Best Sci-Fi of the 1930's

This list is for Science Fiction only. When this list was originally created it was expected to have both Fantasy and Science Fiction. However there are pretty good fantasy specific lists that should be used instead.

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

Science Fiction By Year:
2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012

Can't Wait Sci-Fi/Fantasy By Year:
2021, 2020
2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

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
1

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3.98 avg rating — 2,126,428 ratings
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3.94 avg rating — 110,264 ratings
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3

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3.95 avg rating — 25,707 ratings
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3.79 avg rating — 7,155 ratings
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5

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4.17 avg rating — 18,601 ratings
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6

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3.69 avg rating — 1,744 ratings
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7

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3.90 avg rating — 9,689 ratings
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8

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 614 ratings
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9

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3.97 avg rating — 4,550 ratings
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10

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3.87 avg rating — 1,570 ratings
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11

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3.86 avg rating — 4,170 ratings
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12

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3.77 avg rating — 1,699 ratings
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13

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3.85 avg rating — 1,148 ratings
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13

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3.72 avg rating — 427 ratings
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15

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3.85 avg rating — 6,668 ratings
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16

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3.84 avg rating — 967 ratings
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17

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3.53 avg rating — 1,338 ratings
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18

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4.11 avg rating — 5,042 ratings
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19

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3.71 avg rating — 1,235 ratings
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20

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3.73 avg rating — 1,519 ratings
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21

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3.72 avg rating — 1,564 ratings
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22

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3.62 avg rating — 3,069 ratings
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23

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3.52 avg rating — 383 ratings
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24

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3.93 avg rating — 2,432 ratings
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25

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3.66 avg rating — 7,656 ratings
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26

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27

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3.78 avg rating — 1,316 ratings
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28

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3.70 avg rating — 1,862 ratings
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29

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3.84 avg rating — 3,676 ratings
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29

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3.67 avg rating — 1,255 ratings
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31

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3.68 avg rating — 1,260 ratings
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32

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3.61 avg rating — 169,355 ratings
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33

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3.74 avg rating — 1,366 ratings
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34

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3.72 avg rating — 1,320 ratings
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35

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3.79 avg rating — 1,070 ratings
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36

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4.07 avg rating — 5,420 ratings
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37

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3.78 avg rating — 2,487 ratings
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37

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3.56 avg rating — 108 ratings
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37

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3.71 avg rating — 5,315 ratings
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40

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3.89 avg rating — 7,112 ratings
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40

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4.10 avg rating — 29,326 ratings
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42

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3.77 avg rating — 12,714 ratings
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43

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3.57 avg rating — 142 ratings
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44

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3.86 avg rating — 918 ratings
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44

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3.17 avg rating — 113 ratings
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44

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3.71 avg rating — 1,644 ratings
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44

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3.80 avg rating — 3,331 ratings
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44

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4.16 avg rating — 172,988 ratings
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49

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3.97 avg rating — 228 ratings
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49

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3.43 avg rating — 69 ratings
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49

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3.36 avg rating — 36 ratings
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49

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3.45 avg rating — 22 ratings
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49

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3.62 avg rating — 1,497 ratings
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49

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0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
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49

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3.53 avg rating — 132 ratings
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49

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3.53 avg rating — 62 ratings
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49

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3.64 avg rating — 912 ratings
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49

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3.23 avg rating — 850 ratings
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49

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3.17 avg rating — 42 ratings
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49

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3.80 avg rating — 255 ratings
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49

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3.23 avg rating — 1,314 ratings
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49

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3.49 avg rating — 382 ratings
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49

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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating
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49

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3.42 avg rating — 295 ratings
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49

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4.10 avg rating — 2,872 ratings
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49

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3.78 avg rating — 66,710 ratings
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67

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3.50 avg rating — 131 ratings
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67

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3.25 avg rating — 20 ratings
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67

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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings
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70

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3.90 avg rating — 1,680 ratings
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70

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3.38 avg rating — 34 ratings
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70

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3.71 avg rating — 3,411 ratings
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70

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3.53 avg rating — 43 ratings
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70

