What are some of your favorite science fiction books and why? If you had to pick only a few. As of writing this post my favorites are the following.
- The Quantum Magician
- Three Body Problem
- Children of Time
I tend to like in-depth explanations of the fictional science that exists in-universe as well as a good mystery.
I really enjoyed the ‘Foundation’ series by Isaac Asimov. ‘Rendezvous with Rama’ by Arthur C. Clarke is a great one as well.
Asimov is my favorite author
really love all his short story collections, he even did some (light) mystery ones
I am currently reading a collection of all of Asimov’s short stories. That will take a while, it’s a 2339 page epub. In the beginning there are some lesser stories but they keep getting better and better.
I’m currently reading The Left Hand of Darkness, and so far enjoying it a lot.
I really enjoyed Project Hail Mary.
Didn’t know about this, going to go out and get this one, thanks! I really enjoyed reading The Martian by the same author way back when.
I ended up reading The Martian after seeing the movie and while poking a hole in the glove was mentioned in the book, I was a bit disappointed that the movie could not resist forcing to going through with it. Felt more silly and unnecessary even when originally watching the movie.
After that Project Hail Mary was a must read when I found out about it and was not disappointed. The amnesia was a bit forced, but necessary for the structure and didn’t actually bother me much while reading. Also
spoiler
one of the best depictions of an alien that actually felt out of this world.
I recently read Artemis by Andy Weir, but the protagonist had so much teenage angst that it was difficult to finish despite its short length. I’ll have to try one of his more popular books instead.
I haven’t read Artemis but I’ve seen multiple people say that it is his weakest work. There is no teenage angst in this one.
The Expanse series has done it for me. Best books I’ve read in a long time.
I completely agree and love The Expanse. It’s more character driven than I prefer, but it is still in my top 10 for sure.
My favourites are (still) HitchHikersGGTG and Good Omens. I just adore that writing style, I guess.
Great list in the comments! Let me add some classics:
- Fred Hoyle: Black cloud is as realistic a sci-fi can be
- Lem: Fiasco - not his most famous book, but probably the best
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- Three Body Problem (and sequels, especially The Dark Forest:) it’s good scifi, though I worry that a lot of people missed the message.
- Consider Phlebas/Use Of Weapons: tragic space opera is my favorite kind.
- Gideon The Ninth: sci-fantasy popcorn with a sass-mouthed narrator.
- Providence: Fresh take on ubiquitous scifi tropes, and I’m a fan of Max Barry’s punchy writing style.
How do you feel people missed the message?
I sometimes see people saying Wade was right or that he would have saved the day or some such.
“The Book of the New Sun” by Gene Wolfe.
Tough, hard to follow or understand (deliberately so - this book and a number of the author’s other books are well known for “unreliable narrator”), excellent prose, and thought provoking. I generally dislike rereading a book, with all the other books to read and new ones coming out every year, but this is an exception.
“Creatures of Light and Darkness”, and “Lord of Light” by Roger Zelazny - I love the blending of mythology and science fiction.
“Dune” though it hasn’t aged well in terms of the science of genetics.
“Cyteen” by C.J. Cherryh
“Starship Trooper” and “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” both are peak Heinlein.
Sea of Tranquility is amazing! Emily St. John Mandel just has a really great writing style and even though the main plot of this novel is very much connected to sci-fi themes it does not read like a dissertation on specific futuristic concepts.
I’m a big fan of world building and well fleshed out settings and characters. I love getting lost in descriptive and unique imagery.
- Hyperion by Dan Simmons - feels like such a lived-in universe, some interesting tales, and a horrifying antagonist in the Shrike.
- Neuromancer by William Gibson - cyberpunk ahead of its time, great story, incredible atmosphere.
I feel like you’d really enjoy House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds. One of the most “lived-in” feeling worlds I’ve encountered since Hyperion. I’m reading Pushing Ice now and haven’t read any of Revelation Space yet, but I’m planning on it.
Anathem by Neal Stephenson.
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson is one of my most favourite science fiction books.
Just some of my favourites:
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The Forever War - Joe Haldeman: Basically the vastly better Starship Troopers. Just don’t read to sequel.
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Old Man’s War - John Scalzi: Very much feels like an modern update of The Forever War
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Cities in Flight - James Blish: I just love the bonker’s idea of whole cities declaring their independence from Earth and just buggering off into space
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Ubik - Philip K. Dick: Hard to pick a favourite Dick, but this one just has all the mindfuckery and weirdness of that particular author in a perfect blend
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