# What every well-read Science-Fiction fan should read-maybe. (very long!) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 18, 2001, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243 "2001-06-18T20:38:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/1 "2001-06-18T20:38:07Z")
A while ago, I was in a discussion with a friend and he asked what it took to be “really well read” in Science Fiction. I’ve been tinkering with this list for a while and, given **Marvel’s** excellent [Ten Best SF Books Thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=74733), I was inspired to post this. I’m trying to focus on important books more than on my personal taste, and I’m really trying to steer away from Fantasy. I’m also limiting my “self-indulgent” choices. (There are lots and lots of books that I loved that aren’t on this list because they weren’t influential enough) (Note, before the flames start: I’m not saying you _have_ to read this stuff to be “well read”. I _am_ saying that if you HAVE read this list, you _are_ well read in Science Fiction. I’m sure there are a large number of possible parallel lists with little overlap.) I’d like some comments, criticism, additions, subtractions, suggestions, etc. **Pre-Campbell:** Dante’s Inferno (World building) Gulliver’s Travels-Swift Frankenstein-Shelly From the Earth To the Moon-Verne 20,000 Leagues under the Sea-Verne The Invisible Man-Wells The Time Machine-Wells Island of Dr. Moreau-Wells The Master Key-L.Frank Baum (Yeah, the guy who wrote the “Oz” books: This is a self-indulgent choice. A good early “Electricity will someday run the world” type book) A Princess of Mars-Burroughs Ralph 124C41±Gernsback (kinda self-indulgent choice. It’s a fun book, but I admit that Gernsback got the Hugo named after him for his editing, not his writing…but it’s sooo much fun. Also out of print ☹ ) Either First Lensman OR Skylark of Space by “Doc” Smith (I prefer Skylark) A Martian Odessey and Other Stories- Weinbaum Before the Golden Age-Asmiov ed. Campbell to the 50’s The Past Through Tomorrow-Heinlein I, Robot-Asimov The SF Hall of Fame, Vol 1-Ben Bova (ed) Adventures in Time and Space-Healy, McComas(?) ed Dark Carnival-Bradbury (ha-ha. It’s a $600.00 book. Long out of print. It’s supposed to be reprinted, but until then, The October Country and R is for Rocket instead) The Unknown-Stanley Schmidt ed. Reprints from Unknown Magazine Foundation-Asimov **The '50s- Juvies and more** Citizen of the Galaxy-Heinlein (or Have Spacesuit, Will Travel: I’m torn. Citizen is probably better, but Have Spacesuit is so much more FUN. ) Puppet Masters-Heinlein Tunnel in the Sky-Heinlein (A response to Lord of the Flies The Demolished Man-Bester Caves of Steel-Asimov The Lovers-Farmer They’d Rather Be Right- Clifton & Reilly. Sooo bad it has to be read to be believed With These Ashes- Brown (Collects ALL his short stories. Failing that, Nightmares and Geezenstacks Atlas Shrugged-Rand (because, regardless of what you thought of it, it influenced a LOT of people) Gladiator-at-Law Pohl/Kornbluth A Treasury of Great Science Fiction vol 1 and 2-Bester ed Day of the Triffids-Wyndham Robots Have No Tales-“Lewis Padgett”: Self-Indulgent choice, but the Gallagher stories are possibly the funniest SF from the '50s. A collection of Sturgeon-maybe Caviar?-Sturgeon **The 60’s** Starship Troopers-Heinlein Stranger in a Strange Land-Heinlein Moon is a Harsh Misteress-Heinlein Canticle for Leibowitz-Miller, Jr Sirens of Titan-Vonnegut (maybe. I don’t like Vonnegut, I hated Cat’s Cradle but I had to choose _something_ Davy-Pangborn Norstrilla-Smith Dune-Herbert Flowers for Algernon-Keys Lordof Light-Zelazny Pilgrimmage: The Book of the People-Henderson (Kinda self-indulgent, but I don’t care!) A collection of Sheckley short stories-Coming soon from NESFA **The 70’s** The Dispossessed-LeGuin (far better than Left Hand of Darkness, IMO) Dragonflight-McCaffery (important for how much it inspired-note that the story first appeared in '67) Forever War-Haldeman Mote In God’s Eye-Pournelle and Niven Tales of Known Space-Niven Neutron Star-Niven Gateway-Pohl Rendevous With Rama-Clarke (My favorite Clarke!) Dangerous Visions-Ellison ed Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon-(NOT a self-indulgent choice. The first story “The Guy With the Eyes” was a breakthrough story for Analog. It was a complete shift of the oldest SF magazine’s Midnight at the Well of Souls-Chalker (My last self-indulgent choice. I loved this book.) **The 80’s** The Barbie Murders-Varley Uplift War-Brin Ender’s Game-Card Neuromancer-Gibson (Yuk: I don’t care for this, but it’s important to the genre) True Names and other Dangers-Vinge (Waaay out of print and collectible, but important) Mirrorshades-Sterling ed **The 90s and beyond** Quarantine-Egan Hyperion-Simmons aargh…the collection of Xeelee short stories-Baxter A Fire Upon the Deep-Vinge To Say Nothing of the Dog-Willis one of Bujold’s Miles books…dunno which. Mirror Dance, maybe?