Golden Age & New Wave SF (270 books)

Listopia > Golden Age & New Wave SF

Science fiction published from 1950-1983. Lets make an SF list without any of those old dystopian novels or that pesky new cyberpunk stuff.

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1	Dune (Dune, #1) by Frank Herbert 4.29 avg rating — 1,673,298 ratings score: 8,017, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 3.97 avg rating — 2,924,313 ratings score: 4,840, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury 4.16 avg rating — 290,369 ratings score: 4,381, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Foundation Trilogy (Foundation, #1-3) by Isaac Asimov 4.42 avg rating — 109,761 ratings score: 4,223, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick 4.09 avg rating — 525,410 ratings score: 4,200, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Rendezvous with Rama (Rama, #1) by Arthur C. Clarke 4.12 avg rating — 187,885 ratings score: 3,687, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke 4.12 avg rating — 176,467 ratings score: 3,552, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.10 avg rating — 1,508,166 ratings score: 3,545, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein 3.92 avg rating — 328,974 ratings score: 3,397, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	2001: A Space Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #1) by Arthur C. Clarke 4.18 avg rating — 340,792 ratings score: 3,116, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 249,760 ratings score: 3,093, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.09 avg rating — 230,239 ratings score: 3,086, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	I, Robot (Robot, #0.1) by Isaac Asimov 4.21 avg rating — 385,524 ratings score: 3,075, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1) by Douglas Adams 4.22 avg rating — 2,050,350 ratings score: 3,020, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Ringworld (Ringworld #1) by Larry Niven 3.93 avg rating — 130,217 ratings score: 2,931, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Forever War (The Forever War, #1) by Joe Haldeman 4.14 avg rating — 183,156 ratings score: 2,904, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein 4.15 avg rating — 140,541 ratings score: 2,889, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester 4.05 avg rating — 56,307 ratings score: 2,734, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes 4.24 avg rating — 822,102 ratings score: 2,714, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny 4.05 avg rating — 36,047 ratings score: 2,563, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.26 avg rating — 157,497 ratings score: 2,254, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	A Canticle for Leibowitz (St. Leibowitz, #1) by Walter M. Miller Jr. 3.99 avg rating — 122,038 ratings score: 1,956, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 783,561 ratings score: 1,850, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.12 avg rating — 92,260 ratings score: 1,787, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick 3.59 avg rating — 240,617 ratings score: 1,697, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Ender’s Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card 4.31 avg rating — 1,491,134 ratings score: 1,610, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury 4.13 avg rating — 109,568 ratings score: 1,518, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham 4.01 avg rating — 119,237 ratings score: 1,508, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.15 avg rating — 444,071 ratings score: 1,499, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	I Am Legend and Other Stories by Richard Matheson really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 137,375 ratings score: 1,483, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Gateway (Heechee Saga, #1) by Frederik Pohl 4.05 avg rating — 48,030 ratings score: 1,414, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	To Your Scattered Bodies Go (Riverworld, #1) by Philip José Farmer 3.93 avg rating — 34,038 ratings score: 1,412, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Nine Princes in Amber (The Chronicles of Amber, #1) by Roger Zelazny 4.04 avg rating — 61,466 ratings score: 1,390, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Caves of Steel (Robot, #1) by Isaac Asimov 4.19 avg rating — 114,210 ratings score: 1,265, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick 4.03 avg rating — 112,193 ratings score: 1,172, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Startide Rising (The Uplift Saga, #2) by David Brin (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 33,637 ratings score: 1,157, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Solaris by Stanisław Lem 3.98 avg rating — 136,335 ratings score: 1,104, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Ubik by Philip K. Dick 4.11 avg rating — 126,450 ratings score: 1,096, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke 4.07 avg rating — 36,993 ratings score: 1,064, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon 3.93 avg rating — 19,708 ratings score: 1,021, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Andromeda Strain (Andromeda, #1) by Michael Crichton 3.91 avg rating — 274,685 ratings score: 968, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov 4.08 avg rating — 69,867 ratings score: 901, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Sundiver (The Uplift Saga, #1) by David Brin (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 27,916 ratings score: 849, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Time Enough for Love by Robert A. Heinlein 3.97 avg rating — 37,335 ratings score: 848, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov 4.24 avg rating — 63,951 ratings score: 845, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	This Immortal by Roger Zelazny 3.90 avg rating — 12,782 ratings score: 840, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe 3.84 avg rating — 36,916 ratings score: 826, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Mockingbird by Walter Tevis 4.16 avg rating — 13,075 ratings score: 803, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Great Book of Amber (The Chronicles of Amber, #1-10) by Roger Zelazny 4.31 avg rating — 27,189 ratings score: 794, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Tau Zero by Poul Anderson 3.83 avg rating — 17,550 ratings score: 759, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke 3.91 avg rating — 17,392 ratings score: 676, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Witches