# Ten S-F Books for Complete Beginners... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052 "2010-06-30T13:01:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![projectmolcos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@projectmolcos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/projectmolcos)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/1 "2010-06-30T13:01:16Z")
[SIZE=“4”]Can you name ten science-fiction books for complete beginners? Please note those words, complete beginners. The criterion here is ten books that such readers can enjoy, but ones that would constitute a sufficient introduction to the genre in all its forms and stimulate continued interest in SF. Your turn![/SIZE] ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/2 "2010-06-30T13:12:00Z")
Are we talking about books for adults or kids? Either way, there are several I’d recommend by Robert Heinlein (some would even be on both lists). ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/3 "2010-06-30T13:33:57Z")
I’m working this with my 10 year old girl right now. It’s a challenge. If I needed to name ten… Have Space Suit Will Travel by Robert Heinlein The Mote in God’s Eye by Niven and Pournelle Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper Earth by David Brin Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card Cities in Flight by James Blish The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury Well, that’s nine off the top of my head. There are better ones, to be sure, but I limited the choices by introduction value. Nothing too difficult to read and nothing too ‘out there’ for the novice to get put off by reading. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/4 "2010-06-30T13:35:08Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/5 "2010-06-30T13:35:53Z")
Complete beginners? The Cat in the Hat has talking animals… ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/6 "2010-06-30T14:10:07Z")
I’ll add any of the “Deathworld” trilogy by Harry Harrison, the Stainless Steel Rat books by Harry, or any of the “Thieves World” series created and edited by Robert Lynn Asprin. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/7 "2010-06-30T14:18:25Z")
_Lucifer’s Hammer_ by Niven and Pournelle for good ‘hard’ science fiction (ie - no magic/fantasy elements). For space opera I like David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, especially the early books, which are a homage to the Hornblower books by CS Forester. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/8 "2010-06-30T14:25:30Z")
Just hard SF, or can we include fantasy? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/9 "2010-06-30T14:26:53Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > I’ll add any of the “Deathworld” trilogy by Harry Harrison, the Stainless Steel Rat books by Harry, or any of the “Thieves World” series created and edited by Robert Lynn Asprin. I’d suggest the Stainless Steel Rat books for someone that age. The violence in them isn’t very…violent. Lots of fun. Interesting themes. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/10 "2010-06-30T14:47:24Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > I’m working this with my 10 year old girl right now. It’s a challenge. > > If I needed to name ten… > > Have Space Suit Will Travel by Robert Heinlein > The Mote in God’s Eye by Niven and Pournelle > Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper > Earth by David Brin > Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card > Cities in Flight by James Blish > The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester > The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov > The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury > > Well, that’s nine off the top of my head. > > There are better ones, to be sure, but I limited the choices by introduction value. Nothing too difficult to read and nothing too ‘out there’ for the novice to get put off by reading. I’d say _Earth_ and _Cities in Flight_ is going to be over many ten year old’s level. _The Stars My Destination_ and _The Martian Chronicles_ might also be. Here’s a few possibilities; _Citizen of the Galaxy_ - Robert Heinlein _Gunpowder Empire_ - Harry Turtledove _Emergence_ - David Palmer _The Practice Effect_ - David Brin _Rendezvous with Rama_ - Arthur C. Clarke _A Wrinkle in Time_ - Madeleine L’Engle Here’s a [page](http://librarybooklists.org/fiction/ya/yaspeculative.htm) of lists of recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/11 "2010-06-30T14:49:06Z")
Heinlein’s “juveniles.” It’s all there. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/12 "2010-06-30T15:02:40Z")
Some genre archetypes (if that’s the right word) \*The Day of the Triffids \* - John Wyndham (see also _The Kraken Wakes_) _Dune_ - Frank Herbert _Neuromancer_ - William Gibson _The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy_ by that really tall guy… (Though if \*at all possible \*you should try to hear the original radio play version) ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/13 "2010-06-30T15:15:31Z")
I read “I have No Mouth and I Must Scream” when I was 10 years old. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/14 "2010-06-30T15:24:35Z")
Agree with **silenus** , Heinlein’s juveniles are a great introduction to the genre. I’d add a collection of Asimov’s short stories, as well as his **Foundation Trilogy**. Add Clarke’s **2001** or **A Fall of Moondust** (since **Rama** already got mentioned. Heck throw **Childhood’s End** in there too) I like Clarke’s short stories as well; **The Other Side of the Sky** is a great collection of them, with **The Star** , **9 Billion Names of God** , and others. **Planetes** if they already like manga. Depending on your definition of “beginner” (are we talking a 10 yr old, or adult new to SF?) some of the recommendations strike me as a little dark, E.g: **The Stars My Destination** Rape, assorted revenge. **Lucifer’s Hammer** Ritual cannibalism —let’s throw in **The Road** , while we’re at it… Love the recommendation of **Mote in God’s Eye** , and I’d throw in one of his Known Space short story collections too, like **Neutron Star**. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/15 "2010-06-30T15:39:59Z")
Little Fuzzy - H. Beam Piper A Wrinkle in Team (This one deals with gravity waves. Not bad for a 5th grade book). ---
**Author:** ![projectmolcos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@projectmolcos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/projectmolcos)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/16 "2010-06-30T15:39:59Z")
Oooops, sorry! ---
**Author:** ![projectmolcos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@projectmolcos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/projectmolcos)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/17 "2010-06-30T15:41:07Z")
I’m thinking more adults here. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/18 "2010-06-30T15:57:37Z")
I’d start with a few of the robot short stories by Asimov. (“Satisfaction Guaranteed” is my favorite.) These stories hit on some common themes to be found in science fiction. After that, I’d do Caves of Steel, partially because it’s a hybrid of a science fiction novel and a detective novel so it provides easy entry into the genre. It also incorporates a lot of common themes, including some which are quite timely. I’d also recommend short stories by Heinlein. There are some good lighthearted ones about the lives of teenagers living in the moon. Cliff and the Calories is fun. You don’t say how old these people are, but Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is my “if you’re only going to read one science fiction book, read this one” choice. The moon short stories would be a nice segue. ETA–if they’re adults, maybe don’t do the “teenagers on the moon” stuff. But in case you’re not familiar with them–Heinlein’s “juveniles” are great for all ages. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/19 "2010-06-30T16:23:37Z")
And I don’t care whether you’re young or old, John Christopher’s _Tripods_ trilogy is a real corker. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052/20 "2010-06-30T16:37:34Z")
I’d say don’t be so hung up on the “big four” names I see repeated over and over here. My personal introduction to SF was “Sargasso of Space” by Andre Norton, an excellent read, but I’d say “Galactic Derelict” would be better. And her novel “Judgment on Janus” reads an awful lot like the inspiration for the movie “Avatar” though it is not. She is known by her fantasy now, but she started out writing SF. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-s-f-books-for-complete-beginners/545052.md?page=2)