Top 20 Science Fiction Books of All Time

[@libraryofaviking]

Which book is missing on this list? 🤔 You can also access the Kickstarter here 👇 www.kickstarter.com/projects/wraithmarked/the-sword-of-kaigen

[@bastiendullier1981]

Book from K. Stanley Robinson!

[@ShakespeareChan]

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K Dick

[@Codex7777]

Dune's a great book but it's more space fantasy than actual science fiction...

[@Codex7777]

Anything by Iain M Banks. My personal favourite, 'The Player of Games'. :) One thing to be wary of, is the fact that such things are skewed, almost by default, it's just the way things are, towards the viewpoint of young Americans. Whilst giving a fairly representative view of that demographic's preferences, it may not give an accurate overall picture, re' which books are considered classics. I'm not saying that any of these aren't worthy of inclusion, that's a subjective choice to a certain extent and I haven't read all of them, but it's well to take such results with a pinch of salt. :)

[@joebrooks4448]

Great job, but 10 is a bit small... H G Wells, Verne, Starship Troopers, 1984, Animal Farm, The Humanoids, Fahrenheit 451, Planet of The Apes, The Space Trilogy, I Am Legend, The World Of Null A, Slan, Brave New World, Way Station, etc. There is a lot and as many opinions as there are fans... Reading them takes some time😬

[@redrockswe]

19: House of suns - Alastair Reynolds 19: Journey to the center of the earth - Jules Verne 19: The man in the high castle - Philip K. Dick 19: The book of the new sun - Gene Wolfe 17: Foundation - Isaac Asimov 17: Leviathan Wakes - James S.A Corey 16: Spin - Robert Charles Wilson 15: The Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury 14: Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury 13: War of the worlds - H. G. Wells 12: Red rising - Pierce Brown 9: A fire upon the deep - Verner Vinge 9: Hyperion - Dan Simmons 9: The Martian - Andy Weir 8: Neuromancer - William Gibson 7: A brave new world - Vintage Huxley 6: A time machine - H. G. Wells 5: The left hand of darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin 4: Enders Game - Orson Scott Card 3: Frankenstein - Mary Shelly 2: 1984 - George Orwell 1: Dune - Frank Herbert

[@timkadom1722]

I might have snow crash in there somewhere also :)

[@fabuniverse3908]

No Lem or Stapledon, I'm sad about that.

[@suncoastcrafting6362]

I've read a lot of them, but there are some that I missed. Thank you for all your work putting together that list!

[@DrMetalpin]

I’m 55. When I was growing up, you would’ve seen the name Robert Heinlein all over a list like this. Now most booktubers don’t even know who that person is.

[@arlissbunny]

YES! I’m shocked that Andy Wier is here with his lightweight book and Heinlein is nowhere to be found.

[@williamsmith4148]

There is a reason for that.

[@pookypoo1169]

Lol there is a reason why no one knows who Heinlein is.... I've read three of his books and I wasn't impressed

[@DrMetalpin]

@@pookypoo1169 It wasn’t really my point that he belonged on the list. I was just saying how 30 years ago, he would’ve dominated many lists. There was a time that Stranger in a Strange Land was even in the top 10 of literature lists, and I’m talking about reputable sources of the time. Starship Troopers is another that was on many lists. I used to say he was one of my favorite authors. To be honest, I’ve tried to reread some of the books and they don’t really hold up anymore. It just hit me while I was watching this list that I couldn’t remember the last time I had even heard a content creator even mention his name. I still own all his books and I do still have fond memories of the books.

[@FuranzuDesu]

The moon is a harsh mistress is in my top 3. I’m in my 30s

[@BreakevenBooks]

Thanks so much for including me in your list of people you used as research. I love seeing lists like this! So pumped to see Red Rising in there!

[@libraryofaviking]

No worries! Thank you so much for watching!

[@brap7551]

im struggling in the very latest book ...

[@LiaGoldie]

Leviathan Wakes is excellent and definitely deserves to be on the list!

[@KatePham27]

Yeah, I don't get how a "newer" novel doesn't deserve to be on great book lists??

[@user-gu7yo5yn9g]

I'm of the opinion it really doesnt deserve it. I wasnt enamored with the writing quality and most of the characters I disliked except for the space Texan and Miller. The reveal at the end to me was a groan worthy moment. Killed all the cosmic horror that had been built up completely, and I still dont understand why miller fell in love with the girl. However I will confess I've been spoiled by the likes of Patrick Obrian and Tolkien since I was listening to their work at the time too.

[@asusminor]

Eh

[@anticlaassic]

But only as a stand in for the whole 9 books

[@hulkslayer626]

ATTENTION!!! If you decide to try Spin, DO NOT READ THE SYNOPSIS!!! I bought the book purely based on how highly regarded it is and didn't even bother checking what it was about. The book blew my mind!! It was amazing!! It had several moments of revelations that just tickled my brain. After reading it, i HAD to have more!! So i read the only thing left... the back cover. And was astonished to see that half of the "revelations" that came as such a surprise were in the synopsis!!! Soooooo glad i didn't read it first. There is a good chance i might not have liked the book as much if i knew all those things gling in. So, i HIGHLY recommend you read Spin and i also HIGHLY recommended you avoid finding out anything about it beforehand. You can come back to this comment and thank me later 😉

[@coreyrachar9694]

I just read it as the video doesn't go into any detail about the story, and being that there are so many books how else do I choose which one sounds good? The cover art? I do agree that spoiler free is the ultimate experience, but I simply don't have time to read every book to find out which ones are good :( . Perhaps you have a method?