-Bujold I’ve missed a ton of the “New Wave” writers of the late-'60s, early '70s because…well…I don’t like New Wave stuff much. Still, there should be a Brunner (Stand on Zanzibar?), a Dick (not Man in the High Castle, dunno what). There also needs to be a collection of Ellison, but one collection that stands out. They’re all pretty good. Please feel free to add to, subtract from and debate this list, but #1) No more than 5 self-indulgent choices #2) _Enjoying_ the book is far less important for this list than the book’s importance to the genre, (which is why there’s so much less modern stuff in my list. There hasn’t been time for them to influence stuff yet.) I’ve also got too much Heinlein in the '50s, but I don’t know what to cut. Maybe Tunnel? Anyway, I’d appreciate comments/help. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/2 "2001-06-18T21:21:09Z")
well **Fenris** the thing that leaps out at me from that list is that **I’ve** read a whole lot more of them than I’d have expected (not being a fan of the genre) - as in the HG Wells stuff, Flowers for Algernon, Ayn Rand, Verne, Shelly, Swift, Vonnegut etc. and I certainly wouldn’t consider myself well read sci/fi. (another hijack, I may need your expertise in this genre since SO is **such** a fan - he especially has appreciated a series by ?? about an alternate history of earth from WWII with some lizard type creatures interferring with WWII??? anyhow we now return you to your thread, already in progress) ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/3 "2001-06-18T21:57:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > **well Fenris the thing that leaps out at me from that list is that I’ve read a whole lot more of them than I’d have expected (not being a fan of the genre) - as in the HG Wells stuff, Flowers for Algernon, Ayn Rand, Verne, Shelly, Swift, Vonnegut etc. and I certainly wouldn’t consider myself well read sci/fi.** Actually, that’s useful to know. (And at some point, I may post this list somewhere. I really think it’d be useful when someone says “So why do you like SF anyway?”) \*\* > [@](#): > > (another hijack, I may need your expertise in this genre since SO is **such** a fan - he especially has appreciated a series by ?? about an alternate history of earth from WWII with some lizard type creatures interferring with WWII??? \*\* Harry Turtledove, the World Warseries. There’re ummm…4 (5?) books in the original set. The basic upshot is: What if aliens, with tech just above what we have now (but very limited resources) invaded in the middle of World War 2. It was a good series with (IMHO) a very weak ending. Another book or so has been added. Anyway, you didn’t say what you needed my expertise _for_, but you know I’m always happy to help you ;). Either post, or e-mail me. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/4 "2001-06-18T22:08:38Z")
thanks! (it wouldn’t be of interest to the full board) I’ll get w/ **mags** and get yr. addy. 🙂 (and glad I helped even in a nonhelpful way) ---
**Author:** ![lucie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed8c4c/32.png) [@lucie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucie)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/5 "2001-06-18T22:42:35Z")
First - great list. I’ve read and agree with a great many of your choices. The two notable changes I would make to my own list are to replace “The Dispossessed” with “The Left Hand of Darkness”, and “The Uplift War” with “Startide Rising”. Probably just a matter of personal preference or state of mind when I read them. Nice to see someone else has read Cordwainer Smith, although I prefer his short stories to “Norstrillia”. If short stories are permitted, I might replace that novel with “Scanners Live in Vain” or “Alpha-Ralpha Boulevard”. I don’t know about their individual importance to the field, but collectively they must have had a pretty strong influence on the writers and aspiring writers who read them. I question the inclusion of “Princess of Mars”, but only because I wouldn’t consider it science fiction. Same with “Dark Carnival”, dearly as I loved it. They seem much more fantasy. I would add “The Martian Chronicles”, and I’m sure there are others, but they just turned off the a/c at work, so I have to run. ---
