TOP 150 Science Fiction Books

These are the top 150 from over 400+ science fiction novels and novellas I have read.
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Enjoy my TOP 150 list of Science Fiction books I most enjoyed reading.
Let me know what you think is missing from my list? Maybe I haven’t read it yet, didn’t like it, or overlooked it.
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[@saintdonoghue]

This was absolutely stupendous! I think I loved it most when we disagreed - endlessly interesting! I watched it with another ancient sci-fi reader, and we were cheering and jeering the whole fantastic time!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Steve, ha thats great. Man what a fun time, watching KZbin with a bud...ifnit was someone else's list id love that...especially the jeering ha

[@FIT2BREAD]

Would love to hear your top 3 jeers and cheers...

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@DavidWiley7 I think the jeers would be the most fun part of that :)

[@blueblack9067]

Wow, what a feat. The books, the blurbs, the editing, the T-shirts. My 2022 tbr has exploded. Thank you for this beauty of a video Michael. I'm gonna revisit your list several times

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Blue, your too sweet

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh boy! It's live! So excited for our discussion on Friday!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Me too. Can't wait to talk about all this on your channel (tomorrow/Friday night at 930pm EST) :)

[@cappuccinocrafts2412]

Wow, this is an epic list and a great video. Thank you for creating and sharing it. Definitely added some to my own TBR and will come back to this as a resource as I improve the breadth of my sci-fi reading. Your graphics and your editing kept it from getting dull even though it is a whole lot of books and a long video.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Cap. Im glad you got some titles out of it. I did think that once I got to editing it miggt get a bit dull and tiring for me to edit it all, but instead it became just a lot of fun.

[@BrandonsBookshelf]

Not all the way throuhg yet, pausing at Project Hail Mary, which I absolutely lovedddd! but cant believe your ranked 150! what an amazing video man. Finding lots of new to me books here!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Brandon

[@FIT2BREAD]

Of the ones u saw do u have favorites among them?

[@shellymarstersdon6268]

OMG that intro. I was planning to skip around and cheat on this, but with all these wardrobe changes and wild edits I don't want to step away.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Shelly, cheating is encouraged as its 2HRs long ha. But yeah, don't you dare step away :)

[@7PLUTIE]

I am thrilled to find you today curtesy of shades of orange. I can’t wait to watch your back list. I am saving this video for research . Thank you. Btw love the t shirt changes

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks for watching 7P and for taking the time to comment.

[@P.EnglishLiterature]

Still watching... This is super amazing!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks P. Maybe I'll nudge another step closer to sci fi my friend

[@P.EnglishLiterature]

@@FIT2BREAD I've been enjoying your opinion on Station Eleven, Metro 2033, and The Time Machine - though I'm still watching... Haha. I'm watching it on my laptop and I'm replying to your comment with my phone. I was going to ask you, are you a scientist? You seem to have an extraordinary love for science fiction, haha.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@P.EnglishLiterature I like science, but never went anywhere in that field. Sort of. My degrees oddly enough are Political Science and a Masters Degree in Exercise Science...so in that sense do I maybe qualify as a scientist ha, yeah..actually in kinesiilogy ill go with it... my love of scifi just really relates to the ideas of what lies out there, what can be imagined. All the what ifs. What if we found other intelligent life (or they found us)? What would other worlds or galxies, or galaxy wide governments look like. What tech advancements will there be in 50,000 years.

[@P.EnglishLiterature]

@@FIT2BREAD Whoa! This is super amazing! This blew my mind! 🤯

[@codehardr1209]

This is hands down the best list I've ever seen on youtube!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thank you, I'm sorry to see this listed as me not having replied sooner.

[@StormReads]

Great video, love your editing and backgrounds!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Storm. Maybe I'll get you to try another scifi book. I feel like you might like A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet.

[@TheCheppih]

I haven't watched the whole video yet but still wanted to comment and say that I already find this video to be super helpful as someone who hasn't read that much sci-fi but want to get into it. I just never felt I really knew what sci-fi books to read because it's so hit or miss for me with the ones I've read so far. And everyone I watch on booktube often reads the same thing so I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of good options for the genre. That's why I love your channel, because you talk about sci-fi that goes under the radar. So thank you so so much for making this video! 🙏 I’ll be taking my time enjoying it and adding recommendations to my list.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks , I’m really glad to hear that. Now you have somewhere to direct friends for a holiday shopping list ;)

[@crimson6684]

Awesome video really enjoy your content!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Crimson. I appreciate that.

[@samuelcrouch8692]

Epic list. So many that's I'm now convinced to check out. From the ones I've read, I strongly agree with this list up until the top 3 which I personally wouldn't put above anything in your top 20, but that's just me.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Samuel. I can see others saying that too, as there's a huge divergence for people when it comes to top 3. Nostalgia, emotions, ideas, etc all go into it. You should watch the live stream tomorrow if you can on Shades of Orange channel when we talk about consideration for how we rank books on top 10 and top 150 lists. Its 930pm est

[@samuelcrouch8692]

@@FIT2BREAD I'm for sure interested in checking that out but I have plans at that time. Will the stream be archived on their channel?

[@MediaDeathCult]

Great video, thank you

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks, I selfishly hope it nudges you to read Dichronauts, as I'd love to see a masterful review of it by you.

[@Bookpilled]

Finally watched this, great job. You've bumped Egan up my TBR.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks man.oved seeing Norstrillia on your list!

[@dalejones4322]

Oh my gosh this video was perfect. I like how this video was done even better than the 210. So spectacular. I like hearing your thoughts on all the books. Thank you so much for doing this. I will refer to it many times in the future.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Dale. I appreciate it

[@Johanna_reads]

Michael, forgive me for taking me a long while to finish this video, but it was so worth the time spent watching. I watched this in installments and thoroughly enjoyed it! I need to go back through this with my Goodreads account open so I can add many of these to my list. You are my number one channel to go to for science fiction recommendations. This was super high quality!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Johanna. I appreciate that. I really need to send it in list form to everyone who's mentioned similar. I'll work on that to make it easier.

[@Nichomachean5]

I bought like 20 books off this list. What a fantastic video. I love how you actually tell us what the books are about, so many videos surprisingly don't. I'm getting back into reading a lot like back when I used to in college and the military, and sci-fi is what got me hooked again. Thanks so much! :)

[@FIT2BREAD]

Glad I could help. I hoped I gave enough info to give an idea of each book. In a week or two, I'll have a top 210 list out and I think I focussed more on treating them like recommendations this time around. Thanks for your comment.

[@ScientistsReadingWorld]

First OMG IT'S HERE! second great job putting this list together it was a hell of work here! I will always have this on save to see sci-fi recommendations when i need it :D Thank you so much for sharing this ^^ I read the YA ones and Frankenstein, and have a few here xD. uhh metro 2033 is one of the only books my boyfriend read.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Hugo. Did he like Metro??

