# 50 Essential Science Fiction Novels for a Public Library **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 28, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193 "2014-04-28T15:42:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/41 "2014-04-29T04:34:40Z")
Clifford Simak - _City_ Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. - _Cat’s Cradle_ and as much as I dislike it… Ayn Rand - _Atlas Shrugged_ ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/42 "2014-04-29T04:45:36Z")
I see you dropped Heineiln’s _Stranger in a Strange Land_. I’m sorry, but that _must_ be on the list. It’s one of the most influential American novels of all time. It may not be a great book, but it’s an important one. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/43 "2014-04-29T04:47:36Z")
What about anything by Stephen King? _The Stand_? _The Gunslinger_ books? I noticed you knocked Tolkien’s books as “not science fiction”…I presume we’re eschewing fantasy altogether? Because to me, books like _Clockwork Orange_ are also only vaguely sci-fi…more like “possible near future” type books, if you get what I mean. What about a book like _The Road_, then? What about Sagan’s _Contact_? ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/44 "2014-04-29T05:26:52Z")
Thanks for the compliment, **Green Bean**. This’ll be brief; I’m heading to bed, but **FGIE** has a point: including books like _On the Beach_, _A Clockwork Orange_, _The Man in the High Castle_, and _The Yiddish Policeman’s Union_, really makes me wonder where the line is that we’re drawing between fantasy and SF. If _The Road_ counts, then why not _The Stand_? If Alt-History is on the table, then why no Turtledove? I’d swap out _On the Beach_ for _[Warday](http://www.amazon.com/War-Day-Whitley-Strieber/dp/0030707315)_. _Warday_ does the “post-nuclear war” thing much better, IMHO, and _Childhood’s End_ does the, “What do we do when we’re the last humans and this is it?” question much, much better. (People, _CE_’s been out forever: I feel silly for hiding my point with a spoiler tag, but you really should go read it if you haven’t already. It’s short, too.) Iain Banks is on a very short list of the Best Sci-FI Writers of the last 20 years. Not to have one of his on your list is a mistake, IMHO. Pick _Use of Weapons_ if you’re a frustrated English Lit grad student, though the unconventional structure actually adds a lot to the story, IMHO. Pick _The Player of Games_ (or _Excession_ or _Look to Windward_) if you want an interesting, seductively easy to read tale, with several interesting things to say about whichever topic he was addressing (Out of Context problems, how people heal from wartime trauma, etc…) All of his previous ones that others and I have mentioned, are much more than space opera or a list of the new and shiny. Pick whichever one you want, but you need one, again IMHO. I’d dump Slaughterhouse Five and World War Z; the first because his short stories are much better at getting to the point—I’d support _[Welcome to The Monkey House](http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Monkey-House-Kurt-Vonnegut/dp/0385333501)_ on your list—and WWZ because it’s more fantasy than SF. This is fun; thanks for the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/45 "2014-04-29T07:26:03Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > I’m sorry, but that’s incorrect. by whose standards? ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/46 "2014-04-29T11:48:51Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > by whose standards? Mine, for one. If that doesn’t convince you, there are plenty of novels and stories recognized as science fiction don’t involve space, aliens, or time travel. Even popular science fiction films don’t always have such-- consider _The Matrix_ and _Inception_. As for the list, I applaud the decision to omit _SiaSL_. It’s probably not even RAH’s best-known novel any more-- _Starship Troopers_ probably has that honor, due to the film and TV adaptations. Science fiction authors who seek to emulate Heinlein no longer, as far as I can tell, emulate _SiaSL_. John Varley appears to emulate the juvies, actually. I don’t deny that the book was influential in the 60’s, though. Speaking of Heinlein’s juvies, I’m partial to _Tunnel in the Sky_ and would rate it above _The Past Through Tomorrow_. I’d not mind seeing Heinlein limited to two titles, though, and would suggest that two is a better limit than three, as it adds room for scope but still allows masters to be recognized. However, Greenbean’s list has a lot of honorable choices-- Wells, Shelley, Verne, and so on, books I don’t particularly like but understand appearing on the list. Maybe _SiaSL_ should be on there for similar reasons. I’d like to commend Gene Wolfe to the list, although my suggestion would be _The Shadow of the Torturer_, which is probably too far toward the fantasy end of the speculative spectrum. I’d also suggest that Card be limited to _Ender’s Game_. Stanislaw Lem strikes me as a noticeable omission, although I’m not really a fan of his work. Speaking of Varley, I’m partial to his stuff and would suggest _Titan_, the starting point of his Gaea Trilogy. His Hugo and Nebula wins were for novellas and short stories, though. Edit: remembered Poul Anderson-- maybe _Tau Zero_, although it’s been a long time since I read it. I’m fond of _Brain Wave_ as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/47 "2014-04-29T13:55:46Z")
Green Bean, you include **Hyperion** , which I agree with, but it’s only the first half of the story unless you also include **Fall of Hyperion** , which I think is just as well-written. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/48 "2014-04-29T14:03:41Z")
