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Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books
Anything in the science fiction or fantasy genres, especially if there's any crossover.
(This list used to be for science fiction, but got out of control. For the best science fiction, see our new list.
(This list used to be for science fiction, but got out of control. For the best science fiction, see our new list.
Comments (showing 179-228)
Deleted the Anne of Green Gables boxed set from the list.Werner, thanks for explaining that the list now includes fantasy.
Tom, the reason it includes fantasy now is because books like these were on the list when it was a purely science fiction list. There's a new, more careful science fiction list now. It's here: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/19...)
Well, Tom, the amended list title specifically allows for fantasy to be included. However, the Anne of Green Gables series is neither SF nor fantasy. Leslie, do you recall what number that boxed set was on the list? Knowing that will make it a lot easier to go in and delete it; otherwise, it takes quite a while to hunt up one entry on a list this size!
Holly wrote: "I really must protest the George R. R. Martin being on this list. It is not science fiction, it is fantasy.Also I'm borderline on the American Gods, but I really feel it is more urban fantasy tha..."
And Lord of the Rings isn't science fiction at all. Apparently many people cannot distinguish one genre from the other, judging from this list.
The Hunger Games over classics such as The Martian Chronicles, Do Androids Dream..., I, Robot, etc... You got to be kidding me!
Hi Werner, Thanks for your reply so that I can clarify. The meaning behind my remark was to bring attention to the Sci-fi genre and how it is dying. It's incredibly saddening. Do you know what I mean? Look at the top votes for "best of..." lists. Harry Potter? The Hunger Games?
Ouch.
Werner wrote: "In a list devoted to the "best" of any genre, it would be strange if it didn't include quite a few older, classic works, that have stood the test of time and continue to deliver quality reading exp..."
In a list devoted to the "best" of any genre, it would be strange if it didn't include quite a few older, classic works, that have stood the test of time and continue to deliver quality reading experiences for new generations.
Ok I'm hoping that someone can help be... read a book years ago and can't remember the name of it and it is driving me CRAZY. Let me know if you know the name of the book....I know
Written 1989 or before...
Had a race of aliens that could see an 8th color...
Less then 300 pages might have been less then 200...
Think
Protagonist is sneaking around a spaceport because they are hiding from the aliens that run it. His (or her) father is dead... died finding out a secret...
All spaceports on earth are run by aliens...
humans are second class citizens...
Ends up sneaking a board an alien ship and poses as a space officer...
His job is navigation/ looking a star charts...
Lands on a world with life that are crystals...
Spaceship is powered by these crystals...
Xenophon wrote: "There is huge room for disagreement between what is science fiction and what is fantasy. Pretending there isn't is absurd."True, but it's also absurd to pretend that sci-fi has no definition at all.
Sorry I didn't read all of the comments but overall decent list of books but not all SciFi per se. Kurt V is a great writer but I thought he was more Satire/Paradox/Irony rather SciFi? I'm upset that Jack L Chalker isn't on here. The Well World series really opened my eyes to good Scifi. And also Poul Anderson! But a good list over all.
There is huge room for disagreement between what is science fiction and what is fantasy. Pretending there isn't is absurd.
Patrick wrote: "I must be the only person on Earth who can't stand Ender's Game.Of course, I find Card personally obnoxious and to me his personality oozes through all his books."
Orson Scott Card has always struck me as the kind of novelist I'd only want to read if I was already suicidal and just wanted to feel worse.
Michael wrote: "Xenophon wrote: "I think you should have left the description as "Best Science Fiction" and let voters decide for themselves what is science fiction."Anyone on Goodreads is allowed to decide for ..."
I'm sorry but this argument doesn't even make sense. You do realize that you can erase the books that don't conform to the list description, no?
Xenophon wrote: "I think you should have left the description as "Best Science Fiction" and let voters decide for themselves what is science fiction."Anyone on Goodreads is allowed to decide for themselves that the Prime Minister of England is Mr. T. That's entirely an individual's choice. However, Mr. T is not the Prime Minister of Her Majesty's government. Similarly, The Chronicles of Narnia is not Science Fiction, so there's no need to publish a list saying it is.
