Top Quality Science Fiction

[Mr.lucifer]

Could you guys reccomend me some top quality sci-fi novels?

[Drkshadow03]

Could you guys reccomend me some top quality sci-fi novels?

You couldn't go wrong by starting with the Sci-fi masterworks collection (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SF_Masterworks).

[dfloyd]

the novels of HG Wells and Jules Verne. For modern, Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. There are other modern, but since I am not a big fan of this genre, I'll let others recommend.

[TheFifthElement]

Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's The Mote in God's Eye is pretty good. Philip K Dick is also good and Isaac Asimov's robot novels are good too. Then there's Frank Herbert's Dune which is sci-fi/fantasy, and my husband always enjoyed the Riverworld series but I couldn't take to it. It starts with To My Scattered Bodies Go.

[Night_Lamp]

A must-read sci/fi is William Gibson's Neuromancer. This the novel that invented cyber-punk (like Bladerunner) and Gibson also was the first to use the term 'cyberspace'. An amazing classic.

[aliengirl]

You may check out Arthur Clarke's works if you are really interested in top quality sci-fi. His 'The Last Theorem' is among my favorites. 'A Fall of Moondust' is also great.

[Nikhar]

Thanks for reminding me about neuromancer. I wanted to read it for so long. I guess I'll be reading neuromancer before the funny ones.

[The Book]

Im reading Dune By Frank Herbert right now.....

[milktea]

I wasn't a fan of science fiction until I took an SF course at uni. These works were phenomenal and changed my opinion entirely of genre. We were required to read what my prof termed 'hard SF' which requires 'science' to be the driving element of the story as opposed to a story set in 'space' or perfunctorily in 'the future' which my professor termed as 'sci-fi', 'space opera', and 'science fiction fantasy'

Here are some of the books which I read which made me a fan of SF.

Hard SF (favorites of the course)
He, She, and It by Marge Piercy
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
R.U.R. by Karl Capek
Nightfall by Isaac Aismov
No Woman Born by C. L. Moore

There was also a short story I read about how murders could be recreated by sound wave impressions left in walls or something along that line and a murderer who if I can recall tries to figure out how to outsmart this technology while repeatedly flashing back to the times when as a child he was abused by his Christian zealot of a mother (she would lock him a closet with a picture of 'eye of god' tacked in the small space to watch him). It was an amazing psychological thriller and powerful short story. If anyone here knows it, hopefully they will recommend the author and the title.

General Science Fiction/Sci-Fi (not in my course but I enjoyed these works well enough)
Dune by Frank Herbert
Stranger in a Strangeland by Robert Heinlein
random Philip K. Dick short stories (can't list off hand as I don't care for a lot of works)
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

[Modest Proposal]

A must-read sci/fi is William Gibson's Neuromancer. This the novel that invented cyber-punk (like Bladerunner) and Gibson also was the first to use the term 'cyberspace'. An amazing classic.

A few quick notes, just because I've been doing some work in SF...

Neuromancer, while brilliant, is not the first cyber punk novel. The distinction usually is credited to 'Shock Wave Rider' or 'True Names'.

Also Bladerunner preceeds Gibson's work and is not considered cyber punk.

[Mr.lucifer]

You guys do know that henlein is known for his mary sues?

[OrphanPip]

Heinlein used to like to engage in openly inserting himself into his novels, especially in his later career. I think he even has a novel where he used his own name.

I would take the root of looking at the sci-fi canon.

Begin with Proto Sci-Fi
Wells, Verne, Hawthorne's "The Birthmark"

Move onto Golden Age
Bradbury - Martian Chronicles (Fahrenheit is overrated)
Heinlein - "All You Zombies" and Stranger in a Strange Land
Arthur C. Clarke - "The Nine Billion Names of God"
Isaac Asimov
Theodore Sturgeon

Second Wave
Ursala K. LeGuin - The Left Hand of Darkness
Harlan Elisson

Cyberpunk
Gibson's Neuromancer didn't create cyberpunk, but did popularize it.
Neil Stephenson's Snow Crash is considered to be post-cyberpunk.

Then there's the contemporary stuff that I'm not really familiar with.

I've never really been into the whole world-building space opera things, so my little list is very narrow.

Edit: I'm going to add some just random titles.

Card's Ender Game is a fun story for young people who grew up in the age of video games, though I'm not always fond of Card and hate all of his other stuff.