[@hulkslayer626]

@coreyrachar9694 oh, I wasn't suggesting that for ALL books lmao Just that one in particular because so many revelations are "given away: on the back cover 😉

[@hulkslayer626]

@coreyrachar9694 The way I remained spoiler free is I looked up "Top 10 best sci-fi books of all time" on KZbin, and make lists based on like 8 videos. Then I look for books that showed up on most lists. Those are the books I ordered without bothering to find out what they were about since there was a really good chance I would like it. That's how I came to love Spin.

[@smartalek180]

A good general rule of thumb for ALL books, movies, &c: NEVER read reviews NEVER watch trailers, prevues, or ads NEVER read comment threads, tweets, facebook pages, ANYthing If possible don't even look at the posters. They ALL give something away that u r better off not knowing. Experience the art utterly unmediated by other ppl's responses, or by any preconceptions, if u can. Yr experience will always b better for this.

[@noeditbookreviews]

The Rememberance Of Earth's Past trilogy was the most enjoyable sci-fi I've ever read. It just kept getting better and better. It's terrific stuff.

[@mrcojocaru]

That series took turns and went to places I could never have hoped to anticipate.

[@toyinobasa5902]

Yep, it was incredible. What a journey!

[@Snowy123]

Enjoyable? The trilogy gave me nightmares.

[@grahamearle1518]

The end of the 3rd book lost me honestly. Before that, though, this series was incredible.

[@mikstratok]

I remember the moment I was reading about the betrayal, it left me cold. Sadly, I feel like I can't properly appreciate this because I can't speak chinese.

[@craigrideout490]

Wow! Can't believe the disrespect for "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".

[@oliverterwee4933]

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is amazing and arguably even better than The Martian. I would recommend everyone to go give it a read.

[@fishclaw901]

The most fun I’ve had reading. The copy I bought has been passed through so many hands because they finish it in a week 😂

[@anticlaassic]

Great book, unofficial rocky 7 movie plot😂😂😂

[@DanKaraJordan]

I am always sad that modern audiences don't seem to know Larry Niven. Either the Mote in God's Eye or Ringworld seem like they should get more love.

[@gretafreitag2041]

Ringworld was pretty enjoyable, but some of his grosser worldviews come to light in books like Lucifer's Hammer. I'm content with him being left to history.

[@davidburfield5873]

.... I've read both and agree!

[@nathwhit3980]

Lucifers Hammer was a great read when I was in my 20s! What are your problems with it?

[@MoreRubberyThanTurgid]

@@gretafreitag2041what were his grosser worldviews?

[@KToll5784]

@@gretafreitag2041too bad, he’s still one of the most popular sci fi authors of all time

[@DJYoue]

It's a shame that We by Zamyatin never makes these lists as it is the book which influenced the entire dystopian sci-fi genre, from 1984 to Brave New World, the Handmaid's Tale and Farenheit 451, all were inspired by this novel! Definitely a less well known gem of a novel.

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

Agreed. Papa liked it. Papa Stalin, not Hemingway.

[@thedialectic6346]

Thanks. I've never heard of it but now It's a must read.

[@thursoberwick1948]

Because a lot of these lists only consider English language SF, or even just American works.

[@jessiemayfield6749]

I agree but I read it and it’s so silly with such terrible contrived dialogue I couldn’t finish it.

[@goldtiger8587]

just finished We, can definitely say it needs to be on the list (even if I don't really like dystopian:)

[@Mizt9462]

3 Body Problem for me is unmatched.

[@Viralsbookreviews]

Yeesssss

[@libraryofaviking]

I really need to read it!

[@easydoggy]

Hitchhikers guide is better subjectily. 3 body suffers from pscdo science and poor characters

[@deadlichaos]

its really good but its very "different" id say.

[@thecompanioncube4211]

It starts very well, but becomes way too heady for my taste

[@thomasray]

"Ender's Game by Scott Orson Card" By WHO? Love those books. The Shadow series is just as good as the Ender series, too.

[@darrylpardon8013]

Did not see it here but the biggest omission to me is Lord of Light by Rover Zelazny. For me it is up there with Dune and probably switch between my number 1 and 2 spot. It holds its own against any other classic and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves science fiction. I’ve given my copy away at least three times. Other omissions include The Stars My Destination by Bester, Gateway by Pohl, and The Forever War by Haldeman. For anyone reading, I recommend Zelazny’s work. His fantasy series The Amber Chronicles is fantastic and his other work in science fiction is good to great. …And Call Me Conrad tied with Dune for the Hugo, The Dream Master and Jack of Shadows are also recommended.

[@smartalek180]

I second the Bester "Stars My Destination" rec, w/an additional reminder to our friends across the pond that in the UK, it was published under the alternate title, "Tiger! Tiger!" And I'd add his other classic novel, "The Demolished Man." Also, a plug for Samuel R Delany's "Empire Star."

