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Much-loved series tracing the decline and fall of a galactic empire. Psychohistorian Hari Seldon, however, makes contingency plans - with art, science and technology eventually saving the day. Asimov's scientific background shows in Foundation's frequent intellectual discourse. Won a retrospective Hugo as all-time best series.

[I read this long before creating this page, so I don't remember much about it, but I do remember it starting out strong but then going downhill from there]

It's the end of the world as we know it - and when a book is this funny - I feel fine. The guide, of course, is what we segue to as we follow Arthur Dent, the last human left alive, on his unlikely travels around the galaxy. By book four in the "trilogy" the jokes were wearing a little thin. This one, however, is not to be missed for the world.

[Hilarious, and I do recommend it, but I don't think I'd find it as funny a second time through]

Orwell got the title by reversing the last two digits in 1948 - the year he wrote this greatest of all anti-utopian satires. A minor bureaucrat in a totalitarian state rebels against the ruling Party and its almost mythical leader Big Brother. Terms like Newspeak, Doublethink and Thought Police became part of the language. Immensely influential.

[It was an amazing book, but far too depressing to do it again!]

The now-familiar story of human evolution that culminates in a mission to Saturn to track down the origins of a monolith found on the moon. The super-intelligent HAL 9000 computer starts getting some ideas of his own along the way. Based on the co-written screenplay for the famous Stanley Kubrick feature feature film. A good novel, but rides the film's coattails to a certain degree.

[I know I may be guilty of heresy, but I didn't really care for either the book or the movie]

Groundbreaking cyber-granddaddy of them all, this book won the 'Holy Trinity' of sci-fi awards (Hugo, Nebula, Dick). A computer cowboy jacks his mind into cyberspace and swipes information for sale to the highest bidder. Caught in a double-cross, his brain pays the price. The only cure is a conspiratorial cyber-satanic deal. Remains popular.

A crew sets out to explore the huge 'Ringworld' artificial object. The foursome survive encounters with the local inhabitants ("nothing but savagery"), who are seemingly very human. The apex of the Tales of Known Space sequence, Niven's hard sci-fi may be far too technical and a bit short on entertainment value for some tastes.

[I was glad that Teela turned out to be more than just a "companion" for Louis, but the idea that luck is a genetic trait that can be selectively bred is ridiculous.  I might give the sequels a try, because the story was interesting aside from that detail]

Canterbury Tales in space. Human ascendancy in the galaxy is under siege as seven pilgrims set off for the Time Tombs to find the creature called Shrike. Along the way they trade their stories - each one harbouring a dark secret. Well constructed high-tech future that adroitly mixes religion and revelation into the plot. At the top of the class.

[A few of the tales were quite interesting, but overall I just wanted to be done with it.  If I had known they wouldn't even meet the Shrike, I probably would have given up part way through -- EDIT: I just learned that Hyperion ended as it did because it and its sequel were written as one book, but then split by the publisher.  So maybe I'll have to give it another shot by reading the sequal right after]

Justifiably famous dystopian discourse on the dangers of technology and hedonistic pleasures. VR movies (feelies) and a psychedelic drug (soma) keep people in check, babies are genetically engineered, and human relationships lack intimacy. Two humans from the Savage Reservation cop fatal doses of mainstream society.

[Maybe I was still just pissed after Hyperion, but I really didn't enjoy this one at all.  Surprised to find it in the top 20]

Wells often referred to this original alien-invasion story as a 'scientific fantasy'. Martians invade and inflict mass destruction on humankind. All resistance fails and things look pretty grim, leaving the survival of humankind in some serious doubt. Darwinist book is in stark contrast to the socialism of The Time Machine. Remade as a feature film starring Tom Cruise in 2005.

[Didn't hate it, but have no interest in listening a second time]

Haldeman's use of deep space settings to portray Vietnam-era military training methods and combat strategies is a history lesson from someone who was there. In a few months at the front lines centuries can pass by on Earth. Sexually-liberated soldier William Mandella finds that things aren't much fun in the 32nd-century. Significant to the genre.

