# NPR's top 100 SF/Fantasy list **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676 "2011-08-14T13:12:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/41 "2011-08-14T21:57:51Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’m disappointed, but not surprised, to see Zelazny’s Amber series on the list. I love Zelazny, but the Amber books are far form his best work - much better if _Lord of Light_ were on that list. _lord of Light_ is one of my all time favorites. I first read it when taking a Hinduism class as an undergrad, {mumbles} decades ago. I reread it recently, and it holds up. As far as SFF works I love, Tolkien is always first, but selectied Zelazny and Heinlein fight it out with Prachett for the number two spot. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/42 "2011-08-14T23:03:44Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Science fiction IS fantasy. The number of SF novels that don’t have fantasy elements is ridiculously small (I count FTL travel as fantasy, since it’s all handwaving) > > It’s a reasonable list, though hardly definitive. Science fiction is fantasy because it tells stories involving things that don’t exist in the world as we know it. Whether those things are spaceships or dragons is a minor detail. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/43 "2011-08-14T23:07:22Z")
That it’s a voted-on list probanbly explains the presence of Clarke’s _2001_ (and _A Clockwork Orange_ and _Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep_, I suspect). As others have noted, it’s odd that other “classic” science fiction writers didn’t make the cut (to which I’d add Henry Kuttner, Catherine L. Moore, Cordwainer Smith, and L. Sprague de Camp) And, since this is a fantasy list, too, isn’t it scandalous that H.P. Lovecraft isn’t on it? Not to mention a host of lesser-known but talented fantasy authors. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/44 "2011-08-14T23:58:50Z")
> [@](#): > > For Piers Anthony, I liked his Apprentice Adept series more than the one Xanth book I read. I didn’t read any of the Incarnations; worth the time? They go down monotonically in quality as the series goes on, though I’m most fond of the second (_Bearing an Hourglass_) for personal reasons (yes, that _is_ the direct origin of my username; my tastes weren’t as discerning back then). I’d recommend just starting with _On a Pale Horse_, and keep on reading until you’ve read the fifth one, or until you decide the books just aren’t good enough any more, whichever comes first. Either way, don’t bother with the sixth or seventh. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/45 "2011-08-15T00:01:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > They go down monotonically in quality as the series goes on, though I’m most fond of the second (_Bearing an Hourglass_) for personal reasons (yes, that _is_ the direct origin of my username; my tastes weren’t as discerning back then). I’d recommend just starting with _On a Pale Horse_, and keep on reading until you’ve read the fifth one, or until you decide the books just aren’t good enough any more, whichever comes first. Either way, don’t bother with the sixth or seventh. I found that to be true of all his series. In this case I really enjoyed _On A Pale Horse_, but stopped reading after the second one. From what I heard about the sixth and seventh I’m glad I stopped too. I haven’t read a book by him in ages. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/46 "2011-08-15T00:15:38Z")
☹ I like all the Frank Herbert _Dune_ novels, even _God: Emperor_. The list was OK. Definitely weighted towards books that were made into movies and/or TV shows - 16 of the top 25 (at least) had adaptations. Compare that to the bottom 25 where only 3 (again, by my count) have been adapted into movies/TV. This is the only explanation that allows for a poll whereupon _The Princess Bride_ gets rated a better _book_ than _Perdido Street Station_ or _Hyperion_ or _Childhood’s End_, a selection that makes no sense in an actual weighing of the books relative merits. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/47 "2011-08-15T00:29:00Z")
Gibson’s on there, I’m satisfied. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/48 "2011-08-15T00:40:03Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > That it’s a voted-on list probanbly explains the presence of Clarke’s _2001_ (and _A Clockwork Orange_ and _Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep_, I suspect). As others have noted, it’s odd that other “classic” science fiction writers didn’t make the cut (to which I’d add Henry Kuttner, Catherine L. Moore, Cordwainer Smith, and L. Sprague de Camp) _A Clockwork Orange_ is widely considered a critical masterpiece. You might have a point about the other two. [http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1951793\_1951939\_1952248,00.html](http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1951793_1951939_1952248,00.html) [http://www.city-journal.org/html/16\_1\_oh\_to\_be.html](http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_1_oh_to_be.html) Of course, you might feel differently about the novel depending on whether you read the version with or without the 21st chapter. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/49 "2011-08-15T00:56:49Z")
