Best Forgotten Science Fiction of the 20th Century (582 books)

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Add and vote for your favorite Science Fiction books first published in last century. For this list that means first published between 1900 and 1999.

Please only add books that have received less than one thousand ratings .

No Fantasy books please! There is a separate list for them.

Books not meeting this list's criteria will be removed.

Inspired by Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century

Other SF Lists of Note:
Best Science Fiction
Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Best Forgotten Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Popular Highly Rated Science Fiction
Best Science Fiction Fantasy Books

SF Subgenres:
Alternate History
Dystopian and Post Apocalyptic Fiction
Space Opera
Steampunk

Locus Recommended Science Fiction:
2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015,
2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
2009, 2001, 2000

Sci Fi Award Nominees
2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
2009, 2008, 2007, 2006

Science Fiction By Decade:
1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s,
1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s

New Speculative Writers by Decade:
2000s, 2010s

Science Fiction By Ratings:
100,000 and more, 50000 to 99999, 25000 to 49999, 10000 to 24999
1000 to 9999, 100 to 999, Less than 100

See also:
Best Books of the 20th Century
Best Fantasy of the 20th Century
Best Forgotten Fantasy of the 20th Century

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Ballad of Lost C'mell by Cordwainer Smith 3.76 avg rating — 237 ratings score: 1,348, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Wave Without a Shore by C.J. Cherryh (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 677 ratings score: 898, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Year of the Quiet Sun by Wilson Tucker 3.59 avg rating — 777 ratings score: 778, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The War Against the Rull by A.E. van Vogt 3.67 avg rating — 915 ratings score: 747, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Other Side of Time (Imperium, #2) by Keith Laumer 3.67 avg rating — 133 ratings score: 691, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Mark of the Cat by Andre Norton 3.90 avg rating — 377 ratings score: 691, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	After Worlds Collide (When Worlds Collide, #2) by Philip Wylie 3.85 avg rating — 983 ratings score: 583, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Palace of Eternity by Bob Shaw 3.63 avg rating — 572 ratings score: 576, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Dinosaur Beach by Keith Laumer 3.70 avg rating — 513 ratings score: 552, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Cosmic Engineers by Clifford D. Simak 3.51 avg rating — 664 ratings score: 550, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Broken God (A Requiem for Homo Sapiens, #1) by David Zindell 4.23 avg rating — 933 ratings score: 496, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Project Pope by Clifford D. Simak 3.69 avg rating — 931 ratings score: 493, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Fuzzy Bones (Fuzzy Sapiens, #4) by William Tuning 3.85 avg rating — 264 ratings score: 491, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Sabella by Tanith Lee 3.87 avg rating — 892 ratings score: 457, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper 3.63 avg rating — 782 ratings score: 394, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Mouse on the Moon (The Mouse That Roared, #2) by Leonard Wibberley 3.95 avg rating — 485 ratings score: 392, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Color of Distance by Amy Thomson 4.27 avg rating — 952 ratings score: 390, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Escape on Venus (Venus, #4) by Edgar Rice Burroughs 3.73 avg rating — 994 ratings score: 387, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Coils by Roger Zelazny 3.60 avg rating — 789 ratings score: 378, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	A Woman of the Iron People by Eleanor Arnason 3.80 avg rating — 734 ratings score: 377, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Beyond Apollo by Barry N. Malzberg 3.61 avg rating — 835 ratings score: 354, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Don’t Bite the Sun (Four-BEE, #1) by Tanith Lee 4.10 avg rating — 872 ratings score: 322, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Kill the Dead by Tanith Lee 3.93 avg rating — 624 ratings score: 304, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Harvest by Robert Charles Wilson 3.79 avg rating — 675 ratings score: 300, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Buddy Holly Is Alive and Well on Ganymede by Bradley Denton 3.81 avg rating — 605 ratings score: 299, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Worlds Enough and Time (Worlds #3) by Joe Haldeman 3.84 avg rating — 796 ratings score: 299, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	A Million Open Doors (Giraut #1) by John Barnes 3.76 avg rating — 909 ratings score: 298, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	From the Legend of Biel by Mary Staton 3.86 avg rating — 58 ratings score: 298, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Exiles To Glory by Jerry Pournelle 3.63 avg rating — 257 ratings score: 296, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Garbage World by Charles Platt 3.30 avg rating — 132 ratings score: 295, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Mindplayers by Pat Cadigan (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 728 ratings score: 294, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Divergence (Heritage Universe #2) by Charles Sheffield 3.71 avg rating — 616 ratings score: 294, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Motherlines (Holdfast Chronicles, #2) by Suzy McKee Charnas 3.65 avg rating — 300 ratings score: 294, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Fools by Pat Cadigan (Goodreads Author) 3.63 avg rating — 560 ratings score: 293, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Cat Scratch Fever (Cat Scratch, #1) by Tara K. Harper 3.82 avg rating — 433 ratings score: 292, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Dark Planet by J. Hunter Holly 3.48 avg rating — 33 ratings score: 291, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Thorns by Robert Silverberg 3.40 avg rating — 847 ratings score: 290, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Magic Meadow by Alexander Key 4.16 avg rating — 135 ratings score: 289, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Ring of Charon (The Hunted Earth, #1) by Roger MacBride Allen 3.92 avg rating — 446 ratings score: 287, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Trucks by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.44 avg rating — 902 ratings score: 287, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Lord Kelvin's Machine (Narbondo, #3) by James P. Blaylock 3.47 avg rating — 446 ratings score: 285, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Logan's Search (Logan's Run, #3) by William F. Nolan 3.11 avg rating — 479 ratings score: 285, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Legion of Time by Jack Williamson 3.18 avg rating — 131 ratings score: 284, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Looking Backward from the Year 2000 by Mack Reynolds 3.23 avg rating — 74 ratings score: 283, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Strange Relations by Philip José Farmer 3.59 avg rating — 560 ratings score: 283, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Nomad of Time by Michael Moorcock 4.01 avg rating — 145 ratings score: 283, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Fortunate Fall by Cameron Reed 3.97 avg rating — 849 ratings score: 280, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Warm Worlds and Otherwise by James Tiptree Jr. 3.97 avg rating — 682 ratings score: 279, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	A Plague of Demons by Keith Laumer 3.59 avg rating — 478 ratings score: 278, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Dragons Can Only Rust (Gonard's Journey, #1) by Chrys Cymri (Goodreads Author) 3.79 avg rating — 43 ratings score: 276, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Diadem from the Stars by Jo Clayton 3.74 avg rating — 569 ratings score: 276, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Pennterra by Judith Moffett 3.61 avg rating — 89 ratings score: 274, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Stars are Ours (Pax/Astra, #1) by Andre Norton 3.85 avg rating — 884 ratings score: 274, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Embedding by Ian Watson 3.40 avg rating — 863 ratings score: 274, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Hard Landing by Algis Budrys 3.35 avg rating — 239 ratings score: 272, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Eight Keys to Eden by Mark Clifton 3.68 avg rating — 101 ratings score: 272, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Promised Land by Connie Willis 3.75 avg rating — 804 ratings score: 271, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Time Bender by Keith Laumer 3.54 avg rating — 213 ratings score: 270, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Heat Death of the Universe and Other Stories by Pamela Zoline 3.90 avg rating — 151 ratings score: 270, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Legion of Space (Legion of Space, #1) by Jack Williamson 3.48 avg rating — 552 ratings score: 269, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Children of Light by H.L. Lawrence 3.90 avg rating — 20 ratings score: 269, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	A Very Private Life by Michael Frayn 3.54 avg rating — 276 ratings score: 268, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Hollow Earth by Rudy Rucker 3.43 avg rating — 261 ratings score: 267, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Homunculus (Narbondo, #2) by James P. Blaylock 3.47 avg rating — 915 ratings score: 267, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Century 21 by Ewa Kuryluk 3.67 avg rating — 15 ratings score: 266, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	20/20 Vision by Pamela West 