Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Top 10 science fiction novels

10. 1984 (George Orwell):

A wonderfully well written story of what could happen if totalitarianism were to take over society as we know it. The story is disturbing and cold at times and shows us a very grim side of things. The story was written at a time when the world had just seen the aftermath of the Second World War and was well received by critics and readers alike.



9. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley):

The story is set in a future where everything is perfect for the human race. This is a theme that has been explored a lot in this genre and the book is one of the best representations of a sterile yet perfect future free from vie and any form of misery. A society that is simply drab is well represented by the author and it also shows the darker side of things where people seek solace in drug abuse and sexual explorations.


8. Gateway (Frederik Pohl):

A book that has received a lot of acclaim for its groundbreaking style. The story is set in the 21st century where a discovery on an asteroid named Gateway begins an adventure of adventures as people set out in journeys that were decided eons and eons ago. A wonderful mix of narratives that can be slow at times but really paint pictures in the mind of the reader as the stories go on.


7. Neuromancer (William Gibson):

The Neuromancer is a story that gave birth to the genre known as cyberpunk. The violent tales of Case who links his brain to a computer and their adventure begins. The story was able to recreate images like never before into the minds of its readers and is a hit even today with young and old people alike.


6. Dune (Frank Herbert):

It is one of the most loved and undoubtedly one of the highest selling science fiction novels of all time. It is a story set in the distant future where empires have reached an interstellar level. The story follows the life on an ordinary person but has politics, emotion and technology mixed well together.


5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams):

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy that is worth the trouble to read and re-read again. The story is set on a journey to find the ultimate answer which is set upon a distant planet. The journeys across space and time take the characters on an epic journey.


4. Foundation (Issac Asimov):

The Foundation series is one of the most legendary series of science fiction books ever written. Written by science fiction heavyweight Issac Asimov, the book explores a fictional universe that is wonderfully detailed in every aspect. Using concepts that the author himself thought of, the stories cover the rise and fall of galactic empires.


3. 2001 A Space Odyssey (Arthur C. Clarke):

The story has been immortalized by the film that was made based on the story. The story of an alien race that uses a mystical crystal to explore life on distant planets and help it prosper is well written and should be on any booklovers must read list.


2. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Robert A. Heinlein): 

The masterpiece of the writer who has written many other books of acclaim, science fiction and fantasy combine to weave an intricate tale that is deeply engrossing as well as revolutionary in many ways. It explores a different aspect of things and reaches a personal level where the possibility of such a fantasy existing becomes high.


1. The Time Machine (H.G. Wells): 

The topper on the list is undoubtedly one of the best works of science fiction. It introduces the concept of a machine that can be used to travel through time. The book has been received well by people of all ages and is again a book that should go on every book lover’s shelf.

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