[@ScientistsReadingWorld]

@@FIT2BREAD He loved it! only missing the 2035

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@ScientistsReadingWorld maybe recommend Hyperion to him see if he likes :)

[@ScientistsReadingWorld]

@@FIT2BREAD I will ^^ Thank you :D

[@PumpkinFinch]

This is amazing and I added so many books to my TBR, such great work. Also can you do a video showing off all your sci-fi shirts?!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Sydney. Which titles most caught your attention? As for the shirts, I think I had my whole collection in this video, I'm not sure I left any out...I even managed to sneak Blade Runner in there. Ha

[@DaisyXMachina]

This should be a definitive reference for all science fiction fans! So many books I know and so many I don’t! I know this must have taken you forever to edit but it is amazing! I think David Brin’s Uplift War would be in my top ten somewhere. Curious if you’ve read the Void Captain’s Tale by Norman Spinrad. It has a crazypants premise (space travel via orgasm) that somehow gets stuck in your head--but I’d imagine the use of future language would drive you nuts!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Have not read Void.. but ill put it on the list...I think its a good way for me to get books on to my reading list too! Thanks BG

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

Is Norman Spinrad still around? Remember reading his space opera the Solarians many years ago and have still have his The Iron Dream. Haven't read the Void's Captain Tale but the premise doesn't surprise me cause I could tell the guy always had sex on the brain!

[@mikesnyder1788]

Great list, Michael, and I really enjoyed the pacing of this video. And what a memory flash I had when you mentioned #131 Pat Frank's "Alas, Babylon" because I haven't heard that title mentioned in years. Yup, I read this rather frightening novel as well as Nevil Shute's "On the beach" and a short story by Stephen Vincent Benet "By the waters of Babylon" about the same time when the USA and the USSR were squaring off during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Right! The Cold War was a real thing and these and other stories were roadmaps pointing us toward oblivion.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Wow so interesting. Thanks for the context. I can't imagine what the reading experience was like

[@samuelcrouch8692]

Omg you actually did it! What a madlad. Can't wait to sink my teeth into this one

[@FIT2BREAD]

Haha. Yes back in July I wasn't thinking it would take me until November to complete.

[@salvdivinart]

Many Thanks :))) Great work !

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Salv

[@angelaroberts-757]

What a great list! I cant wait to dive into these. My TBR gets longer..... .

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks angela...theres a top 210 list for u also

[@angelaroberts-757]

@@FIT2BREAD good! I will check it out!

[@jeremyfee]

Bravo, bravo! I was happy to hear Sea of Rust was on the list. I was curious what your ratio of more recent books to classics would be.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Oh great book. Thats another that could really be ranked 30 spaces higher...thanks for the kind comment, I think in 2 weeks I'm going to do a nov wrap up and include some stats for the 150 list, like publication dates, authors most represented, goodreads ratings averages etc .

[@boromirjonah5774]

I have read 36 books on your list. I read way to slow but I did hit a personal best of 30 books last year. My favorite read last year was WAYSTATION by SIMAK. My favorite author is BRADBURY. So happy to see his stuff on this list. Great video. Thanks for the info on each title.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Do you recommend Waystation (I assume)? I haven't read that. Of our 36 matches, what are your top 3? Thanks another for watching. Theres another video on my channel (fyi) called "YOUR MT RUSHMORE TAG..." I talk about favorite authors there.

[@boromirjonah5774]

@@FIT2BREAD my top three authors are Bradbury, Clarke and Heinlein. I just read way to slow. I also read a lot of fantasy. I recommend WAYSTATION highly as well as DOOR INTO SUMMER by Heinlein. My favorite Bradbury has to be The illustrated man and his short story work is incredible. I still have over 200 stories to read. My favorite 3 of our matches are blood music, rendezvous with rama and the stand

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@boromirjonah5774 great choice. I've read door into summer and other heilein. I left his stuff off the last because I really didn't remember it enough to legitimately rank it. I know I liked Dior but just couldn't jog my memory. I have a review of Rama on the channel...if your up for it we can compare notes on my 5 likes and dislikes...

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

Great list! I've only read a fraction of the books you talked about since I read in many different genres not just sci-fi but do recognize most of the author's names. You're obviously an SF fanatic (in a good way I mean). I love Gibson, Stephenson, Sterling, Vinge, Robinson and the old masters like Clarke, H G Wells and Jules Verne. For a long time the two Gregs (Bear and Benford) were my absolute favorites but I'm afraid their work has fallen off in their Golden Years. Wanted to write at least a full page in reply to the video but guess I can't do that. Keep up the great work!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks. I recently interviewed Greg Bear, if you are interested in checking that out on the channel. Whats your fav non scifi book Frank?

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

Hard to name just one book. i'll just say Dostoyevsky, Camus and J D Salinger have always been great favorites and have had tremendous influence on my thinking. Also loved Iris Murdoch though she's about as far from sci-fi-fi as you can get.@@FIT2BREAD

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd some of mine are Crime and Punishment, The Far Pavillions, Pillars of Earth...

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

Yes Crime and Punishment is incredible and still very relevant today though The Brothers Karamozov is considered his greatest. My personal favorite is the one called Demons though it has nothing to do with the supernatural. Confronts the issues of revolution and Man vs God directly. Have had Pillars of the Earth for years and still haven't read it though his Eye of the Needle has to be one of the Top 10 spy thrillers of all time.

[@geocat1067]

Fantastic video and list. congratulations! Have you considered releasing the list as text?

[@FIT2BREAD]

Good point. I could. I have it on a spreadsheet so it wouldn't be difficult. I might do that at some point. For now, though each entry is sort of meant as a title, a cover, a blurb, and an associated image(s) to form the complete "message" i want to have represent each book. So as just a list, I feel I might miss some of my intent. Having said that, there are obviously some on the list where i dont have much graphic representation for other than the book cover...and...thank you

[@geocat1067]

@@FIT2BREAD good point! I love that you look at it in its totality and I believe that really shows in the video. My comment was actually more egoistic in nature to make future references and the explosion of my tbr more efficient 😅

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@geocat1067 oh good point. I'll see what I can do about having some list like reference for it st some point to make it easier to navigate

[@saldanamoreno]

Wow, I watched this whole video. I’m getting back into reading science fiction and so many of these books are going on my TBR for 2023. Thanks so much.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Well...have I got news for you ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGK2nqmJZ7aYfck

[@saldanamoreno]

@@FIT2BREAD whoa boy. I better go and make a pot of coffee.

[@RKStumblingbear]

This was a fun video. I like that you have a mix of years and types of science fiction on your list. I don't have a top ten but my favorite scifi is Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein. I found it on my dad's shelf and it was my gateway into science fiction.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks R.K. I appreciate your comment. Do you read much ScFi or only read Space Cadet?

[@RKStumblingbear]

@@FIT2BREAD I do enjoy reading Scifi still to this day. I am currently reading An Ancient Peace by Tanya Huff. This follows her Confederation series and I'm really loving Torin Kerr.

[@katedarkholme5703]

Have you read any of this: Seveneves by Neal Stephenson , Starfish by Peter Watts, A Darkling Sea by James L. Cambias , The Never Hero by T. Ellery Hodges? I think you might like them. My TBR list grew considerably after I watched this video.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Ok, good call. As you can probably tell my reading enjoyment meshes well with Stephenson... I am on page 4 of Seveneves ha. I keep it at my office on my TBR, and I opened it the other day when I didnt have my other books with me. 4 pages in I already know its a winner, and If I do an update 150 list next year (or 200 ha) I have no doubt this is one will be on it. I put it down tho only because I'm further in on some other books I'm reading. Starfish is already in my TBR. I'm not familiar with Darkling or Hero. Can you give me a "sales pitch" on those 2?

[@katedarkholme5703]

@@FIT2BREAD I'm not good at this, but let's see... The Never Hero is a first book in a self published trilogy about a student Jonathan Tibbs and his journey after a lifechanging event. He was attacked by some mysterious and inhumanly strong man in a fedora (who is being hunted by a secret military branch). His housemates find him in a pool of his own blood but with not even a scratch on his body. Then some monster appears within a city and starts killing anyone on his path and only Jonathan can understand what it's saying. Will he go to his death to stop this massacre? I won't say anything else, but this book is one of the best I've read this year. A Darkling Sea is about humans secretly studying aliens on a moon which is completely enveloped by water and encrusted by ice. But this aliens have scientists of their own and a chance meeting of the two species doesn't end well for one member of the human crew. Also, I forgot to ask about Gnomon by Nick Harkaway and new Hamilton's series (Salvation Sequence), have you read them or planning to?

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@katedarkholme5703 yes on Salvation...and Gnomon eventually... and, yeah you are good at blurring and "selling" those other two. Darkling blurb catches my eye more, but what also stands out is when you say Never Hero is one of the best you read this year...speaking of new this year...have you read #46 on my list?

[@katedarkholme5703]

@@FIT2BREAD #46 is on my TBR, so far I read only two books by Tchaikovsky (Children of Time and Children of Ruin), but I plan to remedy that

[@sarafairchild2588]

I have looked at Dark Sea several times to buy, as I saw it on SFF180 and it looked good. Now I am gonna get it! Thanks!

[@LarryHasOpinions]

i feel like hitchhikers guide should have been at number 42 :-D why do you have books in italian? amazing vid, cant imagine how long it took you to put together, congrats! (and impressive tshirt collection lol)

[@FIT2BREAD]

Ha. It would have been fun if it had randomly ended up at 42. I (used to) speak Italian, so I have some Italian language books. Thanks Larry. It took a long time, but it was really fun for me.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Where would hitchhikers guide be on your list...assuming it didn't land at 42...?

[@jeremyfee]

I made it to the end of the video! I was surprised I hadn't heard of some of your top 20, and that #5 wasn't #1. While watching I was cooking, eating, cleaning, doing the laundry, etc. and didn't take good notes. I don't suppose you have a Google drive shared file with the 150 list typed out? I know you have my email address. :)

[@FIT2BREAD]

One of the tougher placements on the list was determining #4 vs #5. I kept switching them back. Any of the top 6 could be 1 or 2 on a different day for me. I was hoping some of the top 20 and beyond would be a surprise to some.

[@FIT2BREAD]

I'll have to get you a list, once I clean it up, it's a bit of a mess as it stands

[@joinbookland]

Came to watch this after your live with Rachel. Even though I'm not a huge sci-fi reader, I do enjoy the genre. I watched your 150 to 100. I was surprised to see I've read a fair amount of these and some others were already on my radar. Lots of titles are new to me though so will definitely be adding more to my TBR. Will come back and watch the rest of this later. BTW, I just read The Beauty, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novella by Aliya Whiteley. A strange one, but enjoyable. Do you know it?

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Josee, and thanks for watching the livestream. im glad to hear we had some in common. I haven't read the book you mentioned, but im going to look at it now and see if it grabs me. Can you give a little blurb "sales pitch" on it? Strange but enjoyable is definitely up my alley.

[@joinbookland]

@@FIT2BREAD Sales pitch... It's best to not know too much but I can say this : In this post-apocalyptic world the women have all died from a fungal infection that invaded their bodies. Now mushrooms are growing on their graves and things are about to get bizarre. A thought-provoking story that might put you off of mushrooms.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@joinbookland yeah totally intrigued. Checking it out

[@joinbookland]

@@FIT2BREAD I hope you like it! Forgot to mention that some categorize it as horror. I suppose you could say it's a mix.

[@larkwyll7351]

First time watching one of your vids. That was a shock there at the end with Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. I didn't see that coming after all of your more adult themed and hard Sci-fi picks. I was posting in another booktuber's comments earlier today who had a top 15 list which did not include a few of my favorites that stuck with me (Armor by John Steakley, Ender's Game, and Speaker for the Dead by OSC). There was something about Speaker I have a hard time describing. It captured me. I owe it a re-read. Its so different than Ender's Game that I'm glad you separated the volumes in your list as they bear little resemblance to one another and yet I loved them both. Have you read Armor by John Steakley? Military sci-fi so unsure if its up your alley but that one is a wild ride. Can read it in 1-2 sittings.

[@FIT2BREAD]

thanks, and nice call on Armor. I just missed putting it on my top 210 (its so fickle...I think if I did list today I might have it at number 85 or something....) , but I did include it on my military scifi recs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4mTn6ysarWegKs *note, in the video I misspoke re Felix's armor. The armor I spoke of was of course Felix's (the soldier)...not Jack's...

[@chrisconnors7418]

Of the first 50 books, I had to go track down 10 of them, as I hadn't heard of them, or I haven't read them since my teens (and had forgotten about them till you mentioned them). I'll be back tomorrow for more of this fantastic vid!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks, Chris. When you get through the list you have to let me know where we have overlap and also where we do not.

[@chrisconnors7418]

@@FIT2BREAD I picked up another 6 books with the last 100: Permutation City, Lagoon, The Red, Aurora, Quarantine, Fiasco. Nearly all the others I've read, or possess and plan to read. Foundation series (first three) would certainly be in my top 10. It was influential in my reading tastes as a teen (a few decades back); thought the follow-ups were milking the success, and they felt preachy and were covering the types of fundamental philosophical ideas you sit around and BS about half the night in your first year undergrad when you're too in love when you mistake pretentious shallowness with insight and cleverness. I wasn't fond of Neuromancer myself as it felt old. However, that was because I'd already read lots of recent work that borrowed Gibson's ideas. Thus, the original felt like the hackneyed copy. I do like Kim Stanley Robinson, but some books I don't finish. I read the first in the Mars trilogy, and liked it, but not enough to read the other two. Peter Hamilton is a brilliant writer, but I gave up after four or five books because of what I perceive as a problematic attitudes when writing some of his female characters. I did just read Gareth Powell's and Hamilton's novella, Light Chaser, and that was much better. I think I would have put Hail Mary a few books down the list from The Martian. For me, The Martian was a far better read although I enjoyed Hail Mary and read large chunks of it at a time. I reread The Mote in God's Eye a couple of years ago and discovered even more sequels, so at some point I'll read the ones I haven't read yet. Have you read any Neal Asher? I read one a couple of weeks ago, and just finished a second one this week. If was going to make a top 10 list, one of those books would probably land in it. I'm looking forward to reading his other books in the Polity universe (and Spatterjay world). Memoirs of an Invisible Man (H.F. Saint) may be sci-fi (barely); it would have gone on a top 20 list somewhere for me. I read it several times when it first came out. They made a so-so movie out of it--entertaining, enjoyable and worth a DVD rental, but maybe not a theatre ticket. Anyway, loved your list! Now have another 16 books (actually more as I picked up some of the follow-ups) to read; and it was a wonderful tour through memory of some of the books I read long ago. It must have taken you a few months to put all this together. It's a great gift to those who want to read more sci-fi, as well as a gift of fond memories, nostalgia, to those of us who have already read lots of sci-fi, and may have missed some of the classics. In high school I think I read through every Clark, Heinlein, Bradbury, Asimov, Dick, Silverberg----hey, you missed Silverberg!--Lord Valentine's Castle was so good I reread it several times as a teen and then went and learned how to juggle as the protagonist learned to juggle so he could hide in a travelling circus to hide from his enemies---Farmer, etc in the high school library. According to the librarian, I read more books in Grade 9 than anyone else had read in their entire 4-5 years at the school. And I did the same in Grade 10. And, I still juggle balls, clubs, rings, flaming torches several decades later because Silverberg's descriptions of juggling caught my imagination. So, many thanks to this labour of love from you!

