21 Books That Changed Science Fiction And Fantasy Forever

[T1berious]

Chiefbadger said:

I think the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan should be there for sure. Influenced so much modern fantasy and remains unmatched in my view.

I'm looking for something to put on my Kindle for a holiday next week ( 4 hours worth of travel each way), would you recommend them?

I'm trying Erin Brin (Sundiver) and finding it pretty slow going.

Sorry to hijack thread

[onomatopoeia]

T1berious said:

I'm trying Erin Brin (Sundiver) and finding it pretty slow going.

David Brin?

Startide rising, which is the next novel set in the same future, is better paced.

[T1berious]

Yup, David Brin. I've got 10 hours worth of travel over the next week so I'll persevere.

Cheers,

T1b

[curlyks2]

VeeDubBigBird said:

Surprised not to see Discworld.

+1. Since the list includes fantasy (leaving to one side for a moment whether that should be lumped together with science fiction), I was expecting to see The Colour of Magic (Discworld #1) on there.

Very happy to see this one in the list - a quite underrated book in my opinion

Halb said:

8) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

One I think should be in the list is The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle. Anyone else on here read it?

[singlecoil]

curlyks2 said:

One I think should be in the list is The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle. Anyone else on here read it?

Yes, I have, a long time ago, but the fact that I can remember the gist of it shows it made quite an impression on me.

[perdu]

That and Ossian's Ride, both tattered and coverless from re-re-re-reading mark a serious reason to take science fiction seriously for me

Far better than A For Andromeda

Sitting on the shelf to my left they will never be thrown to the charriddee shops while I can prevent it

Both so badly tattered they would be pulped without a consideration

Agree that Flowers for Algernon should be on the list

[JJ55]

+1 for discworld. Also if Harry potter & hunger games on list then maybe Phillip Pullmans northern lights trilogy worth going on list

[maffski]

T1berious said:

Chiefbadger said:

I think the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan should be there for sure. Influenced so much modern fantasy and remains unmatched in my view.

I'm looking for something to put on my Kindle for a holiday next week ( 4 hours worth of travel each way), would you recommend them?
...

Cracking books, but you'd be best travelling by boat - there are rather a lot of words.

I'd add Kim Stanley Robinson's Red/Green/Blue Mars to that list

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Very surprised that "The Malazan Book of the Fallen" series by Steven Erikson is not on the list. This is without doubt the best fantasy series I have ever read. In a way it has ruined the genre for me as it makes everything else (including ASOIAF) feel slow and simplistic. It is 'high fantasy' with no real baddies; there are numerous points of view from all armies/factions/races involved.

Be warned it is not light reading and the first book takes some getting into (it starts in the middle of a huge battle with no explanation as to WTF is going on). From the second book onward the series really picks up and becomes addictive. Erikson, like Bernard Cornwell, is one of the only authors I know of that can skilfully convey the chaos of massive battles.

[cherie171]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Very surprised that "The Malazan Book of the Fallen" series by Steven Erikson is not on the list.

Because it's not a 'best of' list, it's those that the person who wrote the article deemed to be game changers. The Malazan books, whilst brilliant, have only taken a well worn format and just done it a lot better than others.