Top 5 Science Fiction Universes Ever

[@Patdeamon]

I'm starting my science Fiction novel journey with Dune at the moment but i inted to read all that you listed here! Great suggestions

[@BookFurnace]

Awesome! I wish you a fun and fulfilling journey:) Let me know if you ever run out of things to read and need a new recommendation :)

[@Patdeamon]

@@careypridgeon oh I didn't know that! Thanks for your insight :) I'm just about to finish the first books so I'll have some catching up to do, but when I'm there I'm thinking about your reply! :)

[@michaelmaultsby895]

Would screenplays count, because Babylon 5 is a masterpiece!

[@BookFurnace]

Thanks for the suggestion! Will add it to my "to watch" list!:)

[@DoctorHowTV]

@@BookFurnace No spoilers! It's a series that definitely rewards letting it unfold at its own pace.

[@michaelmaultsby895]

@@careypridgeon, that’s a fair statement and does not reduce the entirety to less than awesome!

[@eastvandb]

You've never read Octavia Butler or NK Jemisin? The five you've picked are all worthwhile and classic, for sure, but for an experience with really alien aliens, there's nothing that compares with gene traders in the 'Lilith's Brood' trilogy, especially the first novel 'Dawn'. Shattering. And Jemisin's earthquake-ridden planet in 'The Broken Earth' series is brilliantly thought out, full of surprises and manages to make the reader think about our own world in ways we would not have before. Those 3 Hugos were earned. (I know some old school puppies were upset about them, but if they actually read the books, they'd understand.)

[@BookFurnace]

I've only read Butler's Parable of the Sower, it was certainly a good read, but the universe in it didn't strike me as particularly unusual, hence it's not on this list. As for Jamesin's series, I considered reading it, but some of the reviews were quite concerning. And I have had very unfortunate experiences with some other relatively recent Hugo winners, so that award, for me, unfortunately, doesn't mean much anymore. I'll give it 10 years or so, see if Jamesin's work stands the test of time (and if I myself make it hehe). I mean maybe I'll get to it sooner, but we'll see.

[@eastvandb]

@@BookFurnace Yeah, Parable of the Sower is a great book, but it's very much a take on our own world falling apart. It's scary prescient when you look at when it was written and how plausible it seems now, but it's not an amazing act of world building. That's why I recommend 'Dawn' and the subsequent books. We don't come across writers like her very often. Yeah, fuck all awards, but also don't let "concerning" reviews rob you of the experience of reading one the great voices in current SF. It would be a sad loss for you. That's why I specified, "those Hugos were earned". Also, there was also a lot of hostility towards her from some old guard writers that had nothing to do with her writing. Gotta say, they just ended up looking like sad men from yesterday. She' is genuinely brilliant.

[@randomguy4488]

Have you read the prequel to A Fire Upon the Deep? In many ways it's better written, though it's much smaller scale as it's set before humanity discovered the zones of thought. There's loads of amazing worldbuilding in it.

[@BookFurnace]

I have (if you mean "Deepness in the Sky"). I thought it was a nice book, although I was reading it back to back after "A Fire Upon The Deep", and noticed a bit too many repeating tropes/writing tools (e.g. "a gullible good character deceived by the bad guy"). But it was an enjoyable read overall.

[@SecondTenns]

So far I only read "A Scanner Darkly" from Dick, the ending struck me like the ending in Orwell's 1984.

[@BookFurnace]

I actually haven't gotten to it yet, only watched the movie. But from what I heard, it's a bit more depressing and autobiographical that many other of his books. I'd highly recommend "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep", it's one of his best and very representative of his style, while not being too weird. And if you want something really mind bending - Ubik is awesome!

[@SecondTenns]

@@BookFurnace Yes, that description of "A Scanner Darkly" fits quite well. I'm always looking out for "Do Android Dream Of Electric Sheep" in second hand book stores, but no luck yet. I'm a hugh sci-fi fan, and I really like your list. Especially the Foundation novels opened my eyes to sci-fi literature, eventho I found the sequels to the main trilogy rather weakly written compared to the rest. What do you think about Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy"? In my opinion a totally hit-or-miss style of writing, but it suits my taste so I totally dig the books.

[@MattMcQueen1]

I'd really like to live in the universe of The Culture.

[@BookFurnace]

Within The Culture itself or in some of the civilizations they nudge towards progress?

[@MattMcQueen1]

@@BookFurnace I think within the culture itself.

[@MattMcQueen1]

@@BookFurnace It feels like the biggest problem you would have if you lived within The Culture is what you would want to do with your life. It's a type of post-scarcity utopia, but what would motivate you to get out of bed in the morning? Maybe travelling the universe and seeing the sights, but I think that would only last so long. I haven't read all the books, but would people eventually rebel because they would feel the freedoms they have are illusory, and would rebellion even be possible?

[@NuNugirl]

Hello. My first pick is Foundation.

[@BookFurnace]

I approve:) It was almost the first pick for me :)

[@Talossy]

Warhammer 40k, eventho it's not exactly high literature, has an amazing world building and universe

[@BookFurnace]

That's an interesting suggestion. I was recently considering painting my War of the Ring minis, and, while researching how to do that, stumbled upon a lot of Warhammer stuff. I still don't know much about the universe, but the franchise is definitely influential, especially if we consider that the settings in some uber popular games like Star Craft are also probably inspired by it.

[@Talossy]

@@BookFurnace yeah, like I said, definitely not to be considered the absolute pinnacle of high literature, but it did play a mayor part in scifi scene imo, not to the lengths of frank herbert, but in its own way. Also the fact there are multiple official authors makes it a content goldmine, there is around 530 official novels and shortstories and they are all awesome haha

[@ggraemeffrance5434]

Nice won

[@BookFurnace]

Thank you:)