Dan Simmons - Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, Rise of Endymion
The first two are a sci-fi take on the Canterbury tales, with a group of people from various planets and walks of life are on a pilgrimage and each tells their story. The other two are just OK adventure stories.

Gene Wolfe's New Sun books are an interesting Sci-fi/fantasy mix.

China Mieville's "Steam Punk" novels are kind of fun too, mixing fantasy with sci-fi again.

That's all I've got for now.

[Night_Lamp]

Okay, I stand corrected; I alway forget how old the Dick novel is. I would still classify it as cyberpunk in my opinion- but my sci/fi knowledge is very limited. The other term associated often with Gibson is : 'Urban Noir'.

Has anyone read the crazy 'Steam-punk' novel? Something engine... I'd be interested in hearing their thoughts on it.

[OrphanPip]

I've read Mieville's three steam punk novels: Perdido Street Station, The Scar, and Iron Council.

I haven't read the Difference Engine by Gibson, not enough time in the world. The volume of sci fi that gets published is frustrating.

[Kotetsu1442]

You guys do know that henlein is known for his mary sues?

Its definitely fair to say that he did have plenty Mary Sues in his works, and in my opinion was almost obsessed with lauding the 'benefits' free sex would have on society, but that by no means proves that he isn't a good author and I would say it is only among those that dislike him that that is what he is 'known for.' What he is being among the first "Big Three" to write sci-fi that was popular among a mainstream audience, exploring and challenging controversial social, political and religious issues, and setting strong and inventive standards for scientific plausibility (as opposed to taking something that is essentially fantasy and saying "then there was a device that could do this fictional thing, but with vague and often contradictory methods of operating."

Along with the aforementioned 'Stranger in a Strange Land', I would say that 'The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress,' 'Friday,' and 'The Number of the Beast' are all must-reads for sci-fi fans.

Additionally, any of Heinlein's juveniles are great as stand-alone quick reads that are still highly imaginative in setting and quite thought provoking in ideology (I would say that 'Tunnel in the Sky' is a sci-fi equivalent to 'Lord of the Flies' for any fans of it).

Other recommendations:

'2001: A Space Odyssey' has always been among my favorite sci-fi books and movies.

You really can't go wrong with Asimov, but specifically my favorite of his is the original Foundation trilogy. Also, Asimov's original Robot series (before it blended with his other writings to make up his larger fictional universe) makes for a really interesting blend of sci-fi and mystery.

Piers Anthony does a great job of blending sci-fi and fantasy settings in general, but for one that leans much more to the sci-fi side the "Bio of a Space Tyrant" series is some of the best in modern sci-fi.

Orson Scott Card also has very few duds in my book (though yes OrphanPip I do agree that some of his stuff isn't worth the time), but if you're looking for 'must-reads' go for 'Ender's Game' and the novels that follow it.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Interesting thread. I've certainly not got much experience outside of Wells, Verne and a few others, though I know the names and reputations of several without having read them. I've also learnt what a "Mary Sue" is, as I have never heard of that term in my life! Good old Google!

[Drkshadow03]

Heinlein is known for his Mary Sues, and his writing isn't really top-notch either (http://beyondassumptions.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/booklist-2009-44-stranger-in-a-strange-land-by-robert-heinlein/), but he had some really radical ideas and some interesting stories exploring those ideas.

[Kotetsu1442]

I just remembered this 'Top 100' sci-fi books list (http://www.absolutetoday.com/blog.net/post/2010/01/25/The-100-Greatest-Science-Fiction-or-Fantasy-Novels-of-All-Time.aspx) that I stumbled on not too long ago. I wouldn't say that I necessarily agree on the specific ordering (which is way too subjective to be accurate), but I think just about every one on it deserves to be on it, especially the top 20 or 30. If you're interested in finding a quality read by some of the less known authors throughout sci-fi history then this list is a great place to look (though it certainly gives the well known authors their due recognition as well).

[_Shannon_]

One of my favs I don't see mentioned so I'll add it:

Canticle For Leibowitz by Arthur M. Miller

[Mr.lucifer]

Interesting thread. I've certainly not got much experience outside of Wells, Verne and a few others, though I know the names and reputations of several without having read them. I've also learnt what a "Mary Sue" is, as I have never heard of that term in my life! Good old Google!

Mary sues are usually common in fanfiction. Though even fanfic readers hate mary sues. From I've heard, those who are aware of the mary sues in heinlein's books do still consider his books entertaining.