[Somewhat predictable in that the war was all a misunderstanding, but I enjoyed it anyway]

Popular collection of linked stories depicting the near-future colonisation of Mars. Published in the UK as The Silver Locusts, the book has a haunting quality, perhaps flagging Bradbury's later forays into horror. Nevertheless, there is no denying the power of these stories and Bradbury's significant contributions to the sci-fi genre.

[The audiobook did not make it clear when moving from one story to the next, so I found myself confused and re-listening to portions.  I thought it was interesting, and so will likely check out a paperback from the library one day]

Jerry Pournelle

The first of several successful collaborations set in Pournelle's CoDominium future. A fully-blown interstellar human empire - complete with royalty and a powerful military sub-class - have an unexpectedly dangerous encounter with the alien Moties. Pournelle's narrative skill and Niven's technical acumen are the perfect mix. All-time favourite.

[I thought for sure we would blow up the Moties, and then ourselves be exterminated by the pair of watchmakers Bury was trying to bring home]

Left Hand of Darkness, The

Ursula K. Le Guin

Intellectual sci-fi classic that still rouses lively debate. A 'normal' human emissary travels to the wayward world called Winter, where the hermaphroditic inhabitants are real live gender-benders. Along the way he forgets his training, gets involved in local politics, and has to face up to his sexual prejudices. Indispensable reading.

[I didn't find this one too science fictiony.  Yes, sci-fi was definitely required in the development of Gethen, but the actual events of the story seemed like they could have easily taken place in some remote area of Earth]

Energetic 24th century tale of the motivational power of revenge, loosely based on The Count of Monte Cristo. Central character Gully Foyle is left to die in space when a passing ship refuses to render aid. He taps the under-utilised resources of his mind to wreak revenge - becoming a psionic superman in the process. True classic from a genuine master.

[Much like "2001", I did not enjoy the ending at all.  The voice acting drove me a little crazy too, so if I was to listen again I'd have to find another copy.  Easier just to not listen again!]

The central character in Solaris is a sentient ocean that humans find impossible to communicate with. The Earth space-station orbiting the planet is practically a death sentence, as everyone who serves on it seems to get the urge to commit suicide. Lem asserts we should accept that there are things we will never understand. Mind-boggling.

[Started out good. Then got confusing. Would likely need to read a paperback copy to simplify re-reading portions.]

French writer generally regarded as the 'other' father of sci-fi - the first being H G Wells. His SF classic depicts the misanthropic Captain Nemo busily upsetting shipping routes in his plushly-furnished submarine Nautilus. Survivors of an attacked vessel get a guided tour of the ocean depths. Technology on the verge of startling reality.

[Considering it was written in 1870 it seems like it was very much ahead of its time in terms of some of the technology it describes, but since I'm reading it nearly 150 years later it isn't nearly as fascinating as it probably was back then]

Widely regarded as the best children's sci-fi book ever written and a Newbery Medal winner in 1963. When an unearthly stranger shows up Meg Murray embarks on a trip through time and space looking for her father, accompanied by her little brother and a friend. Along the way there's mystery, theology and even a bit of science.

[Not bad for a children's book]

Vonnegut takes aim at science and religion in this side-splitting nuclear age parable. A scientist invents 'ice-nine' because a general is tired of soldiers' boots getting muddy. An array of misfits take us through some typical Vonnegut mayhem. There is never any doubt about what will happen in the end, but gee it's fun getting there.

[Couldn't get into the audiobook.  Might try again with a paperback copy]

Physical laws relax a bit on the edges of space - populated by everything from the super-intelligent beings of the Transcend to the low-tech races of the Unthinking Depths. Scientists unintentionally unleash a destructive Blight, the hero's spacecraft is chased by lots of warships, and space operatic manoeuvres save the day. Vinge at his vicious best.

[I found the premise fascinating, but regularly asked myself "do I really want to finish this?", to which the ultimate answer was "Yes", but not without fast forwarding through some of the more boring bits]

This is Stephenson's most complex yarn yet, although many would argue it's not sci-fi. The ultra-hip tale switches between the story of a top secret WWII code-cracking unit and its connection to present day decrypters. The underlying theme is that the universe is a cosmic operating system that uses a command-line interface. Popular with Stephenson's fans.

