I’m not as well read as some but the absence of The Complete Short Stories of H.G. Wells makes no sense.
I would be tempted to add a seventh short story collection to your list "The Rediscovery of Man" (1993) which brought together the short stories by Cordwainer Smith, which are largely set in his future Instrumentality of Man. Frederick Pohl made the initial decision to buy and publish the original stories as Editor of Galaxy in the 1950s, which is about as good a recommendation as you can get.
I will check it out!
As well as the short stories of Cordwainer Smith I think Nostrilia (spelling?) should be considered a novel. I would rate it above Dune anyday.
Not sure I'd put it above Dune, but Norstrilia is definitely in there somewhere.
Great list. I’ll give you my top 3 in no particular order:
1. Ender’s Game is great, but it’s sequel, “Speaker for the Dead” is a masterpiece.
2. “A fire upon the deep”. Monumental in scale but it lets you understand that in an eternal and infinite Universe nothing is truly monumental.
3. “Downward to Earth” a more intimate epic. An story of repentance and redemption.
A Fire Upon the Deep came out in the final whittling down from 30 to 25 agree it's great.
Personally prefer EG to SftD, though like both.
And will check out Downward to Earth!
I would go so far as to say that Ender's Game is the one book in the series that you can skip without really missing anything important. The rest of the series is where the real payload lies.
I always recommend Clarke's The Songs of Distant Earth. It's one of his lesser-known books, but a beautiful and relaxing story of exploration.
I like that one, too. My personal favourite of Clarke's is The Fountains of Paradise, but it just felt wrong to vault that over 2001 (or Rama).
The City and the Stars is Clarke’s best work, in my opinion
That is an absolutely beautiful book. Also, don't forget Mike Oldfield's musical interpretation of the story. Glorious.
i found the book via the album 😅
Ted Chiang? ‘Stories of Your Life and Others’ and in particular, his famous short story published in Nature magazine ‘Catching Crumbs From The Table’ when scientific research by AI agents is too advanced for humans to understand it and no human-authored research piece has appeared in Nature for 25 years. Kind of heartbreaking, the impact on humans.
Stories of Your Life and Others is in the 'top short story collections'! Agree it is brilliant.
Looking back at the review I wrote at the time, I had Catching Crumbs as one of the few in there that didn't do it for me; will have to go back and reread to see if I feel the same given the progress in AI.
Yes you did! How embarrassing for me! Ah well, at least you know I’m human… 😊
Definitely worth a reread, especially to think about the ending.
Roadside Picnic ought to be in there - one of the greatest novels I've read in any genre. While we're in the 1970s, Samuel R. Delany's Babel-17 is terrific - a queer space-opera about linguistics, and works on all of those levels. J.G. Ballard ought to be there, too, possibly under short stories. More recently, I might have nominated Christopher Priest (The Islanders (ss)) and Adam Roberts (New Model Army, Adam Robots (ss)). But of course once you start putting more names in there's the quesiton of what and who to leave out...!
Not come across Priest or Roadside Picnic - will look them up!
Roadside Picnic is enigmatic, but good.
I read Roadside Picnic this yr, it was brilliant.
This is not a genre I’ve read much of, so will take some of these tips (particularly Ian M Banks, as The Business made a big impression on my as a kid). I recently read The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin, anywhere near your top 25?
I've personally never found Le Guin that enjoyable, including The Disposessed. I recognise she's both technically good and influential, but didn't want to have any books I couldn't wholeheartedly recommend on the list, which is why I comlromised by leaving her off but putting her Omelas collection in the top short stories collection.
Try “The Word for World is Forest”
This is the only one I found readable and boy was it great.
Yet you included Orson Scott Card’s derivative work, which was nothing more than a short story itself until he went back and fully read the original source material for his borrowed ansible, and then suddenly Andrew Wiggin morphed into a remarkably familiar sort of interstellar xeno-sociological adventurer. 👀 👀 👀
I agree about Le Guin. I read Left Hand of Darkness as a teenager and it kind of soured me on her work forever.
No PKD, it's hard to take you seriously after that considering some of what you've included.
Oh, I’ve been trying to remember the name of that for years… The Rowan!
Science Fiction Hall of Fame Anthology, volumes I, IIA, IIB, III
As I scrolled through the list, I was feeling disappointed that Three Body Problem wasn’t listed - until I reached the end and found it at #2. Its middle book - The Dark Forest - is its zenith and an incredibly thought provoking book. One of my favorite books ever.
Though I found the 3rd book somewhat tedious the overall picture is such an interesting thought on our place in the universe
Alastair Reynolds - House of Suns
Fantastic list. Thank you.