15 Best Science Fiction Novels!

Out of a list of 100 of the best science fiction novels, I chose the first 15. There are many others that I have loved that are way down near the 90th percentile, such as Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel or Ursula K. LeGuin's The Left Hand of Darkness. Have you read these?

1

Ender's Game

Orson Scott Card came up with a great way to show futuristic wargames for kids and the government suppression of what these games really mean. I won't ruin the ending for you, but it was a shocker!
See the full review, "Ender's Sorrow, General's Joy -- Future Shock Novel by Orson S. Card!".

2

Dune (book)

Great Frank Herbert novel, Nebula award winner. Is the Atreides family doomed to defeat? Is Paul dead? Great suspense. Still waiting for a better movie version!
See the full review, "Spice Wars? Great Novel!".

3

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (book)

I still have yet to read all of Douglas Adams' book, which this and later spinoffs are some of the best science fiction comedy writing around.

4

Foundation

Originally setting up a small frontier planet to ostensibly create a galactic Encyclopedia, Hari Seldon actually has plans to stem the Dark Ages that are to come. Great novel.
See the full review, "Great Start to a Great Series of Sci Fi Books!".

5

1984

George Orwell's classic novel of a dystopic future and the fate of two shunned by their society because of forbidden love. Exciting book.

6

Neuromancer

William Gibson wrote Neuromancer! The plot contains sex, drugs, black market body parts, virtual reality, electronic relationships, pleasure palaces, murder, mayhem, cloned assassins, and intrigue in cyberspace, with nary a virtual nice guy in the mix. Wow!

7

Stranger in a Strange Land

This book was expanded by Robert Heinlein's wife, Virginia. However, just read the original. You Grok that?

8

Fahrenheit 451

Future firemen hired to burn books! And one man who thinks this might not be such a good idea! Fascinating novel by Ray Bradbury.

9

2001: A Space Odyssey (book)

The famous book by Arthur C. Clarke that was the basis of the later movie. I really need to read this again!

10

I, Robot (book)

In this collection, one of the great classics of science fiction, Asimov set out the principles of robot behavior that we know as the Three Laws of Robotics. Here are stories of robots gone mad, mind-reading robots, robots with a sense of humor, robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world, all told with Asimov's trademark dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction.

11

Starship Troopers

Not to be confused with the action thriller movie; it's so much different. With Earth embroiled in a vast interplanetary war with the "Bugs," a young recruit in the Federal Reserves relates his experiences training in boot camp and as a junior officer in the Terran Mobile Infantry. Heinlein's best juvenile novel.

12

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Blade Runner)

Emigrees to Mars received androids so sophisticated it was impossible to tell them from true men or women. Fearful of the havoc these artificial humans could wreak, the government banned them from Earth. But when androids didn't want to be identified, they just blended in. Rick Deckard was an officially sanctioned bounty hunter whose job was to find rogue androids, and to retire them. But cornered, androids tended to fight back, with deadly results.

13

Ringworld (Known Space Series)

Fascinating book by Larry Niven, about a world that is a very long strip that has a star in the middle of it! All the species are separated until one human decides to explore and figure out who built it -- with surprising results. There's a whole series of novels but I only remember the first. Loved "The Hindmost".

14

Rendezvous with Rama (Rama Series #1)

Space explorers and planet-bound scientists alike prepare for mankind's first encounter with alien intelligence. It will kindle their wildest dreams...and fan their darkest fears. For no one knows who the Ramans are or why they have come. And now the moment of rendezvous awaits - just behind a Raman airlock door. -- One of Arthur C. Clarke's best.

15

Hyperion (Hyperion Series #1)

Hyperion is the tale of seven people who make a pilgrimmage to a terrifying creature called the Shrike in an attempt to save mankind. Stunningly written and beautifully crafted, Simmons's Hyperion resonates with technical achievement and the excitement and wonder found only in the best SF.