Science Fiction

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Revision as of 00:55, 18 January 2011 by imported>Sky-Wolf (→‎Arthur C. Clarke)
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This page is meant to cover the basics works and stellar pieces of science fiction literature. While the bulk of Science Fiction is trashy genre-work there are genuine masterpieces. The purpose of this article is to illustrate those masterpieces as best as possible. As always however, this list is imperfect and always growing. If there is anything missing please add to it. If there is a work you think is missing, feel free to add it.


The Big Three

Isaac Asimov

Title Author Description Pages Book Cover
The Caves of Steel Isaac Asimov A Science Fiction / mystery novel set on earth some 3 millennia in the future. The overall plot features the dealings of a detective and his highly intelligent android partner. 288
The Complete Robot Isaac Asimov A collection of 31 of Isaac Asimov's short stories, they share a theme of the interaction of humans, robots and morality, and put together tell a larger story of Asimov's fictional history of robotics. Includes the story "Runaway" which outlines Asimov's laws of Robotics. 496
The Gods Themselves Isaac Asimov 304
The Foundation Trilogy Isaac Asimov 678
The Naked Sun Isaac Asimov Another Science Fiction/Mystery Novel that features a protagonist who manages to circumvent the laws of robotics in order to have his wife murdered. 288

Arthur C. Clarke

Title Author Description Pages Book Cover
2001: A Space Odyssey Arthur C. Clarke 320
Childhood's End Arthur C. Clarke Story regarding the future of mankind after the advent of a "devil-like" alien race appears and offers them a golden era of prosperity. 256
The Collected Short Stories of Arthur C. Clarke Arthur C. Clarke A Collection of nearly every short story Arthur Clarke has ever published tallying at over 100. Includes: The Nine Billions Names of God, The Sentinel, and his flash fiction "God said, 'Cancel Program GENESIS.' The universe ceased to exist." 976
The Fountains of Paradise Arthur C. Clarke 332
Rendevous with Rama Arthur C. Clarke Classic book featuring mankind's encounter with the alien vessel Rama. 274

Robert Heinlein

Title Author Description Book Cover
Friday Robert Heinlein The tale of a genetically modified female, designed to be superior physically, and mentally to normal human beings. The story follows her struggles with the prejudice against artificial humans and her attempts to assimilate.
Have Space Suit - Will Travel Robert Heinlein
Methuselah's Children Robert Heinlein
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Robert Heinlein
Orphans of the Sky Robert Heinlein
Starship Troopers Robert Heinlein One of Heinlein's most famous pieces of science fiction, Starship Troopers follows the eyes of a human soldier going through the ranks in an alien war.
Stranger in a Strange Land Robert Heinlein
Time for the Stars Robert Heinlein


Early and Proto Science Fiction

Title Author Description Book Cover
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Jules Verne
A Journey to the Center of the Earth Jules Verne
A Voyage to Arcturus David Lindsay
Frankenstein Mary Shelley
The Invisible Man H.G. Wells
The Island of Dr. Moreau H.G. Wells
The Last Man Mary Shelley
True History Lucian of Samosata
Micromegas Voltaire
The Time Machine H.G. Wells
The War of the Worlds H.G. Wells


Golden Age Science Fiction

Title Author Description Book Cover
A Princess of Mars Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Big Time Fritz Leiber
The Day of the Triffids John Wyndham
The Demolished Man Alfred Bester
Dorsail George R. Dickson
The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury
Mission of Gravity Hal Clement
Out of the Silent Planet C.S. Lewis
Slan A.E. nan Vogt
Star Maker Olaf Stapledon
Stars My Destination Alfred Bester
To Your Scattered Bodies Go Philip Jóse Farmer
Triplanetary Edward E. Smith
The Voyage of the Space Beagle A.E. van Vogt
Who? Algis Budrys
Who Goes There John W. Campbell, Jr
The World of Null-A A.E. van Vogt