Thanks to all for all the input! Heavily line-by-line here… > [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I would dump “Old Man’s War” for sure. It’s got an interesting setup, but it’s basically military SF. It’s also one of the most acclaimed, recommended, and popular of the newer science fiction novels. I agree that it’s not terribly original, but according to the scope of the project set out in post 23, it must be included. It’s probably the first thing I would say if people asked me for some recommendations of some newer works. (I picked it up because of [this thread I made in 2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536438), by the way.) > [@MrKnowItAll](#): > > Clifford Simak - _City_ > Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. - _Cat’s Cradle_ > > and as much as I dislike it… > > Ayn Rand - _Atlas Shrugged_ The first two are on the second list. As far as Atlas Shrugged…I agree with you 100% that it’s an important work of science fiction, but having it on this list of 50 wouldn’t serve my purposes. It would just be a distraction. I mean, you couldn’t even mention it without saying you disliked it. I can’t mention it without saying something like “in spite of the philosophy…” I tried splitting out the ones that were considered more as literature than sci fi, but that ended up creating more problems than it solved. Judged as science fiction alone, it wouldn’t get near the top 50, IMHO. It will certainly be on the list somewhere, though, along with Anthem. (I can’t decide whether The Fountainhead counts.) > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > What about anything by Stephen King? _The Stand_? _The Gunslinger_ books? As I said somewhere upthread, I’m treading lightly with King. The Stand is absolutely one of the top books in (post-)apocalyptic sci fi, but I can’t put it in the top 50 for some of the same reasons as I cited for The Fountainhead. As far as the Gunslinger, I’ve put a lot of thought into whether it falls more on the side of sci fi or fantasy (or maybe something else entirely), and whether it can be considered post-apocalyptic. The answer for now is “I dunno,” but it will end up on a list somewhere. > [@](#): > > I noticed you knocked Tolkien’s books as “not science fiction”…I presume we’re eschewing fantasy altogether? Because to me, books like _Clockwork Orange_ are also only vaguely sci-fi…more like “possible near future” type books, if you get what I mean. What about a book like _The Road_, then? So people dealing with the aftermath of a nuclear war is somehow more fantastical than a bunch of orcs and hobbits running around looking for a magical ring? 😛 “Possible near-future” is science fiction. I know some people do like to define it more narrowly, but I’m going with the broader consensus for this list. That definition excludes most of what we consider “fantasy,” but some works have feet in both worlds. Sagan’s Contact is notable but not essential. > [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > This’ll be brief; I’m heading to bed, but **FGIE** has a point: including books like _On the Beach_, _A Clockwork Orange_, _The Man in the High Castle_, and _The Yiddish Policeman’s Union_, really makes me wonder where the line is that we’re drawing between fantasy and SF. If _The Road_ counts, then why not _The Stand_? If Alt-History is on the table, then why no Turtledove? See my answer above to some of this. For the purposes of this list, I’m including alternate history in the science fiction category. Turtledove will be included in the larger list, but thanks for reminding me. I’m not sure why you mention On the Beach as it doesn’t have any fantastical elementas at all. IIRC, A Clockwork Orange doesn’t either. (I haven’t read The Man in the High Castle yet) As for where the line is between fantasy and science fiction - well, to a large extent it just comes down to a judgment call. There’s lots of information out there to help me make a decision, and all of these choices are based on broad-based research, but utimately I just have to decide what counts and what doesn’t. The presence or absence of magic/supernatural elements is one important factor, but clearly not the only one. > [@](#): > > I’d dump Slaughterhouse Five and World War Z; the first because his short stories are much better at getting to the point—I’d support _[Welcome to The Monkey House](http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Monkey-House-Kurt-Vonnegut/dp/0385333501)_ on your list—and WWZ because it’s more fantasy than SF. > > This is fun; thanks for the OP. Which point? People will be looking for Slaughterhouse-Five. WWZ is an apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novel that deals with a global pandemic, so I’m not sure why it would be considered fantasy. Because the virus turns people into zombies? And you’re welcome. This is fun for me too. > [@Dave\_Hartwick](#): > > As for the list, I applaud the decision to omit _SiaSL_. It’s probably not even RAH’s best-known novel any more-- _Starship Troopers_ probably has that honor, due to the film and TV adaptations. Science fiction authors who seek to emulate Heinlein no longer, as far as I can tell, emulate _SiaSL_. Those reasons all play into my leaving it off in the first place. It has simply faded in importance as time has passed. But I think I have to add it in. > [@](#): > > I’d not mind seeing Heinlein limited to two titles, though, and would suggest that two is a better limit than three, as it adds room for scope but still allows masters to be recognized. Allowing more from each author better serves the purpose of _this_ particular list. More scope will be found in the expanded list. There are certainly pros and