This helps to explain the level of political and social detail he weaves into his work. There are plenty of authors who were considered for this list but didn’t quite make it. And if you want to check out any of these titles for free, you can do so with Audible's one month free trial. ... Philip K. Dick. New genre specialists. His prestige and pedigree cannot be overstated. She was 17 at the time, and I was 45. To help you in your search we have categorized all of the possible book genres and given you quick access to purchase any of them. However Playster does not offer as many book options. As well as penning classic fiction, Herbert is a trained journalist. However, we don’t want to risk information overload, so we decided to narrow it down. Wells wrote sci-fi classics like War of the Worlds and our favorite, The Time Machine. 9 I, Robot The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (1974) One of the most beautifully written sci-fi novels of all time, The Dispossessed reads like poetry even … This must have been of one of my favorites as I was growing up when the entire idea of time travel and a time machine, to me, sounded so bizarre! There aren’t many writers who are able to please both the literary critic and the casual reader alike, but Brin is one of them. Poul Anderson is a fine example of a sci fi author who was able to both write entertaining, fun fiction, that also packed a political punch. The power of his stories is evidenced by their numerous adaptations into film, and some of the ideas and tropes advanced by Dick have helped revolutionize the science fiction genre. This isn’t because they are worse than the authors on the list as such. It details why each entry is on the list, a great way to start info more 'classic' SF. There are some sci fi writers who redefine what the genre looks like, or even branch out and create a subgenre of their own. This list include some highly recognizable and classic names, like Isaac Asimov and George Orwell, along with some contemporary science-fiction writers who are just beginning to make their mark on the genre. Every book on this list has a diehard fandom behind it. Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (; October 21, 1929 – January 22, 2018) was an American author. Every sci fi author on this list can be truly considered as one of the greats. Truth be told, some are more successful than others - it is really easy to write bad scifi. In Which We Count Down The 100 Greatest Science Fiction or Fantasy Novels of All Time - Home - This Recording. Keating (1987), foreword by Patricia Highsmith; Horror: The 100 Best Books, edited by Stephen Jones and Kim Newman (November 1988) Fantasy: The 100 Best Books, by James Cawthorn and Michael Moorcock (November 1988) William Gibson is a superb example of such an author. Fan love. For newcomers to Heinlein, Stranger In A Strange Land and Starship Troopers are excellent starting points. Best sci-fi and fantasy novels of all time. Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels: An English-Language Selection, 1949-1984 by David Pringle. One of the things which separates science fiction authors from writers in other genres is there background. Anthologies rarely make “Best Of” lists, but this one belongs on here — because it contains stories by many of the great science fiction writers we are discussing in our list. Anderson’s pedigree is evidenced by the multiple awards he has won as well as his presence in the sci fi hall of fame. We’ve tried to mix together all-time classic authors, such as Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein together with modern classics, such as Ernest Cline and John Scalzi. Given that this could never be exhaustive, what are some of the factors Top Sci Fi Books kept in mind when compiling our choice of the best fifteen science fiction authors to ever put pen to paper? Arthur C. Clarke once said, “Science Fiction is something that could happen – but usually you wouldn’t want it to. David Brin is a fine example of a sci fi author who is able to release both critically acclaimed and readable works. His writing was almost prophetic in predicting many of the ways in which science would change the world, and the impact that technology would have on science as a whole. There are plenty of writers who have released one or two amazing works, but failed to make this list due to how prolific certain writers, such as Isaac Asimov, were in comparison. Douglas Adams is one of the most-loved authors on this list, and with great reason. 2. These are the best science-fiction authors of all time, ranked by readers and fans. However, we feel it’s something of a disservice to limit them to sci fi alone. However, we wanted to pick authors with the broadest appeal possible. The Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time When you hear Sci-Fi, do your normally think of J.R.R. If you want to try something other than Audible you could also try Playster. One book per author, so that was hard on the big three of science fiction – Robert Heinlein , Isaac Asimov and Arthur C Clarke , who each have multiple classic titles to their name. Many of the names found here are widely regarded within the world of science and other academic disciplines outside of fiction. Signup with Audible's One Month Free Trial: By signing up for Audible's free month trial you can download any two books you choose for free. Her work drew critical claim from literary reviewers of almost every type, and Le Guin stated she was a novelist as opposed to a sci fi author. Niven is so widely regarded that there is such a thing as ‘Niven’s Laws’, a series of principles explaining the universe through Niven’s viewpoint. The ocean of science fiction awesomeness is deep and wide, so choosing 15 of the best ever was no easy task. Here are two ways to make it happen: 1. Every sci fi fan will have a slightly different criteria. Love him or hate him, he’s unique. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Although Adams wasn’t a sci fi novelist in the conventional sense, having originally released Hitchhiker’s as a radio play, the legacy and impact of his work earns him a spot on this list. Anyone too polarizing. So, start your journey now and get on your way to discovering new and amazing books that you might just never be able to put down. Aldous Huxley’s influence is immense and lasts until this day. Le Guin is perhaps the most widely admired female science fiction author, and with good reason. If your tastes are a little more niche, we’ve got you covered elsewhere here on Top Sci Fi! Pedigree. Most of the books selected are suitable for a well educated layman with only a few being for a more serious reader. As the name suggests this book is about a time machine created by the time traveler, the star of this story. Possibly the best science fiction writer of all time, H.G. One of the most prolific authors to have ever existed, regardless of genre, Isaac Asimov is universally acknowledged as science fiction’s greatest contributor. Outside of science fiction, Clarke was a true adventurer, even discovering a ruined temple as part of his scuba diving expeditions! A true titan whose impact continues to be felt. His Hitchhiker’s Guide series is one of the most enjoyable and fun science fiction works of all time, and Adams work continues to be adapted and enjoyed to this very day. Robert Heinlein is perhaps the finest example of a classic sci fi writer who used the genre to explore wider themes. Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer. As well as coining the term cyberspace, Gibson helped to establish the conventions of the cyberpunk genre. His contributions to the sci fi genre and science as a whole are numerous. We could have been sterile and boring and done something like aggregate all the Amazon review scores, but who wants to do that? Guin’s special talent was mixing fantasy and science fiction into cohesive and gripping tales which also grip the reader emotionally. Best Science Fiction Series Vote for your favorite science fiction series of novels (three published books in the sequence minimum). Guin’s special talent was mixing fantasy and science fiction into cohesive and gripping tales which also grip the reader emotionally. Instead, they didn’t quite feel right, based on the criteria we were using. Oh! However, we feel that this list presents a notable range of titans. To help keep things organized, vote only for the first book in the series, or an omnibus edition that includes the first book. Wells. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Space Odyssey Series), The Left Hand of Darkness: 50th Anniversary Edition (Ace Science Fiction), The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Five Novels in One Outrageous Volume, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? His... Frederik George Pohl Jr. (; November 26, 1919 – September 2, 2013) was an American... William Ford Gibson (born March 17, 1948) is an American-Canadian speculative fiction writer... Joe William Haldeman (born June 9, 1943) is an American science fiction author. He has won Hugos, Retro Hugos, was the bestselling science-fiction writers only to be succeeded by Isaac Asimov and Arthur Clarke (collectively referred to as ‘The Big Three’) and even invented some words of the English language. Larry Niven was perhaps the most readable of hard sci-fi writers, and is well worthy of his status as one of the best of all time. Passion. It should therefore be clear that our list of the thirty greatest writers are all fiction writers. If you decide you like Audible then you can pay a small monthly fee of $14.95 and get one book a month. Clarke’s stories are well-known through their film adaptations, although sci fi purists tend to insist on the superiority of the print editions. Author of science fiction or any sub-genre. Classics. Examples include Isaac Asimov, whose robotics work is definitive, and Michael Crichton, who was literally a medical doctor before writing. Although Heinlein’s work stands on its own as essential reading, having helped to establish some of the biggest and best subgenres within sci fi, he was also one of the first writers to explore social themes through a science fiction lens. However, Herbert shouldn’t be thought of as a one trick pony. Dune also is the best-selling sci fi story of all time, a true testament to its broad appeal. Perhaps best known for his Ringworld series, Niven released a mixture of hard sci-fi, humorous works, and even stories with a sort of private eye feel to them. These are the 10 greatest authors of all time, by points earned. Influence. Vote it down. Broader literary figures. Therefore, when compiling the list, we looked for authors who had a serious impact on the direction of the science fiction genre. William Shakespeare – 293. As well as being one of the most respected authors in terms of his literary contributions, he is one of the most serious scientists found here. His work is thrilling as well as intellectually stimulating. Or do some more recent authors come to mind? We culled some of the biggest reader polls from Goodreads and National Public Radio’s Books. Dune, by Frank Herbert (1965) In 2012, WIRED US readers voted Dune the best science-fiction novel of all time. If an author is more commonly thought of as a literary novelist, as opposed to a sci fi writer, they probably haven’t been included here. Isaac Asimov was one of the most successful and influential science fiction writers of all time. William Gibson’s work had a major impact both within and beyond the world of science fiction. Playster's One Month Free Trial works with either ebooks or audiobooks. Author Stanislaw Lem is quite likely the best science fiction writer ever, and this is his final novel. The world of modern sci-fi is full of amazing genres. The Telegraph presents the best books from the science fiction and fantasy genres Brave New World is still widely considered one of the most important novels of all time. All of these authors, in my opinion, deserve a place of honor on this list. We feel that all of these best science fiction books either have or will stand the test of time. If so, you're gonna need some staples from the best science fiction authors! While you might be picturing aliens and spaceships at the mere mention of science fiction short stories, science fiction is much more than that. Best known for his Bobiverse series, Dennis E. Taylor won Audible’s Best Science Fiction Book award in 2016 for the first in the series, We Are Legion (We Are Bob). From some of the earliest writers to adopt the sci fi style, such as HG Wells, to all-time classic authors, such as Isaac Asimov, many of the writers on this list are incredibly influential. She is... Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), better known by his pen name George... Laurence van Cott Niven (; born April 30, 1938) is an American science fiction writer. It’s hard to think of a more influential and important modern sci-fi author. He is best... Philip José Farmer (January 26, 1918 – February 25, 2009) was an American author known for his... Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American science fiction... Alan Dean Foster (born November 18, 1946) is an American writer of fantasy and science... Anne Inez McCaffrey (1 April 1926 – 21 November 2011) was an American-born writer who... Andre Alice Norton (born Alice Mary Norton, February 17, 1912 – March 17, 2005) was an... Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (UK: , US: ; née Godwin; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an... Sir Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English author of... 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