Flavorwire's 50 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels That Everyone Should Read

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People say it all the time: they’d love to get into science fiction or fantasy, but they’ve no idea where to start. If this is you (or if you’re one of those stubborn folks who looks snootily down on genre), listen up. Your trusty Flavorwire editors have a few suggestions for you — that is, a whole 50 sci-fi and fantasy novels that are well worth your time, whether you’re brand new to the concept of dragons and/or spaceships or a seasoned veteran. A few notes on the construction of the list: no short stories or short story collections, no matter how brilliant (looking at you, Kelly Link), were included. Also, in the interest of fairness, only one work or series by any given author was included. Finally, because this is a list of novels that adults should read, it skews light on the YA, including only those books that grown-ups should pick up if they missed them in their teens. Even with all of the above, you’ll probably have quibbles. After all, 50 novels over two genres doesn’t even begin to cover it. So air them (politely, please) in the comments and you’ll add to all of our reading lists. - Flavorwire http://flavorwire.com/408275/50-sci-f...

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1	The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1) by C.S. Lewis 4.23 avg rating — 2,467,551 ratings score: 1,071, and 11 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	The Handmaid's Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 1,754,590 ratings score: 890, 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	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) by J.K. Rowling 4.43 avg rating — 3,315,048 ratings score: 862, 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
4	1984 by George Orwell 4.19 avg rating — 3,855,080 ratings score: 848, 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
5	Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.09 avg rating — 1,248,935 ratings score: 655, 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
6	Alice in Wonderland by Jane Carruth (Adapted By) 4.03 avg rating — 385,140 ratings score: 639, 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	Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card 4.30 avg rating — 1,257,496 ratings score: 487, 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
8	Dune (Dune #1) by Frank Herbert 4.25 avg rating — 1,088,237 ratings score: 440, 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
9	The Time Machine by H.G. Wells 3.90 avg rating — 468,221 ratings score: 438, 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
10	Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 3.99 avg rating — 1,649,399 ratings score: 430, 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
11	A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin 4.44 avg rating — 2,243,103 ratings score: 379, 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
12	A Wrinkle in Time (A Wrinkle in Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.99 avg rating — 1,123,764 ratings score: 376, 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
13	American Gods (American Gods, #1) by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 845,718 ratings score: 347, 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
14	Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 576,760 ratings score: 329, 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
15	The Giver (The Giver, #1) by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 2,125,294 ratings score: 327, 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 Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein 4.16 avg rating — 123,797 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
17	Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke 3.84 avg rating — 220,719 ratings score: 281, 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
18	The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.51 avg rating — 620,214 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
19	The Left Hand of Darkness (Hainish Cycle, #4) by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.09 avg rating — 147,724 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
20	Nine Princes in Amber (The Chronicles of Amber #1) by Roger Zelazny 4.06 avg rating — 54,624 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
21	The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1) by Marion Zimmer Bradley 4.12 avg rating — 200,295 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
22	Something Wicked This Way Comes (Green Town, #2) by Ray Bradbury 3.92 avg rating — 114,930 ratings score: 235, 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
23	Ubik by Philip K. Dick 4.09 avg rating — 96,577 ratings score: 197, and 2 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	Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 3.84 avg rating — 1,357,067 ratings score: 190, and 2 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	Kindred by Octavia E. Butler 4.29 avg rating — 147,165 ratings score: 179, and 2 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
26	His Dark Materials (His Dark Materials #1-3) by Philip Pullman 4.27 avg rating — 154,087 ratings score: 174, and 2 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
26	The Female Man by Joanna Russ 3.49 avg rating — 6,768 ratings score: 174, and 2 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
28	The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-4) by T.H. White 4.06 avg rating — 105,292 ratings score: 171, and 2 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
28	Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne 3.89 avg rating — 228,606 ratings score: 171, and 2 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	The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1-5) by Douglas Adams 4.37 avg rating — 307,053 ratings score: 170, and 2 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	The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester 4.08 avg rating — 46,694 ratings score: 165, and 2 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
32	Foundation (Foundation, #1) by Isaac Asimov 4.17 avg rating — 478,753 ratings score: 155, and 2 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
33	Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1) by William Gibson 3.90 avg rating — 293,016 ratings score: 153, and 2 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	Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1) by Diana Wynne Jones 4.28 avg rating — 275,174 ratings score: 152, and 2 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	Among Others by Jo Walton (Goodreads Author) 3.70 avg rating — 23,144 ratings score: 151, and 2 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	Dragonflight (Pern: Dragonriders of Pern, #1) by Anne McCaffrey 4.09 avg rating — 132,431 ratings score: 148, and 2 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	Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany 3.78 avg rating — 10,574 ratings score: 96, and 1 person 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	Gormenghast (Gormenghast, #2) by Mervyn Peake 4.05 avg rating — 12,772 ratings score: 93, and 1 person 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 City & the City by China Miéville (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 62,958 ratings score: 86, and 1 person 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
40	Zone One by Colson Whitehead (Goodreads Author) 3.26 avg rating — 21,617 ratings score: 83, and 1 person 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	Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson 3.85 avg rating — 5,943 ratings score: 76, and 1 person 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
42	Solaris by Stanisław Lem 3.99 avg rating — 87,617 ratings score: 75, and 1 person 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	Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 257,479 ratings score: 71, and 1 person 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 Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) by Terry Pratchett 3.99 avg rating — 352,074 ratings score: 66, and 1 person 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
45	The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn, #1) by Peter S. Beagle (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 102,042 ratings score: 62, and 1 person 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
46	The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard 3.52 avg rating — 20,175 ratings score: 61, and 1 person 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	Witch World (Witch World Series 1: Estcarp Cycle, #1) by Andre Norton 3.82 avg rating — 4,578 ratings score: 60, and 1 person 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	Little, Big by John Crowley 3.82 avg rating — 10,633 ratings score: 56, and 1 person 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	How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu (Goodreads Author) 3.45 avg rating — 16,485 ratings score: 54, and 1 person 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	Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #1) by Patricia C. Wrede (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 88,909 ratings score: 53, and 1 person 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