Sci Fi Fans report!

[Superfly]

Poll question: Sci Fi Fans report!

OK, according to this list, the Foundation Trilogy ranks higher than the Dune Chronicles.

Now, I feel that the Foundation series was written haphazardly and really read at a sophomoric level. Dune, on the other hand, is skillfully written and much more deserving of the number 2 berth. (I'm reading Dune right now for the first time)

So, out of the top 9 from this list, which one is the best? Or, is there one that was left out?

Oh, and would you *really* call LOTR Sci-fi?

[Wolfman 11]

1. anything by...

Horatio Alger

[Superfly]

2. Not on the list?

But he's good, you say? Maybe I should check them out.

[Wolfman 11]

8. sorry, that was sarcasm.

[Superfly]

11. Show's you how out of touch I am

I had no idea who that was until I googled the name.

[Maple]

3. Most of the books listed

are fantasy, not science-fiction.

Swords, dragons and elves are nice if you're into that sort of thing, but they are not sci-fi.

[NewGuy]

4. Ender's Game

By Orson Scott Card is the best Sci. Fi. ever written, bar none!!

:thumbsup:

[mike_c]

30. interesting choice--

I've not found them as fascinating as you apparently do-- in fact, I've been completely unable to finish reading the latest novel in the series, despite several tries.

I won't be drawn into rating the "best" SF novels, but of the ones I've read in recent years three standouts are:

1. Dan Simmons' four novel Hyperion series

2. Kim Stanley Robinson's Antarctica, and the three novel Red Mars, etc. series

3. CJ Cherryh's four volume Chanur series.

I agree with the original post that the Dune series is better than the Foundation trilogy, and that LOTR shouldn't even be on the list.

[MissMillie]

32. especially book 2: Speaker for the Dead (n/t)

.

[hel]

43. All Ender books were great..

until Bean series (or should I say, Shadow series?) came out. The last one I didn't even bother to buy. It was way too much boring.

Orson Scott Card's books are always interesting. I don't remember which book in the series it was, but any of you remember Gloriously Bright and her world? It was a very thought-provoking insight into the nature of religion.

[Xithras]

5. The Ice And Fire series by Martin?

Not finished yet, but I still rank it as the best new SF/Fantasy series since LOTR.

[Xandor]

6. Gene Wolfe's...

Book of the New Sun tetralogy:
The Shadow of the Torturer
The Claw of The Conciliator
The Sword of the Lictor
The Citadel of the Autarch

Fantastic, inventive, and stands up well as plain ol' good literature as well as good SF.

[BigMcLargehuge]

7. When Heaven Fell by William Barton

As for Dune... the first one was great. the second one was er... short and sort of plotless, the third one was lousy, the fourth unreadable, any others worthless....

Avoid the newer ones by Herbert's son like you would an ebola monkey.

I was tempted to vote Neuromancer, but it isn't my favorite in the trilogy. Count Zero was my favorite.

As for LOTR, never could stand fantasy, can't stand Tolkein. LOTR isn't science fiction either.

[Kellanved]

9. Not for #1 , but the "Night's Dawn" trilogy is missing

By Peter Hamilton.

[mike_c]

34. I'm reading Fallen Dragon now....

I really like the Night's Dawn trilogy, although I ultimately found the premise a little weak (I kept waiting for some other explanation then THE DEAD), but so far I like Fallen Dragon better. Night's Dawn was certainly epic-- a trilogy in six volumes!

[LeftCoast]

41. LOVE that series!!!

Hamilton is my new favorite SF author!

[rabid_nerd]

10. Isn't LotR Fantasy?

n/t

[Superfly]

13. Yeah...and a few more on the list

Although my favorite book, LOTR is not Sci-Fi.

[HawkerHurricane]

12. First off:

Lord of the Rings, while a increadbly good work IS NOT SCIENCE FICTION!!!
Foundation, written in the early 1950's, is a very broad peice of work in the first 3 books, and was written with a younger audiance in mind. The later books were clumsily added, much like the later Dune books. Dune, the original, is better than any single book of the Foundation trilogy; however, the Foundation Trilogy is better than to original Dune trilogy. The later books of both series are disappointing, and the latest books go in directions the original authors would not have gone.

[samwisefoxburr]

14. No one else voted for Do Androids Dream... yet?

Ever heard of Blade Runner?

[Kamika]

29. its so short of a book

I read it in an afternoon.

I cant get over the fact that bookstores actually sell this book as "bladerunner". The book is REALLY different from the movie

[mike_c]

36. I liked Stand on Zanzibar better than Do Androids Dream...

and I REALLY liked Blade Runner better than the original story-- it's one of relatively few instances, IMO, where the movie exceeds the author's original.

[CBGLuthier]

15. The list says SF and Fantasy

So no use complaining about the fantasy on the list.