cons to both approaches, and there are some great lists out there that only allow one book per author. > [@](#): > > However, Greenbean’s list has a lot of honorable choices-- Wells, Shelley, Verne, and so on, books I don’t particularly like but understand appearing on the list. Maybe _SiaSL_ should be on there for similar reasons. To be clear, there are a lot of books on the list that I don’t particularly like! They’re on the list because they should be on the list, not because I personally thought they were enjoyable. I’m trying to make it as unbiased as possible. > [@](#): > > Stanislaw Lem strikes me as a noticeable omission, although I’m not really a fan of his work. > > Speaking of Varley, I’m partial to his stuff and would suggest _Titan_, the starting point of his Gaea Trilogy. His Hugo and Nebula wins were for novellas and short stories, though. > > Edit: remembered Poul Anderson-- maybe _Tau Zero_, although it’s been a long time since I read it. I’m fond of _Brain Wave_ as well. Solaris is on the second list. The Cyberiad will be included somewhere as well. Titan is under consideration as is Tau Zero, but I think they’ll likely end up on the second list. > [@Robert163](#): > > by whose standards? Hey Margaret - if you want to argue that “science fiction” is something entirely different than what everybody else thinks it is, please start a new thread about it and stop hijacking this one. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/49 "2014-04-29T14:20:24Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > It’s also one of the most acclaimed, recommended, and popular of the newer science fiction novels. I agree that it’s not terribly original, but according to the scope of the project set out in post 23, it must be included. It’s probably the first thing I would say if people asked me for some recommendations of some newer works. (I picked it up because of [this thread I made in 2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536438), by the way.) Still not buying it, but it’s your list. Early on reading the book I was V ERY excited, thinking this would be a fascinating exploration of what happens when someone who has lived a full life and isn’t just a malleable kid gets made into a soldier. But by the end I found myself wishing heartily that a more accomplished writer had had the same idea. He missed a lot of good opportunities. > [@](#): > > WWZ is an apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novel that deals with a global pandemic, so I’m not sure why it would be considered fantasy. Because the virus turns people into zombies? Yes, because the virus turns people into zombies, a well known fantasy creature. It would also be considered fantasy if the virus turned people into werewolves or vampires. Just because a writer has come up with some technological jazz hands for their story doesn’t mean it’s not fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/50 "2014-04-29T14:36:57Z")
Green Bean, you have a list of science fiction books people like. There is no particular significance to most of the books on your list. You could break this out based historical growth of the genre, a breakdown of the different themes of science fiction, quality of writing, or some other meaningful criteria. Otherwise you’re just providing a list of popular books which should really be full of Star Wars and Star Trek fan novels which have probably outsold all the rest. IMHO that is, make your list however you like. ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/51 "2014-04-29T14:46:05Z")
IMHO, neither Steven King nor Margaret Atwood has written sci-fi. Alt- or post-apolycaliptic (sp?), sure. But not what I would call sci-fi. I’m on my tablet and **none** of the spellings for post-apo…ya know…look right!! And I don’t think that 1984 qualifies, either. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/52 "2014-04-29T14:55:22Z")
If you have only one Heinlein, make it _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress._ If you have two Heinleins, they should be _Stranger in a Strange Land_ and _Starship Troopers._ These two have had the biggest impact on the culture at large. They present two aspects of the same philosophy, yet they were popular with radically different audiences. If you have three Heinleins, I would say _Stranger in a Strange Land_, _Starship Troopers_, and _The Past Through Tomorrow_. Obviously, Niven’s magnum opus is _Ringworld_. If you have a second Niven book, it should be a collection of short stories. Niven himself once wrote, “If you are a writer, you make your money writing novels, but you learn your craft writing short stories”. I don’t know which collections are in print at the moment, but you should try to find one that includes “Inconstant Moon” and the essays “Bigger than Worlds” and “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex”. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/53 "2014-04-29T16:06:13Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > …Obviously, Niven’s magnum opus is _Ringworld_. If you have a second Niven book, it should be a collection of short stories. Niven himself once wrote, “If you are a writer, you make your money writing novels, but you learn your craft writing short stories”. I don’t know which collections are in print at the moment, but you should try to find one that includes “Inconstant Moon” and the essays “Bigger than Worlds” and “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex”. _[N-Space](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-Space_(short_story_collection))_ has the first and last; _[Playgrounds of the Mind](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playgrounds_of_the_Mind)_ has _Bigger than Worlds_. _Playgrounds_ also has “_Convergent Series_,” another delightful short story. **Evil Captor** said my feelings about why _WWZ_’s fantasy, much better than I could. Michael Crichton, before he was **[Michael](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andromeda_Strain) [Crichton!