Modern Science Fiction

Title Author Description Book Cover
A Fire Upon the Deep Vernor Vinge
A Time of Changes Robert Silverberg
The Algebraist Iain M. Banks
Babel-17 Samuel R. Delany
Behold the Man Michael Moorcock
Beyond Apollo Barry N. Malzberg
Bill, the Galactic Hero Harry Harrison
Blood Music Greg Bear
Camouflage Joe Haldeman
Consider Phlebas Iain M. Banks
Cryptonomicon Neal Stephenson
Darwin's Radio Greg Bear
The Dispossessed Ursula K. Le Guin
Doomsday Book Connie Willis
Downbelow Station C.J. Cherryh
Dune Frank Hebert
Dying Inside Robert Silverberg
Ender's Game Orson Scott Card
The Faded Sun Trilogy C.J. Cherryh
Fire time Poul Anderson
Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes
Footfall Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
The Forever War Joe Haldeman
The Forge of God Greg Bear
Gateway Frederik Pohl
Halcyon Drift Brian Stableford
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams
Hyperion Dan Simmons
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream Harlan Ellison
Ilium Dan Simmons
The Illuminatus! Trilogy Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson
Kiln People David Brin
The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula K. Le Guin
Lord Valentine's Castle Robert Silverberg
Lord of Light Roger Zelazny
Man Plus Frederik Pohl
The Man Who Metled Jack Dann
The Man Who Folded Himself David Gerrold
Mote in God's Eye Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
Moving Mars Greg Bear
Old Man's War John Scalzi
The Peace War Vernor Vinge
Rainbow's End Vernor Vinge
Red Mars Kim Stanley Robinson
Revelation Space Alistair Reynolds
Ringworld Larry Niven
Rite of Passage Alexei Panshin
River of Gods Ian McDonald
Singularity Sky Charles Stross
Slaughterhouse Five Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
The Snow Queen Joan D. Vinge
Solaris Stanislaw Lem
The Sparrow Mary Doria Russell
Spin Robert Charles Wilson
Sundiver David Brin
Tau Zero Poul Anderson
Think Like a Dinosaur and Other Stories James Patrick Kelley
This Immortal / ...And Call Me Conrad Roger Zelazny
Timescape Gregory Benford
The Time Ships Stephen Baxter
Troika Stepan Chapman
Ubik Philip K. Dick
Vurt Jeff Noon
World of Ptauus Larry Niven


Cyberpunk

Title Author Description Book Cover
Accelerando Charles Stross
Altered Carbon Richard K. Morgan
The Diamond Age Neal Stephenson
The Difference Engine William Gibson & Bruce Sterling
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Philip K. Dick
Islands in the Net Bruce Sterling
Neuromancer William Gibson
Permutation City Greg Egan
Snow Crash Neal Stephenson
Software Rudy Rucker


Post Apocalyptic

Title Author Description Book Cover
A Canticle for Leibowitz Walter M. Miller, Jr.
A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L'Engle
The Chrysalids John Wyndam
Cloud Atlas David Mitchell
The Deep John Crowley
Dies the Fire S.M. Sterline
Dr. Bloodmoney Philip K. Dick
Dreamsnake Vonda M. McIntyre
The Dying Earth Jack Vance
Earth Abides George R. Stewart
The Elfin Ship James Blaylock
I Am Legend Richard Matheson
Lucifer's Hammer Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
The Mount Carol Emshwiller
The Nightland William Hope Hodgson
The Planet of the Apes Pierre Boulle
The Postman David Brin
Ravage Rene Barjavel
Riddley Walker Russell Hoban
The Road Cormac McCarthy
Shadow and Claw Gene Wolfe
The Tripods Trilogy Samuel Youd


Dystopian

Title Author Description Book Cover
1984 George Orwell
A Scanner Darkly Philip K. Dick
Brave New World Aldous Huxley
Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury
Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said Philip K. Dick
The Giver Lois Lowry
The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood
Logan's Run William F. Nolan & George Clayton Johnson
The Man in the High Castle Philip K. Dick
Stand on Zanzibar John Brunner
We Yevgeny Zamyatin
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang Kate Wilhelm
The World Inside Robert Silverberg