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@chrisconnors7418 I def love the foundation books. I even enjoyed the brin,bear, benford ones (obviously not as much as the originals). Im excited to see what you think of the Egan books. As much as I click with his writing style, I dont often recommend him broadly as I think its def a taste, and I could see someone reading his stuff and questioning why I recommended it. Good point on Neuromancer too. Its such a nice original peice that inspired so many things, that watching it after those things that took inspiration from it, could ruin the experience. I totally get it too, because I think that happened to me with Childhoods End Had I read it prior to other things like it, I could have appreciated it more and not judged it against other similar things I liked more. With Hail Mary and Martian, I do agree that the Martian is the "stronger" of the two, but, for me, things lined up correctly for me to have the more fun experience reading Hail Mary. I haven't read Asher. What would be your top Asher pick to recommend to me to blow my socks off? I also acknowledge not having Silverberg or Simak represented on the list. The few titles I've read by both authors are just to far from memory to accurately, legitimately include this time around on this list. Ill try to work readings in for 2022. Thanks for your comment, it was one of the big intentions of this project to encourage sharing like you did...and the nostalgia...

[@chrisconnors7418]

@@FIT2BREAD I've only read two Asher books so far as I've just recently discovered him. So, I can't really give a knowledgeable recommendation. Jack Four, and The Skinner are the ones I've read. I wasn't so sure as I read Jack Four, but it didn't take long before it hooked me. Then when I read The Skinner, I was familiar with the Spatterjay virus from Jack Four so I understood more of the vague references about it in The Skinner. I liked both books, perhaps The Skinner more but probably because of the background from Jack Four. Jack Four is supposed to be a standalone while The Skinner is the first book in the Spatterjay trilogy. Jack Four does have a short (and useful) glossary at the beginning to help new readers with some background. I read it once and I remembered enough to understand the book.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@chrisconnors7418 ok cool. Im gonna look those both up and dig around about and maybe get one of those on my reading list. Thanks

[@attention5638]

A top 150, and still have ties!!😅 It was quite difficult to not look at the comments to see if someone mentioned the top few haha but I made it! What a crazy range! Outside three authors that I have read everything by, I think all other sci fi novels I have read is somewhere on this list. But, what I need to know more than anything else is, did you get a lot of those awesome t-shirts specifically for this video? 😅

[@FIT2BREAD]

The one for three body problem, yes...and also the PKD and the colorful Asimov one. I needed those two to fill in the rotation.oh and the blue slaughterhouse 5 one

[@MarcelaBellyDance]

I absolutely love all of your videos! Thank you 🙏🏽

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Marcela

[@bookssongsandothermagic]

This is an awesome video - I am new to making content on youtube and you do it really well and inspire me to keep developing what I'm doing. Love the list and relate to a lot of it.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks im still newish and learning tol, but if I can ever help let me know. I've benefitted a lot from having kind people on here willing to email with me when I had questions or just to give positive reinforcement or be a second said of eyes. Thanks for your comment.

[@stevekempton1804]

I loved this video so much (all 2 hours) so much that I subscribed. Can’t say I agree with all your choices but love your passion. Of course I made notes on ones to try. Overall a great list but too much Hard Science Fiction and not enough Social Science Fiction for my taste. The Biggest names I thought you missed would be Robert Silverberg followed by John Varley. Thanks again.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Steve thanks and great call. I dont read as much short stories and probably under represent Silverberg. Ill probably read more of his stuff next year

[@FIT2BREAD]

Varley is also definitely a gap in my reading

[@VMSelvaggio]

I'm glad you still got a positive experience from Andromeda Strain. I read that book my Freshman year of High School in 1 weekend, and I'm a slower reader, who reads more comprehensively, rather than quickly.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks, yeah it's been a long time since I read that one. On my upcoming top 210 list, I have a freind/special guest introducing it :)

[@tbritz13]

I was impressed with your choices. Naturally there were a few I didn't agree with and there were some I thought belonged, like Clifford D. Simak and a few of the "old time" SF. I'm not that well read in the newer era, though I have read a few. All in all you did a great job and gave me a few choices for my ever growing TBR. Thanks.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks. A lot of classics that didn't make it, were left off because I haven't read them recently enough to rank them (legitimately). The recency bias helped some of the more modern stuff make the list. Ring Around The Sun should def have made it...

[@tbritz13]

@@FIT2BREAD Yes, that and Way Station are my top novels of all time.

[@willp2877]

This is fantastic! I would also rank Sirens of Titan above Slaughterhouse 5 and Cat's Cradle. Sirens is an underrated masterpiece. It's validating to see it so high because I really love that novel.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Will. I obviously like all if them, but Sirens just connected with me more and I "felt" it most

[@pixilixy]

Yes! Blindsight, I reluctantly read it earlier this year and after a difficult start it just blew me away!!! Also apparently I need to pick up some Greg Egan, never read him

[@FIT2BREAD]

Jeanette, even though Egan appears a bit on this list, its not always an author i recommended, as I know its not the best vibe for everyone. Even tho Watts and Egan are very different authors, I feel like you might find something in Egans catalogue you like. Or atleast, because you pushed through with Blindsight, you'll give Egans book enough pages to get to the good stuff...I think the title with broadest appeal will probably be Permutation City or Quarantine. One that just really really clicked for me was Dichronauts (theres a spoiler free review on my channel that can give u an idea), and then other Egan fans I know, really like Schilds Ladder and Diaspora.

[@luanavianagomes]

I added so many books to my TBR right now...

[@FIT2BREAD]

Luana, that's awesome. Which one is first up for you?

[@luanavianagomes]

@@FIT2BREAD Probably Dhalgren, because I love Samuel Delany

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@luanavianagomes oh great. Im planning rereads in 2022 for Dhalgren and also Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand, and probably Nova also. Lot of Delany for me in 2022

[@fiberartsyreads]

I enjoyed this! Some I’ve read, some I want to read, some I haven’t heard of! Added many to my TBR.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thats awesome. Any favorites?