I think you should have left the description as "Best Science Fiction" and let voters decide for themselves what is science fiction.
Aaron wrote: "Not sure how old the posts complaining about there being fantasy books on this list are, but when I scroll to the top of my screen it says "Best Science Fiction AND Fantasy Books"."Yes, that's new. The comments are old.
Not sure how old the posts complaining about there being fantasy books on this list are, but when I scroll to the top of my screen it says "Best Science Fiction AND Fantasy Books".
Sérgio wrote: "Wouldn't it have been easier better just deleting the fantasy books?"It was too big of a mess to clean up. Besides, changing the name is more accurate than cleaning it up would be anyway.
Sérgio wrote: "After gathering so many voters here why change the rules now?
"
We didn't change the rules. The "rules" (of language) were being disregarded, so the description of this list was changed to fit what this list actually is. Doing so will likely be more accurate without the large number of voters from this list because so many of them don't know what science fiction is anyway. A smaller, more manageable, more accurate group is a better way to start over. Of course, everyone is encouraged to vote!
Michael wrote: "Kristine wrote: "Technically, this list should be titled "Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books" because of the number of fantasy titles on the list."Done! We started a new "Best Science Fiction" ..."
????
Wouldn't it have been easier better just deleting the fantasy books?
I've been voting here because it was exclusively for Sci-fi. Also, the biggest one I think.
After gathering so many voters here why change the rules now?
I'm sorry but I don't feel like voting all over again in the new list just because you changed the name of this one.
Kristine wrote: "Technically, this list should be titled "Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books" because of the number of fantasy titles on the list."Done! We started a new "Best Science Fiction" list in which a definition of science fiction is at the top. It will be periodically maintained to only include science fiction.
Please contribute! It's here:
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/19...
Renee wrote: "A great Scifi list. I just found it & remembered some books I had forgotten & some I want to read. Thanks!yeah this is a great list there are lots of books on here I want to read. : )
Kurt Vonnegut to me is the best in this genre. I remember reading his books and feeling that I had met a genius. Most people are familiar with Slaughterhouse Five. One of his best, but there are so many other outstanding books by Vonnegut. Rat-a-Tat-Tat, Rat-a-Tat-Tat, Rat-a-Tat-Tat. And so it goes on and on into even modern times where they send the young and reckless into the world to bring death and destruction upon the weak and defenseless. And so it goes.
A great Scifi list. I just found it & remembered some books I had forgotten & some I want to read. Thanks!God bless.
Allison wrote: "Tanstaafl wrote: "Jeremy wrote: "Is there a difference between sci-fi and fantasy? What is the difference? And why are they always lumped together?"Yes. A big difference.
To be blunt,
Fantasy..."
This is what I feel also but you do have to remember one of Arthur C Clarke's laws
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Holly wrote: "I really must protest the George R. R. Martin being on this list. It is not science fiction, it is fantasy.Also I'm borderline on the American Gods, but I really feel it is more urban fantasy tha..."
Kristine wrote: "Technically, this list should be titled "Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books" because of the number of fantasy titles on the list."
I agree with you. I wish science fiction and fantasy were not mixed.
"If you love the books on this list and are looking for people to discuss them with, join the http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/6...
I'm somewhat surprised that people really try to hold on to this sci-fi/fantasy distinction. Such categorizations are useful, but as with most categorizations, things get a bit blurry around the edges. As others have mentioned, psychic powers and faster-than-light travel are examples of fantasy in science fiction. I'm truly amazed anyone would accuse scientists of making arguments of ignorance when dealing with psychic powers. This same argument can be used for just about anything that is fantastical.