of Karres (The Witches of Karres, #1) by James H. Schmitz 4.16 avg rating — 2,924 ratings score: 672, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Mote in God's Eye (Moties, #1) by Larry Niven 4.07 avg rating — 73,607 ratings score: 657, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Stainless Steel Rat (Stainless Steel Rat, #4) by Harry Harrison 3.92 avg rating — 16,901 ratings score: 650, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Behold the Man by Michael Moorcock 3.75 avg rating — 8,439 ratings score: 599, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 18,647 ratings score: 588, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein 3.88 avg rating — 34,306 ratings score: 579, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Kindred by Octavia E. Butler 4.31 avg rating — 284,824 ratings score: 576, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany 3.72 avg rating — 20,532 ratings score: 566, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Friday by Robert A. Heinlein 3.85 avg rating — 30,558 ratings score: 564, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	Dying Inside by Robert Silverberg 3.81 avg rating — 7,708 ratings score: 553, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke 3.95 avg rating — 32,132 ratings score: 534, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Adventures of the Stainless Steel Rat (Stainless Steel Rat, #4-6) by Harry Harrison 4.12 avg rating — 9,450 ratings score: 530, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Downbelow Station (The Company Wars, #1) by C.J. Cherryh (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 16,623 ratings score: 522, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick 3.91 avg rating — 46,768 ratings score: 519, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Citadel of the Autarch by Gene Wolfe 4.26 avg rating — 11,637 ratings score: 506, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Dragon's Egg (Cheela, #1) by Robert L. Forward 4.12 avg rating — 10,122 ratings score: 487, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard 3.47 avg rating — 21,193 ratings score: 473, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Protector (Known Space) by Larry Niven 4.06 avg rating — 11,343 ratings score: 460, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 by L. Ron Hubbard 3.55 avg rating — 24,328 ratings score: 433, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Sword of the Lictor (The Book of the New Sun, #3) by Gene Wolfe 4.23 avg rating — 13,541 ratings score: 428, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Time Travellers Strictly Cash (Callahan's, #2) by Spider Robinson 4.19 avg rating — 3,899 ratings score: 427, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.15 avg rating — 161,412 ratings score: 413, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Nova by Samuel R. Delany 3.80 avg rating — 9,214 ratings score: 411, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Space Merchants (The Space Merchants, #1) by Frederik Pohl 3.83 avg rating — 11,438 ratings score: 406, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The Guns of Avalon (The Chronicles of Amber, #2) by Roger Zelazny 4.13 avg rating — 26,101 ratings score: 402, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	First Lensman (Lensman, #2) by E.E. "Doc" Smith 3.87 avg rating — 3,953 ratings score: 400, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Man Plus (Man Plus #1) by Frederik Pohl 3.75 avg rating — 8,851 ratings score: 394, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Triplanetary (Lensman, #1) by E.E. "Doc" Smith 3.66 avg rating — 7,652 ratings score: 394, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Camp Concentration by Thomas M. Disch 3.73 avg rating — 3,127 ratings score: 382, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	A Case of Conscience (After Such Knowledge, #4) by James Blish 3.60 avg rating — 7,550 ratings score: 364, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Monkey Planet by Pierre Boulle really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 50,002 ratings score: 361, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	City by Clifford D. Simak 4.08 avg rating — 19,369 ratings score: 357, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Planet of Adventure (Planet of Adventure, #1-4) by Jack Vance 4.25 avg rating — 2,289 ratings score: 344, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Three Books of Known Space by Larry Niven 4.13 avg rating — 766 ratings score: 341, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 8,740 ratings score: 335, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Simulacron Three by Daniel F. Galouye 4.05 avg rating — 1,273 ratings score: 320, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The High Crusade by Poul Anderson 3.87 avg rating — 4,880 ratings score: 314, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	A World Out of Time (The State, #1) by Larry Niven 3.80 avg rating — 7,100 ratings score: 312, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick 4.01 avg rating — 44,662 ratings score: 296, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison 3.89 avg rating — 59,510 ratings score: 289, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	The Status Civilization by Robert Sheckley 3.98 avg rating — 3,366 ratings score: 286, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Dangerous Visions by Harlan Ellison (Editor, Contributor) 4.13 avg rating — 10,297 ratings score: 278, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin 3.81 avg rating — 3,812 ratings score: 277, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	The Best of C.L. Moore by C.L. Moore 4.08 avg rating — 485 ratings score: 274, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Naked Sun (Robot, #2) by Isaac Asimov 4.20 avg rating — 64,992 ratings score: 263, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Elric of Melniboné (The Elric Saga, #1) by Michael Moorcock 3.88 avg rating — 31,790 ratings score: 255, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Now Wait for Last Year by Philip K. Dick 3.89 avg rating — 8,069 ratings score: 249, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert A. Heinlein 3.73 avg rating — 8,468 ratings score: 249, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World (Stainless Steel Rat, #6) by Harry Harrison 3.94 avg rating — 6,299 ratings score: 249, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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270 books · 207 voters · list created June 25th, 2009 by John Burns (votes) .