[@Glumandino]

Cool list, my favorite remains The 3 Body Problem series, especially book 2: The Dark Forest, crazy stuff.

[@ChrisF07]

At first I thought "no Arthur Clarke or Stanislaw Lem is borderline insulting", but then I remembered that this isn't really a strict sci-fi list either. Any list containing Brave New World and 1984 on one hand, and the Hyperion Cantos, Dune and The Expanse on the other, isn't really doing it's job of narrowing down it's genre well enough. Now, the uploader's definitely not to blame, since the list is compiled from other lists, but those lists should probably have been tighter. All of the books I just mentioned are classics and I love them all, but they simply have no place being on the same list. As for me, The Three Body Problem is probably my favourite science fiction, hard or otherwise, series of all time.

[@Mauvelipstick]

I was hoping to see "The Island of Doctor Moreau" by H.G. Wells, "Planet of the Apes" by Pierre Boulle and "Jurassic Park" by Michael Crichton on this list.

[@colin1818]

Hyperion might be my favorite SciFi book of all time. It's really really good.

[@libraryofaviking]

It is on my tbr! I've heard so many great things!

[@DecimalD_]

Hyperion had a slow start, but once it got going, oooweee.

[@ritac9769]

@@DecimalD_ I disagree here. That opening story of Father Duré had me gripped from the start.

[@dash4800]

​@@DecimalD_ I think it starts strongest and ends incredibly weak. Didn't care at all about the last story and then it just ends. Its literally half a book. Idk how people could rank it so high as a solo novel.

[@janisir4529]

Honestly? The only thing it had going for it was that house whose rooms were all on different planets.

[@arlissbunny]

What a great project and video! I’m surprised a list so classics heavy did not include 2001: A Space Odyssey, Rendezvous with Rama, or Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. IMO books like The Martian won’t end up with real staying power, but I guess that remains to be seen. “Open the pod bay doors, HAL,” is a widely known quote and meme for a reason. I’m thrilled to see Dune and Neuromancer ranked so highly. For me, Three Body Problem would be on the list but I’m a physicist so I’m biased. PS - when you said, “The Hunger Games,” I yelled, “No!” Thank the Great Bunny it was a joke.

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you! I am glad I was able to suprise you 😂

[@humanfirst11]

How can you describe A Rendezvous with Rama? Is it something like Neuromancer?

[@arlissbunny]

Rendezvous with Rama is kind of like 2001: a Space Odyssey. …kind of.

[@brendanh8193]

@@humanfirst11 Rendezvous with Rama is essentially an exploration of a massive alien space ship. It is fundamentally a milieu, idea and sense of wonder story, so if you mainly read for characters, you will be disappointed. Neuromancer has a darker, grungier feel to it.

[@paulshawley6490]

3-body problem is some of the best science fiction I've read in 50 years - mind-bending physics which took me time to wrap my head around but totally worth it.

[@douglasdea637]

No surprises really. But there are glaring omissions. Just makes me wish these booktubers were reading more classics. Among them: 1. Gateway by Fred Pohl. It won two major awards and started an excellent series: the Heechee saga. 2. Startide Rising, by David Brin. Also won two awards. The second of a great series called Uplift. 3. Mote in God's Eye, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Nominated for three awards. This was must-read sci-fi in the 70s and 80s (and I would say still so today.) 4. An Arthur C. Clark book. Probably either Childhood's End or Rendezvous with Rama but why not both? Come on, people! Get to reading!

[@clownshoes430]

great list you have here, I loved both Childhood's End and Mote, got about 80 pages of Rama left like it so far, I bought the first 2 Gateway books at a thrift store 2 weeks ago.I'm gonna read those after I finish Rama. I'll definitely check out Uplift soon. Just to put it out there If you haven't read "Earth Abides" I highly recommend it

[@hypemind612]

Childhoods end was incredible.thsnk you for reminding me to read that again!

[@thefoamingbrain2469]

Startide Rising, by David Bri a book about talking dolphins... im out man .. i cant take most Sci fi seriously and old sci fi just doesnt hold up with all the new tech in 2023

[@douglasdea637]

@@thefoamingbrain2469 Well, it's about way more than that. And the "talking dolphins" are couched in a culture where genetic change and dealing with strange languages and races is the norm.

[@williamvorkosigan5151]

Seriously? No Heinlein? The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Time Enough for Love. To Sail Beyond Sunset. Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers. No Harry Harrison? Stainless Steel Rat series. Death World Series. War with the Robots collection of short stores. No Bujold? Truly wonderful Vorkosigan Saga series of books. Cherryh's Down below Station doesn't make the list, nor Niven's Ringworld or the Mott in Gods Eye? Shocking.

[@eb20675]

How about The Stars My Destination or Gateway...Yeah, this list sucks!

[@belg4mit]

It's a meta compilation of various sources amounting to a bit of a popularity contest, so lots of high school reading, but not a lot of hard sci fi. You and others have mentioned a few unsung gems (Niven, Capek), and he highlighted a few (Adams, Stephenson) but some others that could have easily made the short list are Brunner ("The Sheep Look Up", "Standing on Zanzibar"), Bacigalupi ("The Water Knife", "Windup Girl"), Forward ("Dragon's Egg"), Atwood ("Oryx & Crake") and Kim Stanley Robinson ("Red/Green/Blue Mars"; although I dare say you can probably get by just reading geen ;-)

[@williamvorkosigan5151]

@@belg4mitNice I might well check a few of them out.