That are some characters in literature are considered mary sues and usually are the works of poor writers. Twilight for example may be popular, but it also attracted a large amount of haters for the lack of story and because the main characters are considered mary sues.

Terry goodkin's man character in the sword of truth series is considered a mary sue which is one reason why terry goodkin is one of the most hated writers in fantasy. Eragon the main character of the popular inheritance cycle is considered a mary sue.

[JBI]

I'm interested if anyone here knows anything about non-English Science Fiction, and if they could give me some recommendations, or point me in the right direction (no need to mention Jules Verne). It would be interesting to see how science fiction changes under different political landscapes, but as of yet, I haven't read much outside of American (and a little Canadian/British) publications.

[OrphanPip]

Heinlein is known for his Mary Sues, and his writing isn't really top-notch either (http://beyondassumptions.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/booklist-2009-44-stranger-in-a-strange-land-by-robert-heinlein/), but he had some really radical ideas and some interesting stories exploring those ideas.

I agree there are serious problems with the novel, but you can't really say you're familiar with 1950-60s sci-fi without reading it. It is after all the first ever sci-fi novel to reach best seller status.

Heinlein is a prolific writer of mostly terrible novels, some populated with interesting ideas. I think his short stories are where he shines, where his sort of chauvinistic, anti-intellectual humour doesn't grate as much and it is much easier to enjoy highly conceptual work.

I chose "All You Zombies" as a prime example of where Heinlein's humour and outlandish ideas work best. Even people who have never read the story have absorbed the concept second hand, the famous time travel paradox of fathering yourself.

Edit: I think Bradbury was a much better short story writer than novelist as well.


I just remembered this 'Top 100' sci-fi books list (http://www.absolutetoday.com/blog.net/post/2010/01/25/The-100-Greatest-Science-Fiction-or-Fantasy-Novels-of-All-Time.aspx) that I stumbled on not too long ago. I wouldn't say that I necessarily agree on the specific ordering (which is way too subjective to be accurate), but I think just about every one on it deserves to be on it, especially the top 20 or 30. If you're interested in finding a quality read by some of the less known authors throughout sci-fi history then this list is a great place to look (though it certainly gives the well known authors their due recognition as well).

Haha, I love Gene Wolfe, but it's a little ridiculous to have almost everything he's ever written on a top 100 list. Martin, Kay, and Le Guin got some ridiculous amount of credit too. Le Guin might actually deserve it though.

[Night_Lamp]

To JBI:

In the sci/fi class I took last year, the professor said that Russian sci/fi is as good or in many cases better than english speaking texts. I'll get out my notebook form that class and get back to you as soon as I get caught up in my inter-session course.

[Drkshadow03]

I agree there are serious problems with the novel, but you can't really say you're familiar with 1950-60s sci-fi without reading it. It is after all the first ever sci-fi novel to reach best seller status.

Heinlein is a prolific writer of mostly terrible novels, some populated with interesting ideas. I think his short stories are where he shines, where his sort of chauvinistic, anti-intellectual humour doesn't grate as much and it is much easier to enjoy highly conceptual work.

I chose "All You Zombies" as a prime example of where Heinlein's humour and outlandish ideas work best. Even people who have never read the story have absorbed the concept second hand, the famous time travel paradox of fathering yourself.

Edit: I think Bradbury was a much better short story writer than novelist as well.



Haha, I love Gene Wolfe, but it's a little ridiculous to have almost everything he's ever written on a top 100 list. Martin, Kay, and Le Guin got some ridiculous amount of credit too. Le Guin might actually deserve it though.

Actually, I think I prefer most Sci-fi writer's short story output to their novels. Even Martin's short story work is really good: "Meathouse Man" and "Sandkings."

[OrphanPip]

That novel We by Zamyatin is the only Russian Sci-fi I'm familiar with. The Soviet Union is famous for producing a lot of sci-fi based around socialist utopia, I'm not knowledgeable enough to pick many titles though.


Actually, I think I prefer most Sci-fi writer's short story output to their novels. Even Martin's short story work is really good: "Meathouse Man" and "Sandkings."

I really liked "Sandkings," but it has been several years since I read it. Martin writes good novels, his fantasy epics are a bit long winded, but he wrote some good stand alone novels when he was younger.

[_Shannon_]

I'm interested if anyone here knows anything about non-English Science Fiction, and if they could give me some recommendations, or point me in the right direction (no need to mention Jules Verne). It would be interesting to see how science fiction changes under different political landscapes, but as of yet, I haven't read much outside of American (and a little Canadian/British) publications.
My husband said that Stanislaw Lem (Polish) is worth reading...and that Greg Egan and several other Australian writers are worth a go.