> [@](#): > > A Clockwork Orange is widely considered a critical masterpiece. You might have a point about the other two. I’m aware of that. So is _The Demolished Man_, but it’s not on the list. I’m saying that I suspect the movie association helped it get on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/50 "2011-08-15T01:00:58Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’m aware of that. So is _The Demolished Man_, but it’s not on the list. I’m saying that I suspect the movie association helped it get on the list. Maybe. Clockwork Orange is also a pretty widely assigned reading book in US HighSchools , so I’d guess even ignoring the movie, its been much more widely read then The Demolished Man. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/51 "2011-08-15T01:26:30Z")
I’m surprised The Fafhrd & The Gray Mouser Series, The Stars My Destination, and Lord of Light didn’t even make the top 100. Those are all easy top 20, maybe all top 10. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/52 "2011-08-15T21:03:14Z")
It’s not bad for a survey, but I cannot take seriousily a list that omits Theodore Sturgeon, Robert Silverberg, Harlan Ellison, Poul Anderson, Bester, H.P. Lovecraft, and Cordwainer Smith. I also don’t recall seeing any works by Kim Stanley Robinson and Stephen Baxter. David Brin’s \*The Postman \*and Pohl and Kornbluth’s \*The Space Merchants \*should be on this list. Re Zelazny: They vote for the Amber shite and omit _Lord of Light, Damnation Alley, Jack of Shadows, and Creatures of Light and Darkness_!? Good night, these people need to read more widely in SF. Re C.S. Lewis: I would have chosen \*The Screwtape Letters \*over the space trilogy. OTOH, I’ve got to give this survey credit for including Conan. It’s about time people started recognizing that Howard is one of the greatest fantasy authors of the 20th Century. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/53 "2011-08-15T21:56:33Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > And why just _Small Gods_ when others have series? Well, there’s also _Going Postal_, but I agree with your larger point that the entire Discworld series should be considered as a set. Too bad about Thomas Covenant being there, though. I’d have preferred to see Jim Theis. At least I had a good time reading his work. Donaldson was just a chore. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/54 "2011-08-15T23:00:45Z")
Any such list that can include three Neal Stephenson entries but none by Jack Vance is worthless. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/55 "2011-08-16T00:01:12Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Well, there’s also _Going Postal_, but I agree with your larger point that the entire Discworld series should be considered as a set. > > Too bad about Thomas Covenant being there, though. I’d have preferred to see Jim Theis. At least I had a good time reading his work. Donaldson was just a chore. Thank you; I really dislike Donaldson. I cannot figure out why I read him. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/56 "2011-08-16T00:09:12Z")
> [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](#): > > It’s not bad for a survey, but I cannot take seriousily a list that omits Theodore Sturgeon, Robert Silverberg, Harlan Ellison, Poul Anderson, Bester, H.P. Lovecraft, and Cordwainer Smith. I can’t take any list that includes R.A. Salvatore seriously either. (Unless it’s a list of the worst fiction writers across any genre, har har har.) The fact that the list is vox populi explains some of the more eyebrow-raising choices, but yeah, where’s H.P. Lovecraft?! He’s immensely popular. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/57 "2011-08-16T01:04:05Z")
> [@Suil\_Dubh](#): > > The fact that the list is vox populi explains some of the more eyebrow-raising choices, but yeah, where’s H.P. Lovecraft?! He’s immensely popular. I don’t think H.P Lovecraft is really all that popular. I like his work, I know a lot of people who “get” Cthulhu jokes, but I’ve known less people who have actually read Lovecraft’s work. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/58 "2011-08-16T02:44:48Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I don’t think H.P Lovecraft is really all that popular. I like his work, I know a lot of people who “get” Cthulhu jokes, but I’ve known less people who have actually read Lovecraft’s work. I guess I can see how his mythos (and the character of Cthulhu) might be more well-known than his actual fiction (especially considering his prose), but still, I’m surprised that he didn’t make a top-100 list of popular SF writers. ---
**Author:** ![Rala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Rala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rala)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/59 "2011-08-16T04:20:16Z")
> [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](#): > > It’s not bad for a survey, but I cannot take seriousily a list that omits Theodore Sturgeon, Robert Silverberg, Harlan Ellison, Poul Anderson, Bester, H.P. Lovecraft, and Cordwainer Smith. I also don’t recall seeing any works by Kim Stanley Robinson and Stephen Baxter. Kim Stanley Robinson was included - the _Mars_ trilogy is #95. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676/60 "2011-08-16T04:34:13Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > The list is a bit weird. It’s full of the sort of shite you expect when you ask 60000 people to name their favourite SF books, but interspersed with worthy selections that don’t seem consistent. It doesn’t seem plausible that the same 60000 noobs who are placing Enders Game at #3 all time (:D) would choose something like Fahrenheit 451 at #7. It probably wasn’t the same people. Each respondent could vote for only ten titles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-top-100-sf-fantasy-list/592676.md?page=4)