Top 50 Science Fiction Books on Goodreads

I've read 9 of them, mostly many years ago. Lately I've been more into mysteries than science fiction. My favorite "oldie" is LeGuin's Left Hand of Darkness. And most recent fav is Station Eleven.

38 read. Always good to see lists like this and be able to look back at the ones I liked, and remind me of the ones I've missed so far.

50 books and not even one from one of the greatest s/f writers in history, Stanisław Lem? LOL! Says it all.

JT wrote: "Amber wrote: "Mystery wrote: "These lists are farcical because they are voted by folks who have read maybe five sci fi books in their life.

"Hey! I read that! I'll vote for it!

Heinlein? Never ..."

Of course it is, but she wouldn't have understood who Van Helsing was.

JT wrote: "Matthew Kossler wrote: "26 of 50. Really, a very solid list though I read very little sci-fi these days. Would have been nice to see Roger Zelazny in there."

The thing with Zelazny is he rode the ..."

I think you have a point there. The Amber series is essentially pure fantasy, but the rest of his stuff really does blur the lines. I do know I loved his work and he belongs on an "all time greats" list somewhere.

Matthew Kossler wrote: "Janice wrote: "I've read 5 of these and some others by these authors, all of the foundation books by Asimov, all of the books by Orson Scott Card, many books by Octavia Butler and most books by Hei..."

Yes, me too. I read all her books although it's been so many years that I don't remember them that well now. Have you ever read Deborah Kerr's series that started, I think, with either Darkspell or Daggerspell. I believe it's called the Deverry series. There are 15 in the series. Of course, it's not sci-fi; it's fantasy--but it's great! I've read the series 3 times!

JT wrote: "Amber wrote: "Mystery wrote: "These lists are farcical because they are voted by folks who have read maybe five sci fi books in their life.

"Hey! I read that! I'll vote for it!

Heinlein? Never ..."
They wouldn't be farcical if I voted. I read approximately 300 books a year and have been reading them since I was 9 (I'm 74 now). It was really difficult in those early years to find books. My father & I bought anything that came out. I still have our first book--& most of those since.

23. This isn't a bad list but it is surely missing some great books.

21 read, not bad :-)

What a great list. Have read 9 of these and am making a note of the rest.

JT wrote: "Sheila wrote: "Kindred and Parable of the Sower look very interesting."

The Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Talents should be read back to back. They are mindblowing."

Did you ever read Dawn? It was, of course, a series with the following books having other names. I liked the first one the best though. She found new ideas and twisted them in such a way that was unique & a little uncomfortable, quite admirable though.

6 But I have read plenty of others (not all on goodreads)

The Wool series is like one of my favourite of all times

Anissa wrote: "I just need to thank GR for giving Science Fiction its own list this time out. I've been thinking it's a shame SF isn't allowed to have its own chair as a genre. I'm much more a fan of it than Fant..."
I second your appreciation, Anissa, for separating SF out from SF/F. While there is considerable overlap, I agree that they are distinct genres. 21 for me.

David wrote: "16 for me - and I'm a little ashamed that I've missed some of the classics over the years. I think it's time to knuckle down and hit a bookstore."

Some that can no longer be found at a bookstore can be found on a kindle.

I've read 22 of the books listed and have several that I want to read. My Top 5 Want to Read Books From This List:

The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin -- This book has crossed my radar multiple times.

Hard Boiled Wonderland & the End of the World by Haruki Murakami--I'm a fan of Murakami and feel chagrin that I haven't yet read this book.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell -- Loved the movie. Intrigued by the interwoven structures of time and people. I've encountered articles by Mitchell that are well written and resonate for me, in particular, this beauty on the Wizard of Earthsea by Le Guin:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor-- Just read a short story by Okorafor, "Spider the Artist." She's very creative, wrapping sci-fi and heart together, African-based scifi, full of mastery. Been on my list for a while and I'm moving her close to the top.

Looking forward to all this. But currently reading The Mammoth Book of SF: Stories by Women Edited by Alex Dally MacFarlane, and behind schedule on review of Butler's Earthseed wisdom in the Parables books. The Writer's Life!

29 plus 3 I dnf’d from boredom. Several I want to read. Saga does not belong here. Tripe. The Passage took forever to portray what many others have done better and quicker. Not bad, just tired. The Martian is tedious—much better as a movie.

