The one out of these 3 sci-fi books??

[Khandoba]

Which of the following would you people recommend to a starter in sci-fi genre??Dune2001: A Space OdysseyFahrenheit 451

[Phil]

I'd go Dune. However, I haven't read 2001: A Space Odyssey. Ender's Game was also a big one that got me into the science fiction genre if you haven't read it.

[Khandoba]

I have read Ender's game. A little too dark for my test but great book. So what about fahrenheit 451?? Have you read that??

[Ive]

Didn't read 2001, but read the other two. I'd go with Dune as well. It is an awesome example of worldbuilding and very well written.
Fahrenheit 451 is more of a philosophical book in my opinion where there is less of a sense of wonder, which is what drew me to science-fiction.
If you do go with Dune, I'd recommend reading the glossary first. It's not that complicated, but it helps with getting into the story much faster.

[Sud666]

Read all three and think highly of them all but I would still go with Dune. Much like Tolkeins Lord of the Rings or Star Wars the world setting is huge and detailed. A great deal of throught and work went into this series and is a testament as to how good Sci-fi can be. So yeah- Dune, but 2001 is also great reading and maybe more sci-fi than Dune which is more Sci-fantasy...still herberts vision is amazing.

[Mitali]

I haven't read Fahrenheit 451, so can't say anything about it. But between 2001 and Dune, I'd say that 2001 is a far more typical sci-fi novel (if that's what you're looking for). Dune is a good book, but it's essentially a fantasy tale in a setting with space travel, which puts it in the 'space opera' sub-genre rather than 'hard' sci-fi.

[Sud666]

I see quite a bit of Dune in Star Wars. For example Paul Atreides is essentially "The Chosen One" or in Star Wars- Anakin Skywalker. The Bene Gesserit are Jedi (from their fighting style, use of the "Voice" to influence weaker minds, precognition, etc.), the Padishah Emperor is well the Emperor in Star Wars, the Sardukar Imperial Terror Troops are Storm Troopers...now considering Dune was published in 1965 and Star Wars in 1977.. and I've always found it to be VERY curious and disingenuous of Lucas that he credits Flash Gordon and Kurosawa films as his inspirations-yet makes no mention of Frank Herbert's epic series with which Star Wars shares a great deal. Interestingly enough both Mr Herbert and the movie director David Lynch (who in 1984 made his execrable Dune film) found fully sixteen points of similarity between both stories. In fact Mr. Herbert is quoted as saying that Mr Lynch had trouble making his film since Star Wars had used so many of the ideas already.

[Sud666]

Dune is great for people who enjoy a sweeping space fantasy. 2001 is far more "hard core" sci-fi. The basis for 2001 and similar hard-core sci-fi is usually well based in science (just that sometimes the science hasn't caught up to the technology described) versus things like Star Wars/Dune where it is fantasy in space- think Star Trek vs Star Wars. If you prefer the former- 2001 is for you, if you prefer the latter go with Dune.

[Sud666]

Lorenzo wrote: "I would recommend 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dune, and avoid Fahrenheit, which has been an overrated piece of popular fiction from the day it was published. In its place I would recommend 1984 by Georg..."
I don't think it is overrated, but I do find it inferior to 1984. In fact Orwell is a far greater writer and his books have had far more influence ( 1984, Animal Farm, etc). I agree that the 2001 series and the Dune series are much better sci-fi, I still think F. 451 is a good read.

[dsreads]

About as different as 3 sci fi novels can get. It'd be impossible for me to recommend Dune or 2001 over the other. both 5/5 sci-fi Farenheit 451 has almost no real world application today, like say Brave New World. Just an interesting look into the head of an old futurist.

[Sud666]

ironicinori wrote: "About as different as 3 sci fi novels can get. It'd be impossible for me to recommend Dune or 2001 over the other. both 5/5 sci-fi Farenheit 451 has almost no real world application today, like say..."

i agree while 2001 is more "hard core" sci-fi and Dune a more fantasy approach both are truly superb. have you ever read Foundation? That also is a great sci-fi series.

[dsreads]

Sud666 wrote: "ironicinori wrote: "About as different as 3 sci fi novels can get. It'd be impossible for me to recommend Dune or 2001 over the other. both 5/5 sci-fi Farenheit 451 has almost no real world applica..."

