Best sci-fi book you've ever read

[lobster1077]

Er, Digital Fortress? actually its not at all good but nothing else springs to mind. Anyone got a recommendation?

I think this thread qualifies as a list of suggestions. I like mine, personally.

I've seen the film with animated grumpy Keanu, it was a visual delight. I shall look into it, cheers matey.

 

[Lenin211]

Ender's game by far. Then again, all other sci fi books that I have read are bad Star wars novels.

 

[Razzigyrl]

I think that 'The Moon is a Harsh Mistress' by Robert A. Heinlein has had the most influence on me. There are SO many to choose from, but this was the first that came to mind, followed shortly by anything from Asimov, any of the Hugo Award Winners compilations, 'The Light of Other Days' by Arthur C. Clarke & Stephen Baxter, and lots of things by H.P. Lovecraft.

 

[Chased]

I would say Fahrenheit 451. Also, I'd definitely like to read Hitchhikers.

 

[hotsauceman]

H.G Wells, War of the worlds. I just loved it
Although time machine may takes it place soon if i can tear myself away from Lovecraft or My halo book.

 

[Jaeger_CDN]

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (or really any books by Heinlein)

and as previously mentioned Hitchhikers Guide

 

[SamtheDeathclaw]

Dune is mine. Though there are lots of other (probably better) classical scifi, I've neglected to read them.

 

[emptyother]

It is probably just my nostalgia, but the best book so far is Starship Alexandria series by Jon Bing. It was my first intro to "optimistic sci-fi". And it has a cat with bat-wings!

 

[The_Waspman]

Personally, I find Hitchhikers to be massively over-rated. Because it Simply. Isn't. Funny. And it tries way too hard to be.

But then again, the first suggestion off the top of my head would be I Am Legend (IGNORE THE MOVIE!!!), so make of that what you will.

 

[emptyother]

H.G Wells, War of the worlds. I just loved it
Although time machine may takes it place soon if i can tear myself away from Lovecraft or My halo book.

Just finished reading it. Awesome book! But i still liked the music better,
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds:
http://open.spotify.com/album/4rCA4HIsOd31CrIYI3g9ED

 

[NightHawk21]

Honestly, pick any of the Dune books (by either Frank or his son) and they're all a good read even if you don't really like sci-fi. For fantasy, honestly one of the best writers IMO is Raymond E. Feist. Great books and a well developed universe.

 

[Spaghetti]

Its a toss-up between Dune and Peter F. Hamilton's "Night's Dawn Trilogy". Yea I know it's a trilogy, not a single book but you can't have one without the other two.

 

[JavaJoeCoffee]

OMG! You made me sign in after 6 months. Six months. Simply because no one mentioned Ian M. Banks.

I mean really people: Ian M. Banks. Read "Excession" of course and read "Feersum Endjinn" too, but anything else really.

And also Charles Stross, but not nearly so much, read "Halting State".

 

[mb16]

im personally rather fond of "eve the empyrean age" (but it may be as i played the game)

 

[Batou667]

The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein. He's most famous, of course, for Starship Troopers, which is also a great read.

 

[Rockchimp69]

*Looks at Asimov's shelf*

Reach and grab one. All amazing.

Also, Ray Bradbury has some serious amazing short stories.

Yes. You win the thread.

Althogh if I has to pick one, The last question springs to mind, closely followed by the last answer.

 

[TheDarkestDerp]

Larry Niven has some great underrated books, I personally love the Man-Kizin Wars series, though the later stories are done by other authors.


Though that isn't that bad, its always enjoyable seeing another authors take on a story.

Agreed entirely. The Man/Kzin wars rest happily on my shelf.

Another good series, at least up until this last one... is Honor Harrington. Great patch of books.

 

[Sonicron]

That would be 'Flight of the Eisenstein' by James Swallow. It's the fourth novel of the ongoing Horus Heresy series, and to me it's not only the best W40k novel I've read, it's the best sci-fi I've read, period. Yeah, it may not have as much artistic or literary value as 'Brave New World' or 'Fahrenheit 451' (both great), but screw that, I've had more fun with this one.

 

[Mestraal]

The Forever War.

An excellent book that continues to be relevant even after the war is was inspired by ended decades ago.

Hah, literally just finished reading Peace and War for the second time. (Forver War, Free and Peace) Excellent books through and through.

Well, looking at my shelf, I seem to be quite a big Alastair Reynolds fan. I'd say my favourite book by him is probably gonna be either Pushing Ice or Terminal World. Relatively hard SF, but still accessible.

(Ever get the idea that captcha is really taking the piss? It makes some really odd requests.)

 

[spooks491]

For me it's a tie between A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge and Look to Windward by Iain Banks. Although I do love a lot of the other books you guys have been bringing up - especially Ender's Game, Dune, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress... There's just too much great science fiction to chose from!