[milktea]

One of my favs I don't see mentioned so I'll add it:

Canticle For Leibowitz by Arthur M. Miller

This is one of the books that I borrowed from a co-worker. It was fantastic, but while I remember the story vividly I could never remember the title. Thanks for this recommendation as it's helped me find a long lost love.


JBI:
Karl Capek (I mentioned him earlier, R.U.R. is a play but it's where the word Robot comes from)

I think We is an interesting novel, but 1984 (despite being its imitator) is better written than We. Still it's another non-English work worth checking out. Although I'd classify it as a dystopian novel before calling it sci-fi.

[PeterL]

Poul Anderson, Robert Silverberg, Roger Zelazny, Frederick Pohl, C. M.Kornbluth, G. C. Edmondson, Azimov, and many others wrote great Science Fiction. It is my opinion that The Ship Thst Sailed the Time Stream by Edmondson was the best American novel of the 20th century, but it is largely unrecognized.

[The Book]

Jules Verne. From the Earth to the Moon, Around the World in 80 Days, A Journey to the Centre of the Earth, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Paris in the 20th Century are his best.

[Perscors]

Call it SF, call it gnostic parable--my personal fav novel of all time
David Lindsay, A Voyage to Arcturus

I also just read these recently and with pleasure:
William Gibson--Pattern Recognition
Neal Stephenson--Snow Crash

also check out Gibson's list of his own personal favorites at:

http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/66294/index2.html

Classic SF:
Ursula K. Le Guin: The Dispossessed (self-proclaimed first Anarchist novel), Left Hand of Darkness
Brian Aldiss: Report on Probability A
Thomas M. Disch: On Wings of Song; 334; Camp Concentration

personal favorites:
JG Ballard--anything you can get your hands on
Will Self--stick to the short stories

[mortalterror]

Start here http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/topscifi/lists_books_rank1.html .

[Bastable]

The first thing that comes to mind is "The Dancers at the End of Time" by Michael Moorcock. One of my favourite sci-fi reads, and one of the most unusual.

[Taliesin]

I'd generally recommend Philip K. Dick here.


I'm interested if anyone here knows anything about non-English Science Fiction, and if they could give me some recommendations, or point me in the right direction (no need to mention Jules Verne). It would be interesting to see how science fiction changes under different political landscapes, but as of yet, I haven't read much outside of American (and a little Canadian/British) publications.


I can't give you any other suggestions at the moment, but for Soviet SF the most important authors are Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. It's a bit difficult to pick their best ones, but maybe I'll suggest Hard to Be a God (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_to_Be_a_God) and Ugly Swans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ugly_Swans). Roadside Picnic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadside_Picnic) is also rather good.


And of course, you probably know of this already, but Stanisław Lem is a very important Polish SF writer. I myself have read only his Solaris (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaris_(novel)) and I dare to suggest it.

[PeterL]

I'm interested if anyone here knows anything about non-English Science Fiction, and if they could give me some recommendations, or point me in the right direction (no need to mention Jules Verne). It would be interesting to see how science fiction changes under different political landscapes, but as of yet, I haven't read much outside of American (and a little Canadian/British) publications.

The firt science fiction was written by a Frenchman, Cyrano de Bergerac. Comical History of the States and Empires of the Moon, 1647, and Comical History of the States and Empires of the Sun[/i]. Jules Verne was another well known writer of science fiction. More recently, Polish and Russians have written some good SF.

[Kevets]

In addition to those mentioned, I'm a fan of Vernor Vinge.

[ClaesGefvenberg]

Great suggestions so far, and I would like to add the following in no particular order of preference:

The Ringworld (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringworld) series by Larry Niven
Enemy Mine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemy_Mine_(novella)) by Barry B Longyear
Eon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eon_(novel)) by Greg Bear.
Rossum's Universal Robots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.U.R._(Rossum's_Universal_Robots)) by Karl Capek (Not that good, but it started the robot craze in SciFi).

/Claes

[Perscors]

Start here http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/topscifi/lists_books_rank1.html .

Have to take issue with this list, Le Guin at 26?!?! Really? Lists of course are subjective, and no disrespect, but to this one I take issues.

[Mr.lucifer]

Lists are nothing but propaganda. Its meaningless to debate them,so don't worry.