It's been on my "to read" list for a while. It's a heavy-ass series though. And seeing how I'm trying to read 52 this year, I'm starting out with some shorter Vonnegut novels to get ahead of schedule lol. Hopefully later this year though!

[Jessica]

Dune is a fantastic book, but it can be pretty daunting for a first read. Maybe something a little easier to get into like Enders Game?

[Sud666]

Did you find it daunting? The very first time I read Dune I was very young and found it challenging. I re-read it when I was in college and have since re- read the series multiple times (including his son's follow up work) and it ranks up among my favorite books of all time. Of course Ender's Game (and the rest of the series) are also superb.

[Jessica]

I really enjoy Dune when I read it (I think I've read it three times at this point), but there is a lot to that universe, with very little that someone new to the genre can relate with. Something like Enders Game sets up some of the tropes and eases the reader into a science fiction setting a little bit more. Granted, it depends on who you are trying to get into the genre.

I'll admit, I haven't been able to finish 2001. Too slow for me. Farenheit 451 ends up being mandatory reading in high school or college for classes.

[Sud666]

Jessica wrote: "I really enjoy Dune when I read it (I think I've read it three times at this point), but there is a lot to that universe, with very little that someone new to the genre can relate with. Something l..."
Jessica, in a strange way, I liken the difference in "feel" between Dune and 2001 to some people is like the difference between Star Trek and Star Wars. One is a more science based concept of fiction, while the other is a fantasy based fiction that happens to be in space. Clarke was a hard-core science guy, by training. He was a radar specialist in the RAF during WW2 where we worked on radar systems and helped in the development of really important concepts like early-warning radar, glide-control approach and after graduating from Kings college with a degree in mathematics he was one of the first proponents to point out that satellites could be used as communication relays. So it's obvious why his novels tend to be dry and far more grounded in science.
Mr. Herbert attended Univ of Washington and never graduated. His background was journalism and writing fiction. Thus, Dune has a wonderful space opera feel without getting bogged down into minutiae about the scientific process behind it all. Same could be argued for Orson Scott Card.
If you don't care for the hard-core sci-fi stuff..may I recommend Asimov's Foundation series? It is a great read and never devolves into the "hard-core" sci-fi.

[Jessica]

Sud, I've read the Foundation series and enjoyed them, although the formulaic nature of the series (by necessity, he had built his plot around it after all) eventually became too much for me. I also enjoyed the Robot series (and hated the movie). I've got a STEM background, so I enjoy the "hard" science fiction stories, but I like James P Hogan (Bug Park) is one author that comes to mind who managed to balance character and science well. Travis S. Taylor (Warp Speed)is a more recent one, though his stories can be a little too characterful at times.

Honestly, I think the movie 2001 poisoned me a bit towards the book, the movie is so slow that I can't approach the book without reservations.

[Sud666]

Jess,
I am a social Science guy- graduate degrees in military history and poli-sci and PhD in Military Strategy. So my STEM background was relegated to whatever I was forced to take in undergrad :) But, along the way during a decade long stint in Military Intel I developed a deeper appreciation for STEM (though never, ever, ever O-Chem *lol*). Strangely enough, I have never read I, Robot and I think I will, now that you have mentioned it. As to the other author's you have mentioned I am not familiar with them, but should I run across them at half-priced books or the library I shall check them out. I was a big fan of Foundation when I was younger, and ironically it helped me to develop some of my ideas that I fleshed out during my Doctoral studies- Harry Seldon's mathematical predictions of future events intrigued me into wondering if that were truly possible in battlefield operations. Turned out that it did indeed have a point (though never close to 100%) it allowed for the decision makers to employ a streamlined social science "math" equation to make predictions of courses of action. So I have always had a soft spot for Harry Seldon. I really should re-read that series, it's been more than a decade that I have done so.

[Isaac]

Dune is by far my favorite of these three novels, but as a "start," I'd say Fahrenheit 451 is, by far, the most accessible.

[Ghislaine]

Hi,

I would say DUNE because it is my favorite out of the three books. But I had already read Fahrenheit 451 prior to reading DUNE.

[Sud666]

Ghislaine wrote: "Hi,

I would say DUNE because it is my favorite out of the three books. But I had already read Fahrenheit 451 prior to reading DUNE."

