The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. Le Guin (1969)
The majority of the action takes place on a planet where it is cold all year and everyone is the same gender, and it was one of the first novels to touch on ideas of androgyny.
A Scanner Darkly, by Philip K Dick (1977)
In a near-future California, vice cop Bob Arctor lives undercover with a community of drug addicts addicted to the devastating psychoactive dope Substance D, in what reads less like sci-fi and more like a hallucinated autobiography detailing the author’s struggle with drug addiction.
Kindred, by Octavia E. Butler (1979)
Kindred, by Octavia E. Butler, was published more than 40 years ago and explores major themes of power, race, and inequality. The way she contrasts modern-day 1979 with the pre-Civil War era offers a unique perspective on slavery.
Neuromancer, by William Gibson (1984)
Set in a dystopian Japanese underworld, William Gibson’s Neuromancer is one of the best cyberpunk novels ever written, with a cast of creative characters who will stay with you long after you finish the book.
Consider Phlebas, by Iain Banks (1987)
The Culture is an interstellar utopian society made up of humanoids, aliens, and sentient machines, in which a war rages across the galaxy, with one side fighting for faith and the other for the moral right to exist.
Hyperion, by Dan Simmons (1989)
Hyperion is a science fiction epic in the style of The Canterbury Tales, which won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1990. It is the first in a two-part series. Price: 310 | Amazon | Waterstones | Wordery | Audible trial
Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton (1990)
Michael Crichton, author of the equally brilliant Andromeda Strain, wrote “Jurassic Park,” a sci-fi classic that remains a great parable about the dangers of genetic engineering. His descriptions of dinosaurs, such as the T-Rex, are also brilliant.
Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson (1992)
It follows main character Hiro Protagonist, an elite hacker and swordsman, as he tries to stop the spread of a virus, and it combines neurolinguistics, ancient mythology, and computer science.
Metro 2033, by Dmitry Glukhovsky (2002)
The translated story follows a teenager named Artyom through unpredictable dangers in order to save the remnants of humanity. Price: 39 | Amazon | Waterstones | Foyles | Audible trial (37.99).
Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood (2003)
A number of television adaptations have been proposed, including a now-defunct HBO project with Darren Aronofsky. Atwood spins a genetically modified circus of current trends taken to their absolute extreme. The world of the book is vibrant, surreal, and disturbing enough.
What sci-fi fantasy should I read next?
What Should I Read Next? Find a Fantastic Science Fiction or Fantasy Book
- Alif the Unseen. By G.
- The Quadrail Series Books 1u20133. By Timothy Zahn.
- Going, Going, Gone. By Jack Womack.
- Operation Chaos and Operation Luna. By Poul Anderson.
- The Disappearance. By Philip Wylie.
What should I read if I like fantasy?
Epic Fantasy’s Best Books
- George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones. Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind. Brandon Sanderson’s The Way of Kings. Ursula LeGuin’s A Wizard of Earthsea. Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice. Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora. Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Dart.
What scifi should I read?
Classic Science Fiction Books to Read
- Douglas Adams’ The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (4.38 u2013 257,751)
- Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (4.21 u2013 510,994)
- Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time (4.01 u2013 876,850)
- George Orwell’s 1984 (4.17 u2013 2,559,807)
Is Sci-Fi more popular than fantasy?
Of course, there are pirates in science fiction as well, but we wouldn’t have any inspiration for space pirates if it weren’t for fantasy; however, fantasy is not more popular than science fiction; both are equally popular! Because fantasy is much easier to write than science fiction.
What are the top 5 best selling science fiction novels?
Science Fiction Bestsellers
- #1. Fugitive Telemetry: Murderbot Diaries, Book 6. Martha Wells.
- #2. Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary.
- #3. Frank Herbert’s Dune.
- #4. Matthew FitzSimmons’ Constance.
- #5. Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park: A Novel.
- #6. Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library: A Novel.
- #7. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.
Is Dune a must read?
Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel Dune, first published in 1965, continues to have a huge impact; science fiction author Matthew Kressel recently reread Dune for the first time in over a decade.
What is the most read book series?
The Harry Potter series, written by British author J.K. Rowling, is by far the best-selling novel series of all time, having sold at least 500 million copies, 150 million more than the next-best-selling series.
What is the best fantasy?
Our Picks for the Top 25 Fantasy Novels
- George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones
- J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring
- C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
- Terry Pratchett’s The Colour of Magic
- Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice
- Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora
Who is the best fantasy writer?
16 of the Greatest Fantasy Authors of All Time
- Seanan McGuire.
- Brandon Sanderson.
- Patrick Rothfuss.
- J.R.R. Tolkien.
- Nnedi Okorafor.
- Andrzej Sapkowski.
- Robin Hobb.
- George R. R. Martin.
- J.R.R. Tolkien
Is Neuromancer worth reading?
Still, there’s so much he got right, and such great storytelling, that it’s well worth your time to push past the rusty bits in Neuromancer by William Gibson.
Is Percy Jackson Sci-Fi?
No, Percy Jackson is not a science fiction novel; rather, it is a fantasy novel.
Who is the best sci-fi author?
The Top 10 Best Science Fiction Writers
- Larry Niven has won Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards, among others.
- Ray Bradbury.
- H.G. Wells.
- Frank Herbert.
- Philip K.
- Arthur C.
- Robert Heinlein.
Why is sci-fi so good?
Science fiction stories can challenge assumptions that would otherwise go unquestioned by engaging in what-if scenarios that are both far-fetched and close to home. Sci-fi shows us, through film, television, and literature, where our society might have ended up, for better or worse, if things had gone differently.
Is fantasy a sci-fi?
2 Plausibility Differences Between Science Fiction and Fantasy: A science fiction story extrapolates elements of the modern world and attempts to predict how they might develop, whereas fantasy uses supernatural elements that have no connection to our current world.
Why is sci-fi and fantasy so popular?
Science fiction’s popularity stems primarily from the fact that it incorporates elements from a variety of other genres that people are familiar with, as well as speculation about the future that piques people’s interest.