Some excellent choices by some excellent authors. I’d add the Heinlein suggested & others. Forming a science fiction Zoom group out of New York. Everyone welcome. Send me an email.
I see all these lists all the time, for both fantasy and science fiction. It just seems like Tanneth Lee is ignored. I feel like “The Silver Metal Lover” or “Sabella” should be here… Maybe it’s just that there is an overtly sexualization of sci-fi and fantasy in her books? But the fact is that she was an amazing and influential writer. Her fantasy series on the masters is not just amazing, but prescient as well. She was the first one to anthropomorphize. Great forces like love and death with any success. I feel like Neil Gaiman owes his whole career to her in some way. And yet she gets almost no attention…
Neil Gaiman’s major influence and (sometimes direct) inspiration was Diana Wynne Jones. He said so himself. Tanith Lee is (was) a great writer, definitely.
How about Phillip K. Dick? In my humble opinion the greatest science fiction writer of them all. He explored profound issues in an absurd way; issues such as: what is real, what constitutes being human, and he had an incisive understanding of human nature. He didn’t write “Buck Rogers” novels. “Flow My Tears The Policeman Said” would be particularly relevant in the present time of woke culture and people being cancelled.
SF has a long history of women authors. Arguably the first SF novel, Frankenstein, was written by a woman. At least you got Le Guin, but come on! What about: Octavia Butler Margaret Atwood NK Jemsin Nnedi Orkorafor Mary Shelley Ada Palmer Arkady Martine Alice Sheldon (aka: James Tiptree Jr.) Martha Wells Tanith Lee …
And what about these authors? Neal Stephenson Kim Stanley Robinson JG Ballard Ian M. Banks Harlan Ellison Samuel Delany William Gibson Dan Simmons Alan Watts Tade Thompson Charles Stross The Strugatsky Brothers Stanislaw Lem
Maybe retitle this as “Sci-Fi books that (mostly) don’t deviate from the Hard-Sci-fi Space-Opera trope”?
Don’t get me wrong – I have read nearly all of these, plus most of the other books by these authors, and many of them are great books, but this list has such a narrow scope of what Sci-Fi is.
These lists always lack in some way – mainly because there are so many great sci-fi stories that unearth profound truths of contemporary existence. I personally would’ve liked to see Last And First Men, or Gateway mentioned; but they’re not for everyone I guess. That said: Weir’s ‘Hail Mary’s is one of the worst most derivative space survival stories ever, and quite out of place on this list in that it’s the only one that does not even attempt to lift the lid of the human condition and peek inside – a disappointing addition to this list of classics.
For influential E E Doc Smith’s Lensmen series should be included…I dare say George Lucas got inspiration for Star Wars there…a personal favorite, Shockwave Rider by John Brunner, is Huxley n Orwell lite updated. Read most but not all, that’s what I like about these, new authors to explore.
How about a list of best humorous Sci-Fi book? POHLS Venus Merchants War as an example…ironic…The Mutant Plastic Eaters, might actually be happening now, lol (might not be full title, read it in junior high 50+ years ago)…
I’ve read 13, own a couple more as yet unread, and am putting the rest in my TBR list…assuming that stack of books on my nightstand doesn’t fall and kill me in my sleep LOL OTOH I have read many more over the years, from many brilliant authors – both men and women – who didn’t make this brief and therefore limited list. Sure, I see flagrant gaps both in quality and other qualifications, but all things considered at least it was a pleasant reminder of reads past.
Good selection for those who don’t read much sci-fi. It might Kickstart some to do so.For the rest if us it’s hard to pick a few ..but classics are needed to be read. Remember,, Sci-fi is the freest for of literature,made illegal by police states, because the protagonist is the Idea.
I’m impressed this writer remembered David Brin, but what about Samuel Delaney?? Clifford D. Simak??? C. J. CHERRYH!!! And what about Alan Dean Foater?? Kurt Vonnoget?? Unfortunately, there are too many excellent writers,and any list under 100 best, will be lacking … But, hey, that’s just my opinion- and we all know what opinions are like! Everyone– have a beautiful day! I’m outcha!!