Ghis,
did you read the entire series? Im also curious if you like his sons work? I enjoyed his sons work as well..thought he did a great job on the house series and the prequel stuff about the war

[Dylan]

Of the three presented, I would say Dune. It's compelling and sucks you in. That said, I think Dune's fault is that it is entire too predictable. Nothing about the main character's progression through the story is surprising or unexpected.

But I have to ask, why are only these three under your consideration?

For a long time, Science Fiction was something I really wanted to like, and really thought is was something I should get into. Several books suggested to me over the years just didn't do it for me.

The one book that finally sucked me in to the genre was The Left Hand of Darkness. I think because it is some of a antithetical to the genre -- it kind of twists it around in terms of your expectations of what SF is or ought to be. After reading it, I began to seek out more like it.

[Sud666]

Dylan wrote: "Of the three presented, I would say Dune. It's compelling and sucks you in. That said, I think Dune's fault is that it is entire too predictable. Nothing about the main character's progression thro..."

Left Hand of Darkness? That sounds pretty cool..is it more sci-fi fantasy (Dune) or "hard" sci-fi (2001)?

[Khandoba]

you guys have given me great advise, thank you very much. And I went with dune. It was amazing, and as I've read Ender's game, Foundation trilogy the SciFi elements were not way out of my league. I've also read LoTR, so the extensively detailed world building was not much of a problem either. But I was kind of flustered much like when I saw Star Wars for the first time coz the story sounded like starting in the middle. So I had to go through glossary and then come back. After that it was a absolute joy to read. What do you guys think about sequels?? Coz the book sounded pretty satisfying as a standalone.

[Khandoba]

As I've read some good SciFi before, I think starter was a little misleading. Sorry for that guys. But it's been couple of years since I finished Foundation. Can anyone suggest me more books along the line if foundation?? I mean any other author with works similar to Asimov...??

[Khandoba]

Dylan wrote " But I have to ask, why are only these 3 under your consideration? "
These three were most recommended in SciFi genre so I thought it made sense to start with one of them. That being said I'm open to any other recommendations, if you can think of anything better.

[Dylan]

Sud666 wrote: "Left Hand of Darkness? That sounds pretty cool..is it more sci-fi fantasy (Dune) or "hard" sci-fi (2001)? "

It's definitely Science Fiction as opposed to Fantasy, but it's not really "hard" SF. It does not deal directly with the physics of space travel for example, other than to say it takes a long time to travel many light years.

It's considered a classic of the genre (1969). I don't know why I liked it so much, but it definitely kick-started my venture into classic SF. It deals with issues of humanity, gender, communication, government oppression, friendship, etc.

I read Dune shortly after it, and was hooked on SF at that point. That was about a year ago, and I've read about 30 classic SF novels since then :)

[Khandoba]

Dylan, any reliable list?? Can you post a link??

[Dylan]

Khandoba wrote: "Dylan, any reliable list?? Can you post a link??"

Have you been to Worlds Without End? https://www.worldswithoutend.com/

They concentrate on SF and Fantasy novels. They have lists of all the winner and nominees of all the major awards, dating back to their beginnings. They also feature lists that have been prominent in magazines and literary circles.

Scroll down to the bottom of any page on their site to find these lists.

I started with the Hugo and Nebula winners, but I have not stuck strictly to them. I'll veer off in directions based on what I have enjoyed most.

[Khandoba]

Thanks man!! Appreciate it!!

[Sud666]

Dylan wrote: "Sud666 wrote: "Left Hand of Darkness? That sounds pretty cool..is it more sci-fi fantasy (Dune) or "hard" sci-fi (2001)? "

It's definitely Science Fiction as opposed to Fantasy, but it's not reall..."
Ok I will do that..my first real foray into sci-fi was Foundation series and I've loved it ever since. I probably enjoy fantasy a wee bit more, but sci-fi is a close second

[Feliks]

Without question, choose DUNE.

The other two books are rather clumsy, stunted attempts at SF.

[Isaac]

Starting someone with Dune as an intro to sci-fi is really shoving them head first into the deep end of the pool.

Better off starting them with something more accessible and letting them work up to the hard sci-fi.

[Sud666]

Jonathan wrote: "I'm going with Isaac's advice on this one, especially since Dune is such an amazingly strong novel. Ever think about Bradbury's Martian Chronicles as a start?"

Hmmm I've never read the Martian Chronicles..is it on par with some of the other books mentioned here?