**Author:** ![bashere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bashere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bashere)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/6 "2001-06-18T22:45:59Z")
> [@](#): > > …a Dick (not Man in the High Castle, dunno what)… err…how about **Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?** My vote would be for **Clans of the Alphane Moon** , but you’re probably going to insist on one that people actually read… For Brunner, how about **Shockwave Rider** , instead of **Stands…**? **Shockwave Rider** is a little more approachable, as I recall. You don’t mention Sherry Tepper or Connie Willis - too new? ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/7 "2001-06-18T22:50:04Z")
Not a bad list… I think _War of the Worlds_ should also be up there, though – it’s the classic alien-invasion story. Also, _Brave New World_ and/or _Nineteen Eighty-four,_ and maybe _R.U.R._ And as far as Dick goes, how about _Ubik_? (That’s the one we were assigned in my SF survey course.) I’d love to include _We,_ also (predates both BNW and 1984) – maybe as a self-indulgent choice. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/8 "2001-06-18T23:30:26Z")
Fenris, thanks for doing this. I’ve only read about a quarter of these – having a list to work from will help. You mentioned a **Dark Carnival** reprint. It should be out this fall, from Gauntlet Press, and I think the price is a paltry $125. There will be five additional stories that have been reprinted but infrequently. And the book will include the original Weird Tales cover art. They’re taking orders at [http://www.gauntletpress.com](http://www.gauntletpress.com). ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/9 "2001-06-18T23:42:24Z")
**lucie** : I included A Princess of Mars because I’d consider it a “Scientific Romance”. It’s just [sub]barely[/sub] SF, but it’s influential enough that I felt I’d have to. You’re right on Dark Carnival and I think I’ll take your suggestion and swap it for The Martian Chronicles. I’m also gonna add The Illustrated Man: “The Veldt”, “Kalidoscope”, he’s got some great SF there. **bashere** : Got Connie Willis: check the end of the list: To Say Nothing of the Dog is listed. Tepper, I dunno…I don’t I don’t know that her stuff (the bizarre, wonderful Marianne series would be my first choice) is important/influential enough yet (I haven’t read much of her more modern stuff yet). **Katisha** Urk. I can’t _believe_ I forgot War of the Worlds (maybe lose Invisible Man or Dr. Moreau?), 1984, and (maybe)R.U.R… Consider them added. (Brave New World, though? I dunno. It’s important, but…is it as important as 1984?) If we include We by …um Z_mumble_, then I want to add Anthem by Rand. It’s an interesting take on the same concept. **Auntie Pam** : I believe you’ve mentioned this before, and again: THANKS!! 🙂 I can’t _wait_ for Gauntlet to reprint this. When the thread seems to die, I’ll repost the final version of the list. As can be seen above, I missed at least a few crucial ones! Fenris ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/10 "2001-06-19T01:01:42Z")
Great list, Fenris. I’d add the following: _Dark Matter_ ed. by Sherri R. Thomas ( a collection of speculative fiction) ANYTHING by Octavia E. Butler _Eyes of Amber_, _Psion_, _The Snow Queen_ and other books by Joan D. Vinge _Jaran_, _His Conquering Sword_, _An Earthly Crown_, and _The Law of Becoming_ by Kate Elliott _Welcome Chaos_ and other sci fi novels by Kate Wilhelm This is all I can think of for now. ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/11 "2001-06-19T03:02:29Z")
[nitpick] Flowers For Algernon - Daniel **Keyes** will be easier to search [/nitpick] Also, anyone who mentions Science Fiction Hall of Fame I and IIA/B in either thread knows the score. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Friend\_of\_the\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@A\_Friend\_of\_the\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Friend_of_the_Devil)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/12 "2001-06-19T03:30:44Z")
Wonderful! Wonderful! So many of my favorites! Swift, Verne, Ellison! And I thought I was the only person around who considered _A Canticle for Liebowitz_ a must-read. I might include something by Crichton, possibly _The Andromeda Strain_. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/13 "2001-06-19T03:56:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\* > A Treasury of Great Science Fiction vol 1 and 2-Bester ed > \*\* I just wanted to second **Fenris** on this - simply put, it’s the best SF complilation I’ve ever read. It’s also way out of print, but there are used copies out there. Go buy one. BTW, **Fenris** , why recommend _The Demolished Man_, but not _The Stars My Destination_? Huh? Whyfor you do this? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/14 "2001-06-19T04:10:45Z")
