https://discoverscifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/The-top-historical-sci-fi-books-of-all-time.png6801200Discover Sci-Fihttps://discoverscifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/discover-scifi.pngDiscover Sci-Fi2020-09-03 10:14:012020-09-03 10:14:05What Are the Best Historical Sci-Fi Books of All Time?
13replies
VInce says:
Please remove The Guns of the South by Harry Harrison. The author is Harry Turtledove
It’s the way people respond to these polls. They don’t even read the article; just list their favorite book, often misspelled, with occasional lunacy (see “Arthur C Clarke” on the list above; all this time, and I had no idea he was historical SCIENCE FICTION!) Put up a poll for best rom-com, and half a dozen Heinleins would be listed. Sure, there’s a couple books on this list I don’t recognize, but of the majority that I do, the only historical SF I see are the Julian May, 1632, Kindred, Doomsday Book, Guns of the South, Connecticut Yankee, and (probably) the Alt.History.
Books you can be sure will not be listed, even though they belong, will include “The Moon and the Sun” by Vonda McIntyre, “The Baroque Cycle” by Neal Stephenson, “The Time Tapestry” quartet by Stephen Baxter, “The Years of Rice and Salt” by Kim Stanley Robinson, “Evolution” by Stephen Baxter, “Pasquale’s Angel” by Paul J. McAuley, two completely astounding works by Jane Yolen, “The Devil’s Arithmetic” and “Briar Rose”, and about another hundred books by Harry Turtledove. One could even get just the slightest bit snarky, and add Michael Moorcock’s “Behold the Man” to the list!
The problem is that the subset of science fiction which people read is so very small. And because if there’s a drum to beat, beaten it shall be.
Another interesting question might be why the original article avoided using the usual term, alternate history.
Excellent observation, Mark. We will absolutely remove any that don’t meet the criteria of the poll when we choose the top 10 most voted on for the next round of voting. Feel free to add all of your excellent choice to the list as well, as this is a reader-led nominations period.
Excellent observation, Sully. We will absolutely remove any that don’t meet the criteria of the poll when we choose the top 10 most voted on for the next round of voting.
It doesn’t look like most of the nominations understood the criteria: “ books where a significant portion of the plot is set at least fifty years in the past (with respect to the time of publication, please.) ” These should be DQ’d before voting starts.
Exactly and the criteria being at least a century in the past, Stephen King’s 11/22/63 is out, unless this year lasted alot longer than I realize 🙂 . Dune is an alternate universe if I understand right, having only read the main book the movie was based on. Sorry, I don’t recall the exact title).
Great observation. We remove all nominations that don’t meet the criteria when we put together the next voting round of the top 10 that come out of this nominations period.
Excellent observation, Scott. We will absolutely remove any that don’t meet the criteria of the poll when we choose the top 10 most voted on for the next round of voting.
there are so many that meet the criteria unlike most of the above list. Here are a few that come to mind. Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulet (?), The Land that Time Forgot by E.R. Burroughs, the Pellucidar series by E.R. Burroughs
Time to Decide: What Is the Best Historical Sci-Fi Book of all Time?
Please remove The Guns of the South by Harry Harrison. The author is Harry Turtledove
Most of these books take place in the future and not the past so how are they considered historical science fiction?
It’s the way people respond to these polls. They don’t even read the article; just list their favorite book, often misspelled, with occasional lunacy (see “Arthur C Clarke” on the list above; all this time, and I had no idea he was historical SCIENCE FICTION!) Put up a poll for best rom-com, and half a dozen Heinleins would be listed. Sure, there’s a couple books on this list I don’t recognize, but of the majority that I do, the only historical SF I see are the Julian May, 1632, Kindred, Doomsday Book, Guns of the South, Connecticut Yankee, and (probably) the Alt.History.
Books you can be sure will not be listed, even though they belong, will include “The Moon and the Sun” by Vonda McIntyre, “The Baroque Cycle” by Neal Stephenson, “The Time Tapestry” quartet by Stephen Baxter, “The Years of Rice and Salt” by Kim Stanley Robinson, “Evolution” by Stephen Baxter, “Pasquale’s Angel” by Paul J. McAuley, two completely astounding works by Jane Yolen, “The Devil’s Arithmetic” and “Briar Rose”, and about another hundred books by Harry Turtledove. One could even get just the slightest bit snarky, and add Michael Moorcock’s “Behold the Man” to the list!
The problem is that the subset of science fiction which people read is so very small. And because if there’s a drum to beat, beaten it shall be.
Another interesting question might be why the original article avoided using the usual term, alternate history.
Excellent observation, Mark. We will absolutely remove any that don’t meet the criteria of the poll when we choose the top 10 most voted on for the next round of voting. Feel free to add all of your excellent choice to the list as well, as this is a reader-led nominations period.
Excellent observation, Sully. We will absolutely remove any that don’t meet the criteria of the poll when we choose the top 10 most voted on for the next round of voting.
It doesn’t look like most of the nominations understood the criteria: “ books where a significant portion of the plot is set at least fifty years in the past (with respect to the time of publication, please.) ”
These should be DQ’d before voting starts.
Exactly and the criteria being at least a century in the past, Stephen King’s 11/22/63 is out, unless this year lasted alot longer than I realize 🙂 . Dune is an alternate universe if I understand right, having only read the main book the movie was based on. Sorry, I don’t recall the exact title).
Great observation. We remove all nominations that don’t meet the criteria when we put together the next voting round of the top 10 that come out of this nominations period.
Excellent observation, Scott. We will absolutely remove any that don’t meet the criteria of the poll when we choose the top 10 most voted on for the next round of voting.
there are so many that meet the criteria unlike most of the above list. Here are a few that come to mind. Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulet (?), The Land that Time Forgot by E.R. Burroughs, the Pellucidar series by E.R. Burroughs
Excellent choice! This is a democratic poll led by nominations by readers, so please feel free to add all to the list!
How can you not have “The Cross-Time Engineer” series from Leo Frankowski?
Excellent choice! This is a democratic poll led by nominations by readers, so please feel free to add it to the list!