32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list • Hacker News Board

Re: 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list

#21

Post by jm4 » Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 6:01 PM UTC

There are a couple odd choices on that list. I thought Timeline was pretty entertaining, but it's a typical Michael Crichton made-for-tv story and probably not worthy of such a list. I guess it sort of makes quantum physics palatable to the average joe but you could hardly say it's pushed the boundaries of the genre.

It's also worth mentioning that Minority Report isn't even a novel. It's a short story than spans maybe thirty pages. Still, virtually anything by Philip K. Dick could make it onto a list of the best sci-fi.

Anyway, there's still quite a bit of good stuff there- even the ones that aren't exactly sci-fi.

There was also a list of the top 100 sci-fi books that was going around on Reddit or Digg a while back that looked really good. Here's the link for anyone interested: http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/topscifi/lists_books...

Re: 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list

#22

Post by hugh » Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 6:04 PM UTC

kungfooey wrote: post #17

Snow Crash is awesome. I finished it and "The Diamond Age" last week and I can vouch for them as a worthy read.

I really don't like Snow Crash much.

Firstly, it's dated quite badly, since it was written in the recent past about roughly-now. He gets the technology pretty much right, but the speculation about how that technology will change society pretty much all wrong.

Secondly, Mr Protagonist, as a protagonist, annoys me in that he seems more like the kind of character that a fourteen-year-old boy would think was awesome (greatest swordfighter in the world, for no good reason!) than somebody I want to read a book about.

Cryptonomicon, on the other hand, is a must-read. I don't really even like science fiction that much, but Cryptonomicon is a must-read.

Re: 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list

#23

Post by cokekiller » Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 6:30 PM UTC

The Orion SF Masterworks collection is much better, exhaustive, and actually published as a series (not in the US unfortunately). Take a look lots of awesome books you may or may not have read... http://www.sfsite.com/lists/orion01.htm

Re: 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list

#24

Post by orib » Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 6:52 PM UTC

socalsamba wrote: post #19

So why did Timeline make the list? I was thinking about leaving it off because it is really, really bad for anyone who actually reads Sci-Fi. I put it on the list because despite the fact that it's almost completely unreadable because the Wal*Mart set needs their Sci-Fi too. I wanted the list to cover as broad a spectrum of sci-fi as I could without making it 100 items long. I left off a lot of greats including: Vern…

Suggestions, eh?

I personally love Stanislaw Lem's books. Two of my favorites: - The Cyberiad: a set of short stories that read almost like silly little fairy tales, complete with probabalistic dragons, poetry machines, and kings, and electroknights. - His Master's Voice: A rather cynical look at deciphering a message from the stars.

Re: 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list

#25

Post by jcl » Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 7:27 PM UTC

mhb wrote: post #7

The Andromeda Strain is really, really dated. Shouldn't be on the list.

And 20,000 Leagues is so 1870's. ;)

Re: 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list

#26

Post by jcl » Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 7:38 PM UTC

orib wrote: post #24

socalsamba wrote: post #19

So why did Timeline make the list? I was thinking about leaving it off because it is really, really bad for anyone who actually reads Sci-Fi. I put it on the list because despite the fact that it's almost completely unreadable because the Wal*Mart set needs their Sci-Fi too. I wanted the list to cover as broad a spectrum of sci-fi as I could without making it 100 items long. I left off a lot of greats including: Vern…

Suggestions, eh? I personally love Stanislaw Lem's books. Two of my favorites: - The Cyberiad: a set of short stories that read almost like silly little fairy tales, complete with probabalistic dragons, poetry machines, and kings, and electroknights. - His Master's Voice: A rather cynical look at deciphering a message from the stars.

I'll second Cyberiad.

Also, I've heard some people describe Lem's "Solaris" as one of the few science fiction novels that also qualify as great literature, although I must admit I didn't enjoy it as much as Cyberiad.

Re: 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list

#27

Post by akkartik » Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 7:47 PM UTC

Awesome, that had 3 books I hadn't read.

My list of remarkable sci-fi: http://www.reddit.com/info/72lt/comments#c735f

Re: 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list

#28

Post by jcl » Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 7:51 PM UTC

LogicHoleFlaw wrote: post #13

vaksel wrote: post #8

most of those got turned into movies. Speaking of which, I'd love to see Ender's game movie but it'll probably suck since it'll be a bunch of new young actors

An Ender's Game movie is in pre-production now actually. Apparently it finally happened because Orson Scott Card got a deal which included the level of creative control he required. A lot of films never make it past pre-production so whether this film is actually finished is yet to be seen.

Good to hear he's still working on it, although as I recall they've been trying to get the movie made for decades now. (Meanwhile, Dune is being adapted for the third time...)

Re: 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list

#29

Post by gaius » Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 8:01 PM UTC

signa11 wrote: post #5

no greg-egan or ian-m-banks or arthur-c-clarke...what gives ?

After The Algebraist and Matter I never want to read another word of Iaiaain M Banks. Consider Phlebas was genius, but he's lost it.

Re: 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list

#30

Post by byrneseyeview » Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 9:17 PM UTC

hugh wrote: post #22

kungfooey wrote: post #17

Snow Crash is awesome. I finished it and "The Diamond Age" last week and I can vouch for them as a worthy read.

I really don't like Snow Crash much. Firstly, it's dated quite badly, since it was written in the recent past about roughly-now. He gets the technology pretty much right, but the speculation about how that technology will change society pretty much all wrong. Secondly, Mr Protagonist, as a protagonist, annoys me in that he seems more like the kind of character that a fourteen-year-old boy would think was awesome (gre…

I think it's great fun to read it now. Imagine thinking Meese would still be famous in 2008!

Part of the point of Hiro is that he's a loser and an asshole. There wouldn't be a plot if he started out as a good guy, because he wouldn't find himself mixed up in the mafia and cults the way he did.