I read quite a bit of SF, but I still don’t consider myself well read. Your list pretty much proves it to me. I will suggest some others though: First, I fully understand 1984’s importance to the genre, but the first 100 pages were like wading through concrete. I liked Animal Farm much better. Red, Green, and Blue Mars (three different books) by Kim Stanley Robinson. The first was a Hugo award winner in 1995 IIRC. Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Don’t tell me this book didn’t change the entire way mainstream SF could be written [sub]What? Jack Vance? shut up! No one asked for your opinion[/sub] Further along those lines, I haven’t read any of these, but what about the Discworld series by Pratchett? Also, Dr. Schmidt has been writing since the '50s? Weird. I just know his work in Analog. As far as short stories go, here are three I like that haven’t been mentioned: I have no mouth and I must scream and “Repent Harlequin!” said the Tick-Tock Man by Harlan Ellison. Bicentennial Man by Asimov And speaking of Asimov, did you know that he wrote over 400 novels in his career? That’s a novel every month and a half for FOUR DECADES! Some of these were technical and scientific novels that actually required, you know, research. This man pretty much bitch slapped Stephen King right across the typewriter. ---
**Author:** ![Marvel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marvel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvel)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/15 "2001-06-19T04:47:34Z")
When I saw the first list of books - broken down by decade, no less - I could only say “Holy Sh\*t.” Impressive, Man! You should teach a college course on this genre! And thanks for digging my Top Ten SF thread - I’m amazed at how many people posted less than 24 hours after I asked for help! Humbly Yours, Patty ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/16 "2001-06-19T06:14:25Z")
Hmmm, maybe I’m nitpicking, but wasn’t the **first** _Dangerous Vision_ published in the 60s ? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/17 "2001-06-19T06:42:06Z")
Nothing by Clarke? Oh, I see you’ve got _Rama_. Excellent choice. I’d like to throw in _The Fountains of Paradise_ and \* Childhood’s End\*. How about: _The Naked Sun_ - Asimov _Ringworld_ - Niven _The Chronicles of Amber_ - Zelazny _The Book of the New Sun_ - Wolfe _Lord Valentine’s Castle_ - Silverberg I think that _Brave New World_ is becoming increasingly relevant in today’s GM world. ---
**Author:** ![pink\_kitten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@pink\_kitten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pink_kitten)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/18 "2001-06-19T07:39:02Z")
Okay, someone did pick Red, Green and Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. Some of my favorite sci-fi books ever. How about Necromancer by William Gibson Excellent book, the first of many good books by him. When it came out there was a hubbub of talk about it. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/19 "2001-06-19T08:00:51Z")
Couple I’d add… Somebody suggested Jack Vance deserves a look in, so let’s have, as a good example, the _Planet of Adventure_ series (consisting of _City of the Chasch_, the unfortunately named _Servants of the Wankh_, _The Dirdir_ and _The Pnume_. But I have the omnibus one-volume edition, so it’s one book. So there.) And I’d add my personal favourite hard SF novel, Poul Anderson’s _Tau Zero_. From the 1930s, I will continue to plug Olaf Stapledon (_Star Maker_,_Last and First Men_). I liked Gibson’s _Neuromancer_, but I’ll add one from the opposite end of early cyberpunk: Rudy Rucker’s _Software_. Very strange, very enjoyable. (Oh, BTW, “Zmumble”, author of _We_ = Evgeny Zamyatin.) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243/20 "2001-06-19T08:40:20Z")
I think Stephenson should be on there somewhere. Since we’re talking influence, **Snow Crash** is superceded by **Neuromancer,** (Cyberpunk be fairly well mined out by that time) but **The Diamond Age** is the best approach to Nanotech I’ve seen so far. If you’re going to have Bujold, you ought to have Weber as well. I nominate **On Basilisk Station**. **Invasion of the Body Snatchers** , by Jack Finney, is one of the archetypical sf stories. Lovecraft was an important figure in the early days of sf, when it was often hard to distinguish between horror and science fiction. **At the Mountains of Madness** is, I believe, on of the earliest sf stories to rely on real, or “hard”, science. A.L. Meritt was another important early writer. **The Moon Pool** is a pretty good Burroughs-esque story. L’Engle’s **A Wrinkle in Time** is one of the books that brought me, and a lot of other people, to sf. It ought to be included. Hmm, can’t think up any more right now. Excellent list. Glad to not be the only sf fan who doesn’t like Vonnegut. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-every-well-read-science-fiction-fan-should-read-maybe-very-long/69243.md?page=2)