[@JK-up7vz]

I miss Blindsight by Peter Watts

[@margiestevens2384]

To have no books on this list by Bujold is scandalous

[@Zivilin]

As someone that isn't much of a scifi reader but have Jules Verne as one of my top 5 authors of all time i'm happy to see him make the list. :)

[@jamesroberts8132]

I’ve read half the books on this list. All great, but give The Tree Body Problem another shot… the whole trilogy was mind blowing, just awesome creativity and it poses big questions. I enjoyed the second and third books more than the first.

[@thirdmonkeyent_llc]

Halfway through the first book right now. Reading Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space as well. Just finished House of Suns recently. HoS was REALLY good.

[@dustmaker1000]

I read the first two and although interesting, I found them difficult to read. Never could get into the third book

[@redlander55]

Many/most KZbin comments say that books 2 and 3 are better than the 1st. The editor of the translation I am reading thinks the 1st and 3rd books are better. I read book 1 and will soon finish book 2. About 2 thirds in book 2, it seemed weaker than the 1st. Now, something like 5/6 in, I am not really sure, I'll see how it ends to properly evaluate it.

[@blazerbeak]

Book 2 is by far my favorite

[@redlander55]

I read the trilogy. I think I liked the 1st book the most. It is more like a traditionally structured book. The 2nd has some major structural/story-telling issues. It has 3 parts. The 1st ends basically confirming what you knew from the 1st book, so nothing new and major. Other things do happen, but are somewhat overshadowed by the lackluster ending. And the 3rd part starts by sort of canceling everything that happened in the previous 2 parts. Maybe the book should have been presented as a duology of novellas, rather than a single novel. Or, I don't know, maybe the effect would have been the same, no matter the presentation. On the plus side, this book has the best ending, I would say. The 3rd book is like a chronicle, which is ok, but not wow.

[@Off1313]

Wow I loved the left hand of darkness and didn't expect it to be so high! Ursula was the best.

[@libraryofaviking]

I definitely need to read it!

[@MrSyntheticSmile]

Too tiresomely verbose sociological fiction, but not science fiction.

[@fabuniverse3908]

I thought The Dispossessed was so much better.

[@arekkrolak6320]

I never read Leviathan Wakes but so many people putting it on their list make me want to read it :)

[@mikepalmer1971]

It’s a pretty good read. Not sure if it’s a top 20 all time but it is worth reading.

[@padanfain7466]

The Expanse series of 9 books is excellent. The TV show is also outstanding.

[@Jearrod]

I’m glad house of suns was added hoped to see it higher but I’m glad to see people love it

[@timkadom1722]

Maybe call this “my favorite list of sci fi books.” Because that is really what it is. You state it throughout the video, and qualitatively these books are outclassed by others. It’s a great list though, and thanks for sharing your passion!

[@billgeoghegan4822]

I expected to see Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" to be high on list. I'm not a huge fan but it has been very influential.

[@smartalek180]

Or at least "Starship Troopers" or "Moon Is a Harsh Mistress." But, as I noted in another comment, that recency bias -- it's a bitch.

[@TheTrueRandomGamer]

Can't tell you how happy I am that the top 3 are some of my favorite books.

[@libraryofaviking]

Love that!

[@MarkMcClure]

"Replay" by Ken Grimwood; "Replay is a fantasy novel by American writer Ken Grimwood, first published by Arbor House in 1986.It won the 1988 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel" (Wikipedia)

[@a.westernmann4224]

I haved to 2nd this. Replay was an absolutely phenomenal read. I thoroughly enjoyed and imho is the greatest time travel novel I’ve yet come across.

[@davidslater9713]

Agree, ' Replay by Ken Grimwood a great time travel novel that none of the KZbinrs talk about. - woefully underrated.

[@paulinakubicz]

I'm missing Arthur C. Clarke and his Space Odyssey. Good job btw.😀

[@libraryofaviking]

It was on the list but didn't make it into top 20! Thank you!

[@dougcastleman9518]

Childhood’s End!

[@antonpogorevici]

half of these aren t even scifi what are 1984 and 451 doing on these list where are 2001 and do androids dream of electric sheep?

[@nevaidos]

Thanks for creating this list and giving the sci-fi genre a spotlight! I am surprised that Octavia E. Bulter is not mentioned in this list. Kindred is amazing. Happy to see Ursula K. Le Guin in this list though, especially so high! I really need to pick up one of her books soon!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you for watching! I need to read some of Butler's work!

[@Zivilin]

I really need to get around to read kindred and Fledgling.

[@rodneyevans5353]

I’ve tried several times, but I can’t get into Kindred.

[@jaustill237]

Unfortunately, 8 is a deep cut. But those of us who know...