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4.09 avg rating — 1,920 ratings
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70

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4.09 avg rating — 90 ratings
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70

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3.84 avg rating — 44 ratings
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70

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3.83 avg rating — 35 ratings
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70

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4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings
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70

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4.30 avg rating — 719 ratings
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80

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3.71 avg rating — 474 ratings
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80

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3.81 avg rating — 25,913 ratings
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82

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3.79 avg rating — 656 ratings
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83

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3.92 avg rating — 981 ratings
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83

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3.33 avg rating — 6 ratings
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85

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4.11 avg rating — 1,779 ratings
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86

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3.79 avg rating — 1,524 ratings
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86

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3.48 avg rating — 545 ratings
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88

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3.91 avg rating — 590 ratings
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89

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3.75 avg rating — 744 ratings
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89

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3.77 avg rating — 674 ratings
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91

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3.73 avg rating — 511 ratings
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92

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3.74 avg rating — 137 ratings
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92

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3.76 avg rating — 1,476 ratings
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94

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3.32 avg rating — 44 ratings
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94 books · 111 voters · list created September 17th, 2013 by Mitchell Friedman (votes) .
67 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Mitchell 11170 books
171 friends
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3388 books
850 friends
Kamakana 6639 books
461 friends
Ric 2024 books
613 friends
Cheryl 21829 books
381 friends
Sally 4284 books
25 friends
Andreas 2091 books
206 friends
Melbourne 1455 books
17 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads What distinction, if any, are you making between science fiction and traditional fantasy?


message 2: by Mitchell (new)

Mitchell Friedman On this list I make no distinction between science fiction and traditional fantasy. When I created the 70s and 80s lists I seeded those lists with any book nominated for Hugo or Nebula - which absolutely includes fantasy. If we could fine 100 relevant science fiction and fantasy books from the 30s I'd be pretty pleased.


message 3: by Ric (new)

Ric If you start a list for the 1920s, here are two books that belong:
The Clockwork Man
The Skylark of Space


message 4: by [deleted user] (new)

I removed the following because they were outside of the listed time frame:

Mary Poppins Opens the Door
I Burn Paris

Though I did add I Burn Paris to my to-read list.


message 5: by Mitchell (new)

Mitchell Friedman Just a heads up, I will be changing this list to remove the fantasy books and point people to existing fantasy lists.


message 6: by Mitchell (new)

Mitchell Friedman I will eventually remove the Fantasy books from this list, though anyone could remove their own votes first. But might as well start with The Hobbit.


message 7: by Melbourne (new)

Melbourne Bitter Jackboot Britian? Wasn't that written a couple of years ago and not the 1930s?


message 8: by Mitchell (new)

Mitchell Friedman Melbourne wrote: "Jackboot Britian? Wasn't that written a couple of years ago and not the 1930s?"

removed. apparently Jackboot Britain with 60 ratings and 8 reviews has been put on 300 some odd lists.


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads Yeah, that's been persistently spammed on lists.


message 10: by Liquidlasagna (new)

Liquidlasagna can we replace book 67 by Siodmak's German Screenplay/Book with the 1933 English translation by Collins?

F.p. 1 antwortet nicht - 1931
to
FP1 Fails to Reply - 1933
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads A. There's no way of switching editions. B. Everyone would then have to revote the "correct" volume back on.


message 12: by Liquidlasagna (new)

Liquidlasagna Well with 1 vote and zero ratings, i think it would be a wise idea to put in the English Language Edition without much hardship

just add the other one, and remove the other one which is woefully neglected, and someone can link the german version to the english version...

Though i really wonder if the book's reputation is more to the movie and the author... but if someone thinks the actual book is a classic of the 30s, in english [or german], so be it.

I'm surprised it wasn't reprinted in the 40s 50s 60s though
like his other books but i did find one link

Science-Fiction Classics: The Stories That Morphed Into Movies (1999)
Editor: Forrest J. Ackerman
17 stories
446 pages

http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?1...

hopefully someone who's an expert with listings here can update the German and English listing of the book to an accessible copy!


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads The most popular edition will always predominate. Most voters aren't that careful.


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