[@fiberartsyreads]

@@FIT2BREAD Definitely Handmaid’s Tale, Kindred and Dawn by Butler (I still need to read Parable), Fifth Season, Babel-17, The Stand, Wool. I know a lot of folks love Children of Time but I struggled a lot with that one and ended up not finishing it. I wanted to love it but it wasn’t meant to be. Ha.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@fiberartsyreads awesome. I think I'll re read Kindred in 2022. BABEL17 I just finished a reread a few weeks ago. I get you with children of time. I think its really well dont, but the spider story, early on, felt too national geographic (at first)...by the end the, the story as a whole gabe me a good sense of satisfaction.

[@fiberartsyreads]

@@FIT2BREAD yeah the spider evolution, while interesting, also just dragged for me and bogged down the story. I may try Shards of Earth though.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@fiberartsyreads ill warn you tho, while I think shards was the more fun read and harder to put down, the first 100 or so pages has a lot of character set up that takes a while do get comfortable with who everyone is, but it is fun and enjoyable once it gets going.

[@carlosbranca8080]

Great list but what i really need are those H.G. Wells t-shirts!

[@FIT2BREAD]

You can't have them! Haha. Thanks Carlos

[@Debiano_Banano]

Glad to see City & The City here. Underrated af.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Great read

[@peterflom6878]

I've read a LOT of these and agree with a lot. Really well done. I would be stricter in the definition of SF., but that's fine. Surprised that there was nothing by Varley

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks. All of my Varley reading has been short fiction. My top 210 lost has more authors represented, but still light on some notable authors...Zelazny, Silverberg, Aldiss, Varley and some others

[@roberthutchison8197]

Yes, I have been reading science fiction for almost 65 years of my 78 years! So it would be hard for me to say which SF book is my favorite. But as I have mentioned, the Big Three are the authors I have read the most, and the most I have in my SF Library. I did enjoy your 'blurp'!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Robert

[@ElReyMaza]

I think I’m going to have to get some popcorn this one! Already in 143 and I want to pick them all up… watch I get all 150 of them!! Oh noooo

[@FIT2BREAD]

Maza, if you are able to watch in one sitting u deserve a reward haha

[@epiphoney]

The 1980 PBS TV adaption of The Lathe of Heaven with a young Bruce Davison is super good. Sometimes someone puts it on youtube.

[@FIT2BREAD]

I may have to check it out. I'm not always certain I want to see a loved book adapted, but sometimes it works. I'll give it a shot on your recommendation. Thanks

[@TheyTalkPolitics]

Have you read Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson? Probably my favorite science fiction series.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Joseph, I haven't read that and it wasn't on my radar, im going to Google it and get familiar. Thanks. Got a breif synopsis on why you liked it so much (spoiler free)?

[@TheyTalkPolitics]

@@FIT2BREAD Earth was attacked on Columbus Day by aliens. We where saved by a different alien race. We venture off into the galaxy to help fight their enemies. Craig Alanson is a amazing writer. He can switch between disturbing and hilarious better than almost any author. I compare it to Dresden Files but in space.

[@roberthutchison8197]

As usual a lot of your books I have never read as I specialize in The Golden Age of Science Fiction, and, of course, the big three, Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Robert, I'd love to hear more of your list, as you maybe have read more classic scifi than I have. I def have a lot of Asimov on this list and not much Clark or Heinlein. I've read a lot of Heinlein, and while he's an incredible writer, I don't always enjoy his work as much as I respect it. Clarke, I really like and I think I have 3 or 4 of his books on here. Notable Childhoods Wnd, a great book, didn't make it, though it will be on my top 210 list. For me, as great as Clarke is, of the big 3, his work feels the most dated (to me). Also, because he was great, so much of his stuff was copied (and in some cases improved on) just makes it hard for me to add more than a few on this list.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Also, if open to modern reads (and I'm trying to be mindful of your preference for classics) I'd suggest Sea of Rust, Revelation Space, Edges, and Blindsight as a few modern picks....

[@carlosbranca8080]

Wait, no Childhood's End?? My second favorite scifi book after Hiperion!! Unless i missed it in the list...

[@FIT2BREAD]

I did a preview video explaining why it wasn't in my top 150 :) Unpopular opinion. I like it but wasn't a top 150 for me :(

[@stevejennette25]

Pleased to see Nemesis in top 100!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Great underrated asimov read

[@annlitz4787]

Excellent representation of the genre across cultures -- time periods, genders, and geographies. Plus: The reviews tell us what the goddam books are actually *about* -- and in a well worded sentence or two, just enough to pique interest without spoilers. (Only about a third if the way through the list so far; I've read maybe 10 of the bottom 50.)

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Anne, I was looking forward to your reaction

[@chase36chase]

glad, that i found this channel

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Chin. I have some really cool fun things coming up in a few weeks

[@DianeSeversonMori]

I was so with you, right up until you got to no. 1. I’ve read Foundation, Foundation and Empire and most, but not all of Second Foundation and I just find them tedious. Yes, fascinating ideas, but, I dunno, not for me. That said, I was astounded by how similar our tastes run. BUT I clearly have to read some Reynolds and Egan now.

[@FIT2BREAD]

I get that. It's one of the reasons I ranked it based on my enjoyment cause I all know we have different tastes. I'm glad we were in synch more than we weren't. Thanks Diane

[@DianeSeversonMori]

@@FIT2BREAD Oh, absolutely, I understand that these are your own subjective feelings. I would never tell you that you are wrong for loving Foundation. I just don’t.

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

If I were you wouldn't even try reading Greg Egan. Clearly a brilliant guy with interesting ideas but his prose is what's called DENSE which means if you're not a member of MENSA you have to read very slowly. Fine for a Nobel Laureate like Toni Morrison, not so good for a sci-fi writer.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd I don't always understand everything Egan writes, but there's something about everything he's written that really works for me. I get lost in the imagination and trying to untangle the untangleable doesn't feel frustrating to me.

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

Yes I understand but I'm the kind of person who avoids tangles like the plague. Still have one book by him that seems interesting called Distrsess I may give a shot at. The premise is intriguing..Has to do with the Theory of Everything and also panic disorders something I understand all too well!@@FIT2BREAD

[@sethball2475]

I watched this in one sitting...and learned where we agree, and where we differ. It was a blast. My Top 10 (today): 1. Orbitsville by Bob Shaw 2. Blindsight by Peter Watts 3. The Color of Distance by Amy Thomson 4. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell 5. Up the Line by Robert Silverberg 6. A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge 7. Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy 8. Gladiator by Philip Wylie 9. Memories by Mike McQuay 10. Dr. Bloodmoney by Philip K. Dick (Actually tempted to sit here and type out my 150...but I won't; but I did Subscribe!))

[@FIT2BREAD]

Nice list….now I kinda wanna see your full 150!!