[@chestersnap]

I wasn't a fan of Dune. I read the first three books and then stopped. I just couldn't find much to like about the characters who often felt emotionally flat to me. Murderbot should have been on this list. And the Bobiverse series is something more people should check out

[@LucasRodmo]

DUNE is really hard to beat. It's so full, rich, complex, enduring. All the themes are there. Politics, war, fear, family, hope, the future of humanity and morality, the building blocks of society, violence, religion, messianism, philosophy, technology, immortality, resilience of the people, revolution, monarchy, eugenics, colonialism, economy, commoditization of fuel, poverty, art, biology, ecology, transcendence, human rights, pain, blindness, love, drive, passion, determination, hatred, prejudice, racism, abuse, etc. Nothing is off topic, nothing is left unexplored. Everything is explored with deph, context and respect. If this was written 2000 years ago, would be a fundamental book of a religion. It's something.

[@WordsinTime]

I think you would enjoy Spin! The scope of the sci-fi concepts is wonderful and the character work is solid too!

[@karlafarley6523]

I'm so glad to see A Fire Upon the Deep in this list, it is my favorite sci-fi novel of all time!

[@Kotifilosofi]

Thank you for the great research behind this list! I've been a long time sci-fi manga enthusiast, and just recently began to read sci-fi novels (thanks to our dear Murderbot 😁). This list shows what direction to continue to, since reading the Murderbot diaries over and over again is not the long term solution 😅

[@ChristinaMeierhöfer]

When you said hunger games i literally screamed "WHAT!!" at my screen xD Great video and collection! Still weird not seeing Children Of Time on there!

[@CompetitionChris]

The three body problem trilogy changed my outlook on space and aliens

[@chuckupd]

Frankenstein is a wonderful book which everyone who loves books will appreciate. It's on my short list of best loved books of all time and all genres.

[@piefrosty319]

Loved that golden sun rendition of Darrow

[@nhennessy6434]

Leviathan Wakes and the Expanse series are instant classics. Seems strange that there are no Clark, Heinlein or Niven novels. I would have expected Childhood's End, Stranger in a Strange Land, and Mote in God's Eye to make this list. I quarel with Red Rising which is Fantasy, and I think Spin is not better than the golden age classics listed above. I would also liked to see selections limited one to an author which would have limited Wells and Bradbury to their single best works: War of the Worlds and Farenheit 451. And without a doubt Handmaid's Tale deserves a place on this list, particularly in light of recent developments.

[@adamnesico]

Handmaid tales isnt scify, as the own author said, does not reflex tech change. Recent changes? Wich? I don’t see changes in islamists or jasidics.

[@nhennessy6434]

@@adamnesico It's dystopian fiction in which infertility is a consequence of environmental pollutions and degradation which sounds like Sci-Fi to me. Recent changes? How about Dobbs decision rescinding the right to privacy and with it the constitutional right of women to determine their own reproductive destiny, along with the Texas laws which allow private bounty hunters to sue anyone who so much as gives a ride to a pregnant woman to an abortion legal state. Not much dystopia there, all ratified by the Gilleadists on Scotus. So Handmaid's Tale has no relevance to contemporary events. I agree. /s

[@adamnesico]

@@nhennessy6434 Mmmm, ok ,then can fit. A lot more is needed for make such society. There are countries who have restricted abortion. They arent like handmaid tales. Ireland had it restricted until recntly. Is a very nice country. Kill ur son is for u control your reproduction? Then if you say males has no right on it then you quit males all right to chose in reproduction. So dont ask me to respect your sexist and hypocryte posture. Get rid of ur responsability to other human being is a right? Then you should ride males of any resposability over kids. Or enable slavery again. Or honor killings. You dont? How hypocrytes. And for certain, handmaid tale is mostly christianophobic propaganda. When someone made a bad copy with muslims instead, eople blamed it as racist. The closest thing to hanmaid tale tha exist in ur country are the hasidics, nothing alike in christians. And you dont care about hasidics. In Europe isntead, we start seeing things like the antimuslim version. I didnt understood well that bounty hunters thing, doesnt seem well written. Nothing suprising, as Michael Cricton says, with your actual intelelctual property laws, people can be bounty hunted for forcibly take their cells for comercial purposes. You are a mad country, you dont care for such law, so not suprising you have another crazy law for bounty hunters relatd to abortion. You said that handmaid tales ws done due to pollution? Then what could go to it would be pollution, not abortion laws. Lots of countries have restricted abotion and arent the handmaid tale. According to a movie I watched recently, you dont care about pollution, wich kills dozens of thousands of people. Thanks for proof for you kill babies is more important than avoid sefish companies bad actions who poison ur country, kills dozens of thousands and could be handmaids tales true. And for crtain, with abortion you are renouncing to future. No country with unrestricted abortion has a healthy population. You have chosen death. Nothing surprising, you worship money, you sacrifice ur kids to the god of prosperity. Hehehe, you are new moloch worshipers. Others chose life and they will live. Most africans restrict abortion. Are they the handmaids tale society? As africnas say: We will live in 3 centuries. West not.

[@beethoven2351]

Great job! I would rank A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller Jr. somewhere in the top ten all-time. Another wonderful book that I think more young readers should explore is Flowers for Algernon. It certainly belongs in the top 20, IMO. Two Larry Niven books, Ringworld and The Mote in God's Eye, also deserve consideration for a top 20 to 30 list, along with Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Lord of Light. I enjoy your videos!