[Was removed from the top 100 list for not being sci-fi]

A sequel to 1941's Methuselah's Children (contained in The Past Through Tomorrow). Lazarus Long is back and this is the story of his many lives. It culminates in a trip through time where he prolifically breeds with his own mother. Exhaustive criticisms of the novel seem to have been buried in a resurgence of interest in Heinlein.

[I enjoyed the first three stories, but couldn't get into the present-day timeline at all, and gave up shortly after Dora's story finished]

Jailed for delinquent excesses, an ultra-violent youth is subjected to an experimental form of aversion therapy. Complications arise when his sense of humanity and love of classical music are destroyed. His confessions are told in a Russified near-future teenage jargon. Stanley Kubrick directed the disturbing 1971 feature film.

[Horrorshow, but a malenky too bezoomny to slooshy again]

Eternals are temporal technicians who range through past and present keeping things on track by altering time. When an Eternal falls in love he decides that a more conventional mortal lifestyle might be a good idea. Perhaps Asimov's best stand-alone (there aren't many), although many will find the love story a bit clumsy. Fans will lap it up.

[I can't believe this isn't higher up on the list -- I thought it was excellent]

Con-man Palmer Eldritch plays god when he peddles new immortality drug Chew-Z. Users are transported into another dimension where all their wishes are fulfilled - all while Earth time stands still. The catch, however, is that Eldritch gets to be god in everyone's private universe. 'Out-there' stuff from the somewhat troubled mind of a now-legendary sci-fi writer.

[Enjoyed it, but I don't know that it would hold up to a re-read]

A volatile teenage boy wins a space-suit which helps fulfil his desire to go the moon. Some unsavoury aliens whisk him away to an ancient planet where he is forced to undergo some interpersonal development and accept his responsibilities to the human race. Bristles with energy - perhaps the best teenage sci-fi ever written.

[Enjoyed some of his other juvenile's, but found this one a bit underwhelming]

Drugged-out and nearing the end, Philip K Dick's version of religious anti-salvation may be a little hard for believers to take. God, as it turns out, is a virus perpetrated upon us by an orbiting satellite. The 'hero' goes looking for some theological solutions, thus giving the author the chance to have his somewhat bizarre psychedelic say.

[The summary on Wikipedia sounds quite interesting, but I just couldn't get into it]

At once gleefully embracing and brilliantly subverting science-fiction conventions as only Ernest Cline could, Armada is a rollicking, surprising thriller, a classic coming of age adventure, and an alien invasion tale like nothing you’ve ever read before—one whose every page is infused with the pop-culture savvy that has helped make Ready Player One a phenomenon.

[Too much was just too obvious]

When a stranger attempting to deliver a cryptic message is shot dead at his table, Dr. Richard Ames is thrown headfirst into danger, intrigue, and other dimensions, where a plot to rescue a sentient computer could alter human history...

[I'll be honest, I was sad that Mike's fate was unclear at the end of TMIAHM.  While reading about the book after listening to it I came across this post on Reddit, which had a reply that made me assume TCWWTW would have answers I was looking for.  Boy was I wrong.  To top it off, the narration was absolute garbage, so yeah I'd rather do Hyperion than this book again]

In the first book of this brilliant series, Stephen King introduces readers to one of his most enigmatic heroes, Roland of Gilead, The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which frighteningly mirrors our own, Roland pursues The Man in Black, encounters an alluring woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the Kid from Earth called Jake. Both grippingly realistic and eerily dreamlike, The Gunslinger leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

[It's an amazing series, but it's a No to reading again for a few (spoiler filled) reasons.  1) Because man it's long!  2) Because screw the fact that poor Roland is on repeat.  3) Because screw Patrick Danville and his magical eraser even harder.  4) And finally, because King narrated The Wind Through the Keyhole, and it is unbearable to hear him pronounce "Deschain"]

A carnival rolls in sometime after the midnight hour on a chill Midwestern October eve, ushering in Halloween a week before its time. A calliope's shrill siren song beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. In this season of dying, Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. And two inquisitive boys standing precariously on the brink of adulthood will soon discover the secret of the satanic raree-show's smoke, mazes, and mirrors, as they learn all too well the heavy cost of wishes - and the stuff of nightmare.

[Thought I would try this shortly after Fahrenheit 451, but couldn't get into it]

Natalie Babbitt