Comments on: 10 Sci-Fi Books That Even Non-Geeks Would Love

By: Johnny Cat

Johnny Cat — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:00:16 +0000

@Abhishek:

My favorite Asimov story is Nightfall. They should really make a movie based on that. So cool, even though he co-wrote that one.

By: Abhishek

Abhishek — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:28:58 +0000

You have forgot one of the most important science fiction novel of our century '1984'. The novel itself started a new genre of science fiction and appears in almost every 'to-read' books.
Also, another sin was to not include Asimov. He was the grandmaster of science fiction and yet no attention has been paid to him.Foundation series should be on anyone's list of read if he wants to read science fiction. To be SF fan and not to read Asimov is like to be in engineering and not knowing number systems....

By: plyles

plyles — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:14:47 +0000

Snow Crash? Please. I like Neal Stephenson but that one pretty much sucked. What about H.G. Wells? And Phillip K. Dick and Margaret Atwood and Iain M. Banks and Pynchon and Vonnegut and Asimov and Stanislaw Lem. You list books that hardened genre fans might appreciate but not potential crossovers.

By: James Caton

James Caton — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:01:26 +0000

What about any of the brilliant epic trilogies of Peter F Hamilton. Arguably the best current scifi writer.

By: psyphi

psyphi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:04:55 +0000

I would add "nSpace" by Dovin Melhee.
A fun wild ride, lots of new ideas.
Completely out of the box.

http://www.amazon.com/dovin_melhee
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/nspace/7534554

By: psyphi

psyphi — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:33:50 +0000

Also, must try "nSpace" by Dovin Melhee

By: Candace

Candace — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:58:47 +0000

THE SPARROW by Mary Doria Russell, and its must-read sequel, THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:10:46 +0000

Re: Heinlein

"people used the novel for years as a foundation for their own desire for hippie polygamy, and now they don't so much"

Couldn't be further from the truth. Polyamory is still quite alive and well, just possibly less publicized.

By: Rick Klaw

Rick Klaw — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:27:42 +0000

I have some serious issues with this list. The best way to get non-sf fans to read sf is to make them think they aren't reading sf even though they are. Michael Chabon's Kavalier & Clay has all the elements of a classic alternate history sf story, yet won the Pulitzer. I'm betting 95% of the people who read and enjoyed it would never think of it as sf. A good chunk of Margaret "Space Squid" Atwood's oeuvre are actually sf novels. 1984 and Brave New World are excellent gateways. Hell, they're literature. Literary pundits are they clearly can't be sf. That's bunk since they contain all the classic tropes. The non-sf, more literary repackings of Philip K. Dick's best novels are another great way to go. I've spent a good chunk of my adult life introducing sf to non-sf fans. It's not so much the ideas in sf that turn people off but rather the often lurid packaging that proudly says "science fiction" and all the negative stereotypes that accompany those covers.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:02:29 +0000

I read your list and there is not one book I would want to read. Not one

By: Remicks

Remicks — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:48:44 +0000

The Golden Globe by John Varley!!!

By: yeahhhh

yeahhhh — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:09:16 +0000

list is alright. i truly thought dune to be one of the best novels i've read, but as to his next five in the series...a little boring and convoluted. hyperion is a great series, as is HGTTG, which in my opinion, everyone on the world should read if just for the laughs.
if i had to choose one book that should be included here though it would definitely be Alfred Bester's The Stars My Destination - nearly forgotten about now, which is unfortunate.

By: Tess Elliott

Tess Elliott — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:36:55 +0000

OMG! I forgot Clifford Simak!

By: Tess Elliott

Tess Elliott — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:36:03 +0000

Read Sci-fi for the first 30 years of my life, well, since I was about 13, but school and career got me off the track. I read all the old ones but really missed Asimov on that list, and adore all of Heinlein's juvenile books for teaching good science. Will look forward to reading the authors mentioned that I never read because they sound like fun. Liked Freeman Dyson a lot in college. Had many "water brothers" back then when it seemed so new and strange. Love the genre thanks to my father.

By: Irvine Black

Irvine Black — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:56:26 +0000

Needs moar Vonnegut tbh. Cat's Cradle should be at the top of every list ever.

By: mike w

mike w — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:07:43 +0000

I absolutely loved the Hyperion cantos and every other book on this list that I've read, which incidentally, is every one but snow crash and grass. They've now been added to my almost impossibly long list of books I need to read this year. Very good article, I shall pass it along!

By: akram

akram — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:00:59 +0000

the only 2 on there i would even mention to a beginner sci-fi is hitch hikers and peridio street. every one is stuck on old shit all the others on the list are pretty ancient AND mostly crap particularly for beginners. the new stuff ia awsome anyone read any peter f hamilton lately he is epic and galexy spanning belivable tech for a possible human evol. storrys and worlds and chars are rediculously awsome. the new void seirise is awsome but i hear the trillogy of is is amazing too and i would recomend reading them before The Dreaming Void beacuse that takes place 1200 years after the trillogy and explains alot. it is funny too that the tech in the novels litteraly makes 1000 year gaps seem no more than several centurys in the feel of the novels. also most all larry niven books i would recomend they are freeking brilliantly imaginative very interesting and charichters are awsome even his new stuff like the sequel to his vertion of inferno, Escape from hell they both are awsome altho not exactly sci-fi.