Tags: age, armageddon, dystopia, golden, golden-age, hard, new, new-wave, science, science-fiction, sf-only, soft, wave

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People Who Voted On This List (207)

John 880 books
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useFOSS 1663 books
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Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3388 books
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Printable Tire 2049 books
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Greyweather 2660 books
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Chris 3402 books
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Dov 1524 books
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Jennifer 588 books
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Comments Showing 1-31 of 31 (31 new)

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message 1: by Printable Tire (new)

Jun 25, 2009 01:25PM

There's too much Dick on this list! (gross pun intended)

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message 2: by John (new)

Jun 26, 2009 04:33AM

Ah sorry, I'm a phillip K. Dick fan or a "dickhead" if you will.

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message 3: by John (new)

Jun 29, 2009 02:44AM

Slightly concerned about the appearance of Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. I personally never thought of it as being proper sci-fi. Sci-fi usually seems to be about writers exploring the consequences of ideas that interest them. Adams was never really interested in the consequences of his ideas. He just threw them in for comic effect. Sure it's sci-fi but it's not really in the same spirit as real sci-fi.

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message 4: by Printable Tire (new)

Jun 29, 2009 08:31PM

Well, it is a parody of science fiction, much like Blazing Saddles is a parody of western movies, and it was important in so far that afterward, science fiction writers and readers probably had to come to science fiction differently, now that all its cliches were lampooned and made evident.

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message 5: by Greyweather (last edited Jul 02, 2009 06:22PM) (new)

Jul 02, 2009 06:05PM

Hitchhiker's is one of the most popular series of sci-fi novels there is. Excluding it from the list just seems silly. It would be like excluding Dune because of its numerous fantasy tropes.

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message 6: by John (new)

Jul 03, 2009 03:04PM

i still think dune is more like SF than Hitchhikers. Dune may have similarities to the fantasy genre, but the logic that drives the scenarios and situations is still the same logic that runs through the veins of nearly every book in this list except for hitchhikers.
I'm not suggesting excluding it anyway, just tht i think it's a bit overrated and its not really proper SF.

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message 7: by Greyweather (new)

Jul 04, 2009 06:57AM

Fair enough, since I feel the same way about Slaughterhouse-Five.

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message 8: by John (new)

Jul 04, 2009 08:27AM

Yeah, slaughterhouse 5 isn't really proper sci fi either, Youre right.

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message 9: by Kligy (new)

Jul 05, 2009 04:35AM

For the "Golden Age" list:
George O Smith ... "Highways in Hiding"
Edward E. Smith, PhD ... "Lensman and Skylark" Series
A. E. Van Vogt ... "Weapon Shops of Isher", etc.

More when my memory returns.

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message 10: by Jimmy (new)

Jul 05, 2009 01:15PM

Kornbluth

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message 11: by Bill (new)

Jul 06, 2009 06:36AM

The problem with something like this is that it starts with a pre-determined multiple choice. It would be better if each person could add their favorites.

One of my all time favorite SF novels is not on the list: A Mote in God's Eye

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message 12: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Jul 06, 2009 10:18AM) (new)

Jul 06, 2009 10:17AM

It is easy for anyone to add their favorites if they are not already on there - just use the "find/add books to list" bar over at the right side of the page.

