This is fitting...

[purplerainbow]

...for not only am I an amateur sci-fi fan, but I recently visited the British Library's exhibition on sci-fi and then felt compelled to read lots of the books featured and thus become a better sci-fi fan.

This is NPR's Top 100 Science-Fiction and Fantasy books.

Bold if you've read, italicize ones you fully intend to read, underline if it's a book/

Comments

[littlered2]

You got more than me - I only managed seventeen! (Some are on my to-read list, though; The Left Hand of Darkness is sitting beside my bed as we speak.) I would definitely recommend the Vorkosigan Saga, which I've just started reading recently and liked; I think our tastes look quite similar. (I found Douglas Adams too whimsical as well, although I'm very fond of Terry Pratchett.)

[purplerainbow]

I'll definitely give the Vorkosigan Saga a try then. I've liked the Terry Pratchett novels that I've read, but I've never felt compelled to read every single thing he's ever written. I liked The Truth, I think, and Mort.

[spiderdragon]

I know you've read Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke so why not the four Space Odyssey books? If it's his style of writing, fair enough, but if the films have dissuaded you then I can't recommend the books highly enough. They really stuck with me for a long time after reading and I'm sure you'd enjoy them! I've not read all The Hyperion Cantos, but I've read the first two and really enjoyed them, particularly the first one. I think you'd appreciate the literary references! The novel consists of stories of travellers on a journey (almost a sci-fi Canterbury Tales), so it's easy to stick with as the setting refreshingly changes but the threads begin to pull together... Also, The Sword of Truth series: I didn't get any further than Wizard's First Rule, the first novel, as it was one of those occasions that I didn't want to lessen my liking of the characters with endless sequels (and the novels can stand alone anyway). Parts of it are a bit naff but I did enjoy it. They've made a TV adaption called Legend of the Seeker so Goodkind must

[purplerainbow]

I've actually not read Childhood's End - it's on my list of books to look out for in charity shops/libraries etc. I really didn't like the film 2001: A Space Odyssey but if you like the books then I'm willing to give them a try!