3.53 avg rating — 15 ratings score: 265, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Doomsday Morning by C.L. Moore 3.56 avg rating — 206 ratings score: 264, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	We All Died at Breakaway Station by Richard C. Meredith really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 222 ratings score: 263, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Shadow Man by Melissa Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.73 avg rating — 355 ratings score: 263, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	The Fall of the Towers by Samuel R. Delany 3.62 avg rating — 657 ratings score: 261, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	A Treasury of Great Science Fiction, Volume Two by Anthony Boucher (Editor) 4.18 avg rating — 142 ratings score: 261, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Monument by Lloyd Biggle Jr. 4.11 avg rating — 328 ratings score: 260, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Silkie by A.E. van Vogt 3.53 avg rating — 716 ratings score: 260, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Night Of The Saucers by Eando Binder 3.22 avg rating — 51 ratings score: 260, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Dinosaur Summer by Greg Bear 3.37 avg rating — 950 ratings score: 260, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Wolfling by Gordon R. Dickson 3.85 avg rating — 751 ratings score: 259, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Star-Begotten by H.G. Wells 3.42 avg rating — 299 ratings score: 259, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Ark of Venus by Clyde B. Clason 3.38 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 258, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	A Martian Odyssey and Other Classics of Science Fiction by Stanley G. Weinbaum 3.83 avg rating — 151 ratings score: 258, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Memories by Mike McQuay 3.95 avg rating — 132 ratings score: 258, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	The Garments of Caean by Barrington J. Bayley 3.82 avg rating — 167 ratings score: 257, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Gray Matter and Other Stories from Night Shift by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 403 ratings score: 256, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Through Darkest America (Darkest and Dawn, #1) by Neal Barrett Jr. 3.82 avg rating — 232 ratings score: 256, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Winterlong (Winterlong, #1) by Elizabeth Hand 3.70 avg rating — 899 ratings score: 255, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Siege of Orbitor by Richard Newman it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 254, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Courtship Rite by Donald Kingsbury 3.97 avg rating — 586 ratings score: 252, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Fugue for a Darkening Island by Christopher Priest 3.25 avg rating — 557 ratings score: 252, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	Orbital Resonance (Century Next Door, #1) by John Barnes 3.79 avg rating — 649 ratings score: 251, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Escape by Dean Wesley Smith 3.53 avg rating — 787 ratings score: 251, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	Women of Wonder: The Contemporary Years, Science Fiction by Women from the 1970s to the 1990s by Pamela Sargent (Goodreads Author) (Editor/Contributor) 4.03 avg rating — 202 ratings score: 251, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Queen Of Air And Darkness And Other Stories by Poul Anderson 3.73 avg rating — 325 ratings score: 251, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	The Child Buyer: A Novel in the Form of Hearings Before the Standing Committee on Education, Welfare, and Public Morality of a Certain State Senate by John Hersey 3.81 avg rating — 396 ratings score: 250, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Carlucci's Edge by Richard Paul Russo 3.84 avg rating — 223 ratings score: 249, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Jack Faust by Michael Swanwick 3.58 avg rating — 677 ratings score: 248, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	The Book of Frank Herbert by Frank Herbert 3.54 avg rating — 283 ratings score: 248, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Spacetime Donuts by Rudy Rucker 3.77 avg rating — 146 ratings score: 248, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Charles Sheffield 3.85 avg rating — 764 ratings score: 247, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	The Screwfly Solution by Raccoona Sheldon (Pseudonym) 4.08 avg rating — 782 ratings score: 247, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	The Dancers Of Arun (Chronicles of Tornor, #2) by Elizabeth A. Lynn 3.78 avg rating — 634 ratings score: 247, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Brittle Innings by Michael Bishop 3.92 avg rating — 452 ratings score: 246, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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582 books · 111 voters · list created August 6th, 2017 by Mitchell Friedman (votes) .