It is also a list of most significant not best, so yes I do think Foundation as a whole beats Dune.

Other than moving some around, particularly Lord of Light into the top ten it is a decent list.

Also surprised Stand on Zanzibar isn't higher. Very, very inventive novel in its construction.

[Maple]

19. Publishers are currently

trying to convince everyone that fantasy is actually science-fiction.

They say this is because all the good sci-fi writers are gone...no more Heinleins etc.

I had a long talk with the manager of my local book store about this....after discovering that the 3 shelves that used to be sci-fi are now completely filled with fantasy stuff.

They don't even carry the Star Trek novels anymore...which was my last forlorn hope for something with actual science and speculative science in it.

She says all she can do is special order books for me...sight unseen, IF I can give her titles and authors.

Which is pretty difficult if you don't know what they are.

[Kamika]

16. lotr is fantasy

Nothing at all to do with sci fi.

Btw are the dune books after the 1st book any good or just moneymakers?

[Salviati]

21. The ones written by Frank Herbert are pretty good

None as good as the first, but worth a read. Some people, myself included, think that God Emperor of Dune is a very slow read and a struggle to get through. Certainly the other 4 are worth reading though...

[Kamika]

22. ok thanks, some more questions

i only read the first one. I DO however got "chapterhouse : DUNE" and "God emperor of Dune" can i read these if i only read the first book?

[lazarus]

35. not really

You really need Children and Messiah, they set up G.E.D.

I found Chapterhouse kind of boring, but I want to get my books out of storage and give it another try.

I think God Emperor is the second best book in the series.

[thom1102]

42. I never made it through chapterhouse...

I liked the others up to chapterhouse, though. Definitely agree about reading them in order. I think you would be totally lost otherwise... Unless you want to just rent and watch Scifi's Children of Dune miniseries. I thought both miniseries were very loyal to the books (Dune, Messiah, and Children), unlike the 1984 David Lynch version which took too many liberties. That way you get the backstory, without investing the time reading. Herbert was a fantastic writer, but the books are incredibly intricate and complex.

[Salviati]

40. Yeah, you definitely need to read them in order

You may be able to read the last two out of sequance, but it would help to have them set up the background for heritics and chapterhouse...

[dwckabal]

17. All three are great

...in their own way.

LOTR--I consider that fantasy, not science fiction. But it still deserves to be in the top 3, although I'd put it at #3.

Dune--Six wonderfully written books (7 if you count the one by Frank herbert's son, which was well-written as well--but a prequel), elaborately woven together into an epic spanning somewhere around 30,000 years (I think). No contest, should be number ONE.

Foundation series--well-written in its own way, Asimov wote books that appealed to all readers. To some I'm sure they seemed sophomoric--but they still made sense and were very logical in their storytelling. Another work spanning thousands of years (from the epoch of Earth's decline, to being just a Galactic legend), is worthy of number TWO ranking.

Have read each of these numerous times, and they only get better each time I read them (especially the Dune books).

[Superfly]

18. Foundation...

They were very quick reads, but I felt that Asimov didn't do the character's justice in terms of development and conflict resolution.

There would be a problem of galactic proportions, the main character at the time would come up with a solution...bada bing bada boom, next book.

[HawkerHurricane]

23. You missed the point:

In the Foundation Trilogy, the characters DIDN'T come up with the solution to the problem; the problem had been solved 'mathmatecally' using 'psycho-history' before the character had even been born...they just sat there and let it happen; or worse, tried to do something about it and failed while the problem solved itself in spite of the characters...

[Superfly]

26. That was the case until

Psychohistory was thrown out the window when the Mule was born....something that mathematics could not plan for.

The Second Foundation was pretty cool, though

[rock]

48. The Mule was an anomoly (which could not be foreseen)

Once he passed on, er, Karma (let's say) was restored and psycho-history once again correctly predicted the future.

[Liberal Veteran]

20. Grr....PET PEEVE alert!!!!

I hate the way Sci-fi and fantasy is put together.

I love fantasy, but I like sci-fi. To group them together is just annoying to me.

[CBGLuthier]

33. I am just the opposite

No real love for fantasy for me. Except for Zelazny's amber series which reads more like SF than fantasy anyway.

[Liberal Veteran]

24. Wtf? Interview with the Vampire is in that list?

I absolutely love the book, but it really doesn't belong in that list, IMO.

[Maple]

25. Anyone ever read

'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson?

Or any of his more current works?

[Kellanved]

27. Yes

Infact all of them. At the moment I'm waiting for his new book.


One of the best writers around IMHO. :bounce:

[Maple]

44. I just discovered

'Snow Crash'...a decade later! probably because of all the fantasy stuff on the shelves, finally read about it in Wired magazine...was so intrigued I ordered the next one...and now I want the latest.

Now THIS is more interesting!