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message 13: by Mohammed (last edited Jul 06, 2009 01:24PM) (new)

Jul 06, 2009 01:23PM

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep ? Isnt even near PKD best and its ranked 2 must be cause of a certain film....

I added Jack Vance(Emphyrio,The Demon Princes,Araminta Station) Heinlein(Rocket ship Galileo),Theodore Sturgeon(The Dreaming Jewels), CJ Cherryh(Kesrith),Zelazny(This Immortal),PKD(Now Wait For Last Year), Pohl(Man Plus)

I voted The Hitchhiker in my top 18 cause it might not be alltime great top 5,10 but its an important SF cause in that it combines humor and SF in a great combo.

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message 14: by John (new)

Jul 07, 2009 02:46AM

Mohammed wrote: "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep ? Isnt even near PKD best and its ranked 2 must be cause of a certain film....

I added Jack Vance(Emphyrio,The Demon Princes,Araminta Station) Heinlein(Rocket ..."

It goes without saying that the more popular scifis will make it to the top of this list, regardless of how good people think it is. Thats just a defect in the listopia programming in that it vastly favours number of votes over quality of votes, so these lists just become popularity contests about which books have been read by the most people. Most heinlien afficionados wouldnt consider stranger in a strange land to be his best work, its just that lots of people have read it because of its coutercultural significance. So yeah, things like blade runner get pushed higher than they deserve but thats just the way it works. Anyway, i think its still a good book and this is still becoming a very good list. Thanks to everyone who's voted so far!

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message 15: by John (new)

Jul 07, 2009 02:51AM

Incidentally its interesting to note the influence that cinema has had on this list. by my count, 11 of the top 20 films have been adapted for the big screen whilst hardly any of the books below 20 have.

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message 16: by Mohammed (new)

Jul 07, 2009 03:20AM

I think its the other way SF great books or even just good books had big influence on cinema. Where would all the fans of Blade runner be without a mid level PKD called Androids Dream ?

Also Dune hasnt had a good film or series to give it extra votes.

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message 17: by John (new)

Jul 07, 2009 01:51PM

true, but i still think i robot, a clockwork orange, 2001, i am legend and electric sheep wouldnt be in the positions they currently are in this list were it not for the popularising effect of their numerous adaptations.

I heard ridley scott is planning an adaptation of the forever war. Expect that book to leap into the top 10 in a couple years time.

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message 18: by John (new)

Jul 07, 2009 02:00PM

by the way folks, i made this list because the other SF lists were either too limited in scope (hugo award winners, cyberpunk) or too vague and so lost credibility with all the populist and YA books that filled the list (main SF list). The intention for this list was to make an SF list with limitations that would allow credible, less well known books to sit more comfortably at the top. There currently exists no such list for fantasy. Can anyone think of any similar kind of limitations that would lead to a good list like this but for fantasy novels? or are there not even enough good fantasy books out there to justify such a list?

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message 19: by Greyweather (last edited Jul 08, 2009 01:41PM) (new)

Jul 08, 2009 01:40PM

Actually there are a couple such lists for fantasy:
Pre-Tolkien Fantasy (Fantasy up through 1937)
Classic Fantasy (Fantasy written before 1980)
Best Fantasy of the 70s
Best Fantasy of the 80s
Best Fantasy of the 90s
Best Fantasy Books of the 21st Century

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message 20: by John (last edited Jul 09, 2009 09:25AM) (new)

Jul 09, 2009 07:35AM

The intention is to get away from the populist stuff that fills most lists and set up parameters that will result in more elitist stuff. Those decade lists are halfway towards what im thinking about, the fantasy masterworks list is probably the closest to what im thinking about but is perhaps too limiting in its scope. The other lists you mention are all pretty similar to the general populist lists out there.

I mean, i dont really know anything about fantasy. I just think this is a very cool SF list we have here, relatively free from the usual YA and mainstream stuff and i just think it would be nice if there were a similar one for fantasy though i dont really know how one would do the same sort of list for fantasy.

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message 21: by Sarah (new)

Jul 09, 2009 09:11AM

Are you including collections of short stories?

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message 22: by John (last edited Jul 09, 2009 09:31AM) (new)

Jul 09, 2009 09:26AM

Sarah Pi wrote: "Are you including collections of short stories?"