[@sethball2475]

@@FIT2BREAD Fine! Here’s another 140: 150. The Infernal Desire Machines of Dr. Hoffman by Angela Carter; 149 The Swoop: Or, How Clarence Saved England by P. G. Wodehouse; 148. No Enemy But Time by Michael Bishop; 147. A Usual Lunacy by D. G. Compton; 146. Men Like Gods by H. G. Wells 145. Chronosequence by Hilbert Schenck; 144. Bug Jack Barron by Norman Spinrad; 143. The Nexus by Mike McQuay; 142. The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle; 141. The Mind Thing by Fredric Brown 140. After London: Or, Wild England by Richard Jefferies; 139. Floating Worlds by Cecelia Holland; 138. Man Plus by Frederik Pohl; 137. Bone Dance by Emma Bull; 136. Beyond Apollo by Barry N. Malzberg 135. Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney; 134. Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman; 133. Mysterium by Robert Charles Wilson; 132. Fool’s War by Sarah Zettel; 131. Greener Than You Think by Ward Moore 130. The Humanoids by Jack Williamson; 129. Man in the Empty Suit by Sean Ferrell; 128. Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement; 127. The Shore of Women by Pamela Sargent; 126. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 125.Theodore Savage by Cicely Hamilton; 124. Orion by Ben Bova; 123. New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson; 122. Tau Zero by Poul Anderson; 121. Eye in the Sky by Philip K. Dick 120. Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys; 119. Oath of Fealty by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle; 118. The Sea and Summer by George Turner; 117. Miracle Visitors by Ian Watson; 116. Ancient of Days by Michael Bishop 115. Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress; 114. The Iron Heel by Jack London; 113. Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein; 112. Goslings by J. D. Beresford; 111. The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester 110. Grass by Sheri S. Tepper; 109. The Death of Grass by John Christopher; 108. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank; 107. He, She and It by Marge Piercy; 106. The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov 105. Realtime Interrupt by James P. Hogan; 104. On Wings of Song by Thomas M. Disch; 103. The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger; 102. The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner; 101. Echo Round His Bones by Thomas M. Disch 100. There Are Doors by Gene Wolfe; 99. Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy; 98. War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells; 97. A Lion on Tharthee by Grant Callin; 96. Ralph 124C 41+ by Hugo Gernsback 95. The Alteration by Kingsley Amis; 94. Meccania, the Super-State by Owen Gregory; 93. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham; 92. Icerigger by Alan Dean Foster; 91. Metropolis by Thea von Harbou 90. The Integral Trees by Larry Niven; 89. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes: 88. The Night Land by William Hope Hodgson; 87. The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein; 86. Fools’ Experiments by Edward M. Lerner 85. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; 84. Holy Fire by Bruce Sterling; 83. Greybeard by Brian W. Aldiss; 82. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells; 81. Terraplane by Jack Womack 80. Venus Plus X by Theodore Sturgeon; 79. The Philosopher’s Stone by Colin Wilson; 78. The Book of Ptath by A. E. van Vogt; 77. The Wrong End of Time by John Brunner; 76. Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott 75. Timescape by Gregory Benford; 74. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne; 73. Five to Twelve by Edmund Cooper; 72. First Men in the Moon by H. G. Wells; 71. The Unreasoning Mask by Philip Jose Farmer 70. The Extremes by Christopher Priest; 69. Norstrilia by Cordwainer Smith; 68. The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold; 67. The Door into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein; 66. Radix by A. A. Attanasio 65. Saturn Rukh by Robert L. Forward; 64. Dune by Frank Herbert; 63. Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov 62. Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson; 61. Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon 60. The Legion of Space by Jack Williamson; 59. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury; 58. Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler; 57. The Last Legends of Earth by A. A. Attanasio; 56. Fade Out by Patrick Tilley 50. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood; 49. The Scarlet Plague by Jack London; 48. Night of Power by Spider Robinson; 47. Retief of the CDT by Keith Laumer; 46. The Proteus Operation by James P. Hogan 45. Space for Hire by William F. Nolan; 44. Neverness by David Zindell; 43. Limbo by Bernard Wolfe; 42.Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh; 41. Inverted World by Christopher Priest 40. Debatable Space by Philip Palmer; 39. The Female Man by Joanna Russ; 38. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein; 37. Who Goes Here? by Bob Shaw; 36. Dying Inside by Robert Silverberg 35. Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan; 34. A Mirror for Observers by Edgar Pangborn; 33. Brittle Innings by Michael Bishop; 32. Time Out of Joint by Philip K. Dick; 31. The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells 30. The Dancers at the End of Time by Michael Moorcock; 29. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells; 28. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell; 27. The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick; 26. Liege-Killer by Christopher Hinz 25. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley; 24. Wild Seed by Octavia Butler; 23. Deluge by S. Fowler Wright; 22. The Clockwork Man by E. V. Odle; 21. West of Eden by Harry Harrison 20. Under the Skin by Michel Faber; 19. Version Control by Dexter Palmer; 18. The Ragged Astronauts by Bob Shaw; 17.Earth Abides by George R. Stewart; 16. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke 15. Nightwalk by Bob Shaw; 14. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick; 13. The Silicon Man by Charles Platt; 12. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham; 11. Ender’s Game by Orion Scott Card

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@sethball2475 Great list. Love that we have some crossovers and then you have so many different. 2140, I haven't read yet but has been on my list for a while.

[@sethball2475]

@@FIT2BREAD My list is faulty because I need to get to Alastair Reynolds and Peter J. Hamilton. Plus, I have only read one Greg Egan, Permutation City. I have trouble loving certain hard SF, and some cyberpunk - I think that’s a key difference between you and me. You have inspired me to read Alastair Reynolds - oh, and I own, but have not read, the first three Culture novels; must read those soon! I’m going to take big chunks of your list as a challenge.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@sethball2475 well, we have that in common, because I am going to be taking a big chunk of your list to start chomping down on too

[@psikeyhackr6914]

We have kind of opposite perspectives on SF. You have the Bujold series at one end and Neuromancer & Player of Games at the other. I would have them reversed.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Would love to hear some of your other favorites. We have Bujold in common. I love the Vorkosigan Saga. I like different things for different reasons. Everything in this Top 150 I very much enjoyed. Theres atleast 350 more after Bujold that don't make my 150 list.

[@psikeyhackr6914]

@@FIT2BREAD I didn't watch the entire video just toward the beginning and the end. I started reading SF in 4th grade before the Original Star Trek. Are Daemon & Freedom by Daniel Suarez in your list? I lean toward hard SF, A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C Clarke outranks his Childhood's End though that does not seem to be the case with most SF readers.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@psikeyhackr6914 I'm putting the Suarez novel on my list of books to read, I'll check out a summary if it first as I'm not familiar with it. Childhoods End did not make my list, but will make my Top 210 in August. I have Moondust higher. It will also be on the top 210. I didnt include it last time, because I didn't remember it well enough, and there's a lot I left off because I couldn't remember my enjoyme of reading experience well enough to place it on the list. On the 210 list I'm being more flexible. Same with Vorkosigan Saga, I remember my recent Miles titles but there were also some way back I don't remember that well, so I hedged my bets....

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@psikeyhackr6914 ps. If you like hard scifi, I have at least 7 Greg Egan titles on the list. He's my favorite for hard sci fi

[@psikeyhackr6914]

@@FIT2BREAD Is any James P Hogan in there? His Two Faces of Tomorrow is still my favorite emergent AI story after decades. Comparing his Voyage from Yesteryear to Le Guin's The Dispossessed is also interesting for political-economics.