Where’s Jack Finney’s Time and Again? Pick at least one (or several) of Harlan Ellison’s short story collections. Spider Robinson’s Callahan series? All of the books on the list are great, but these articles reference the same books over and over again.
Glad so many people here saw how cut&paste and sooooo 1990 this list is. Feels like clickbait. Feel like buying the murderbot diary or ancillary justice series again just out of spite
Several years ago, I compiled a bunch of “Top 100” SF&F lists to come up with a composite list. Nearly all of these were in the top 30 or so. Yes, there are omissions, but it’s consistent with the composite. For my part, Hail Mary was ok, but has no business with these others. How about lesser-known classics, such as On The Beach by Nevil Shute, The Drowned World by JG Ballard, The Voyage of the Space Beagle by AE van Vogt?
Ten Must Read Sci-Fi Books Written From A 1st Person POV!
What about Starship Troopers?
I dunno, I think The moon is a harsh mistress is one of his best, but I am surprized I didn’t see stranger in a strange land
I have read all these books all excellent authors
What about ‘ DAY OF THE DRONES’?
Or ‘A CHILDHOODS END’?
Wonderful list and most of them are true classics and I’ve read almost all of them 😀
I’ve read all but 3 on your list. Great choices, but you should include “Stranger in a Strange Land” by Heinlein.
AND Methuselah’s Children / Time Enough for Love. Got to love Lazarus.
How about “Catseye” by Andre Norton.
Totally agree with “Stranger in a Strange Land” and “Starship Troopers” being on the list too.
What? No Martha Wells? No Ann Leckie? Nnedi Okorafor?
At least you included Le Guin.
Exactly what I was thinking! And no Becky Chambers 🙁
Heh,
The only one I don’t have is Weir’s, the last one. I got “The Martian” from Smashwords site when it was free…
Some excellent choices by some excellent authors.
I’d add the Heinlein suggested & others. Forming a science fiction Zoom group out of New York. Everyone welcome. Send me an email.
I see all these lists all the time, for both fantasy and science fiction. It just seems like Tanneth Lee is ignored. I feel like “The Silver Metal Lover” or “Sabella” should be here… Maybe it’s just that there is an overtly sexualization of sci-fi and fantasy in her books? But the fact is that she was an amazing and influential writer. Her fantasy series on the masters is not just amazing, but prescient as well. She was the first one to anthropomorphize. Great forces like love and death with any success. I feel like Neil Gaiman owes his whole career to her in some way. And yet she gets almost no attention…
Neil Gaiman’s major influence and (sometimes direct) inspiration was Diana Wynne Jones. He said so himself.
Tanith Lee is (was) a great writer, definitely.
Not one mention of the Grand Dame of science fiction: Octavia Butler?
The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin?
The Gunslinger by Stephen King?
All these lists are always the same. It’s not hard to find them and many people have read them all.
How about Phillip K. Dick? In my humble opinion the greatest science fiction writer of them all. He explored profound issues in an absurd way; issues such as: what is real, what constitutes being human, and he had an incisive understanding of human nature. He didn’t write “Buck Rogers” novels. “Flow My Tears The Policeman Said” would be particularly relevant in the present time of woke culture and people being cancelled.
He’s in there.
I agree wholeheartedly with each of these – but I think you need to add Neuromancer to this list.
This list has some serious gaps!
SF has a long history of women authors. Arguably the first SF novel, Frankenstein, was written by a woman. At least you got Le Guin, but come on! What about:
Octavia Butler
Margaret Atwood
NK Jemsin
Nnedi Orkorafor
Mary Shelley
Ada Palmer
Arkady Martine
Alice Sheldon (aka: James Tiptree Jr.)
Martha Wells
Tanith Lee
…
And what about these authors?
Neal Stephenson
Kim Stanley Robinson
JG Ballard
Ian M. Banks
Harlan Ellison
Samuel Delany
William Gibson
Dan Simmons
Alan Watts
Tade Thompson
Charles Stross
The Strugatsky Brothers
Stanislaw Lem
Maybe retitle this as “Sci-Fi books that (mostly) don’t deviate from the Hard-Sci-fi Space-Opera trope”?