I like to think of it this way: Speculative Fiction is a large genre that includes both Science Fiction and Fantasy. I would classify Star Trek or Foundation as Science Fiction because even though it contains elements of Fantasy, its main thrust is more towards Science Fiction.At this point though, genres are mainly used to help people find books they are interested in and mostly a way for Publishers and Libraries/Retail to classify their products. Because of the labeling of genres can Box-In some writers, (who though they may have elements of Sci-Fi/Fantasy in their novel, but don't feel its in that genre) I do think the overall term "Speculative Fiction" works best.
Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin is a great example of this. The story itself is not Science Fiction however there is a Science Fiction story within the novel (which is penned by one of the characters). If this book is labeled "Sci-Fi", some Sci-Fi fans may be disappointed by it and some readers who would enjoy the book but dont like a "Sci-Fi" label may never pick it up. I think the author's intention should be the formost opinion on the matter as they are the ones looking for an audience.
I like Sci fi uunfortunately the book was not published in Indonesia. and can I add my book at list ? :)
thanks
Time MachinePipit Di
@Leo:What experiments proved psychic powers can't exist in the future? You make a valid point if something like that exists, but you don't give us any clue what you're talking about. I'd be interested to know about it.
My first reaction is that anyone claiming to have disproved psychic abilities has probably ignored or not noticed the argument from ignorance logical fallacy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument...
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/ignorant....
However, I might have not imagined what you're referring to and maybe there is some way around that.
So, what are you referencing?
Bob wrote: "I'm curious -- give an example of what fantasy books people consider to be SF, please."Before I continue, I wanted to stop by and say, "Hey, folks." New here (at least to the forums...though I have been officially a "member" through a FB app for a couple of years). For some reason, have found my adolescent nerd again and have begun re-reading a lot of sf classics, and maybe pushing on to new material. So I found this list, and read all or the comments, enjoying them all.
Now, to the juice... I would contend that there are a lot of "fantasy" elements in some classic SF series. Mostly, the fantasy elements in SF tend to deal w/ psychic powers, which have been experimentally disproved as far back as Michael Faraday. And yet, SF writers tend to envision a world where mental powers are used to manipulate people or warp reality.
Here are a few...
1) Asimov's "Foundation" trilogy relies heavily on the psi powers of the Second Foundation and the Mule to drive the action.
2) The classic "Dune" series becomes more and more fantastical as it goes on. Visions of future drive Paul, the main character, who knows what he must do to keep humanity alive, while his own "human value system" is repulsed by this necessary "Golden Path." And the series grows more and more fantastical as it goes on. Consider "God, Emperor of Dune." Leto II becomes a symbiotic Sand Worm, and rules for 3500 years in order to keep the galactic empire from falling into the chaos that exists on either side of the Golden Path.
3) E.E. Smith's classic Lensman series describes a universe filled with mentalic "good guys", the Arisians, who wage a cosmic struggle against the vile Eddor through humanity by influencing human behavior.
4) Spock's Vulcan mind meld.
Ironically, these are among my favorite SF books of all time. But they are not "scientific" by any stretch of the imagination.
@Tania: Added _The Enchanted Wood_ to my to-read list. The Faraway Tree series looks very much like the sort of series I might fall in love with. Glad you mentioned it (though I suspect we'll categorize in different genres, which isn't so important.)I agree about the robots and aliens - _Animal Farm_ (one of my favorite books, by the way) is an allegory and is therefore not interested in (and is indifferent to) a realistic world or even a terribly consistent world.
@Helga I've never heard of anyone disliking Ender's Game until this comment thread. Before this, people only recommended it to me, if they mentioned it at all. I suspect disliking Card is not one of the latest "in" things to do, but more of a constant "out" thing to do, rather like disliking Harry Potter.
Also, I'm pretty sure _Mein Kampf_ gave up on me, but I got up on it anyway.