I would add other authors, such as Anne Mccaffrey and Elizabeth Moon, and certainly more by some of these here, e.g., Le Guin, but it is a pretty good list. Alas, Babylon belongs here. Also The Andromeda Strain. I agree with others comments about Cherryh.

Where is N. K. Jemison? How about Jack Campbell and Martha Wells? Ted Chiang! The Dog Stars by Peter Heller!

36

Bill wrote: "30. I used to read a ton of Sci-Fi, but I can't seem to find anything written in the last 20 years that appeals to me."

It might not be to your liking, but I absolutely adored Children of Time, which also really deserves a spot on this list. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

And you've probably tried, but if you haven't, Robert F. Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga is amazing if you have the stamina. :)

Just started Dark Matter today. That's 13 from this list

30 from the list.
Hm, 2 from Connie Willis? Instead of To say nothing of the dog> I'd rather put something from Vernor Vinge :).

16...and many more by the same authors...but no Peter F. Hamilton? He's one of my favourite SF authors. I've read and enjoyed every single one of his books. He should be up there!

9

Five for me- Martian Chronicles, Kindred, Hitchhiker's Guide, 1984, and The Handmaid's Tale. I'm currently reading Parable of the sower. Should be more, since I like Sci-Fi! I have to get reading!

28 read, another 5 I've had false starts on and put down. I'll revisit at least 4 of those.

Looking at this has made me realise that I greatly prefer Fantasy over Science Fiction (at least with books) I've only read 2 from the list:
- Ready Player One (Read this even if the film wasn't your thing as they are completely different)
- The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Great character based Sci-Fi)

I have one more on my "Interested in" shelf:
- Dark Matter

Not on the list I have also read: - The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (they may be YA but even my mum loved them)
- The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (one of the most engrossing Sci-Fi series' I've read in a while. Best experienced on audio and in print at the same time)
- Flashfall by Jenny Moyer
- Armada by Ernest Cline
- An Other Place by Darren Dash (Weird mind bending and definitely not YA).

Only 22 of this list but untold numbers of great SF + F books not listed

10 from this list, but so many "great" and "classics" were left outside, not to mention prequels and sequels (Dune for example).

Marc wrote: "I humbly submit that you forgot one: The Counterclock Prophecy"
I just added it to my "want to read" shelf.

12. For now.

17

I've read many from this list in the last few years, a few I've loved, "The Moon is a harsh mistress", "Hyperion." A few have been ok, "Dune," "Leviathan Awakes." Several I've hated "Slaughter House Five," "Snowcrash".
I look forward to going through the list and finding some jems I didn't know about, and hopefully, with all my recent experience keep away from the ones I won't enjoy.

Bill wrote: "The Foundation trilogy needs to be included in this list."

Foundation is on there, which I take to embrace the three books of the original trilogy.

Have read 6 from above mentioned. To comment on Bill's post Red rising is nice surprise in last 20 years...

I have read 20

11, with a few more on my to read shelf. Not a bad list. Not a great one but not a bad one. Shame it's so focused on recent books when so much of the golden age of scifi happened before the turn of the century!

Ken 21, more than I expected.

Read 25 of these. Have many in the hopper but I'd say Ancillary Sword is one I'm most looking forward to because I read the first book, liked it a lot, but haven't gotten to subsequent books. Most of these are on my to read list though.

Anne wrote: "32

I'm intrigued by Saga in that I've never heard of it. Going to have to go check it out."

Saga is amazing, you'll love it.

27.... and counting.
I would recommend works by several authors not shown on this list:
Anderson, Ballard, Benford, Brin, Gaiman, Huxley, Mieville, Morgan,
May, Reynolds, Silverberg, Vinge, Weber, Wingrove--to name a few.
But I am always happy to see what others like and possibly find new favorites. Thanks.

19 - and I now have a new “want to read” list! I would agree with many others that some real classics are missing though.

I've read many of these books, but I would still recommend the following anthology to new SF readers versus this list:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Zero

I've read 13 and a bit (the bit being Dune, as I've never got beyond page 100 or so)

29/50

Adriana wrote: "This list is very light on fantasy books."

Adriana wrote: "This list is very light on fantasy books."

I thought that, no Conan really.

21

Amber wrote: "Depends on your definition of fantasy."

Swords and Sorcery.

Adriana wrote: "This list is very light on fantasy books."

Because this is the Science Fiction specific list, not the Fantasy list.

Ben, I deleted the post you replied to, because it looked out of place.

Christopher wrote: "11 from this list."
Me, too!