# Lost Classics of Science Fiction
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-classics-of-science-fiction/97073
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 5, 2001, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-classics-of-science-fiction/97073 "2001-12-05T18:56:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2001, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-classics-of-science-fiction/97073/41 "2001-12-06T13:50:30Z")
**tracer** :
You ever have one little detail that throws off an entire book for you? Re: _Riddley Walker_, I could not get the question out of my head of where they were getting the tea. It doesn’t grow in the British Isles, and I doubt that they had much trade with the tropics…
(I don’t know why The Wife thinks I obsess over trivial details.)
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### Author:  [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2001, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-classics-of-science-fiction/97073/42 "2001-12-06T15:39:31Z")
Henry Kuttner!!!
I cherish my copy of “Robots Have No Tails.”
your humble TubaDiva
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### Author:  [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-classics-of-science-fiction/97073/43 "2001-12-06T15:40:17Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \*
> \*\*It has been awhile since I’ve seen a copy of _The Man in the Maze_, and the last time I read _The Star Kings_ I had to get it on interlibrary loan.
>
> If juvenile sci fi counts, the collected works of Alan E. Nourse (_Star Surgeon_, The Universe Between, Rocket to Limbo, The Mercy Men, Raiders from the Rings, Psi High & Others, \*etc.) seem to have disappeared from the stacks without a trace, which is really sad.
>
> \*PS-whatever happened to the poster named Dal Timgar? \*\*
Shipped out with Tiger on a Hospital ship…
A lot of these books are real good, but aren’t lost. Now NO Simak or Smith is bad.
Burroughs is heavily online. Read The Land Tiem forgot and the other 2 in the series at work. Had 'em on a floppy. Recommended the Barsoom series to TruePisces when she borrowed the Dream Park sequel (Was it Barsoom Project?)and gave her links to Princess of Mars. Long live the Gutenberg Porject and the like for the oldies.
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### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-classics-of-science-fiction/97073/44 "2001-12-06T15:44:36Z")
H.G. Wells- **The First Men in the Moon**.
Hugely entertaining- more so than any of his other works except War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. I’ve never understood why The Island of Dr. Moreau and The Invisible Man (both of which put me to sleep) are so highly regarded while The First Men in the Moon (fast-paced and engrossing) is neglected.
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### Author:  [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2001, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-classics-of-science-fiction/97073/45 "2001-12-06T16:15:21Z")
I’ll second Beam Piper’s _Little Fuzzy_ series. And don’t forget there were three of them.
But I’ll throw a shout out for Piper’s _Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen_ novel. It’s a compilation of three novella’s in Piper’s ‘Paratime’ universe.
Wonderful stuff about a Pennsylvania State Trooper who slips into an alternate reality.
But really…most of those mentioned here shouldn’t be considered lost. I could obtain many of them in an hour if I wanted. That’s hardly ‘lost’ status.
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### Author:  [@Lao\_Tsu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lao_Tsu)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2001, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-classics-of-science-fiction/97073/46 "2001-12-06T16:34:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \*
> \*\*[crotchety old coot hat on]
> …Actually, when I go into the Science Fiction/Fantasy section of a bookstore today I am astounded at how little of it I’ve read and am familiar with. A lot of “classic” science fiction is just gone. Almost all of Heinlein’s stuff is stiull in print (that argues for the quality and popularity of his writing). An awful lot of Arthur C. Clarke’s still is, and (oddly, to my mind) Philip K. Dick. But most of Asimov’s books are out of print. …
> [/crotchety old coot hat off] \*\*
This post reminded of a series of anthologies by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg called Isaac Asimov presents the Great SF Stories. Volume 1 started in 1948 and included only stories from that year. Nice little intro before each story. I discovered so many of the authors listed in Cal’s post. ( I would add C. M. Kornbluth, BTW, though his work is limited.) There are 20 plus of these books, all great, all out of print as far as I know.
About the same time I found these anthologies, I found a list 100 SF classics. Most are not in print. It’s always a coup when I find one. I’m thrilled to hear that The Stars My Destination is available. That’s a must buy, at least so I hear.
Of course, I’ve read the Martian Chronicles. Absolutely fantastic, I break it out every couple of years. At least this and The Illustrated Man are still in print.
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### Author:  [@kaiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiju)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2001, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-classics-of-science-fiction/97073/47 "2001-12-06T16:49:08Z")
Book of the Month Club had a 4 volume Bradbury set as its main selection about 3 months ago. Illustrated Man, Martian Chronicles, Something Wicked This Way comes (my pesonal favorite) and something else.
A second vote for anything by Allan E. Nourse.
The Stainless Steel Rat books by Harry Harrison.
The Compleat Werewolf by Anthony Boucher.
Short Story “The Marching Morons” by C. M. Kornbluth (I think)
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