[4_Legs_Good]

28. Agree with your point Dune v. Foundation... and lotr

While I prefer it to either, I agree that there should be a more serious designation between Sci-Fi and fantasty. I like them both, mind you (at times, and if they're well written), but they really are distinct categories.

david

Kucinich 2004

[Liberal Veteran]

31. BTW....Mists of Avalon (the book, not that crappy mini) rocked!

It was a great read. It was a stroke of genius to write the Arthurian legend from the viewpoint of Morgan le Fay.

[Liberal Veteran]

37. If fantasy is included, how come "Treason" isn't in the list...

Oh, wait....they said "significant" books. Nevermind.

:crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy:

[baldguy]

58. Has to be good, too.

"Treason" certainly isn't.

[pmbryant]

38. My opinion: Foundation kicks Dune's a** ;-)

I based this on the original Foundation Trilogy. Asimov's later additions were fun, but didn't measure up to the original, I believe (with one exception).

Though perhaps my ranking is not as informed as it could be since I found the third Dune book so bad as to not be worth finishing and that killed my momentum for reading the later books. (I did like and enjoy books #1 and #2 though.)

It's been ages since I read either, however.

--Peter

[Snow]

39. What is it with all the old stuff?

I hereby strongly suggest almost anything by:
David Brin
Sherry Tepper
Tanya Huff
Kim Stanley Robinson (if you've ever been in Peace Corps or anything similar, Escape from Kathmandu is a must-read)

on edit:
Adding Tim Powers, DeLint, Tom Deitz, Richard Moran......so many, so little time.

<rant> and that's just a start - there's a number of excellent writers out there, _now_, and this is a genre that seems to really stimulate writers, because some of the best fiction writing is in this field, yet for the most part it gets ignored, because it's just sci-fi!
</rant>

[Maple]

45. Yes there are a lot

of good 'new' ones...I just finished a Gibson and then a couple of Robert J Sawyer ones before I got into the Neal Stephenson stuff....so why the heck are they saying there are no 'good' sci-fi writers now and throwing elves and dragons and stuff at us claiming it's sci-fi?

[NewGuy]

46. Thanks!

I have been a Sci Fi fan for years but have read all of the classic (dead or nearly so author) stuff and needed some sources. I copied and printed your list.


:toast:

[larryepke]

47. Science Fiction for the non-SciFi fan

For those not inclined to Science Fiction, I'd recommend "Martians Go Home" by Fredric Brown. I read it in one day many years ago, and still remember it fondly. It's one of the funniest books ever!

[HawkerHurricane]

53. Spider Robinson

Callaghan's Crosstime Saloon
Time Travelers Strictly Cash
Callaghan's Secret
Callaghan's Lady
Lady Slings the Booze

All make good reading for non-Science Fiction readers...

[DrGonzoLives]

49. FANTASY IS NOT SCI-FI!!!!!!!!! GAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:argh:

[AGiordino]

50. Other

Mel Odom - FREELancers and FREEfall

China Mieville - Perdido Street Station and The Scar (whacked out steampunk)keep a dictionary handy

Jeff Long - The Descent

[MissMarple]

51. I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison

is good I think. He can be pretty dark. A Boy and His Dog is pretty good, too. Also, Asimov's Foundation was written for young readers, I was in 7th or 8th grade when I read it. I still remember lavender paper and green ink, or was it the other way around? That's when I started reading Heinlein's books as well. There was a small group of us who traded books and titles, I was the only girl, and we were all kind of geeky.

[Bossy Monkey]

52. I voted for A Wizard of Earthsea so somebody would, but...

it's also fantasy and it and Lord of the Rings look a bit silly on this list. On the other hand, Dune is fairly medieval as well, so what the heck.

I read Dune and Doon (the Harvard Lampoon parody) simultaneously after seeing the ill-advised David Lynch movie. It was funner that way.

[Pepperbelly]

54. anyone else read the Known Universe books by Larry Niven?

Those are among my favorites in this genre.

[dofus]

55. I'm one of those science fiction,

not fantasy people myself. And I also hate the way they're grouped together.

I tend to favor time travel and alternate universe stories. Here's a few good ones:

Guns of War by Harry Turtledove
Time and Again, From Time to Time both by Jack Finney
Time on my Hands by Peter Delacorte. Actually, this is the perfect DU book because in it the narrator is given a time machine to go back in time (from 1994) and prevent Ronald Reagan from becoming president, because the possessor of the time machine thinks that Reagan was the worst president in modern times. It's excellent!

Einstein's Bridge by John Cramer
Alternities by Michael P. Kube-McDowell

[Forkboy]

56. The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson

actual SCIENCE Fiction.

[Tikki]

57. "The Butterfly Kid"...by Chester Anderson..

...though "dated" (1967) to it's era... this Sci-fi 'gem' is
a thoroughly amazing and delightfully 'fun' read.