Sure, i dont see why not. We already have the martian chronicles at #3.

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message 23: by Greyweather (new)

Jul 09, 2009 11:10AM

I'm not sure what you mean by this list being free from "mainstream stuff" Killthepopular. Asimov, Bradbury, and Clarke are so mainstream that they are referred to as the ABCs of sci-fi.

If what you are looking for a list of more cerebral/philosophical/highbrow/elitist fantasy, I could make one.

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message 24: by Greyweather (new)

Jul 09, 2009 01:08PM

Here you go:
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/24...

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message 25: by John (last edited Jul 10, 2009 04:39AM) (new)

Jul 10, 2009 04:20AM

Greyweather wrote: "Here you go:
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/24..."

Hah, an interesting premise for a list.
The problem is, I've read 2 fantasy novels ive really liked, and whilst they were great and well written i dunno if i'd necessarily call them highbrow. This is why it's problematic creating a premise for these lists. You want something that'll make the right sort of people vote for the right sort of books (sorry if this sounds a little patrician). You want fantasy nerds voting for fantasy classics, to give an idea of what the great (possibly obscure) works of this genre are. Otherwise you get kids voting for harry potter and "normals" voting for mainstream versions of fantasy like magical realism and kafka. This is the kind of list that needs to be avoided as it doesnt really tell anyone anything they dont already know.
Although your premise might create an interesting, if not a very "fantasy" driven list.

As a rule, the best lists on goodreads seem to come from very specific and restrictive (but not too restrictive) parameters. For example, best books of the 20th century, is definitely a better list than "best books ever" hijacked as it is by vampires and mormons, whilst the decade lists are of an even more consistent quality, but often lack enough books, or voter interest, to make a strong list.
Your list is probably a bit too vague to target the specific fantasy area i'm thinking of (i.e. same sort of books as this list but for fantasy, not bulgakov, lewis carroll etc.). I'd just like a list to point out all the great fantasy classics I'm unaware of. This list has pointed me towards some of the classic SFs out there. Is it impossible to have a similar style list for fantasy?

Regarding the ABCs, whilst they are established classic authors they arent necessarily hugely mainstream. Books like the martian chronicles and rendezvous with rama are dwarved ratings-wise by books like 1984, brave new world, a wrinkle in time, the giver etc.

This list isnt dominated by hugely obscure works or anything but its a hell of a lot less "mainstream" that the main SF list.

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message 26: by Greyweather (new)

Jul 10, 2009 06:33AM

Well one man's classic is another man's claptrap, and fantasy doesn't have a "golden age" in the way sci-fi does, so a list exactly like this one isn't going to be possible with the listopea structure.

For what you seem to want, the Fantasy Masterworks series you noticed earlier does look to be the best fit.

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message 27: by John (new)

Jul 10, 2009 12:09PM

Incidentally:

Martin Prince: As your president, I would demand a science-fiction library, featuring an ABC of the genre. Asimov, Bester, Clarke.
Student: What about Ray Bradbury?
Martin Prince: I'm aware of his work...

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message 28: by Bookbrow (new)

Jan 07, 2010 08:52PM

Not a bad list, I like to collect as much of the classic SF as I can, after much research I add books to my list. I tend to follow patterns, More than Human, followed by Man Plus, etc. I read current but try to find time for the classics.

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message 29: by Leo (new)

Oct 11, 2012 03:53PM

Mohammed wrote: "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep ? Isnt even near PKD best and its ranked 2 must be cause of a certain film....

I added Jack Vance(Emphyrio,The Demon Princes,Araminta Station) Heinlein(Rocket ..."

Interesting point. But I love PDK, and have "Android" in my top 10. Mostly because I think it is his best. I also have "High Castle" in my top 10.

But, now that you mention it, I loved the hard-boiled human angle the "Android" gives. But, could it be because I have seen Harrison Ford as Decker "Blade Runner?"

I don't know. Unfortunately, I cannot unsee the movie...

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message 30: by Jain (new)

Jul 09, 2014 08:08PM

Deleted the books by J. K. Accinni, all of which were published in 2012 and 2013.

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message 31: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Jul 09, 2014 09:41PM) (new)

Jul 09, 2014 09:39PM

The Handmaid's Tale (#52), brilliant though it is, was first published in 1985.

ETA: Also, GREETINGS EARTHLINGS, My name is Appleton and I come from the Planet Reginta (#150) was published in 2012.

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