Tags: 20th-century, 999-ratings-maximum, mjf, mjf-sf-list, science-fiction, speculative-fiction

148 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (111)

Mitchell 11257 books
170 friends

Dirk 1691 books
78 friends

Deborah 4963 books
175 friends

Stifynsemons 2229 books
9 friends

Shanna_redwind 6043 books
38 friends

Sarah 1649 books
82 friends

Rachel Adiyah 1154 books
58 friends

Alan 12 books
0 friends

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Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-20 of 20 (20 new)

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newest »

message 1: by Mitchell (new)

Sep 26, 2018 10:35PM

Removed for having too many ratings - When Worlds Collide, When H.A.R.L.I.E. Was One: Release 2.0, The Lurking Fear, Battlestations!, Beyond the Wall of Sleep, The Pandora Principle, Adiamante, The Languages of Pao, Fairyland, A Case of Conscience

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message 2: by Mitchell (last edited Mar 03, 2019 05:23PM) (new)

Mar 03, 2019 05:20PM

removed Flowers for Algernon and Lost on Venus for reaching 1000 ratings.

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message 3: by Mitchell (new)

Mar 03, 2019 05:27PM

removed Romeo and Juliet and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

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message 4: by Heidi (new)

Mar 24, 2020 02:18PM

Odd John #357 has 1147 ratings
and should be removed.

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message 5: by Heidi (new)

Mar 24, 2020 02:26PM

Werewolf Principle #391 has 1010 ratings
and should be removed.

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message 6: by Mitchell (new)

Mar 24, 2020 08:16PM

Heidi wrote: "Werewolf Principle #391 has 1010 ratings
and should be removed."

Thanks for the help. Feel free to help maintain any of my other lists as well.

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message 7: by Mitchell (new)

Mar 24, 2020 08:19PM

The Dunwich Horror was removed for have over 5000 ratings

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message 8: by Jim (last edited Aug 19, 2020 01:07AM) (new)

Aug 19, 2020 01:04AM

Cool list! All this new stuff to explore! I'm reasonably well-read in the genre, but I am somewhat embarrassed to admit there is nothing here I have read — which is cool for me, but it means there's nothing here for me to vote on. Yet.

I went ahead and added some of my own obscure favorites. I hope y'all like them!

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message 9: by Mitchell (last edited Oct 31, 2020 03:41PM) (new)

Oct 31, 2020 03:37PM

The Dirdir and The Pnume and The Whisperer in Darkness and Servants of the Wankh and Radix and Metropolitan and Golden Witchbreed and The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick, Volume 1: Beyond Lies the Wub and Carson of Venus and Aniara: An Epic Science Fiction Poem and Sultana's Dream and The Hemingway Hoax and From Beyond graduated

Two if by Dark Reverie: Part II and Through the Psyche of Ambrosia: Part II and Two if by Dark Reverie: Part I published in 2016 so removed

The Genesis Wave: Book 1 of 3 published in 2000 so removed

Two if by Dark Reverie: Part II published in 2019 so removed

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message 10: by Mitchell (new)

Oct 31, 2020 03:41PM

Cool Air and And He Built a Crooked House and City at World's End and The Killing Machine and The Girl Who Was Plugged In and The Languages of Pao and The Crucible of Time and The Werewolf Principle would also have graduated, if I had votes.

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message 11: by The Scribbling Man (new)

Jul 15, 2022 03:01AM

Simak's 'Werewolf Principle' and 'Shakespeare's Planet' have too many ratings.

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message 12: by Mitchell (new)

May 14, 2023 08:12AM

We Who Are About To... and The Corridors of Time and Slippage: Previously Uncollected, Precariously Poised Stories and The Languages of Pao and Kalpa Imperial: The Greatest Empire That Never Was and The Face and Killing Time graduated

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message 13: by Andy (new)

Aug 09, 2023 05:31PM

Odd John #100 needs to be pruned (over 1500 votes), as does James Tiptree’s The Girl Who was Plugged In at #402 (over 1800 votes). Not sure either of those would qualify as unknown or forgotten, regardless. Shakespeare’s Planet by Minnesotan Clifford Simak at #541 has 1100 votes, and it’s probably time for that book to graduate.

This is an amazing list - I haven’t read any of them, which I’m going to rectify this year. Thanks for setting this list up and maintaining!