[@matthewwinter5581]

I must have nodded off when you listed "Accelerando" by Charles Stross or just about anything by Paul McAuley.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Ha. I acknowledged in on of the lead up videos that the list is based off of about 500+ novels I've read and there were likely to be glaring omissions. Well regarded scifi, at the time, that I hadn't read, were Accelrando, Gravitys Rainbow, and a few others. Likewise, I haven't read McAuley, Morecock, and have read very little by Aldiss and Silverberg. Any McAuley novels you'd recommend as must read? Something to add to my reading list? I still haven't read Accelerando, so it won't show up this month on my TOP 210 SciFi video either. I did do a blurb of it during my Cyberpunk Week Episodes...

[@matthewwinter5581]

Yep absolutely, these things are entirely subjective and I could be considered a bit "blinkered" in my tastes. The Paul McAuley books that left the greatest impression on me were 400 Billions Stars, Eternal Light and The Quiet War series.

[@VMSelvaggio]

"Belterspeak" as you have termed it here was Haitian Creole for the T.V. Series.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Oh cool. I need to go back to the TV series. Made it through only season 2

[@VMSelvaggio]

@@FIT2BREAD I believe all of it is on Amazon Prime Movies.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@VMSelvaggio great. Yeah I really love the actress who plays Avasarala. When I read this the first time, even before there were talks about making a show, I pictured Shore(the actress) as that character. When they cast her, it was wild ...for me

[@dmjohnso]

Thank you for your video and insights. I especially appreciated your comments about Ender's Game and Speaker For the Dead and the issues with Card the author/man and his problematic and hateful views. I struggle with my love for the books and not wanting to support the author.

[@FIT2BREAD]

David, thanks for saying that. I know for some it's "inconvenient" to have those statements in these types of videos, but it feels incorrect to not at least call it out. The books are amazing. I wish the author was a good person s I could celebrate it more...

[@VulcanGunner]

Forever War, one of my all time favorites.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Check out the book review I did for it and tell me what you think of the song at the end :)

[@annlitz4787]

I just finished the final 50. Some random thoughts: Left out (please call me out if I'm wrong): *"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle* -- Although it's a children's book and lacks the complex world-building of most adult novels, I think it's safe to say WiT was the gateway drug for about 75% of modern science-fiction readers. It's also a cultural touchstone (for, among other things, the ingeniously described Tesseract, IT, and a strong, nerdy female protagonist) and prominently features my personal favorite SF trope, mind manipulation -- in this case, for the sake of conformity on the profoundly terrifying world of Camazotz. *"Childhood's End" by Arthur C. Clarke.* I know its absence was acknowledged in the "Orange" video, but I consider it one of the most devastating SF stories ever written. Certain images (such as the revelation of the Overlords, the mother "remembering" something from the future, and the children's Long Dance) stuck in my mind like burs for months after I'd finished the book. Good call on the "Remembrance of Earth's Past" placements. "Dark Forest" is distinctly the strongest book in the series, and "Three Body" the weakest. I think it's also worth mentioning that "Death's End" is one of the most polarizing books in the entire genre: readers end up either loving it, or hating it, with a *passion*. It took me almost two weeks to decide I fell firmly into the "love" camp. I'd probably put "Hitchhiker's Guide" somewhere in the Top 30 just for its cultural relevance and quotability. It was nice to see Stephen King on the list, although he definitely has problems with endings (including a *literal* deus ex machina in one of the books mentioned). Exceptionally good summaries for "Children of Time" and "Snow Crash." Also, good call on the LeGuins; it took me almost a month to read the very short "Dispossessed" because, with its two times and two worlds, reading it was like comprehending a mosaic half in colorful tiles and half in b&w. The Priests' tale was inarguably the most horrific in "Hyperion," although the Scholar's daughter was the one whose fate relentlessly haunted me between books. And of course I have to agree that the Mule is indisputably one of the greatest villains in literature; he's sympathetic, thinks he's doing the right thing (and it's so, *so* easy for readers to agree with him), and carries out his external and internal tactics with surgical precision. As a woman, I found the characterization of female characters in "Dhalgren" problematic. I think Delany's style is brilliantly clever -- especially the mobius-strip plot -- and compelling (I abandoned it about 200 pages in, in the middle of Newboy's two-page rant, only to find myself not-unwillingly dragged right back into the City a couple of weeks later). His treatment of LGBTQ+ characters is exceptional, such as his consistent reference to Bunny as she. But I found the condoning and even glorification of what I saw as violence against women problematic; to me it seems that all of Bellona's women are nymphomaniacs who secretly or overtly want to be raped, gang-banged to the point of unconsciousness, D.P.'d, and otherwise "used" (especially sexually) rather than having agency, desires, and lives of their own. Throughout most of the final third of the book, I was hoping the violence would turn out to be mere allegory, but no. It didn't seem to have any meaning in the end. I don't think "Dahlgren" would have suffered if its women had suffered less. Overall, though, I can't really argue with this list, especially the ones at the top. I ended up adding maybe 20 books to my TBR list, including "Player of Games," "Speaker for the Dead," and (trying again, because I really want to get into Egan) "Dichronauts." Once again, thank you for putting all the work into creating this impressive list and making it so watchable! I doubt I could even come up with a Top 10 list like this, much less a Top 150. Kudos!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Good catch on Childhoods End...on a list of most impactful or something like that, CE would have been on the list. I think I may have mentioned Wrinkle in Time in a preview video as well. That one ranks high in enjoyability but it categorized it more fantasy (to me), and I left that and American Gods off this list. Some scifi fantasy I decided to fit in on the list and some, I just felt I had it more fantasy than scifi... For Dahlgren. Im due for a reread soon and will pay more attention. I think I felt it was more of showing that particular world as putting women in those boxes or maybe just using and showing one side of females in that world and what their choices meant vs what they were maybe "relagated" to, more so than a Delaney gender bias...I want to think that through more rather than suggest it solidly. Hitchikers is another one that ranks higher in "impactful" for ne vs "enjoyability." Obviously I enjoyed it and I'm sure my ranking Redshirt, another comedy, higher, is not a popular opinion. I'm glad you got more for your TBR. Egan is definitely a specific taste that resonates with me, but ill be curious if Dichronauts is more of a hit than a miss for you.

[@annlitz4787]

@@FIT2BREAD Good points! I think that maybe what bothered me with the way women were treated in "Dhalgren" was that, for all the physically and psychologically traumatic experiences they were subjected to, they never showed any pain or any ill effects at all, as if abuse was what they were there for. (I'm thinking of the woman who was f*cked -- and that's the only way to describe it -- by multiple men, every way imaginable, for an entire day and was next shown the next morning reading Kid's book and I think having coffee.) Again, if this is a social commentary, as many readers seem to think, then that changes the perspective; it's hard to feel sadness over a mere allegory technique. I really learned a lot from your list, though, and I hope I find the Egan that resonates with me; he must be incredible to make the list so many times.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@annlitz4787 I totally get you on that, and I think on my next re read I'm gonna have better updated thoughts on this. So much of the book was uncomfortable, including the scene you mention and an underage moment as well. I feel like I had everything wrapped up both in a context of 'what the hell is going on here' and also painting a picture that all of the characters in the book ignored or was ignorant of or refused to recognize how entirely messed up and "wrong" the world was. Does that make sense? Do you feel Delany was failing at writing the female characters and his unconscious (or concious) misogyny influenced those characters or it was a weakness in the writing or delivery, or more intentional for shock value and thus demeaning?

