Y.A.L.: 100 Science Fiction Books
Phobos Entertainment - Features - 100 Science Fiction Books
So just how does one find stellar SF? For starters, why don’t you try out these 100 narrative works. Each one should be part of every SF reader’s—not to mention every SF writer’s—repertoire. Many of these novels are award winners, and most have inspired profound trends in science fiction.
Well, it’s not the list I would have assembled, although there is some definite overlap, but it’s still interesting to look over. Each book has a short paragraph of description–just enough to pique your interest, as ’twere.
If this were the canon, I would be doing pretty well–I’ve read 94 of these. Of the remaining six, I’d put three1 on the “should do” list, two2 on the “if I ran into it” list, and one3 on the “really couldn’t bring myself to do it list”.
Ross Patterson
Phil
Ch4v3z!
Julian
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July 23rd, 2006 at 1:09 pm
I’ve read all of 27 of them. There are books on the list I intend to read, books I probably should intend to read, and at least a few I don’t think I’d ever heard of before.
There’s a difference, too, between books that one has to read because they’re really great stories and books one has to read because they’re important books in the genre. I’m not sure I really *liked* Stranger in a Strange Land — and I still remember somewhat fondly a sci-fi society meeting I attended where it was voted the worst science fiction novel — but it’s one of the more important works from one of science fiction’s more important writers.
July 23rd, 2006 at 3:35 pm
I agree totally. I usually draw a jazz analogy: I can recognize that Bitches Brew might be just as important an album to development of jazz as Kind of Blue was, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it as much (or, at all, really).
July 30th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
> one on the “really couldn’t bring myself to do it list”.
that the Vonnegut, or you got someone you dislike more?
July 30th, 2006 at 8:29 pm
You’re kidding, right?
I quite like Vonnegut.
July 30th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
My mistake, I thought I remembered you saying something once, but I must be thinking of someone else.
So who earns your displeasure? I don’t see any L. Ron on the list, that would have been my first guess…
July 30th, 2006 at 9:29 pm
Crichton.
July 30th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
Ah, that was gonna be my next guess. I actually didn’t mind Andromeda Strain… But I never even bothered finishing Sphere — too much of the same formula.
August 18th, 2006 at 6:52 am
A good list. I’ve read 28 of them. But some of my favourite novels are missing:
“the sirens of titan” by Vonnegut
“grass” by Tepper
“the many coloured land” by May
I, myself, don’t read novels that are so-called important to the genre. I don’t want to waste time reading novels you should read, I rather read what I like to read.
August 18th, 2006 at 8:52 am
I haven’t read Sirens, but I did quite enjoy the other two you mentioned. I think Grass was around the time Tepper peaked, and May’s Exiles books are great–although I actually prefer Intervention (sometimes published as two books) primarily for the incredibly likeable character of Rogi.
I do note though, that I find lists of “important” works useful because they often contain the accreted wisdom of many people about what books have been good. It helps me find things I would like to read that I didn’t know I would like to read.