[punk sheep]

I'm interested if anyone here knows anything about non-English Science Fiction, and if they could give me some recommendations, or point me in the right direction (no need to mention Jules Verne). It would be interesting to see how science fiction changes under different political landscapes, but as of yet, I haven't read much outside of American (and a little Canadian/British) publications.

Bernard Werber
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Werber)

[Dark Star]

Herbert's Dune (the series) is essential if you don't mind world-building and philosophy written into your books. The recommendation for A Voyage to Arcturus is also excellent. Philip Dick is another good one, and while I'm not familiar with much of Heinlein's work, "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" is brilliant. One that has not been mentioned is Stephen Douglas, whose work is essential if you don't mind the 'space opera' genre.

[ClaesGefvenberg]

"The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" is brilliant. Yes, I could have mentioned that one too: I reread it for the umpteenth time only yesterday. :lol:

/Claes

[DonovanTalbot]

To name a few more

The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
1984 by George Orwell
Childhood's End by Arthur C Clarke

[The Book]

The Mars Series By Kim Stanley Robinson

Red Mars
Green Mars
Blue Mars
The Martians

[Perscors]

Lists are nothing but propaganda. Its meaningless to debate them,so don't worry.

Come on Mr. L, lighten up. Lists are fun to make and why make them but to debate them. I wouldn't call it propaganda (if so for who or what?!? I didn't put Le Guin's the Dispossessed on my list as Anarachist propaganda, I know little of any of the various anarachist philosophies outside what is presented in her book) rather I think you mean lists are highly subjective, and who here would deny that?

[Mr.lucifer]

Come on Mr. L, lighten up. Lists are fun to make and why make them but to debate them. I wouldn't call it propaganda (if so for who or what?!? I didn't put Le Guin's the Dispossessed on my list as Anarachist propaganda, I know little of any of the various anarachist philosophies outside what is presented in her book) rather I think you mean lists are highly subjective, and who here would deny that?

I got that thinking for roger ebert. One purposes of lists are to gain expoaure for the contents on the list.

[Basil Valentine]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Jack Vance yet. He was quite prolific from the 50's to the 80's (I say was - he's still alive, but not actively writing) and nearly everything he wrote is a class above most other SF. His best works IMO are probably the 'Demon Princes' series and the 'Dying Earth' series (and also the three 'Lyonesse' books, but they are fantasy rather than SF).

My other big favourite is Gene Wolfe, who has already been mentioned. His 'Book of the New Sun' is as near to the big classic works of the past as SF gets, but I love pretty much everything he has written.

I don't think anyone has mentioned John Crowley either - much of his work is only borderline SF, but 'Beasts', 'The Deep', the novella 'Great Work of Time' and the marvellous 'Engine Summer' are all SF.

And what about M. John Harrison? His 'Light' is my favourite SF novel of the last decade, though most of his other work is fantasy or contemporary fiction.

Other than that, I agree with other people's recommendations of J G Ballard and Philip K Dick, though both of them wrote novels and stories both brilliant and not-so-brilliant...

[DonovanTalbot]

Donovan's Brain by Curt Siodmak
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
The Island of Dr Moreau by H.G. Wells

[Mr.lucifer]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Jack Vance yet. He was quite prolific from the 50's to the 80's (I say was - he's still alive, but not actively writing) and nearly everything he wrote is a class above most other SF. His best works IMO are probably the 'Demon Princes' series and the 'Dying Earth' series (and also the three 'Lyonesse' books, but they are fantasy rather than SF).

My other big favourite is Gene Wolfe, who has already been mentioned. His 'Book of the New Sun' is as near to the big classic works of the past as SF gets, but I love pretty much everything he has written.

I don't think anyone has mentioned John Crowley either - much of his work is only borderline SF, but 'Beasts', 'The Deep', the novella 'Great Work of Time' and the marvellous 'Engine Summer' are all SF.

And what about M. John Harrison? His 'Light' is my favourite SF novel of the last decade, though most of his other work is fantasy or contemporary fiction.

Other than that, I agree with other people's recommendations of J G Ballard and Philip K Dick, though both of them wrote novels and stories both brilliant and not-so-brilliant...

Philkip K. Dick's ubik was on time magazine's list of the 100 greatest novels in the english langauge since 1923

[PeterL]

Donovan's Brain by Curt Siodmak
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
The Island of Dr Moreau by H.G. Wells

I never read Donovan's Brain, but the movie was excellent.

