The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

This month we reach the 1950's as a change from usual we will have two nominations. One for a book from the 1950's by Isaac Asimov and the other for any other book from the 1950's. We read four books last time round from the 1950's so if you want to check before nominating you can find them on the bookshelf here.

Current Nominations

Asimov
I, Robot
The Naked Sun
The Currents of Space

Other 50's
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert A Heinlein
On the Beach by Nevil Shute

The original I, Robot by Isaac Asimov is a collection of short stories written in the 40's, but was first published as a collection in 1950. The first story "Runaround" was published in 1941, so they span the decade. It also introduces the 3 laws of robotics, so it's probably one of the most influential collections of the time. These laws are being mentioned by some of the top scientists today as they discuss the dangers of AI.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury for the other. I read it a few years ago & was shocked by how good it was after all these years.

Isaac Asimov wrote a number of standards of science fiction in the fifties. I've read a number of them in recent years. I nominate one I haven't read yet: The Naked Sun

Not sure for Asimov yet but for the other nomination i'm going to choose The Chrysalids by John Wyndham. I really like Wyndham and he has a lot of great books this decade.

So i've been looking at what Asimov book to nominate, originally I was going to nominate Foundation but i've been moving my books around and I can't found it anywhere (or any of the series). I have managed to find two copies of The Naked Sun which are exactly the same version! Anyway i'm going to nominate something else I do have The Currents of Space.

I've already read the other nominees - both very good. SF in the fifties was defined by one of my favorite writers, Robert A Heinlein, . I've read a quite a few of his novels, some are all time favorites, but there are many I haven't gotten to yet.

I nominate: Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert A. Heinlein, 1957

Nevil Shute, On The Beach (1957). An influential post-apocalyptic novel set in Australia, later adapted into a film with Gregory Peck (1959). Helen Caldicott read this book as a girl and it led her to her current work as an anti-nuclear activist.

I've never read it, I'm curious about it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I gave "On the Beach" 5 stars. It's a must-read & similar to Earth Abides & Alas, Babylon in many ways. Definitely a worthy nomination.

The Naked Sun is pretty good, but it's a sequel to The Caves of Steel. I read that not long ago, but it's been too long for me to recall if it's important to read the 2 in order. Anyone else know? They're both good, as I recall. If you prefer a robot novel over the short stories, this is the way to go.

Citizen of the Galaxy is one of my favorite Heinlein books, although I like all his juveniles.

I think I'll go for (I, Robot) since I've still not read Asimov's work and (The Chrysalids) for the second one!