Top Ten SciFi Books of All Time
August 23rd, 2008 Posted by David Lemberg
This is a highly personal list of Top 10 SCIENCE AND SOCIETY all-time faves -
- Assignment in Eternity by Robert Heinlein
- The War Against the Rull by A.E. Van Vogt
- The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov
- The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
- A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
- Holy Fire by Bruce Sterling
- Neuromancer by William Gibson
- Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
- Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan (contemporary bonus)
We could have made a Top 10 list solely out of Robert Heinlein’s books. Or A.E. Van Vogt’s. Or Isaac Asimov’s.
Everyone knows Heinlein and Asimov and Herbert. Not everyone is familiar with Van Vogt and Alfred Bester, who IMO are two of the visionary geniuses of the sci-fi genre.
Van Vogt’s genius was in his wide-ranging imagination, his deep understanding of human character, and his sophisticated knowledge of politics, money, and warfare.
Bester’s stories are likewise built on sheer genius. The Demolished Man is only one of several action-packed, highly imaginative books. When you read Alfred Bester, buckle-up! You’re in for a wild ride.
We hope you enjoy these books as much as we have. All of these authors have become lifelong “friends” - you know you can count on them!
2 Responses to “Top Ten SciFi Books of All Time”
Supprisingly good top 10! Could have been mine. Although A Fire Upon the Deep is for me a winner
By Lucas on Sep 17, 2008
(forgot to mention that “Van Vogt” wrote one of the first sci-fi books I read (De wereld van 0-A)
By Lucas on Sep 17, 2008