[@DanKaraJordan]

You, sir, have very good taste.

[@londonpanther1017]

Absolutely agree with those additions but any list of great (and influential) sci-fi also has to include The Stars My Destination (aka Tiger, Tiger).

[@pinballrobbie]

Alfred Bester

[@artem_mma]

I read Dune recently. It's an incredible, must read book

[@RedFuryBooks]

I was about to get angry when you mentioned Hunger Games lol. Thanks for doing all the work to compile this list!

[@deanryanmartin]

hahaha. The Hunger Games is a good sci-fi story but well-marketed for teens.

[@libraryofaviking]

Haha 😂 Thank you for watching!

[@drakeweddner]

@Dean Ryan Martin no no its not

[@isaiahsmith7123]

Roadside Picnic which is what yhe Stalker games are based on, Metro 2033 by Dmitriy Glukhovsky, and the Faded Sun trilogy by CJ Cherryh are all fantastic and classics, i would reccomend looking into them. Shout outs to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini, The Candesce series by Karl Schroeder , and darn near anything written by Mark Kalina.

[@BlairBoggletrot]

I'm currently reading Neuromancer, and I'm in shock at how much it's like reading cyberpunk 2077 😅 it must have been a huge inspiration. I'm loving it so far!!!

[@BlairBoggletrot]

Happy to see Dune at number 1! 👏🏻

[@Codex7777]

Neuromancer was pretty much the start and inspiration for the entire cyberpunk genre. :)

[@Codex7777]

Dune's a great book, I have the entire series and love it but it's more space fantasy than actual science fiction... That's the problem with it being in such lists.

[@thatoneguy3590]

I read Neuromancer before I played cyberpunk 2077 and at some points in the game it literally felt like I was seeing and playing in Neuromancer world lol

[@riftplut0474]

@@Codex7777 it’s not really fantasy as there is no magic or anything and it’s about the advancement of humanity across the stars

[@JoaoSilvaWrites]

I'm surprised not to even see Forever War by Jose Haldeman on the list. It's the book that single-handedly made me love the sci-fi genre. It also won a few award.

[@Eidolon1andOnly]

Hard to know what's on the list since he jumps numbers

[@libraryofaviking]

There were a lot of surprises on this list!

[@keithla7654]

Strongly Agree. What about the Old Man's War or The Heechee books? Those hit hard for me.

[@DecimalD_]

House of Suns might be my favorite of all time, but Red Rising, and Scythe by Neal Shusterman (technically a Sci Fi, mostly dystopian are in my top 3).

[@Perseus109]

It’s amazing to my Niven gets overlooked in these lists. Ringworld and its sequels, intragal trees…. :(

[@OkieAllDay]

Dune had more than DOUBLE the points of 2nd place. That's impressive!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks for the screen time my friend. This video is excellent

[@libraryofaviking]

Thanks mate!

[@fvelez89]

Oh, man. You got me with the Hunger Games 😂 . I'm surprised not to see "2001 Space Odyssey" or "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" . Great list, though. Thanks for sharing!

[@Larrym-rz5bk]

For me it's The City and the Stars by Clarke, (read it 5 times), The Stars My Destination, by Bester, Caves of Steel, by Asimov, SLAN, by A. E. van Vogt, (the author whose style was copied and acknowledged by P. K. Dick), and Nunquam, by Lawrence Durrell.

[@drewdevlin9192]

great list

[@palantir135]

For newbie’s in SF try the Giant’s Star series by James Patrick Hogan. Read at least the first three books. Pure SF. Try the Splinter series by Niven & Pournelle. Babel 17 by Samual Delaney.

[@glennloucks1]

Happy to see LeGuin high on the list. I couldn’t finish Red Rising, got more than half way through and quit, the writing was painfully immature for me.

[@jaustill237]

You made the right choice.

[@costabrueck7072]

So many times people say 15 books, they mean top 10 with some honorable mentions but you included so many in when you only said 20. Keep up the great content!

[@mileshurtauthor]

Surprised not to see Iain M Banks on this list. Or M John Harrison.

[@andyklossner6707]

I'm a little bit surprised, that there's no book of Stanislav Lem on the list.

[@JungianHeights]

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin should be on here. It came before 1984 and Brave New World.

[@James-ye7rp]

The Three Body Problem is placed ridiculously low. It is an absolutely amazing read. Hyperion is awesome. Ringworld. Foundation Series is not to be missed. Also, "The Book of the New Sun" is something I read as Science Fiction. It is also treated as fantasy. Great read. Thanks

[@rafavegayoutube]

Thoughts: (1) "House of Suns" should be much higher. (2) Missing books: "The Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky; "God Emperor of Dune" by Frank Herbert; "Ancillary Justice" by Ann Leckie; (3) dark horse entries: "Dark Eden" by Chris Beckett and "The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red" by Martha Wells (belongs as a top 5 book along with "The Martian" on any "Ease Into Sci-Fi List")

[@bodhikai2505]

My go to recommendation is always Hyperion/The Fall of Hyperion (they are one story). Yes it is science-fiction...but it is also geological, biological, and political fiction, and the character development is insane. It is so good!