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message 14: by Mitchell (last edited Nov 13, 2023 11:06PM) (new)

Aug 11, 2023 09:10PM

Harvest of Stars and Hypnos and Thrice Upon A Time and City at World's End and Odd John and The Palace of Love and The Betrayal and The Crucible of Time and Astounding Science Fiction, October 1941 and The Hopkins Manuscript and A Maze of Death and There Will Come Soft Rains and Cool Air and And He Built a Crooked House graduated.

Thanks for the call outs. There are still more books to graduate but we all only have 100 votes per list. Please feel free to follow books on to the next list. And even better vote 100 times on any of the hard to maintain lists - if I'm not the only voter, I can change my vote to handle book graduations.

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message 15: by Mitchell (new)

Apr 11, 2024 01:23PM

Code of the Lifemaker and Forerunner and The Book of Dreams and Firebird graduated

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message 16: by Mitchell (last edited Jul 29, 2024 03:07PM) (new)

Jul 29, 2024 02:44PM

Simulacron 3 and He and They Walked Like Men and Shakespeare's Planet and Santiago: A Myth of the Far Future graduated

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message 17: by Mitchell (new)

Jul 03, 2026 05:22PM

🎓 The Jewels of Aptor and The Dark Beyond the Stars and Ten Thousand Light-Years from Home and Electric Forest and The Girl Who Was Plugged In and To Marry Medusa and Mindshadow (Star Trek: The Original Series #27) and Black Easter (After Such Knowledge, #2) and Drowning Towers graduated

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message 18: by Mitchell (new)

Jul 11, 2026 06:51PM

❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] The Drive-In by Joe R. Lansdale (Ratings: 1,231, Avg: 3.74, Pos: 25)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] I Am the Doorway by Stephen King (Ratings: 1,172, Avg: 3.67, Pos: 30)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] Dark Universe by Daniel F. Galouye (Ratings: 1,043, Avg: 3.75, Pos: 39)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] The Crystal Spheres by David Brin (Ratings: 1,068, Avg: 3.93, Pos: 71)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] The Killing Machine (Demon Princes, #2) by Jack Vance (Ratings: 1,684, Avg: 3.98, Pos: 111)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] Past Master by R.A. Lafferty (Ratings: 1,024, Avg: 3.61, Pos: 126)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] Special Deliverance by Clifford D. Simak (Ratings: 1,114, Avg: 3.72, Pos: 167)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] Kirinyaga (A Fable of Utopia, #1) by Mike Resnick (Ratings: 1,199, Avg: 4.02, Pos: 234)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] Cosm by Gregory Benford (Ratings: 1,008, Avg: 3.63, Pos: 250)

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message 19: by Mitchell (new)

Jul 28, 2026 04:51PM

❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] The Incredible Tide by Alexander Key (Ratings: 1,156, Avg: 3.21, Pos: 185)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] Black Sun Rising (The Coldfire Trilogy, #1) by C.S. Friedman (Ratings: 19,698, Avg: 3.93, Pos: 294)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] Richter 10 by Arthur C. Clarke (Ratings: 1,097, Avg: 3.57, Pos: 341)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] Watchtower by Elizabeth A. Lynn (Ratings: 1,055, Avg: 3.56, Pos: 341)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] The Trigger by Arthur C. Clarke (Ratings: 1,097, Avg: 3.78, Pos: 350)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] 100 Great Science Fiction Short Short Stories by Isaac Asimov(Editor) (Ratings: 1,057, Avg: 4.03, Pos: 370)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] Helliconia by Brian W. Aldiss (Ratings: 1,018, Avg: 3.94, Pos: 445)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] The Last Coin (Christian Trilogy, #1) by James P. Blaylock (Ratings: 1,030, Avg: 3.86, Pos: 453)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] A Bridge of Years by Robert Charles Wilson (Ratings: 1,413, Avg: 3.87, Pos: 484)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] Mysterium by Robert Charles Wilson (Ratings: 1,209, Avg: 3.63, Pos: 496)

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message 20: by Mitchell (new)

Aug 13, 2026 09:01PM

❌ OUTLIER: [TOO MANY RATINGS] The Sound of His Horn by Sarban(Pseudonym) (Ratings: 1,001, Avg: 3.55, Pos: 380)

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