For lightweight Brin, read The Practice Effect. Definitely not Hard SF.
I’m somewhat embarrassed I haven’t read more of his. I think I saw* Something Wicked* on the list, which I’ve read and like but might not be something I’d think of suggesting to someone requesting science fiction. I do need to read the ones you mentioned.
There was also a Volume II (split into IIA and II B), which contained novellas/novelettes. I have both the I and the II. VERY good stories in those.
Bradbury isn’t the easiest author to read, but he’s one of the most lyrical science fiction authors ever. He is science fiction only in the least scientific way possible, more science fantasy–and he’s absolutely brilliant.
Bradbury is an excellent author, but I have a very difficult time reading him, just because he’s so damned depressing.
You run into that a lot of times with Joe Haldeman as well. Haldeman’s a brilliant writer. But in the majority of his work, his characters end up miserable.
- And the most recent story in the book is from 1963.
But the stories in the book were selected by the members of the Science Fiction Writers of America. Their purpose was to have a showcase for the stories that were written before 1966. That was the year when the SFWA began giving out the Nebula awards. So in a sense, the annual Nebula award collections are the “sequel” to the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
Still very much appreciating all of these. For what it’s worth, I ended up buying “Ancillary Justice” and “The Forever War,” and I’m a little more than a third through the former so far.
Thanks to this thread, I will be kept busy reading for a long, long time.
May your reading take you to a galaxy far, far away!
I agree that The Science Fiction Hall of Fame volumes I, IIA, and IIB are well worth getting and reading (I don’t recall any “stinkers”).
But avoid Volumes III and IV. They tried to continue the series, but didn’t use the same criteria for choosing the stories in the last two volumes. (Even if they are Nebula award Winners) It shows. There are a lot of good stories, but others I’d avoid
I also agree that the anthology Adventures in Time and Space is great, even if it’s all pre-1950. Several of the stories in it got turned into movies, or are closely related to movies (like Raymond F. Jones’ contribution, which bears close similarity to his “This Island Earth”)
I was thinking specifically of “The Weapon Shops” and “Scanners Live in Vain”. Both of which were, no doubt, influential, but neither of which was very good. The former is just puerile wish-fulfillment fantasy, and the latter really tried hard to set up a complex and believable world, but failed horribly.
In addition to Joe Haldeman’s The Forever War, I’d recommend his Worlds duology (if that’s a word), consisting of Worlds and Worlds Apart. I keep coming back to these two, even more than The Forever War.
Officially it’s a trilogy, but the first two (fairly short) books tell a single story, and the third (Worlds Enough and Time) is superfluous - and not particularly memorable either, IMHO.
Haldeman’s short stories are also very good, and he’s got at least three compilations of them in book form.
Awesome–enjoy!
“100 Science Fiction Novels Everyone Should Read.”
#52 - A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
Huh?
=====
I thought World War Z was a cool read … kinda of a unique plot style, apparently nothing like the movie … I found it light and airy, a delight to ponder through, not really cerebral but not really empty either …
Why not? if you use a broad enough definition of “science fiction.” It involves time travel and advanced technology (i.e. that of the Connecticut Yankee’s era, which is advanced in the time of King Arthur’s Court).
Already mentioned, but Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe and Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny.
Long out of print, but if you can find it the Dune Encyclopedia is great. It’s a fictional encyclopedia written in the Dune universe.
Yeah, those are good and get pretty dark. I liked the Marsbound trilogy as well, but then, he’s my favorite author.
Did you ever read Mindbridge or All My Sins Remembered? I love them both, but I’d love an objective opinion.
The original short story “The Weapon Shop” (which is itself derived from an earlier short story, “The Seesaw”) is not a bad story. If you’re very strongly anti-gun, the implicit message that guns keep you free might not be to your taste, but the other aspect of the story (the difference between the public face of a government, and the private workings of it) is quite worth reading.
The novel that was derived from the story (along with “The Seesaw” and “The Weapon Shops of Isher”), as well as the “sequel” were much less worthy of praise. The attempt to smash all the concepts into one coherent whole was much less impressive, in my opinion.
I heartily agree about both the Hutchins and Benedict series of books. The Engines of God is one of the better sci-fi books I have ever read.
[QUOTE=Little Nemo;21069251
Peter Hamilton: Like Brin, he’s written some huge series. So I’d recommend starting with a single novel like Fallen Dragon or Great North Road.
[/QUOTE]
Another massive vote for Peter F Hamilton from me. His space opera is so damn engaging with it’s blend of hard sci fi, great character development, huge worlds/galaxies, super intriguing ideas about AI development and biological enhancements, etc. I cannot state enough how much I love this author. He’s that good, at least to me.
The Commonwealth Saga and the Void trilogy are some of the best books I have ever read. Real mind candy, that.
Isn’t Misspent Youth the first book in that series? I thought Pandora’s Star was the second. Nevertheless, they are all excellent.
I also happen to think that some of Ben Bova’s stuff is pretty good, especially the series that focuses on a more close to present technology stuff like the mining of asteroids, colonization of the Moon and near planets, etc. Similar in some respects setting-wise to The Expanse books, ALL of which I recommend, as well as the TV show.
Did I mention that The Expanse books are good? They are VERY, very good. Very engaging.
For a real game changer, check out Liu Cixin’s The Three Body Problem trilogy. He’s a Chinese sci-fi writer and his books are translated into English but what makes the books extra interesting in addition to the plot elements and characters is that not all Chinese characters translate real well into English, so there are various footnotes throughout the books to provide clarity. Not only are these books insightful into the possibilities of science fiction, but also Chinese and Korean culture. Those books have it ALL, I just finished them not long ago and I cannot urge you to read them enough.
His first book, which has the same name as the trilogy carries (Three Body Problem), is a 2015 Hugo Award winner.
I also just briefly perused that list in the OP. Strange, some of those books like A Clockwork Orange barely register as sci-fi to me. It’s a great book, creepy as fuck, the movie too, but sci fi? I don’t know, man.
And the list includes Hubbard’s Battlefield Earth? Really? That book is shit and the movie somehow managed to be even worse.