By: Marian

Marian — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:33:26 +0000

If I could make people read only one Heinlein book...it would be 'The Moon is a Harsh Mistress'. FANTASTIC book. I have to agree that Stranger in a Strange Land is *not* one of the Master's best, but it is one that people who aren't RAH fans often love, even if they love no other book by him. If I had to name the top five by RAH

1)The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
2) Starship Troopers (ignore the movie, please)
3) Puppet Masters (this was well before body snatchers)
4) Double Star
5)...tough call...I'll reserve this for his juvies...my favorite being 'The Rolling Stones'

I'd also recommend, 'Friday', 'Citizen of the Galaxy', 'Space Cadet', 'Podkayne of Mars'...and many others.

Time Enough for Love is also good...but has unusual sexual situations that many would find disturbingly perverse. If you can get past that...it's a damn fine book.
======
I also can't recommend the entire Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold highly enough. I like it even better than the Honor Harrington books!

By: manofpowah

manofpowah — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:52:02 +0000

I grew up in my grandmas bookstore, her sci fi section was really disappointing. When I read Enders game I told her to read it and she thought it was a great book. Scott Card is a genius. To hear someone say they would have liked it when they were 13 tells me they just don't have the balls to admit that it is a good book. Anyway im gonna make sure my grandma puts this list of books in her bookstore so that we can get real opinions.

By: TheCommoner

TheCommoner — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:08:22 +0000

How ridiculous that people take shots at Scott Card. I have worked with him on several occasions and found him to be one of the most brilliant and sane men on the planet.

He himself wouldn't call his works the scientist's science fiction. He writes about what he cares about. If you don't like his religous-socio-political contemplations, go back to reading comic books!

But his character "Jane" was a pretty cool science fiction invention.

Enough of that. Thanks for all the OTHER comments though. Some great suggestions.

Any Henry Kuttner fans out there?

By: mookee

mookee — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:13:19 +0000

Wow, pretty old school list. What about Iain M. Banks (pick anything, they are all good) or Alastair Reynolds (same again), or Robert J. Sawyer,s Neanderthal Parrallax. Ken Macleod is another bright author along with Stephen Baxter. The choices never end even if you are a casual or hardcore sci-fi type.

By: teej

teej — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:05:27 +0000

hey great list i've read most, but when i was turned on to the genre it was j.p.hogan's code of the life maker i,ve been reading sci-fi ever since.

By: Billy P

Billy P — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:26:39 +0000

I think you've got it wrong. The type of scifi books non-geeks like are:
"Slaughterhouse 5" Kurt Vonnegut
"1984" George Orwell
"Oryx & Crake" Margaret Atwood

By: Bensilver

Bensilver — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 10:15:58 +0000

I think Perdido is really the one for me.Also check out Newtons wake,the worthing saga by Orson,the world jones made they are among the best

By: yeremenko

yeremenko — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:32:29 +0000

I love sci-fi writing. Dune was a wonderful series and the Dead Empires Fall was very imaginative too.
I have written a sci-fi novel called Doom Of The Shem.
Doom Of The Shem is a science fiction novel that incorporates the horror of military action with the unavoidable hostilities that occur when an alien species invade a planet in search of food. The barbarity of war is brought to light by the work achieved by the nurses and medical personnel of the planets inhabitants. While a full blown military action story emerges from an ensuing war that involves the whole planet. It is especially centered on a squad of the planets army forces, who fight the alien invaders.
doomoftheshem.blogspot.com

By: George

George — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:16:32 +0000

Hi All, I read a series about 15 years ago and can't recall the title. If you're up to the challenge, here's what I remember.

Inter-galactic battles. Earth new to the fight, recruited by a society that becomes physically ill when confronted with violence. Possible planet names/races Weebles, Vox Pop?

Can you help?

By: Mark Vorkosigan

Mark Vorkosigan — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:18:52 +0000

That would be 'Rendezvous'

By: Mark Vorkosigan

Mark Vorkosigan — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:17:27 +0000

I second 'The Sparrow' Also - 'Accelerando' by Charles Stross and 'Barrayar' by Lois McMaster Bujold. Bujold's stuff is pure space opera, but oh so well done. I think 'Rendesvouz with Rama' by Arthur C Clarke should be here, as well as something from Asimov. The 'Foundation' trilogy is dry but brilliant, and 'I, Robot' is also pretty special.

By: John Price

John Price — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:56:05 +0000

I like the list for the most part, might not put them in the top 10, but I have read all but 2 of them, and enjoyed them all.

My wife is a non-sf reader, and she really liked the Rowan books by Anne McCaffery.

By: Mike Hunt

Mike Hunt — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:12:04 +0000

Vonnegut doesn't even make the top ten. Or Asimov.
My pick, Charles Stross, Jasper Fforde, Robert Rankin.