15 Science Fiction Books You Must Read

Life | Geeked by Geek 24 Geeks on 10 May, 2007 - 04:54.

It's been a while we have been geeking so it's no wonder then that we often get  asked, which are our favorite geeky books, movies and stuff like that that we would recommend. 

So, that's what we will be doing off and on for the next few weeks to come. We are starting the series with the list of  top 15 Science Fiction books that are our favorites and we recommend you read:

1. The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy by Douglas Adams

2. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

3. Dune by Frank Herbert

4. Neuromancer by William Gibson 

5. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov 

6. Tau Zero by Poul Anderson 

7. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlien

8. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

9. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip Dick 

10. Contact by Carl Sagan 

11. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne Contact

12. Time Machine by HG Wells

13. The War of the Worlds by HG Wells 

14. Foundation by Isaac Asimov

15. Starship Troopers by Rober A Heinlein

The list is not  in any particular order, just the way they are in our bookstack, so don't kick us for that  :)

What do you think, is your favorite science fiction book on this list? Or you have other favorites? Drop a comment. 

add new comment
top sci fi books
Geeked by christine (not verified) on 14 March, 2008 - 01:19.

Your list is my bookshelf! I even have a hard copy of Neuromancer that was my father's.

reply
Great list!
Geeked by Stettin (not verified) on 9 March, 2008 - 03:30.

I've been trying to pound away the classics, but there always seem to be more that I haven't heard of. I've read: Hitchhiker's Guide (full series), Dune, I, Robot, Stranger in a Strange Land, A Wrinkle in Time (although I just recognize the name, I read it in 7th grade), Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Foundation, and Starship Troopers.

I'm a huge fan of Asimov's Robot & Foundation series. I've reviewed all of the books (and most done by other authors) at my site, (Insanely Complete Fiction List for Robot & Foundation books)

I'm looking forward to reading Neuromancer soon, also my wife has Contact, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet. I've got such a big list of books to read. I agree that Ender's Game should be on that list, but I can see how it is hard to just list 15.

reply
Another vote for Gene
Geeked by Gordon McNutt (not verified) on 8 March, 2008 - 05:09.

Another vote for Gene Wolfe's Books of the New Sun. Also...
The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman (the Veitnam-era answer to Starship Troopers)
Orbital Resonance, by John Barnes (more "genius kids in space" for all you Ender's Game fans)
The Dosadi Experiment, by Frank Herbert (his second best after Dune)

reply
Excellent list. All of the
Geeked by Anonymous Geek (not verified) on 6 March, 2008 - 15:30.

Excellent list. All of the books I have read that are on the list I can say were wonderful. I'm surprised that Journey to the Center of the Earth and Ender's Game didn't make it.

reply
Nancy Kress
Geeked by Gwen (not verified) on 6 March, 2008 - 13:41.

Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress is some of the best soft SF I've ever read.

reply
"The Last Legends of Earth,"
Geeked by Val (not verified) on 6 March, 2008 - 06:36.

"The Last Legends of Earth," by AA Attanasio.

reply
good list
Geeked by Anonymous Geek (not verified) on 6 March, 2008 - 06:22.

all the books on the list are of course amazing and having read 13 of 15 i think that i can fairly accurate;y say that these books are some of the best that you'll run across for a long time.

reply
MIA books
Geeked by GryKat (not verified) on 6 March, 2008 - 02:30.

Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card) and the rest of that series - excellent fiction.

reply
The first two books, Yes!!
Geeked by Anonymous Geek (not verified) on 6 March, 2008 - 06:10.

The first two books, Yes!! The rest were pretty meh

reply
Ender's Game?
Geeked by Anonymous Geek (not verified) on 6 March, 2008 - 01:59.

Ender's Game?

reply
More Forgotten Best Must read Sci Fi Books
Geeked by Geeky reader (not verified) on 6 March, 2008 - 00:21.

The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe (4 volumes)+ The Urth of the New Sun (coda)
The Book of the Long Sun by Gene Wolfe (4 volumes)!
Schizmatrix Plus by Bruce Sterling
Ubik by Philip K Dick
Ringworld by Larry Niven
Gateway by Frederik Pohl
Total Eclipse by John Brunner

reply
Red Mars, Blue Mars, Green Mars
Geeked by Barfly (not verified) on 5 March, 2008 - 20:30.

What? No Kim Stanley Robinson?

reply
O.S. Card
Geeked by Mayernick (not verified) on 5 March, 2008 - 19:55.

Where the hell is Orson Scott Card on this list. The Ender saga is hands down some of the best out there. I'd even put the Dark Tower on a list like that.

reply
A few more for the list.
Geeked by Anonymous Geek (not verified) on 5 March, 2008 - 19:26.

You left out Ring World by Larry Niven, The Berserker Series by Fred Saberhagen and all the books of David Brin. I also loved The Stars, My Destination.

reply
Missing from List
Geeked by Poetic License (not verified) on 13 May, 2007 - 21:14.

The Hyperion series written by Dan Simmons is equal in scope and skill to Dune.

reply
I agree, the Hyperion cantos
Geeked by Ryan (not verified) on 6 March, 2008 - 00:50.

I agree, the Hyperion cantos are one of the finest works of SF I have encountered. If you haven't read it, you are missing out.

reply
Well, two missing favorites
Geeked by Ronald Snijder (not verified) on 13 May, 2007 - 19:38.

Two missing favorites from my bookcase:
* Lord of Light / Roger Zelazny - Let's mix Hindu religion and SF, just to see what happens
* Nine Hunderd Grandmothers / R.A. Lafferty - SF is about ideas, right? So feast on this collection, it goes way beyond

reply
sagan
Geeked by Anonymous Geek (not verified) on 13 May, 2007 - 19:00.

contact is by dr.carl "sagan"

reply
Corrected
Geeked by Geek 24 Geeks on 14 May, 2007 - 02:07.

Corrected. Thanks! :)

reply
Sorry, but 2001 and
Geeked by zeta (not verified) on 13 May, 2007 - 18:30.

Sorry, but 2001 and StarshipTroopers are among the worst books (not only in SciFi) I have ever read. The movies were nice though.

reply
Starship Troopers
Geeked by Josh (not verified) on 6 March, 2008 - 05:12.

No, IM sorry. I havent read 2001 so i cant say anything about it, but the movie version of starship troopers COMPLETELY missed what the book was all about. Don't get me wrong I liked the movie, but it is really such a different beast than the book you just cant compair them.

reply
The Stars My Destination
Geeked by Zube (not verified) on 13 May, 2007 - 12:23.

I am surprised to find no mention of Alfred Bester's awesome "The Stars My Destination" on your list. Also released as "Tiger, Tiger", it contains one of the greatest anti-heroes in science fiction in the form of Gully Foyle. From an opening line of "One hundred days dying and not yet dead", the story proceeds at a breakneck pace. Ideas are almost carelessly spilled out, including the first usage of the word "jaunting" to denote teleportation, and the whole thing has a satisfying philosophical edge that still has relevance today.

reply
Repeat?
Geeked by Matthew Turland (not verified) on 10 May, 2007 - 14:07.

Why is Neuromancer on the list twice (items 4 and 8)? Is it just that good? :P

reply
Oops
Geeked by Geek 24 Geeks on 13 May, 2007 - 10:10.

Oops! Neuromancer is good no doubt, but the number 8 for us is A wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.

Corrected that one, thanks for pointing it out Matthew! :)

reply
No problem. Also, this might
Geeked by Matthew Turland (not verified) on 20 May, 2007 - 17:46.

No problem. Also, this might be of interest to some folks.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=20507

reply