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic_Park_(novel))** encapsulated why I think—despite how it’s labeled—[Slaughterhouse-Five isn’t really science fiction](http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114833/michael-crichton-sci-fi-and-vonnegut), despite the aliens and time-travel. > [@](#): > > There is also some business about a distant planet and flying saucers, but that does not make the book science fiction, any more than flippers make a cat a penguin. In the final analysis the book is hideous, ghastly, murderous—and calm. There are just people, doing what people usually do to each other. It’s great, it’s absurd, and perhaps that’s the exact approach needed to explain senseless tragedies like firebombing civilians, but I wouldn’t it call it sci-fi. I’m probably in a small minority with that view, FWIW, and I’m sure my devotion to the harder side of the [Mohs Scale of Sci-Fi Hardness](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness) is why. Do we think _[Gravity’s Rainbow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity's_Rainbow)_ counts, or are you trying to include books that people will actually check out and read? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/54 "2014-04-29T18:03:26Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Likewise Brin’s **Uplift** series is notable, but I don’t know which of them would be best to list. Personally I’d choose **Brightness Reef** , but I’m a sucker for dolphins. _Startide Rising_ is more stand-alone than the Jijo books, and more dolphin-ny. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/55 "2014-04-29T18:31:04Z")
Hmmm. Just to start: _Tuf Voyaging, Dying of the Light_ by George R.R. Martin _I, Robot, The Robots of Dawn, Foundation_ trilogy by Isaac Asimov _Childhood’s End, 2001: A Space Odyssey_ by Arthur C. Clarke _Starship Troopers, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, Have Space Suit Will Travel, The Rolling Stones, Space Cadet, Glory Road, Time for the Stars_ by Robert A. Heinlein _Old Man’s War, The Ghost Brigades_ by John Scalzi _The Forever War, Tool of the Trade, All My Sins Remembered, Mindbridge, The Hemingway Hoax_ by Joe Haldeman \*The Mote in God’s Eye, Footfall \*by Niven and Pournelle _The Last Ship_ by William Brinkley _Watchmen_ by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons Lots of great sf short story collections I would put on the shelves, too. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/56 "2014-04-29T18:38:11Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > _Startide Rising_ is more stand-alone than the Jijo books, and more dolphin-ny. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/57 "2014-04-29T18:48:27Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Don’t judge it by the preview. The novel is not only very funny, but it’s one of the most detailed and clever bits of world building in the genre. Everything in it sounds totally bizarre at first, but it turns out to all be based on some very logical social extrapolations, all of which deal with the issues of class stratification in society. It’s one of the best SF books of the last ten years and one of the worst things about a similarly titled best seller is that it put the sequel on hold. I’m a big fan of Fforde, and have read this book, but agree that it should not be included. First, the rest of the series is not out yet, so we don’t know where it is going. Second, while I agree about the world building, it is far too complex for a beginning sf reader, and anyway the world building in the Thursday Next series is even better. Having the Book World concept is good - making it work is great. So I’d go with The Eyre Affair if you had to have something by him, but there are 50 works which are better. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/58 "2014-04-29T19:03:28Z")
Can I suggest some Greg Bear? **Eon** is the one of his I remember most, but he’s written some classics. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/59 "2014-04-29T19:07:40Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Here is the list so far. Only 47 at the moment. 🙂 I just yoinked the two YAs off the list (The Giver and A Wrinkle in Time). I can do YAs separately if needed. I also bumped Forever Peace to the next category. I added A Fire Upon the Deep and The Mote in God’s Eye and still thinking about various suggestions. One thing you’ll notice is that I’ve included a number of more recent works. > > Frank, Pat - Alas, Babylon not sure about this one. I didn’t much like it, and have a hard time imagining how someone not brought up under the shadow of the bomb would feel. Davy is a far better book, which will stay relevant. How about Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193/60 "2014-04-29T19:10:53Z")
> [@danhanegan](#): > > Hal Clement - Mission of Gravity Emphatically seconded. > [@danhanegan](#): > > It seems almost heretical to me to not include something by E. E. Smith. But his best known novels are all integral parts of series, I am at a loss to suggest a single title. _Galactic Patrol_ started the \*Lensmen \*series, and it stands alone pretty well. I don’t know if it’s in the same league as some of the titles on the list, but James P. Hogan’s _Code of the Lifemaker_ has long been a personal favorite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-essential-science-fiction-novels-for-a-public-library/687193.md?page=4)