[@a.westernmann4224]

If you haven’t read the final 2 in the series imo they were great as well

[@Witty_Jackson]

No Iain M Banks? Octavia Butler? Peter Hamilton? Ada Palmer? However I’m glad to see Le Guin get more and more recognition recently - her Hainish series is underrated for sure.

[@davidburfield5873]

Agreed, Banks and Hamilton should be up there.... maybe they're too complex for the average reader....

[@THEDECEPTIC0NS]

The Dark Forrest sits comfortably alongside Dune for me. Truly incredible breathtaking, thought provoking sci fi. Its the 2nd book in the Remembrance of Earths Past (3body problem). Also Red Rising is probably not in the top 4 books in that series id have golden son, dark age or morning star. Dont sleep on echopraxia also.

[@tessl6750]

Fascinating list. It was really interesting to see how your personal algorithm shakes out (shook out? lol). I was disappointed that my personal top 20 sci fi didn't really make the cut... like Rendezvous with Rama (left me feeling empty in the strangest-- but most thoughtful--way) or the Crystal Singer. Maybe I have bad taste, haha! New subscriber and enjoying your videos so far! Keep up the good work!

[@DeanStephen]

Wow, it’s the fantasy invading the sci-fi that is driving me nuts, and I most like the concept/ideas books (which sadly are disappearing).

[@nicholaskolcun6542]

A Remembrance of Earths Past aka 3 body problem series recently became my all time favorite sci fi series and I have been reading the genre my whole life. It’s simply amazing and actually changed the way I think about a lot of sci fi topics. It took the number one spot away from Dune for me. It’s something in a class of its own I think.

[@garolstipock]

Recently turned my niece onto Neuromancer and the Expanse series. One of my accomplishments this summer. If I'm being honest, my only accomplishment...

[@geekokur]

As a bonus, don't forget Andy Weir's "Hail Mary Project" and Stanislaw Lemin's "Solaris".

[@IberianGeek]

Hi! I just met your channel. Sci-Fi is one of the few genres I read (I prefer watch a series). Greetings from Spain.

[@paragon1782]

Ahhh been waiting. Thank you

[@garyv2498]

Watched this for ideas of new books to read. Got a couple. the comments section was where the gold is.

[@hutch440]

Three body probelem is one of the best sci-fi books after Hyperion that I have ever read

[@Bandoolero]

So happy House of Suns is on this list!!

[@libraryofaviking]

I should definitely check it out!

[@Metal-Covers]

I am a pretty big reader and I love the sci fi genre, surprisingly I haven't heard of most of the books on this list. But I'm glad 1984 and Dune got the praise they deserved, but I feel like mortality doctrine by james dashner should've been there, such a good series.

[@katekuzanov7647]

If you like 1984, I highly recommend the brave new world. Epic stuff

[@chrisprosser5055]

Thanks for the video, this was interesting. I personally think classic sci-fi is overrepresented. I guess it really depends how the source lists are defining "top", if they are accounting for influence on the genre etc then I get it. For me enjoyment of the story is more important and by this measure I'm not sure how many of them stand up to recent alternatives. For example Project Hail Mary (one of my favourites) was not on the list. Whereas I listened to Brave New World around the same time and while it was impressive that they were able to speculate the way that they did so long ago and I'm sure it was influential, as a story I didn't rate it that highly.

[@chrisprosser5055]

Glad to see Red Rising and The Martian doing well though, really great books IMO.

[@brendanh8193]

It's a great point that different people make lists for different reasons. I was surprised that Flowers for Algenon wasn't there, nor any of David Brin's, Terry Pratchett's, Joe Haldeman's, Steven Baxter's or Neil Gaiman's novels, given their respective popularity of their times. But I took that to be due to more younger people vlogging as the reason.

[@timonousiainen354]

This is exactly how I feel as well. Many of the classics are indeed very influential, but few of those early pioneers were excellent writers. Often those books are thought experiments on an single idea. The stories and dialogs are often far behind those in modern sci-fi books. Then again, critics often value drama and complexity; whereas, exiting story let alone entertainment value are not valued. I have never understood this, it is like the book is the better, the more difficult it is. If you went to buy a car and the sales person told you that this car is darn difficult to drive, but it is a great car, would you buy it? To me books are first and foremost stories, so anything that prevents readers to enjoy the story should make the book worse, not better. When I look for re-reading in my own bookshelf, I often pick a book by David Brin or Peter F Hamilton, yet I seldom see them in any of these lists. Maybe I just have a weird taste?

[@monikachmelkova5218]

Am i the only one that thinks that fahrenheit 451 is only average?

[@joejohnson3814]

I think it’s petty overrated as well.

[@clippers1731]

I think people praise it for it's writing style. It's very poetic and goes into long paragraphs of the symbolism that lies in everything. Which in terms of writing deserves praise because I read and like some of its symbolism. The problem is you wait a while for the story to move forward because the author won't shut up about the hidden meanings about what a character feels about a wall or something. Yeah, we get it. The world has lost something of value. Please tell what happens next.

[@Wilfightyounaked]

Martian chronicles are horribly overrated

[@alexanderthurber4257]

Yes 😂

[@Scottlp2]

Sound of Thunder (short short) was good, but agree not big Bradbury fan.

