Favourite Scif-novel of all time?

[James]

Another novel question with a sci-fi touch. Favourite scifi novel of all time?

I must say I'm not a massive science fiction reader outside popular culture.

I think I'll name a couple though.

Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy: Can't go wrong with Adams, and it's such a dull choice, it's barely worth mentioning as you've all read it. If you haven't, you should. The bridge between Wodehouse and Pratchett has to be Adams (among others, but I like that particular bridge).

Bill The Galactic Hero: Okay, maybe a small strut on the bridge is Harry Harrison - and ties in neatly to the other culture thread on this board. Anyway, this book is particularly good; satirical, humorous with a curious lead character. The whole thing becomes a parody in the follow up novels, but they too can be quite humorous.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Very re-readable, and the follow up in the series (by JW Jeter), Blade Runner 4 is a good novel on similar themes. Go read!

[Frozen]

That's... a tough question. I mean, I don't read all that many sci-fi novles, to be honest. I mainly read comics and short story collections. Most of the novels I actually have read are fantasy (CS Lewis, Alexander Lloyd, Alan Garner etc)!

[Lord Dalek]

Gotta be Dune.

[Patchwork]

Hmmm. Of all time? Just one? Ow.
I don't exactly read a plethora of Sci-Fi (I'm more of a fantasy girl myself), but the little I do read are usually the ones that stick with me for a long time to come.

I'm caught between Fahrenheit 451 and Nineteen Eighty Four. I really can't tell you how much I adore those two. After Last Unicorn and Whisper of Wings they're my all time faves.

After those, my runners up are Ender's Game (I swear I'll read the sequels one day), Hitchhiker's, We, and, although it's a shot story and not a novel, Vonnegut's Harrison Burgeron

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Very re-readable, and the follow up in the series (by JW Jeter), Blade Runner 4 is a good novel on similar themes. Go read!

I've been meaning to read that for years, and still haven't gotten around to it. I'm looking into it as soon as I finish Winkie. I really, really, really am this time.

[James]

Originally Posted by Lord Dalek

Gotta be Dune.

Oo, I forgot about Dune. I must confess, I never managed past the first twenty odd pages. It's one of those books that I enjoy, but never get far in, each time I read it.

Originally Posted by Sand Demoness

Hmmm. Of all time? Just one? Ow.
I don't exactly read a plethora of Sci-Fi (I'm more of a fantasy girl myself), but the little I do read are usually the ones that stick with me for a long time to come.

Maybe we should do a fantasy topic then!

I'm caught between Fahrenheit 451 and Nineteen Eighty Four. I really can't tell you how much I adore those two. After Last Unicorn and Whisper of Wings they're my all time faves.

1984 is always popular and one I've never read! For shame!

I've been meaning to read that for years, and still haven't gotten around to it. I'm looking into it as soon as I finish Winkie. I really, really, really am this time.

Ha! For shame! Androids was a great read. Well recommended.

[Frozen]

I concur. A fantasy thread would be awesome!

[Paul L Mathews]

I think I'd have to go with HG Wells's "War of the Worlds". It's a glorious reminder of a time when 'sci-fi' wasn't encumberd with hard science and pomposity. They just don't write that like that anymore, sadly.

[James]

On that note, I'm surprised the Time Machine has failed to get a reference. So much contemporary science fiction can be derived from that.

[Paul L Mathews]

The Time Machine is, indeed, excellent. But War of the Worlds pips it, for me.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

It's more science-fantasy, but I do enjoy Edgar Burrough's Princess of Mars.

I dunno. I usually don't read much science fiction outside of Dick. Especially the space stuff.

[PSBunny]

Anything by that tripped out kat, Jeff Noon. The Man is a basket-case of fun to read. Vurt, Nymphomation, Pollen (good luck finding it), or Automated Alice. Anyone of those should treat you right on a cold afternoon.

[Chris Wood]

I haven't really read that many, but I loved Asimov's Robot series.

[James]

I've done the nasty, and my latest scifi novel, I couldn't help but pick up from the Library... Ghostbusters: The Return.

Set after Ghostbusters 2, this novel - so far - characertises well, remains as light and irrelevant as the movie.. but does feel like utter brain candy to read, which is a shame. A popcorn movie can't be challenging, but I think a book, with it's 5 senses, can offer something that fits the idiom of the film, but isn't.. well, as vacant as a film can be.

Oh well, my secret's out.

[Dragon_Ranger]

I have been reading alot of the Aliens Novels, been reading them since Steve Perry wrote alot of them back in 94, I recently got the comics that mark the 30th Annivs, should I say Part 1, part 2 is coming and part 3 in september, with alot of these novels, I wish they would use them to continue the movie franchise

[Prof. Mecavio]

I think I'll go with Dune as well. Been awhile since I read it (don't read much Sci-Fi these days) but I remember it being a great read, with a complex, suspenseful intrigue and engaging characters.

Leaping Larry Jojo mentioned "A Princess of Mars", another great novel, which I devoured when I was younger. Recentely, I read two french novels: "Le Prisonnier de Planete Mars" and it's sequel "La Guerre des Vampires" by Gustave LeRouge, which were similiar in many ways to Burroughs' opus and very different in others (for example, in LeRouge's books we also get to follow the main character's friends and relatives who try to solve the mystery behind his disappearance).

By the way, for those who are interested, both novels have been translated into english and collected in one volume under the title "The Vampires of Mars".

[Rick Jones]

I was a huge fan of Jules Verne and HG Wells stuff at a pretty young age, particularly 20.000 Leagues Under The Sea and The Invisible Man. I loved Starship Troopers too.

[Dragon_Ranger]

Originally Posted by Prof. Mecavio

I think I'll go with Dune as well. Been awhile since I read it (don't read much Sci-Fi these days) but I remember it being a great read, with a complex, suspenseful intrigue and engaging characters.

Leaping Larry Jojo mentioned "A Princess of Mars", another great novel, which I devoured when I was younger. Recentely, I read two french novels: "Le Prisonnier de Planete Mars" and it's sequel "La Guerre des Vampires" by Gustave LeRouge, which were similiar in many ways to Burroughs' opus and very different in others (for example, in LeRouge's books we also get to follow the main character's friends and relatives who try to solve the mystery behind his disappearance).

By the way, for those who are interested, both novels have been translated into english and collected in one volume under the title "The Vampires of Mars".

Dune was a excellent novel, just finished reading it last week, I still love the extended version of the movie

[Jacques]

Only read a few of 'em, but Fahrenheit 451 was pretty darn good. I hope to read 1984 some time.

Fahrenheit 451 wasn't totally science-fiction-ish, but it definitely had the cold, lonely feel that futuristic sci-fi has. I find it funny how inaccurate the portrayals of these days were in the '40s and '50s. Books... banned... ridiculous. If books had been banned in the '90s (the time period in which 451 takes place), some of my favorite books would've never been written - The Giver, The Harry Potter Series, and when I was younger, A Series of Unfortunate Events.

[Tomato Suprise]

The first Ender's Game book and Ender's Shadow.

Seriously, it'll make you have a pit in your stomach for aes.

Tomato