and World War Z the book still ended up being a thousand times better than the movie
I’ve read about a quarter of the top 100. Despite it’s cult status I was surprised to see John Steakley’s Armor on the list, personally I would rank it higher than 70 and how is Rendezvous with Rama NOT on the list?
How about Robert J. Sawyer? Of his books that I’ve read, I don’t think there are any that I’d consider a masterpiece or a classic, but quite a few are readable, entertaining, well-constructed, with interesting ideas. And, like Asimov, several of his books are mysteries or have mystery elements.
I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree about Scanners. I’m very impressed by Cordwainer Smith, including this first professional effort. But I’m willing to give you Van Vogt, who I think is overrated.
The problem is that they’re magical guns, that make the user invulnerable, with the perfect defense to go along with the perfect offense, but they’re magically only in the hands of certified Good People, so it’s all OK. That alone is enough to make a story boring. But then you add in the fact that the author apparently thinks that those properties apply to real, non-magical guns, too, and it just becomes creepy.
I love Three-Body Problem, but I hesitate to recommend it to someone wanting to dip their feet into the field. It’s not hard science fiction in the sense that everything in it has strong scientific underpinning; but in the sense that the book revolves heavily around scientific ideas, it’s diamond-hard. The characters, IMO, are not especially well-written, and the prose, even accounting for translation issues, isn’t exactly scintillating.
But I said I love it, and that’s true, because goddamn can the author write a spectacle. The scientific ideas in the book–however absurd they may be to real scientists–are jaw-droppingly entertaining in their execution.
If you’re out for lovely prose or three-dimensional characters, it’s not the best place to go. But it’s got enough awesome ideas for any three other books.
And on a separate note, am I the only person who’s left cold by Robert Silverberg? I know he’s hugely respected, and every five or ten years I give him another try; but I find his stuff not especially interesting. His female characters in particular give me the creeps. I’m not sure exactly why–but they never feel like humans, and I end up thinking he’s probably an asshole to the women in his life, which may be unfair, but doesn’t leave me wanting to read more by him.
Edit: holy shit, to see if I was the only one, I Googled “Robert Silverberg misogyny,” and look what turned up! guess i’m not the only one
IMHO, as someone who had read about 85 of those 100 listed, C.J. Cheryl’s series of books about lion-like aliens is worthy of inclusion more so than a number on that list. Imagine not just a world, but a culturefully envisioned with different basic assumptions- as in males are emotionally unstable and have to be protected.**
See: The Pride of Chanur and follow. She’s been compared to Tolkien in the creation of cultures.
I’ve read 56 of them, but really, that list is crap. There a good dozen or so books on the list that aren’t fit for birdcage liner, much less taking up space in your mind.
Misspent Youth is the first, chronologically, book set in the Commonwealth universe, but it is a stand-alone and reading it isn’t required to understand PS or JU.
Hamilton is a hardback author for me, of which there are few: Turtledove, King, and PF are pretty much the only three authors whom I will buy their stuff as a full-price hardback.
For a writer that’s writing grand space opera now, attempting to achieve (and, I think, sometimes succeeding) the same kind of feel as Doc Smith while writing for a modern audience, try Ryk Spoor: his “Grand Central Arena” series is a terrific starting point.
Many good suggestions here. I’d like to second one - The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North. I was blown away by it - as someone said upthread, it’s a unique take on time travel that’s well thought through. Great characters and a gripping ending.
Her other novels have been a bit of a letdown after Harry August, but I can’t recommend that highly enough.
I haven’t seen Connie Willis mentioned here. She’s certainly not a hard science fiction writer, but she’s one of the best. Many of her stories center on time travel, so they may be up the OP’s alley. Doomsday Book is her masterpiece, but it’s a heavy introduction. To Say Nothing of the Dog is a humorous romp. The twin novels Blackout/All Clear about time travelers stuck in London during the blitz might be a bit overlong, but the amount of historical detail Willis works in is amazing.
True dat.
I enjoyed The Sudden Appearance of Hope - but the ending left me a bit unsatisfied. Reminded me of how perfect the ending to Harry August is.
Just thought of another recommendation - Becky Chambers, who has written two (loosely connected) novels in the space opera vein. I liked the first, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet more than A Closed and Common Orbit, but both are worth reading. She’s got a third novel out this summer, I believe.