[@lukeskywalker6809]

Where are Childhood’s End, 2001: A Space Odyssey and The City and the Stars, by Arthur C. Clarke, one of the greatest sci-fi authors of all time?

[@smartalek180]

Does the term "recency bias" have any meaning to you? It does now!

[@jamistardust5181]

No Heinlein. "Stranger in a Strange land" or "The moon is a Harsh mistress." The first is human born on Mars is discovered and brought to earth becomes a messiah figure. 2nd: The descendants of a prisoners from a prison colony on the moon, Revolt and break away from Earth Rule. "The Left hand of Darkness" is a favorite of mine.

[@garolstipock]

My favorite book did not make the list, but my author did!

[@theethicalostrich1388]

Honorable mention comments: The Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. This absolutely deserves to be in the top 20. My guess is that many did not consider it to be science fiction when they were making the lists. I Robot. I am a big Asimov fan, but this book shouldn't be in the top 20. Asimov has several other books more deserving. It is a classic that should be read and helped form the genre into what it is today, but is not in the top 20 or even particularly close.

[@crazybox7326]

hard for me to imagine such a list without Asimov's Foundation series.

[@katekuzanov7647]

Or it being ranked so low. Definitely deserved to be in top 3, not the 19th place

[@gimiked8685]

I agree. But younger readers have so many amazing stories to read. Asimov's writing can be political in nature. Idea's based. And can drag on with explanation of his science that's not science. For the tenth time. Because Harry has to explain it to another character. Even once Harry is dead, he's still explaining it for a thousand years to every new generation. And other characters are as well. So if you are not excited by it. Your gonna be in for a long read. But the ideas, worlds, characters, and nerdy fo science are part of the charm for me.

[@anthonyalexander5607]

I think iRobot film probably scared off anyone who might have been interested. It’s literally one tiny sliver of the book that they used to make that movie.

[@vplexico]

I just finished rereading the first Foundation novel and it is almost entirely men sitting in rooms smoking cigars and talking. The basic ideas (Rome in space) are great, but there’s not a lot to the book. The television series is a vast improvement in terms of actual story events and characters.

[@crazybox7326]

@@vplexico to each their own, i think i have read the foundation series 4-5x , and each time feel like i get something new from the experience

[@SoulisStar]

I loved the expanse books. So I’m glad it’s on the list

[@resurrectedstarships]

I waited until the end and I did not notice anythng by Arthur C Clarke!! WTH? Rama series and Space Odyssey series ftw!! But theank you for the other recomendations and I think I shall try some of these.

[@padanfain7466]

Good to see Expanse in there. Yes it deserves to be there. Great sci-fi series. Would be in my top 10. Hyperion only at 9??? Dune is number 1 for me as well. It is the LotR of sci-fi. As per other lists, I think there are 3 big universe omissions. No Star Wars Books(Darth Plagueis?), No Alien Books (Earth Hive is outstanding!) and no Warhammer 30k/40k/Eisenhorn Books.

[@slowswimmer9169]

no Clarke no PKD, no Heinlein, no Lem, no Bester, no Niven ... and yet the martian and that juvenile book by Card made the top list 🤖🔨

[@moukafaslouka4796]

The fact that Van Vogt books are not talked about means that these rankings are pure BS.

[@rorysmith2415]

Interesting list. I love science fiction short stories. I would.recommend Stephen King, Ursula K LeGuin, Joey Vimsante, Arthur C Clarke and TIm Schooch. I.enoy.reading and listening to short stories.

[@filippocamilli]

Happy with the results... Dune deserves his spot

[@libraryofaviking]

It definitely does!

[@leobuchalle1801]

8:04 i would argue The stars my destination is a earlier example of a cyberpunk novel from al the way back in 1956

[@theethicalostrich1388]

The 2 books on this top 20 that aren't on my top 20, or even anywhere near, are: Neuromancer and The Left Hand of Darkness Neuromancer. I read it. It wasn't good enough to earn a reread. I would never have considered it for such a list. It wasn't a bad book, just not no where good enough for me to consider putting it on such a list. The Left Hand of Darkness. Again, not a bad book. I just don't think it was even Le Guinn's best science fiction offering. I'd probably put it at number 4 or 5 among her Sci Fi novels.

[@BrittanyReadsBooks]

you've saved me so much time, thank you

[@UncleMonk23]

I am very surprised that no books from Arthur C Clarke made this list…2001 A Space Odyssey and or Childhood’s End…Clarke is one of the Mount Rushmore or OGs if you will of this genre…Hard to believe either book was not on this list…Hyperion should have been much higher on this list…No Robert Heinlein also surprised me not being on this list…Glad to see A Fire Upon the Deep which doesn’t always get the credit it deserves as a top SF book…

[@thursoberwick1948]

I'm not surprised that this list barely acknowledges the genre exists outside the USA.

[@mikstratok]

I reckon hyperion isn't heigher because it is less known.

[@OverlyAverageBen]

This video confirmed one thing... I am not well read in sci-fi at all! lol

[@liorlueg6610]

Thank you! This has helped me find a lot of book!

[@jakara1488]

thank u so much for doing this work for us, love ya

[@skiados7]

I am surprised that "Neverness" by David Zindell is not in the list at all. Very good book.