Don’t get me wrong – I have read nearly all of these, plus most of the other books by these authors, and many of them are great books, but this list has such a narrow scope of what Sci-Fi is.
It should be noted that most of the authors on the list created the “tropes”.
Msking your own list is an option
Thats ok, the list i saw yesterday, had no men….
I would add more Philip K. Dick, esp The Man in the High Castle (AND the tv show)
One woman in the whole list? Really? All the best scifi is by women.
Lois McMaster Bujold
Julian May
Diana Wynne Jones
Diane Duane
Ann Leckie
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Rosemary Kirstein
Martha Wells
etc
… and that’s not including the many outstanding women fantasy writers.
Calm down, the list i reviewed yesterday, had no men at all yet no one making comments whined about it
These lists always lack in some way – mainly because there are so many great sci-fi stories that unearth profound truths of contemporary existence. I personally would’ve liked to see Last And First Men, or Gateway mentioned; but they’re not for everyone I guess. That said: Weir’s ‘Hail Mary’s is one of the worst most derivative space survival stories ever, and quite out of place on this list in that it’s the only one that does not even attempt to lift the lid of the human condition and peek inside – a disappointing addition to this list of classics.
Your all missing C J Cherryh.
So… 1 (one) woman?
“Solaris” by S.Lem is missing.
Wow. White men’s SF. A tiny nod to Ursula. Maybe expand your reading to include women and people of color.
Slan by AEVanVogt
I really liked the weapon shops of Isherwood by A. E. Van Vogt.
Isher
Orwells 1984 and Huxleys, A Brave New World were meant to be stories, not blueprints for the WEF
For influential E E Doc Smith’s Lensmen series should be included…I dare say George Lucas got inspiration for Star Wars there…a personal favorite, Shockwave Rider by John Brunner, is Huxley n Orwell lite updated. Read most but not all, that’s what I like about these, new authors to explore.
How about a list of best humorous Sci-Fi book? POHLS Venus Merchants War as an example…ironic…The Mutant Plastic Eaters, might actually be happening now, lol (might not be full title, read it in junior high 50+ years ago)…
Love sci-fi humor, Hitchhiker’s, Vorkosigan saga, Robert Aspirin, Boyd, murderbot…
My two favorite sci-fi novels are
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis.
I’ve read 13, own a couple more as yet unread, and am putting the rest in my TBR list…assuming that stack of books on my nightstand doesn’t fall and kill me in my sleep LOL
OTOH I have read many more over the years, from many brilliant authors – both men and women – who didn’t make this brief and therefore limited list. Sure, I see flagrant gaps both in quality and other qualifications, but all things considered at least it was a pleasant reminder of reads past.
Not a bad list but missing my personal favorite Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Good selection for those who don’t read much sci-fi. It might Kickstart some to do so.For the rest if us it’s hard to pick a few ..but classics are needed to be read. Remember,, Sci-fi is the freest for of literature,made illegal by police states, because the protagonist is the Idea.
I’m impressed this writer remembered David Brin, but what about Samuel Delaney?? Clifford D. Simak??? C. J. CHERRYH!!! And what about Alan Dean Foater?? Kurt Vonnoget??
Unfortunately, there are too many excellent writers,and any list under 100 best, will be lacking …
But, hey, that’s just my opinion- and we all know what opinions are like!
Everyone– have a beautiful day! I’m outcha!!
Where’s Jack Finney’s Time and Again? Pick at least one (or several) of Harlan Ellison’s short story collections. Spider Robinson’s Callahan series? All of the books on the list are great, but these articles reference the same books over and over again.
Glad so many people here saw how cut&paste and sooooo 1990 this list is. Feels like clickbait. Feel like buying the murderbot diary or ancillary justice series again just out of spite
Several years ago, I compiled a bunch of “Top 100” SF&F lists to come up with a composite list. Nearly all of these were in the top 30 or so. Yes, there are omissions, but it’s consistent with the composite. For my part, Hail Mary was ok, but has no business with these others. How about lesser-known classics, such as On The Beach by Nevil Shute, The Drowned World by JG Ballard, The Voyage of the Space Beagle by AE van Vogt?