[@huveja9799]

oh, oh.. a Weak Obnoxious Killjoy Extremist being in sight .. lower all sails and leave the helm to windward ..

[@fencegecko]

This list reminds me why I quit SF and turned to classic works.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks for your comment

[@MrBendybruce]

While I don't believe it can be objectively defended, in the pantheon of Science Fiction, I really appreciate that you are showing so much love for Asimov, the man is a Legend. Also, regards Scott Card, it might have been just because of when I read it, but The Worthing Saga became a book I read many times over. It's exploration of joy and pain, Mercy and Justice, really affected me, even if it didn't really get me any answers. It was only when the Ender movie came out, when I learnt about his religious/homophobic world view. It took me quite some time to get there, but I decided that I have to separate the artist from the art. All humans, by their nature, are flawed, and I don't have to either agree, or like all of his views, in order to appreciate his work.

[@FIT2BREAD]

I know, with Card, I had the full Ender and Enders series experience before I knew anything about Card. It was an impactful series on me, and yeah, Asimov is just the master

[@MrBendybruce]

@@FIT2BREAD His ideas always thrill me, there is something so "elevated" in what he is saying with so many of his stories. It's his strengths, not his weaknesses, that make him so special.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@MrBendybruce I always feel defensive of his work for that reason. I totally get it if he's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think criticism of characters lacking dimensions just completely misses the point of what the value and entertainment of his work is.

[@MrBendybruce]

@@FIT2BREAD Agree 100%

[@yelisieimurai]

Greetings from Ukraine. I enjoyed the video, thank you

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Elisey. Glad you enjoyed it. Any favorite books from the list?

[@yelisieimurai]

@@FIT2BREAD my favorites are books of Vonnegut; Ubik and Man in high castle; Cryptonomicon and Diamond age; Bester’s Tiger Tiger (I love also demolished man); Hyperion, More than human, the end of eternity. I have not found in the list my beloved Zelazny’s “The isle of the dead” and “Lord of light”.

[@yelisieimurai]

@@FIT2BREAD but I have a lot to read from your list, so I will work on it:)) thanks for the interesting content !

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@yelisieimurai hope u are ok

[@yelisieimurai]

@@FIT2BREAD thank you very much for a message , I am ok, we keep fighting for freedom

[@sebastiancrow7815]

I find the lack of John Varley disturbing.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Steel beech probably could have been on the list. There's a few I've left off just because I didn't remember the reading experience well enough to rank it. The rest of my Varley reading history is a lot of really good short stories, and I wasn't including shorts. Do you have a favorite Varleu novel you'd recommend? I'll probably re read steel beach soon

[@sebastiancrow7815]

@@FIT2BREAD Titan was the first I read back in my teens. It was a Hugo and Nebula nominee. The more recent Irontown Blues is excellent. Set on Luna some years after the events of Steel Beach. It is a detective noir tale that also ties in with his fine short story Blue Champagne.

[@ReadingRetail]

woah i bet the big Sci-Fi lovers are taking notes!!

[@FIT2BREAD]

I am also getting great recommendations in return

[@jimjackson509]

The Lathe of Heaven should be way higher. It would be top 5 on my list

[@FIT2BREAD]

I wont argue that. I definitely feel it is one, once I reread it, will slide much higher on the list. It's just been too long since I've read it to fairly justify a higher spot (yet)

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

Crap! Greg Bear DID just pass away. suspected something was wrong the way you mentioned his name so looked it up on wiki. The guy wrote some of the most magnificent sf I've ever read though admittedly some of his books were pretty much duds.You never knew what you were going to get until you started reading. And the the fantasy and supernatural stuff I never bothered with except for Dead Lines which was only half-way decent. Surprised I didn't hear about his death in the news but since he wasn't a member of the Kardashians maybe I shouldn't be.

[@tph2010]

150 sci-fi novels and not one Stephen Baxter??

[@FIT2BREAD]

Yeah..theres a few I forgot, most of the Baxter I've read needs a reread. I should have included the Raft...just forgot it...

[@bloozism]

Your video editing is killing me lmao. I can’t tell if you’re fucking with me.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Haha maybe I am :) I've got some fun stuff coming up late feb with Snow Crash, Iron Widow, and Children of Time.

[@dreamingflurry2729]

There is no "book averse" person! You just haven't found the right type of book! Hell, my parents tried it with YA-Novels and I absolutely despised them and their drama! They tried adventure books and stuff and I didn't like those either and then a friend started to read Perry Rhodan (a German science fiction weekly series that has been around since the 60s, so for 60+ years now) and that was when I started reading hundreds of pages every week and I haven't stopped since...soon I added fantasy books and soon after (when I got introduced to the internet!) fanfiction :)

[@welitonE3]

Wow, now you destroyed Moid 😂 following from now on

[@MediaDeathCult]

No comment

[@FIT2BREAD]

You need to watch Moids 209 video. Such great creativity

[@Avzigoyhbasilsikos]

@FIT 2B READ, I loved watching this video, but I keep getting disappointed at everyone due to god emperor of dune being overlooked

[@FIT2BREAD]

For some books I did lump the full series as one entry...like Red Rising, The Culture, Dune. I definitely loved God Emperor.

[@roberthasse7862]

Thanks! Still, WAY too much (usually bloated) "modern" stuff! And too much pretentious stuff! (But I like your enthusiasm!)

[@FIT2BREAD]

Glad you ejoyed...def a lot of modern, which are the pretentious ones, out of curiosity?

[@seum_city94]

No mention of Jack Vance whatsoever. Disappointed.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Good point. As great as Vance is, I've only read the Dying Earth books, the combination of me reading it when I was too young--decades ago, only remembering the more-fantasy elements of it and not the scifi-ness of it, not remembering why I enjoyed it... having not re-read it, it was impossible to include it (for me) on the list (legitimately).

[@seum_city94]

@@FIT2BREAD I understand. However, Vance wrote mainly Sci-fi, but not hard science one, as is the tendency nowadays. Maybe he resembles more Asimov, focusing on world building and human societies having evolved in different ways. I would recommend 'The demon princes series (books 1, 4, 5), the Cadwal chronicles trilogy, The Alastor trilogy, and many standalone novels. For me, The Star King (Demon princes book 1), 1964, epitomizes what I like in Sci-fi, though some find it dated.... Anyways many thanks for this video and your list. I have taken notes and will definitely read some of your recommendations.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@seum_city94 thanks S.E. I appreciate you listing those, because I'll add them to my TBR.. going into the project I was aware I've read a ton of scifi but also aware there's so much I havent gotten to. Authors that I've read a little from but feel as if I've missed a lot from are Vance, Ellison, Silverberg, Asher, and Bruner. They all are authors I've read some from but feel I've only scratched the surface. In Ashers case, I haven't read him at all. I'm also just starting to read Adam Roberts (especially as I'll be interviewing him soon) and I haven't really read Morecock other than some short stuff long ago.

[@jamesbychance]

Unrelenting!

[@deckiedeckie]

U sound like u selling fish....not books.....

[@deckiedeckie]

U talk way tooooooooo much!!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thank you