Any list of the best Sci-Fi should include CJ Cherryh's 'Foreigner' and Karin Lowachee's 'Warchild' :)
Unsure if The Hunger Games is considered "Sci-fic", but heck, everytime I see THG on a list, I click "vote". (So long as it's a 'good' list)
Ender's Game is a children's book? I had no idea. Really. I'd heard precocious 14 year olds had read it. OK. I've read it at least 5 times since I re-read the series every time a new addition to the series comes out,but I'm not a child,and this is not Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. My son,who is quite opinionated,read this book in college,as did my daughter. They re-read it periodically as do I. From the comments,I gather disliking O.S. Card is the latest "in" thing to do. I shall try to remain an individualist despite the pressure and contine admiring and acquiring his books. I always give a book 50 pages to intrigue me. Ender's game and premise grabbed me immediately and the subject matter is not for children. Some books take more than 50 pages to drag you into a new world. I have read some that never really did. But my strategy is to never get up on a book because a book never gives up on you.
@Michael: Fair enough. I guess that's why I like the term "speculative fiction" because it's a broader term (though way less sexy). What drew me to sci-fi in the first place was the "What if" nature of most of the premises, and for me, there's a big "What if" in Animal Farm. If Orwell had used aliens or robots instead of animals, would it then suddenly be classified as sci-fi? Would that change the nature of the book. I think not. Again, that's why I prefer the term "speculative fiction". So I equate speculative fiction with science fiction because most people don't know or use the term speculative fiction.Further, I'd be so bold as to qualify "The Faraway Tree" as science fiction/spec-fi, at least I think it should be rubbing shoulders with sci-fi.
Lucky I don't work in your library!
@Tania: I'm not arguing about what science fiction is because of my love of books so much as for my love of English. I love studying linguistics, particularly etymology, and am often over-annoyed by misused words. Calling Animal Farm "sci-fi" seems like calling a Texan Japanese to me. I guess it's a pet peeve.
I am female and love Enders Game. My son and daughters do as well. I like most of Card's work. I really don't care about his personality . He could be a troll as long as I enjoy the books. Heinlein had a few quirks and he's still my favorite author.
I think sci-fi is in the eye of the reader. If you don't think a book is sci-fi, don't vote for it. I voted for Animal Farm even though strictly speaking it probably isn't sci-fi by my own personal definition... However, I'm not sure it fits better into any other genre, so I'm happy for it to sit on this list.I use lists such as these to help me choose other books to read. If a couple of allegorical or fantasy books end up in there I can deal with it. And I might even like them.
I think it's hilarious that people get so passionate about the definition of sci-fi. I guess it means we all love books... and we'll fight verbal wars over their categorisation. (Surely there is a short sci-fi story in that?)
And... for the record I LOOOOOVED Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. I would call the 2nd book in the series a book for older readers.
Reilan wrote: "Nope, you are not[...]"Who is not what?
I don't see why being a children's book is a condemnation, but I tried to read Ender's Game and couldn't get into it, despite loving many children's books. It's just not particularly well-written, unlike the works of Hans Christian Andersen, A. A. Milne, C. S. Lewis, Beatrix Potter, Margery Williams
Bianco, J. M. Barrie, and the other great children's authors.
Of course, I'm sure some just don't enjoy the genre, which is always a sad thing one must respect.
Nope, you are not, I have Ender's Game sitting right here beside me and I refuse to read it. I think the Ender's are children's books. Ok, I am not impressed with Card either, I admit that. However he may bring a lot of kids to reading and I do appreciate that.
They are both unquestionably works of science fiction. They are writing in different sub-genres, and aiming for different audiences, certainly, but both still meet the criteria of writing science fiction. It's surprising how many people there are who want to either widen or narrow what is considered science fiction. Why? Isn't it more fun to discuss the works themselves?
Banks's Consider Phlebas is a book I have started five or six times, but can never get much past page 35 with. I wonder why that is.
flag as offensive (?)
I have created a new group called Goodreads All Sorts and I'd love for people to join it or just even just give it a look. It's a group that discusses anything and everything. There will be monthly group reads, movies, and music. There is a folder for everything you could think of. I'd really like if people could spread the word because I'd love for the group to be a success. Here is the link to the group:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/9...
Thanks very much,
Jack :-)