[DonovanTalbot]

I never read Donovan's Brain, but the movie was excellent.

Yeah, the movie is a classic. The book is even better. The author wrote numerous screenplays and writings for movies, notably The Wolf Man (1941), The Beast With Five Fingers (1946), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), Black Friday (1940), and Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943). He also wrote two pseudo-sequels to Donovan's Brain but I have not read them yet.

[PeterL]

Yeah, the movie is a classic. The book is even better. The author wrote numerous screenplays and writings for movies, notably The Wolf Man (1941), The Beast With Five Fingers (1946), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), Black Friday (1940), and Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943). He also wrote two pseudo-sequels to Donovan's Brain but I have not read them yet.

I don't recall reading anything by Mr Siodmak, but I will keep my eyes open.

[Thom Holliday]

Dune by Frank Herbert is the grand daddy of science fiction novels. I'm currently reading it now and it's simply astounding how detailed the novel is. A brilliant gateway to science fiction.

I'd also recommend:

J.G. Ballard, The Drowned World
Philip K. Dick, A Scanner Darkly
Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (The film Blade Runner is based on this novel)
Kurt Vonnegut, The Sirens of Titan

Today I'm going to visit my favourite science fiction bookstore, Forbidden Planet http://www.forbiddenplanet.com/, and pick up a few books. I'll have a look through this thread for some recommendations!

Eeee! I seem to be overdosing on science fiction this summer, although I'm not complaining.

I picked up John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids from a book market on London's South Bank. A steal at £3.50! Looking forward to starting this one after Dune, it's a book I've always wanted to read, and now I can! Mwahaha. :)

EDIT: Sorry for my three posts in a row! I'm just massively mad on science fiction books at the moment, infact slightly obsessed.

[PeterL]

EDIT: Sorry for my three posts in a row! I'm just massively mad on science fiction books at the moment, infact slightly obsessed.

If you are massively mad, then you should get The Aluminum Man and The Ship that Sailed the Time Stream both by G. C. Edmondson. The former is the funniest SF book ever, and the latter is the best novel of the 20th century.

[Eric Vornoff]

Beyond the Anglophone world try e.g. Lem, Strugatsky brothers, Alexander Belyayev.

For modern notable Russian sci-fi writhers e.g. Sergey_Lukyanenko (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Lukyanenko) is one of the most interesting figures, but I am not sure his best si-fi works (e.g. Spectrum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrum_(Russian_novel)) or The_Stars_Are_Cold_Toys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stars_Are_Cold_Toys)) have been ever translated into English.

[DonovanTalbot]

I don't recall reading anything by Mr Siodmak, but I will keep my eyes open.

Excuse me, he was a Hollywood writer but he wrote several books published in pulp.

The two pseudo-sequels to Donovan's Brain were Hauser's Memory and Gabriel's Body with an obvious theme arc.

Grab Donovan's Brain at every opportunity, awesome sci-fi horror book. A classic.

[Mr.lucifer]

There is a bunch of foreign sci-fi writers mentioned on wikipedia. You should check it out.

[Karol Stapledon]

Hi new member here, I was searching for "the Aluminum Man" author & stumbled on this forum. I think it was a review, with which I agree.

That is a great read.

Others (and some are just some of my nostalgic favorites that upon re-reading are not that good:smile5:):

Way Station by Simak
Sirius by Stapledon
Man in the Maze by Silverberg
No Mouth, Must Scream by Ellison
Earthblood by Laumer

[minstrelbard]

I remember thinking that James Blish's "Cities In Flight" was awesome when I was a kid.

[Karol Stapledon]

A Plague of Demons by Keith Laumer,

Great! as a young teenager. Me & my buddy loved it!

Upon reading as adult, not very good - horrible ending.. ugh:puke:.

[andrewparkin]

For science fiction which is also of world-class literary quality, I would recommend the books by the Strugatsky brothers, Arkady & Boris--a pair of Soviet science-fiction writers. Perhaps their most famous book is Roadside Picnic, which was made in to the film Stalker by Tarkovsky (which is only worth seeing if you are in to watching protracted shots of walking water...). My favourite are Story of the Troika, a satire on how the Soviet regime would deal with aliens & other unexplainable phenomena, & Space Mowgli, about a kid brought up by aliens. There is as well as a enjoyable Soviet-German film based on Hard to be God.:smile5:

[Veho]

It's been mentioned previously in this thread but I highly recommend The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham.