Top 15 Science Fiction Book Series
Published on March 25, 2008 - 166 Comments
Nothing is better than finishing a brilliant science fiction novel knowing that it is only the first in a series. Some of the greatest minds in sci-fi have used the series format to create complex and thrilling universes for their story characters to exist in, while others have created dystopian (and utopian) future environments on earth. This list takes the best of the science fiction series genre and attempts to rank them - a difficult (and obviously subjective) task. For your reading pleasure, here are the 15 greatest science fiction book series.
The bulk of the Vorkosigan Saga concerns Miles Vorkosigan, a disabled aristocrat from the planet Barrayar whose entire life is a challenge to the prejudices of his native planet against “mutants”. The novels The Vor Game, Barrayar, and Mirror Dance each won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, while Falling Free, Memory, and A Civil Campaign were nominated but did not win. The series makes travel between star systems possible through the use of wormholes (spatial anomalies that exist in five spatial dimensions) - enabling instantaneous travel. The inhabited systems are known collectively as the Wormhole Nexus.
Written by Gene Wolfe, this four-part novel is about Serverian, a journeyman torturer who shows mercy to his victim by allowing her to commit suicide to avoid further suffering. As a result of this act he is exiled from the torturers guild Seekers for Truth and Penitence. The series belongs to the Dying Earth subgenre - a type of science fiction or fantasy set in a far distant future in which the Sun is dying. Wolfe uses a lot of allegory in his series, with Severian being identified as a Christ/Apollo figure. It is his destiny to revive the sun and, thereby, save the earth.
Simmons’ Cantos is one of the most well known science fiction series of the last two decades. It is set in the far future and focuses heavily on plot and story development, giving a much lesser role to technical detail. It would be considered soft science fiction and is often described as “space opera”. Of the four novels in the series, Hyperion received the Hugo Award for best Novel and The Fall of Hyperion was nominated for the Nebula Award for best novel. Hyperion is home to the Time Tombs, large artifacts that allow people to travel back and forth in time. The region where the tombs are found is also the home of the Shrike, a menacing being that appears throughout the series.
This is, perhaps, the most well known of the series on this list due to the commercial success of the film 2001, a Space Odyssey. The whole series was originally sparked off by a short story by Clarke, which he later evolved in to a full length novel in conjunction with the production of the movie by Stanley Kubrick. The series combines science fiction and metaphysics. Because the stories and settings of the various books and films diverge, Clarke stated that the continuity of the series represents occurrences in a set of parallel universes.
The Culture is an anarchistic, socialistic, and utopian society set in the future. It is a “post-scarcity” society - meaning that it is is set in a time in which man has overcome all of the problems of poverty and need in the world - as well as eradicating death and disease. It is a totally egalitarian state, requiring no use of force or compulsion except when necessary for the protection of others. The novels deal mostly with people living on the fringes of this society - diplomats, spies, and mercenaries - those who do the dirty work of the culture.
Rendezvous with Rama (the first in the Rama series) was published in 1972. It is set in the 22nd century when a thirty mile long cylindrical object passes through the solar system of Earth. It is revealed to be an alien starship and man decides to intercept it in order to unlock its mysteries. This is a brilliant book and it was accordingly given both the Hugo and Nebula awards upon its release. It is considered to be one of the cornerstones of Clarke’s total output and is seen as a science fiction classic. Under pressure to produce a sequel, Clarke teamed up with Gentry Lee to write the remainder of the series. Lee did the majority of the work and Clarke merely looked over and edited the writing.
The Dune universe (Duniverse) is the political, scientific, and social setting of this six book series of science fiction meets fantasy books. The first book (Dune) was extremely popular and was ultimately adapted in to a film by David Lynch. It was also televised as a miniseries in 2000, and in 2003, its first two sequels also appeared as miniseries. The universe is set in the distant future of man and it has a history stretching some 16,000 years, covering considerable changes in political, social, and religious structures.
Frederik Pohl’s HeeChee are an extremely advanced star traveling race that explored Earth’s solar system millennia ago, disappearing without a trace before man began space exploration. They originated as a plot device to allow Pohl to give a plausible reason for humans to make the effort of colonizing the inhospitable planet Venus. In the book of the series “The Merchants of Venus”, the Heechee are nowhere to be found, but the discovery of tunnels beneath the surface of the planet proves that they were there.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a comedy in science fiction form. It was originally a radio broadcast on BBC Radio 4 which was later adapted in to various other formats. The first series was six self-contained episodes each ending with the planet earth being destroyed in a different way. When Adams was writing the first episode he realized that he needed an alien on the planet to provide context - he settled on making the alien a roving researcher seeking the book “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”.
Ringworld was a the 1970 winner of both the Hugo and Nebula awards. It is considered to be one of the classics of Science Fiction literature. The book was followed by three sequels. The series is set around the year 2855. Two humans and two aliens explore a mysterious “ringworld” - a large artificial ring shaped structure surrounding a star. It is set in a very technologically advanced universe which allows for instant teleportation. The ring has a habitable flat inner surface of an area equal to roughly 3 million earth-sized planets.
This series started with a small novel “Ender’s Game” which was later expanded in to a full sized novel of the same name. It now consists of nine novels, 10 short stories, and two yet to be published books. The first two novels in the series both won the Hugo and the Nebula awards and are considered to be among the most influential science fiction books of the 1980s. The main character, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, is a child soldier trained in a battle school to be a future leader of Earth.
Heinlein’s Future History described the future of the human race from the middle of the 20th century to the early 23rd century. He wrote most of the stories early in his career (between 1939 and 1941, and 1945-1950). The series primarily defines a core group of stories, but Heinlein scholars now agree that some books not included by Heinlein also belong in the series. Two of the better known books included in the series are The Man Who Sold the Moon, and Time Enough for Love. A complete list of the included books can be found on Wikipedia.
Barsoom is a fictional version of the planet Mars invented by Burroughs for his series of stories. In 1911 he began his career as a writer with A Princess of Mars. Several sequels followed, developing the planet in much greater detailer. A Princess of Mars was probably the first 20th century fictional work to feature a constructed language. Its influence can be clearly seen in both the Star Trek and Farscape franchises. While many of the tales appear to be rather dated today, they were extremely innovative in their time and they helped to inspire serious interest in Mars and space exploration.
The Lensman series by E E Smith introduced many innovative concepts in to the science fiction genre. It was also a runner up for the Hugo All Time Best Series award. The series begins with Triplanetary two billion years before the present day and it is based in a universe with few life forms. The peaceful Arisian race understand life and life-forces in a way that no other race does, and as a result they create the lens - an object which gives its wearer a variety of special mental capabilities including those needed to enforce the law on alien planets and to bridge the communication gap between different life forms.
The Foundation Series is an epic series of books written over a span of 44 years. It contains 7 volumes all closely linked (though they can be read separately). The term “foundation series” is also sometimes used to include the Robot Series and the Empire Series, all of which are set in the same fictional universe (though in earlier times). Including these other series, there are a total of 15 novels and dozens of short stories. The Foundation Series won the 1965 All Time Best Series Hugo award. The premise of the series is that a scientist (Hari Seldon) develops a branch of mathematics known as psychohistory in which the future can be predicted due to mass behavior of humans.
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1. T - March 25th, 2008 at 6:23 am
Good list
2. ravthewave - March 25th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Great List! So many of these I have’nt heard of and I love Science Fiction Series! Thank you!
3. dangorironhide - March 25th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Methinks I’m gonna have to check all these out… I’ve only read the ‘Hitchhikers Guide’ and a couple of the ‘Enders Game’ series, though I’ve been meaning to read the ‘Dune’ series for a while, just never got around to it. I reckon you should include ‘The Dark Tower’ as an honorable mention or bonus item, seeing as it spans so many different genres.
4. Lewis - March 25th, 2008 at 6:28 am
I think HHGTTG should get 1…
5. dangorironhide - March 25th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Damn non-editable comments, I always forget to add things until after I submit the comment…
Anyway, it looks like ‘Ringworld’ was a HUGE influence on the Halo universe, judging by that picture. I also love the picture for the ‘Barsoom’ series.
6. Moriarti - March 25th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Fantastic list, so many of these series I’ve never heard of. I’d expect the Dune and Ender series to be a little higher on the list, but then again I have a few books to read. Excuse me while I head to my local library…. thanks JF.
7. DiscHuker - March 25th, 2008 at 6:33 am
i have only heard of 4 of these. guess science fiction isn’t my thing.
when i was a kid all i read was stephen king and garfield books.
8. DanOhh - March 25th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I’m a fan of the “Ringworld” series. I was always in awe of how large the ring was… its circumferance was the size of earth’s orbit around the sun. Halo is tiny compared.
9. RobS - March 25th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Excellent list. I’ve read most of these books throughout the years, with the exception of “The Book of the New Sun”.
I’ll need to check that out.
Thanks.
10. JwJwBean - March 25th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Nice list. I once again am introduced to new things I should go check out. My 13 yr old is reading the Dune series and loving it. We own many of these books. I remember seeing them on the bookshelves. I have not read them. My husband is the sci fi reader. He did encourage me to read Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. I rather enjoyed it. I liked that she had a strong female lead character. I guess there are some books I should take off the shelves and read.
11. Bob - March 25th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Lewis’s Ransom trilogy?
12. Roman - March 25th, 2008 at 7:50 am
What about the Dark Tower series? Epic.
13. islanderbst - March 25th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Sorry not my kind of list. I love scifi, but not the extreme fantasy stuff. besides hitchhikers should be higher.
every time theres a scifi list, i always mention the overlooked Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer. every person that lived is recreated on an alien planet and it follows how they cope with an afterlife they never dreamed of, and to solve the mystery of who put them there.
14. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 7:58 am
I agree with Roman. The Dark Tower series isn’t just amazing in it’s scope and scale, but it packs when hell of an emotional punch.
15. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 7:59 am
*one, not when
16. TheGunslinger - March 25th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I haven’t read too much science fiction in all my time reading, and most of these series look really interesting. I guess I have a good laundry list of books to look up next time I make a stop at the library.
I do know that HHGTTG is amazingly clever and endlessly funny. So if the other series can be as entertaining, they should be really worthwhile.
17. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Actually, The Dark Tower series is more fantasy than sci fi.
18. Sharki - March 25th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I love the Dark Tower series but it isn’t really Sci-Fi. It’s a fantasy series with some Sci-Fi elements.
19. SlickWilly - March 25th, 2008 at 8:16 am
While I love Stephen King and particularly the Dark Tower series, it is *not* science fiction. As romerozombie pointed out, the devices of the series are much more in line with fantasy than science fiction. I don’t even think Stephen King himself would consider it anything close to science fiction.
20. Ruairi - March 25th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Ringworld reminds me of Halo!
21. jfrater - March 25th, 2008 at 8:19 am
I agree with Slick: I left Dark Tower off because it wasn’t sci fi enough
22. JwJwBean - March 25th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Come to think of it romerozombie, I think that the Dragonriders of Pern could be considered fantasy too although it is listed as fantasy/Sci Fi. I have seen The Dark Towers listed as science fantasy.
23. zionred - March 25th, 2008 at 8:24 am
decent list, but you definitely should have included C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy.
24. Joss - March 25th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Ender should’ve been higher, yo. Also, the Homecoming series by OSC is just as phenomenal.
25. TheGunslinger - March 25th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I’m in complete agreement here about Dark Tower. As a Tower junkie myself, most of the science fiction elements are coincidence. The time travel and robotics (etc.) are really only a means to convey the fantasy elements that are being developed.
Although in terms of fantasy series, I’ve never read anything I liekd better
26. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 8:27 am
It’s definetly the best fantasy series I’ve read… and the only. Time-travelling cowboys fighting demons and robots? Yes please!
27. Mikkle - March 25th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I can honestly say that I’ve never heard of any of these books, but I am interested in reading some of them. I remember when I was younger, I had a book about sci-fi charcters in books and films. It had drawings and possible looks of alien characters that were included in the novels. I wish I still had it because it would go great with this list.
28. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I never want to read Hitchhiker’s. From what I’ve seen of the film and heard of the books, it sounds like it’ll have really cringeworthy British humour. Bleurgh.
29. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 8:38 am
If anoyone’s interested in computer games as well as sci fi books, check out the game Mass Effect for Xbox 360. It’s very smart and probably the most realistic sci fi story. For instance, one alien race can’t communicate with humans as well as other alien species because they don’t understand voice tones or facial expressions.
30. jfrater - March 25th, 2008 at 8:40 am
romerozombie: that has put me off it too to be honest.
31. Ginger Lee - March 25th, 2008 at 8:43 am
What?! The Star Trek novelizations don’t count?!
(just kidding I know they’re not on par w/ the series on this list)
One of my favorites is the Callahan Novels by Spider Robinson
32. madsculler - March 25th, 2008 at 8:45 am
How about:
John Varley’s Titan/Wizard/Demon trilogy
John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War and sequels
James Morrow’s Towing Jehovah and sequels
33. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 8:47 am
WHAT? But it’s so good!
34. Zootie - March 25th, 2008 at 8:50 am
How about the Chung Kuo Series by David Wingrove.
35. dangorironhide - March 25th, 2008 at 8:58 am
romero: You should read HGTG. The film was shit compared to the books (and the TV series). It was also pretty different.
What, exactly, is wrong with British humour?
I actually completed Mass Effect at the weekend. I wouldn’t say it’s a very realistic sci-fi story at all. Just look at the Asari. Not only are they humanoid, they look like humans (minus the head tentacle things), they have boobs, and they can have regular sex with humans. These are aliens who evolved compeltely seperately. The elcor and their speech were basically copied from HK-47 from KOTOR. I’m not saying it’s not a good game & story, because it’s amazing, it’s just not realistic.
36. MethodMan - March 25th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Ooh, there should be a fantasy book list! The Dark Tower series, Crown of Stars, Dragonlance, and all sorts could go on it. I sort of like sci-fi, but I’m more into fantasy obviously.
37. jfrater - March 25th, 2008 at 9:00 am
dangorironhide: there is nothing wrong with it - I just prefer subtle British humor to slapstick humor (American or British). For the same reason I am not really a big fan of Monty Python.
38. jfrater - March 25th, 2008 at 9:18 am
MethodMan: coming soon
39. stevenh - March 25th, 2008 at 9:39 am
This is a fine list and there are so many omissions:
A few examples:
Gordon Dickson’s Childe Cycle
Ursula LeGuin Hainish Cycle
Zelazny’s Amber Novels
While HHG was fun, it’s more a comedy than SciFi. And Dark Tower is not at all in the same (SF) class as those listed.
40. Iain - March 25th, 2008 at 9:48 am
A series I would utterly recommend is the ‘Wild Cards’ shared universe/mosaic novel sequence, edited by George RR Martin and contributed to by Melinda Snodgrass, Walter Jon Williams, Roger Zelazny, Chris Claremont amongst others.
The basic premise is that an alien virus is unleased on the Earth, leaving most of its victims dead, some grotesquely deformed and a few super-powered. It’s massively intense stuff and reads like James Elroy writing superhero comics.
41. Maxx_the_Slash - March 25th, 2008 at 9:49 am
How many Sci-Fi lists is this site going to have before people realize how unoriginal the idea is? Stop making them.
42. Posy - March 25th, 2008 at 10:02 am
YAWN! Sorry but SO not into Sci Fi. How about a list of thrillers, historical novels, screen detectives, soap bitches etc.
43. oose85 - March 25th, 2008 at 10:04 am
What about the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey?
44. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 10:10 am
dangorironhide:
The thing about SOME British is that for me, maybe because I am British, I just find it very embarrassing comapared to some American comedy, where my taste like. I like stuff like Superbad and Scrub. And I hate Monty Python. And I turned off The Big Lebowski… don’t burn me!
45. Atropos - March 25th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Good list, but I’m surprised to NOT see Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat series or anything by Alan Dean Foster. I naturally understand the necessity of including greats like Asimov, Heinlein, and Clarke, but including such obscure titles such as “Book of the New Sun” while leaving out Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser? No comprende.
46. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 10:11 am
dangorironhide:
I agree about the Asari, but with the Elcor, I thought it was great how it was to communicate with them. I’ve never played KOTOR. The communication gap is rarely used properly in sci fi - some ridiculous device is invented to clear that up, it’s lazy.
47. R.Es - March 25th, 2008 at 10:16 am
What about Kim Stanley Robinson’s Red Mars/Green Mars/Blue Mars series?
I don’t often feel the need to add to best-of lists, but this seems to be a glaring omission. I mean, you’ve got the rest of the Sci-Fi Canon here…
48. dangorironhide - March 25th, 2008 at 10:21 am
romero: Ah, I apologise, I thought you were American haha. Each to their own I suppose. I love Monty Python myself :D. I haven’t seen The Big Lebowski’, so don’t worry about any burns for that
In KOTOR, HK47 is an organic-hating robot, with a monotone voice who uses exactly the same type of speech as the Elcor, ‘weary response:…’, ‘condecending remark:…’ etc. Maybe it was just because I’d played KOTOR & KOTOR2 a lot before, but I thought it was pretty lame how they just reused the concept, which got damned annoying after a bit.
49. Mark Woods - March 25th, 2008 at 10:33 am
the mote in God’s eye…
50. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I see your point. KOTOR and Mass Effect were created by the same people, right?
Like I said though, the alien communication barrier is just thrown aside and it’s an intesresting idea. “How’m I suppose to communicate with -…” “Oh, don’t worry about that here’s a helmet that will help you. Let’s not get into how it works.” LAZY!!!!
51. romerozombie - March 25th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Another great sci fi game: ‘Prey’, again for the Xbox 360.
A Native American with no faith in his culture or it’s beliefs is abducted by aliens along with his faithful grandfather and girlfriend. He has to use his culture and beliefs to overcome the the aliens who tried using him for food.
52. dangorironhide - March 25th, 2008 at 10:43 am
They were indeed, which is why I think it’s lame.
The problem though, is it’s even less realistic to make every race speak the same language, when they evolved seperately, on different planets. I mean, as well as having the problem of learning the language itself, you’ve also got the problem of agreeing on a universal language, which, considering how political the races in Mass Effect are, would be quite hard, and on top of that you’re assuming that all the different races have the means to produce the sounds required for the language. I think, to use Mass Effect as an example, the Hanar are dealt with in the most realistic way, not only in the way the communicate, but also the way they look completely different from any other sentient race in the game.
53. Fili - March 25th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I know people on Listverse are going to think I’m TOO much of a Dick-head, but what about the VALIS trilogy by Philip K. Dick?? (It’s not an official trilogy, but we call it one.)
54. Joss - March 25th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Oh…To those who don’t want to read Hitchhiker’s Guide because of the movie:
The movie sucked. The books are great. Please read them.
55. Tomer - March 25th, 2008 at 11:57 am
You forgot the incredibly awesome “Uplift” books by David Brin - two trilogies that can be found at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb.....=0&y=0
The most believable multi-extra-terrestrial species premise out there. Absolutely superb. I keep wishing he’d start another trilogy.
56. otay - March 25th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
My favorite science fiction series was the Covenant series by Steve R. Donaldson
57. otay - March 25th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
*Steven R. Donaldson.
58. Frank - March 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Good list - Might I add Ben Bova’s Grand Tour.
59. sdggrant - March 25th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I would of added Star Wars somewhere on the list. The star wars books are probably some of the funnest books I’ve read, not only as a kid, but as an adult as well.
60. iBored - March 25th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
…nerds
61. jfrater - March 25th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
iBored: we may be nerds but nerds live longer and earn more money
62. Csimmons - March 25th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Nice list, I’ll definately read some of these!
63. Csimmons - March 25th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
jfrater: Thank you, I tell the bullys that but they just beat me up
64. oose85 - March 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Sdggrant - Star Wars is more fantacy than sci-fi. But the Extended Universe is great.
65. copperdragon - March 25th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Try the Honor Harrington series by David Weber.
Set almost entirely in space itself, Honor is the female admiral of two different planets’ spaceship armadas, an expert in 20th century weapons, and blind in one eye.
66. meggie - March 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
i really like you page
67. analogy6 - March 25th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
William Gibson conspicuously absent…
68. oose85 - March 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
What about sci-fi tv shows?
Firefly/Serenity
69. Vorkosigan - March 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
To stay with SF (not fantasy), you might want to read
Tad Williams - Otherland series
Peter F Hamilton - Commonwealth saga and Night’s Dawn trilogy
Richard Morgan - Takeshi Kovacs books
oh, and the Vorkosigan series is very good (althought just on nr 15), if you havent read one, pick one up!
70. khafra - March 25th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Superb list! I thought I was going to have to complain about some omissions, but then my five favorites showed up nearer the top than I’d suspected. I’d second the vote for Zelazny’s “Amber” if it weren’t fantasy, like “The Dark Tower.” The only superb series I can think of that aren’t on the list are Keith Laumer’s “Retief” and “Bolo” series, and Harry Harrison’s “Stainless Steel Rat” books.
71. DougH - March 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
ChungKuo by David Wingrove- out of print, but a must read for anyone that likes this list. He wrote the Myst books later, but this is vastly better IMO.
72. tom - March 25th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I’d be curious to know dates of publication. I find a lot of sci-fi doesn’t age well.
73. DougH - March 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
ChungKuo -the first volume was published in 1989. This link has a lot of info. It’s definitely modern in theme and style.
http://www.bobnewell.net/chungkuo/wingrove.html
74. mimic - March 25th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
no mention of The Gap Cycle by Stephen R. Donaldson? amazing books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S....._Gap_Cycle
75. Tony - March 25th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
What about Jack L. Chalker’s Well World series?
76. Bro - March 25th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I wonder why so many people always miss Brian Aldiss’ Helliconia series. This saga makes most of the sited ones look juvenile, superficial and limp in comparison.
77. madsculler - March 25th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Lots of good suggested additions in all of the comments. It’s too bad that none of the suggestions (original or in the comments) is ever likely to come to the big or small screen. Imagine for instance:
- Harrison’s The Stainless Steel Rat as interpreted by Joss Wheedon (Firefly)
- Varley’s Titan/Wizard/Demon as interpreted by John Harrison (Dune + Children of Dune)
- Harrison’s Bil the Galactic Hero as interpreted by John Carpenter (Big Trouble in LIttle China) and/or W.D. Richter (Buckaroo Bonzai)
- etc.
78. Mark Poling - March 25th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
…including such obscure titles such as “Book of the New Sun”…
Um, The Book of the New Sun is only the best Science Fiction series ever written.
The lack of Gibson’s near future dystopias and Varley’s Gaea trilogy really hurt the list. But if you’re going to limit yourself to 15, you’re going to miss something.
79. brentbent - March 25th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun series has a fifth book that was written much later after the original four. It’s called The Urth of the New Sun. Also, there is The Book of the Long Sun followed by the The Book of the Short Sun, which are all connected to one another. College professors have written books about the books, there is a GURPS (a role-playing game system) source book for a New Sun campaign, and all the words you see in his novels are not made up, which means he has one of the most immense vocabularies. I’m consider myself fairly erudite and I still need to read the books with a dictionary although the vast majority of the words can be understood through context; I just like to look up new words in the dictionary.
The New Sun series, which was once four books that is often available as two books each with two of the original books in them and then a fifth book written about a decade after the fourth, is primarily set on an Earth so far in the future that the sun is dying out and mining isn’t the search of raw materials but of buried cities or landfills to dig through. There is amazing advanced technology but the vast majority of the populace lives in ignorance at a Renaissance level of tech. It is one of the most amazing series ever written and I’ve read it three times and you’ll definitely discover new things you missed the first and second time around because it is such a clever story.
The Book of the Long Sun, which is four individual books that you can also find in an omnibus edition, takes place upon a generational ship that houses millions of people that has been traveling for generations and is now starting to fall apart. The ship was built by a former ruler from the New Sun series.
The Book of the Short Sun, which is three individual books that can also be found as an omnibus edition, is set upon the two planets that are settled by the world ship people from Long Sun books.
There is so much speculation about the books meanings and their mysteries that there is an entire online community that discusses these topics.
This one is a great all around Gene Wolfe resource. He’s written numerous books and short stories, most recently The Wizard Knight duology that was superb.
http://www.ultan.org.uk/index.html
The discussion site is http://www.urth.net/
Enjoy!
80. Jelloman - March 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I’ve only read about 8 of the 15 on this list, which is great because now I have some more things to read. Thanks! Working on Hamilton’s Commonwealth right now.
I have to agree with some of the above comments, I’d also add:
* The Mote in God’s Eye & The Gripping Hand by Niven & Pournelle
* Homecoming saga by Orson Scott Card
* Uplift saga by David Brin
* Fire Upon the Deep & Deepness in the Sky by Vinge
* Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison
Of those, the Uplift saga by Brin is my top recommendation, and I’d say it’s a slam dunk for my personal top five, definitely original and thought-provoking and entertaining.
81. Save us - March 25th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
If these are the best sci fi series, then the genre is doomed. The Wolfe, Rama, and Simmons are pretty solid. It’s depressing to think the rest, which are all really, really spotty, make up the heights of the list. Seriously, the Ender series is an embarrassment next to The Book of the New Sun.
82. Niilo - March 25th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I will put another vote up for David Wingrove’s Chung Kuo series as probably the best sci-fi I’ve ever read. Detailed and compelling from beginning to end.
Also, I highly recommend Harry Turtledove’s “World War/Balance” and “Great War” series’. Superb alternate history for those who like that genre.
Nice list - although I’m not fond of the fantasy style of sci-fi, there’s a couple here that have peaked my interest. I read the Rama series years ago and loved it.
83. timj - March 25th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Does nobody read CJ Cherryh? I haven’t read all of them, but the ones I did really stayed with me.
Wolfe was disappointing. I read his debut piece, the linked novellas The Fourth Head of Cerberus, it was so good, and I was expecting so much from him. Then he quit his day job, and put about as much into a series as he did into this one book he spent a few years on, working at night. Fantasy needs to reflect reality– “real toads in imaginary gardens” and Wolf’s torturer character is not wired like a torturer. For one thing, he is dispassionate. That is not the way torture works, among human beings.
84. EvilWizardGlick - March 25th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Saberhagans Berserker series deserves to be listed.
John Carter of Mars but no Carson of Venus? No at the Earth’s Core? And worst of all no Doc Savage. That was possibly one of the greatest Scifi series ever written.
Sadly it frequently gets categorized as Pulp fiction.
85. Crimanon - March 25th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Thanks to my Book devouring girlfriend, I have access to most of these. My own collection contains All Odyssey (exception: new prequals), All Ender (exception: Short stories that are newly released) , and All Hitch Hikers (No Exceptions).
Save three of these I’ve wanted/heard of and now I think I’ll start on the Massive Backlog of Things to do this week end.
The Book of the New Sun: I think I saw that last night. Sunshine? good movie.
Personally, I’m addicted to the Skolian novels, Catherine Asaro.
86. HolyJuan - March 25th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Stephen R Donaldson’s “The Gap Cycle” hands down belongs in the top five.
87. rochskier - March 25th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Gene Wolfe’s masterpiece “The Book of the New Sun” is far too low. It should be ranked top 5 just on the merits of its incredibly unique language, setting, and tone.
I’d also argue that the two Arthur C. Clarke sagas are also a couple spots low.
88. Vlad - March 25th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
The Wolfe, Rama, and Simmons are the most boring sci-fi books that I can think of. Literary form is excellent but just torturously slow moving. I am glad no one had mentioned any of the Baen Publishing pollution literature. Just my 2c, feel free to disagree, i’ll not be offended.
89. steve - March 25th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I’ve managed to read most of the contemporary ones on the list - notes to self to read Barsoom though - and personally the biggest impact has been with the soft sci-fi novels that made me think about the culture I lived in. Or putting it another way, drew my attention to the boundaries and limitations I placed on my own perspective and behavior from my early upbringing. There was also the strong secondary question explored was how do you find meaning in your life.
Props on the list to:
1) Heinlein in “Time Enough For Love” - radically different viewpoint on how societies can organise and relate. Strong libertarian theme, and suggested to me that s3x and love were normal and natural in the world. A big thing when you’re young.
2) Orson Scott Card in “Ender’s Game” - I found the last few books in the series disappointing, but the first book was a revelation in considering what forms of organisation exist other than a command&control/strict hierarchy. It followed from reading some works on strategy prepared by John Boyd, a former USAF strategist who put forward the concept of the OODA loop. I’d place him up there with Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” in terms of impact on my thinking.
3) Iain M Banks in Culture novels - “The Player of Games” & “Consider Phlebas”. I had a discussion with a friend about why I enjoyed these ones the most - his favourite was “Excession” - and it had to do with an identification with the main protagonist. I guess I’m just projecting.
Other honourable mentions that I would vote into this list would be:
1) Mars Trilogy - Kim Stanley Robinson - a philosophical journey on how a society can evolve from nothing, and what choices would you make in your life if you could live for 200 years. “Blue Mars”, the last book in the series, is my favourite.
2) Uplift Saga - David Brin - I prefer the first few novels
in this series, in particular “Startide Rising” and “The Uplift War”.
3) “Forever War” - Joe Haldermen - part of a longer series, but specifically this book which deals with the disconnect of life caused by interstellar travel & warfare, with loss of all those you love and cherish through the natural progression of time. What do you have left when you return? Similar question raised by Voices of a Distant Star, an early anime.
90. jakedakat - March 25th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Nothing from William Gibson? I guess the Neuromancer Trilogy isn’t really that good
91. J S - March 25th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I was introduced to Hitchhickers Guide by a friend who was a fanatic. I’d read Asimov’s Foundation series - and many of the concepts are really parallel to Asimov’s work - still funny though.
92. Tycho - March 25th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Firstly - congrats on a great list. Gives me some stuff to look for (not much, I’m sorry to say). But I’ve got to ask - what about Stephen Donaldson’s “Gap” series? It is seriously one of the best series I’ve ever read. It is a modern work - it doesn’t rely on Azimov’s and Heinlen’s two-dimensional characters that are designed to advance the plot to the next great SF idea; instead it has intensely drawn characters struggling in a complex environment.
If you haven’t checked this out, you should. You will need to get past the first book - basically a prolonged rape scene (I know, I feel weird just writing about it), but it sets up the motivations of the rest of the quintet.
I’d be interested in other people’s opinions on the series as well.
93. lukakis - March 25th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I’m gonna have to echo the calls for C.S. Lewis and Ursula K. LeGuin. On my list, Lewis’ space trilogy would be number 1, Asimov’s Foundation number 2, and LeGuin’s Hainish novels number 3.
On another note, for those of you more into fantasy than sci-fi, LeGuin’s Earthsea trilogy (which is now actually 5 or 6 books, can’t remember exactly) is absolutely top-notch. I would even rank it slightly above Lord of the Rings, though it’s hard to compare the two because they are vastly different. The first book is A Wizard of Earthsea. Go out and read it NOW. However, avoid the scifi channel’s mini-series- I haven’t seen it, but LeGuin herself strongly condemns it.
94. Xondar - March 25th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
What? No Honorverse?
95. Randall Klopping - March 25th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
A very excellent list. I have several and many of the others on my wish list for when I get back on my feet more (I’m disabled). Till then I have to get lost in my own little worlds I create as an artist. Disassembled the Earth a little over a week ago and left a beautiful blue rift in space in a time experiment. Fortunately for us, it was a parallel universe
96. Caittie - March 25th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Great list, however I must agree with Lewis….I love HHGTTG!
97. carl - March 25th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
What about The Gap Series by Donaldson ? I thought that was pretty amazing: epic space opera with an intensity held taught to the end.
98. David - March 25th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I also think Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy is a notable omission.
99. parl - March 25th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Someone mentioned the effects of relativistic time on a society with interstellar travel. In most series it’s ignored or skipped with hand-waving. In the Rissa Kerguelen (or Long View) series by F.M.Busby, it’s an integral part of the action. There are also some foreshadowings, such as privitization of the government and Total Welfare.
The biggest problem I have with series fiction is that I can read faster than they can write. (grin)
100. Fan - March 25th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I’m not going to rank or suggest displacement but for those that enjoy good speculative science, check out The Giants Trilogy by James P. Hogan.
101. BrandX - March 25th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I hadn’t gotten around to reading the Gene Wolfe books - I bought them a few months ago, and was planning on getting to them eventually. I’ve read the rest of these, and something about this list puzzles me. It purports to be a “top 15″, but the criteria are nebulous. Most of the universes included are significant for historical influence. Of those, several are also significant for literary qualities, or scope of vision, or popularity. Most are reasonably well-known series. Some are nearly universally recognizable, though it is no longer unusual for an avid reader not to have actually read several of these. The Heechee novels don’t tend to be on the shelves at the big chains. As for the Lensman series, E E Doc Smith’s expository writing style tends to turn off younger readers - hell, a quarter century ago, I found it heavy handed, and only learned to appreciate it when I came back to it from a historical perspective.
I want to second these series (which others mentioned):
* Ursula K. Le Guin’s “Hainish” continuity
* David Brin’s “Uplift” series
* Vernor Vinge’s “Realtime” and “Depths of Time” series
* David Weber’s (admittedly space opera) “Honorverse”
Some (neglected) universes that deserve mention:
* Wil McCarthy’s “Queendom of Sol” series
* Laura J. Mixon’s elusive Glass Houses/Proxies/Burning the Ice
* Greg Bear’s “Eon” multiverse
* John Meaney’s “Nulapeiron” series
* Jack L Chalker’s “Well of Souls” (I mean, if Riverworld is being suggested)
* Brian Aldis’ “Helliconia” trilogy
102. VeraLynn - March 25th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
It’s fantasy and science fiction that I feel so connected to you all.I must be much too lonely.I wish I wasn’t so sad. Thank you all for the smile you give and share.I wish I had friends or knew real people like you all. Be well.
103. frazz - March 25th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
The Sprawl trilogy belongs on the list, considering its impact.
Also, Dune should have been ranked higher.
104. pickerel - March 25th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
not bad, but these books are outmoded and too traditional.
105. Andy - March 25th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Good list, but Dune at #9? Dune should be a lot closer to 1 (which is the spot I’d put it in).
Also, what about Alastair Reynolds series consisting of “Revelation Space,” “Redemption Ark,” and “Absolution Gap?”
106. KenManiac - March 25th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
seconding saberhagen’s ‘Berserker” series and especially Niven’s ‘Ringworld”
how bout David Gerrold’s War against the Chtorr series? (4 books so far, more supposedly to come)
Harry Harrison’s “Deathworld” trilogy, not really a series, but good clean fun. His “Stainless Steel Rat” output, while not highbrow literature, is good and entertaining.
Niven’s “Known Space” - is that a series or just a common universe?
PJ Farmer’s Riverworld anybody?
Gentle Giants of Ganymede? as suggested above
many others i’m too tired to dig up
107. Drooskee - March 25th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Nobody mentioned “The Dark Tower” at all. It’s easy to write Stephen King off but this story was something special. Every time this is such a great escape to sit down and read this LONG story over and over again. I never get tired of it. It’s an all encompassing, awesome, kickasss ‘ness ,, of a read.
Maybe it doesnt really belong in the list. It belongs in many genre’s buuuttt, science fiction is a big one throughout the whole story.
I was one of those oblivious kids in schoolin years. Reading the 1st three of these in high school really opened my head up to the possibilities of some strange places our imaginations can take us.
Maybe it doesnt really belong here but,, dammit, its mah favohritt!!
108. goof_ball - March 25th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
NERD LIST!
109. whatrucrazy - March 25th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Interesting list, but not exactly what I’d have chosen.
Banks and herbert yes, simmons yes, but ringworl and asimov, no. I think when making a list like this you have to distinguish between sci-fi as a medium for great ideas, and sci-fi that is well written literature. Hell, even sci-fi that is just fun to read, hitch-hikers is fun, but its not a great series at all. Asimov and niven had great ideas, but their prose and context is so rooted in a 1960’s ideal of humanity that its excruciating to read. The same can be said for ee smith, heinlein and burroughs.
In my opinion, the only series out of these that qualifies on all three counts are the banks, herbert and simmons.
110. Carlos - March 25th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I love the ten choices. I would like to recommend my favorite series from Piers Anthony “Bio of a Space Tyrant” as must read…..
111. Irishboy0002 - March 25th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I always liked the World of Tiers Series by Philip Jose Farmer
112. YouRobbedAnne - March 25th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Seriously, the Lensman series at no. 2? It’s the same fucking book 7 times! Characters flatter than Gwen Stefani and as I mentioned before, the same plot essentially SEVEN FUCKING TIMES. They are saturday serials in textual form! No growth, no real surprises, and the whole Evil Race controlled by Evil Overlords controlled by Evil Overlords is defeated by continuous bungling plot — SEVEN FUCKING GOD DAMN TIMES. Is this really the 2nd best ever on a list that has no room for The Ship series, Dragonriders of Pern, the Sassinak books or the Crystal Singer Books? Seriously? If not McCaffery, the Uplift Series, as a previous poster mentioned? Hell, even Man-Kzin wars. Or the Titan series. So many great series flushed down the toilet for the fucking lensman. First don’t necessarily mean best. Unless you are Clarke, Lewis, or Heinlein.
113. geo - March 25th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy is one of the best series I have ever read and is likely to prove to be the future of Mars.
It’s simply amazing.
Red Mars
114. owlathome - March 25th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
A worthy list, if narrowly focused. I know for some, sci-fi isn’t sci-fi unless it’s about space. I happen to like robot stories and time travel stories. Hence I’m very happy with Kage Baker’s “Company” series. And for years I’ve loved Michael Moorecock’s “Dancer’s at the End of Time” series. Smart, funny and a great read.
Also I second (or third) the motion for adding C.S. Lewis’ “Out of the Silent Planet” books.
For those pissing and moaning about not being into sci-fi or that there are too many sci-fi lists here … guess what? There are other lists just a mouse click away. Go there. Now~!
115. owlathome - March 25th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
PS Really nice job of finding all the art Mr. Frater~!!
116. Voltara - March 25th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
yeah, not a bad list. But for god’s sake can we all get over the bloody “Foundation” series. It is some of the worst written tripe in history. Asimov couldn’t put words together to save himself.
117. Pyrratus - March 25th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Hitchhikers Guide series got awful with the third book. Something about AI mattresses or something…
118. chunky lover - March 26th, 2008 at 12:01 am
sandman…has no one recalled this? Dare you all to leave sandmanto die?
119. dangorironhide - March 26th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Drooskee (#107): Read comments 3, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21 & 25.
120. Naseer - March 26th, 2008 at 2:31 am
Totally agree with the Foundation series being on the top. That is my favorite series
121. Tom - March 26th, 2008 at 2:57 am
Since you’re arguing with Hugo Awards and such Cherryh is definetly missing here. IF its about recognition in the non SF community, Asimov and Frank Herbert should be on the top.
122. NightGolfer - March 26th, 2008 at 4:16 am
You made a top 15 and didn’t get Peter F. Hamilton in there??? =(
Commonwealth Saga
Night’s Dawn Trilogy
Greg Mandel Trilogy
Also, he’s working on book two of the Void Trilogy which is set 1500 years after the Commonwealth Saga, and the first book, The Dreaming Void, seems very promising.
123. Mat - March 26th, 2008 at 5:23 am
Good list, some reading material. I have read some of the books on the list and there is one series that is lacking. Julian May’s “Saga of Pliocene Exile”. This is in my opinion the best Sci-Fi series I’ve ever read. Granted it is in some aspects very close to the fantasy genre which I prefer. But I can wholeheartedly recommend it to sci-fi loves as well.
124. JB - March 26th, 2008 at 5:44 am
RE: 75
Hear hear! I’m all for the well of souls series by jack l chalker being higher on the list, thought they were truly weird and great. Big fan of Ian M. Banks too, one of my all time favs is the Player of Games, though Use of Weapons was also excellent. And though I understand why EE Smiths books should be on the list, they’re bloody awful to read. Groundbreaking, but awful.
125. KenManiac - March 26th, 2008 at 6:01 am
another good one is Rudy Rucker’s *ware series (software, hardware, freeware).
i agree with ‘foundation’ being crap. asimov’s fiction never did it for me. his non-fic could hardly be beat.
hitchhikers was great for the first couple books.
126. Shadow - March 26th, 2008 at 6:28 am
I agree with “Foundation” being included here, though I also agree it should not be number one; though in the top five certainly. Dune should have ranked a LOT higher, as well as the “Ender’s Game” and companion books, and The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. But hey, these are my opinions.
If you ever make another list, check out these books too please. They’re just plain awesome and I love them, even though my heart belongs to horror, I’d cheat on it with these books!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeelee_Sequence
Xeelee Sequence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Ships
The Time Ships - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
127. Xlaran - March 26th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Though not an sf Top 15, I greatly enjoyed the Sten series by Allan Cole and Chris Bunch–a fun mix of pulp action and galactic empire scope.
128. Steve G - March 26th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Phillip Jose Farmer’s Riverworld series is really good — especially if you are fan of history.
129. ZiggyNailo - March 26th, 2008 at 7:49 am
David Farland’s books are great works of art as well.
The Runelords is a current series of his and its up to book 6 right now with 7 on its way in Sept.
130. Arm_of_Geddon - March 26th, 2008 at 8:12 am
I’m with everyone here who wanted the Uplift series by David Brin. It’s definitely pure hardcore science fiction.
However, in the rush for English SF, we’re ignoring the somewhat oddball but incredibly funny and insightful Stanislaw Lem books. If humour alone doesn’t exclude (e.g. HHGTTG), then Ijon Tichy stories from Lem are unquestionably brilliant SF.
I’ve always been amazed at the quality of the translations. I’d almost want to study Polish to see if I’m missing humour elements.
131. Atropos - March 26th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Yikes, I’m catching hell here for poo-poohing “The Book of the New Sun”. Personally, I thought it was boring in parts and nearly nonsensical in other parts. Could barely finish it. I realize some people on here consider it a classic but I personally don’t. Also, as far as King’s “Dark Tower” series goes, I LOVED The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three. And then King did what he always does, by going off on some bizarre tangent and taking the series in a ridiculous direction. I stopped reading it because I had no idea what he was doing, which is a common complaint of King. I would rather read “The Long Walk”, one of his brilliant Bachman books, a thousand times than read one of his “epics”.
I understand the concept of Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein being the “Big Three” and having constructed works of art in the science fiction genre, but the average person can barely understand their novels and even the best of us have to peel away layers of dullness and plodding language to get to the heart of their stories. I know they were geniuses but I defy anyone to convince me that a single moment of 2001 was EXCITING. Give me Alan Dean Foster and Harry Harrison, who could all spin a ripping good yarn while making you feel as if you were there.
132. David Utter - March 26th, 2008 at 9:02 am
No Sprawl-era Gibson, no Neal Stephenson, no Richard K. Morgan? Eek.
I’m glad to see Heinlein get his due. Too many people start shrieking uncontrollably whenever Starship Troopers, or Heinlein in general, gets some positive mentions.
I’ll also put up the pinata and give Tim Zahn props for his Heir to the Empire series for Star Wars. Smack away, folks.
How about this obscure one-off by Steve Perry - The Man Who Never Missed?
133. gsears - March 26th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I’m glad that Nine Princes in Amber got mentioned in the comments, at least.
The Rendezvous with Rama series I think should be mentioned with fond regard.
I supose the Thomas Covenant White Gold Wielder is too far over the fantasy line for this list, but it’s good.
134. Jimmy Pitts - March 26th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I agree with most of these but there is a notable exception of no Spider Robinson’s Callahan’s Cross Time Saloon. That whole series is up to the cannon of books on this list, and should be given as honourable mention.
135. CharlesCook.com - March 26th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
What about:
The Shockwave Rider
Author John Brunner
The Shockwave Rider is a science fiction novel by John Brunner, originally published in 1975. It is notable for its hero’s use of computer cracking skills to escape pursuit in a dystopian future, and for the coining of the word “worm” to describe a program that propagates itself through a computer network. It also introduces the concept of a Delphi pool [1], perhaps derived from the RAND Corporations’ Delphi method - a futures market on world events which bears close resemblance to DARPA’s controversial and cancelled Policy Analysis Market.
136. CharlesCook.com - March 26th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
“Series” duh… Nevermind….
137. Shadow - March 27th, 2008 at 7:01 am
I love King’s work too folks. But I have to agree with its exclusion here because it isn’t true SF, it’s Drama with elements of other genres included.
I’ll confine my other comments regarding King’s work to some other list more appropriate for such things. Heh, I have to be careful though, one day soon my name’s probably going to be on a list like this! (lol)
138. dltallan - March 27th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Well, I’ve read just about all of these series. And I must admit that I was a big fan of Barsoom and the Lensmen series in my youth. On the other hand, I’m not sure I’d put them so high on the list, above some of the fantastic series listed below. For example, given the number of significant awards it has won, I’m not sure if I’d put the Vorkosigan books at the bottom of the list.
Also a big fan of Doc Savage in my teens, I agree with the commentator who would put it up beside Barsoom (also pulp fiction). There was a lot of technology in Doc Savage that was ahead of its time. I’m not sure if the stories about the author receiving visits during the second world war from Army intelligence of how he had found out about their secret technology project are apocryphal or not.
There have been a lot of suggestions in these comments for series that I’d consider fantasy rather than science fiction (for example, Amber). I’m not sure if marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover series falls into the fantasy category or not. It is very fantasy-like, but it (like Pern) tries to fit it within the veneer of science fiction. If it is science science fiction, I might suggest it. There’s a fair amount of good stuff in there.
People have suggested Retief, The Stainless Steel Rat and others like them. I’ve loved these books but they may be a little light for the list (although, admittedly, there are some comedy and light books already on the list). Also in the light vein, I’ve really enjoyed Mike Resnick’s books in the Santiago universe (especially Santiago). It’s a greeat example of the “science fiction western” genre that Joss Whedon has recently been having fun with.
Dune is outstanding, although there have been ups and downs in the series (common to most, I guess). Honourable mention should also be made another of Herbert’s universes, that found in WHipping Star and the Dosadi Experiment. I think Dosadi Experiment stands up well against Dune, and Whipping Star has, I think, the most alien alien I’ve come across in literature.
Of all of the suggestions for additions to the list, I think I’d throw my support most strongly in favour of the Uplift series (twice winer of the Hugo for best novel).
139. ItsJustJake - March 27th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
You could do a Top 15 Sci Fi series of Titles that were left off of this Top 15 list.
I do see a lot of titles mentioned that wouldn’t really qualify as Sci Fi. Heck, Wild Cards just barely qualifies. Things like Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser would be Fantasy, a completely different list, right?
140. kevin - March 27th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
A lot of good suggestions on here. I completely agree with David Brin’s Uplift series, Vernor Vinge’s A Fire Upon the Deep / A Deepness in the Sky and David Weber’s Honor Harrington series.
One fairly recent series I highly recommend is The League of Peoples series by James Alan Gardner.
141. pipiplina - March 27th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Yeah! David Brin!
And everything by Samuel Delaney
142. SteveG - March 28th, 2008 at 4:25 am
Thanks for this list. More reading to do! I would also rate the Chung Kuo Series by David Wingrove. Great near future Sci-Fi.
143. jojo99 - March 29th, 2008 at 1:22 am
Interesting list.
I’ve read 1, 2, 3, 9 and the 1st books of Ringworld and Rama. I just finished revisiting Princess of Mars (the 1st book in the Barsoom series and intend to re-read all 13). It’s amazing that this was written in 1911.
I also have the whole Lensman series but haven’t read that in like 40 years or so.
A couple of other series I would highly recommend include:
- Dragon’s Egg and the sequel Starquake by Robert L. Forward
- Radix, In Other Worlds, Arc of the Dream & The Last Legends of Earth by A.A. Attanasio (these 4 books are a loosely knit series).
144. badspellir - March 30th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Excellent list…and some new books for me to read!!! Thank you thank you thank you.
145. Hendershot - April 1st, 2008 at 5:33 am
My favourite made #1 !!
I am just finishing the series now (have about 100 pages left in the last book) and it is amazing.
146. Denzell - April 1st, 2008 at 10:23 pm
So the Star Wars novelizations don’t count?
147. Thinman_fl - April 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Great list, seems like I’ve read 75% of the list over the last 40n years. I also agree with a lot of the comments from others about other series of books that maybe should have also made the list. How about some consideration for L. Ron Hubbards 10 book “Mission Earth” series? Now that was a SF series!!
148. gouda - April 3rd, 2008 at 1:58 am
As mentioned by others i miss Farmer’s Riverworld in this list
149. Hal - April 3rd, 2008 at 11:14 am
This is a great list. My only change would be to move the Ender series up from 5th to 2nd.
150. Crimanon - April 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Hal: Even in all of my first edition Enders Game craze, I have to disagree. 5th is probably as good as it will ever get. Compared to others on this list, he’s just some young buck trying to get his flame started. A.C. Clarke RIP.
151. SAND - April 5th, 2008 at 4:01 am
I’m glad to finally see FOUNDATION series in this list.
152. GLDavis - April 14th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I agree with David Utter on all of his points. I know there wasn’t a chance of getting Steve Perry or Timothy Zahn on a top 15 list, but I’d probably put Zahn’s Conqueror trilogy up against Dan Simmons any day. The Heir to the Empire trilogy was, in my opinion, the ONLY Star Wars spin off books worth classifying within normal sci fi. Really he’s only written a few stinkers (Stay away from Triplet).
Steve Perry’s little trilogy is an extremely fast read and really really fun, but it’s a bit soft for sci fi (as it doesn’t really hinge on any tech). However it is well worth reading for a quick and satisfying series.
I would like to add Nick Sagan with “Idlewild” and it’s following books. Fun new series.
I’m surprised only one person has mentioned Tad Williams and his “Otherland” series. It’s epic.
153. eric - April 15th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Great list, I am desperately trying to remember an author or series name, all I can remember is that it took place on an alien world that was broke into seperate cells or nations. Upon first arrival on the planet you were sent through a machine and came out on one of the cells in a different body form. Your body form would be fine for your immediate environment but if you crossed borders you had new enemies or reactions to the new environment. Its been a long time since I read the series, does it ring a bell with anyone?
154. k1w1taxi - April 30th, 2008 at 3:20 am
As with any list plenty of disagreement about the contents. From my perspective the biggest ‘problem’is that for a SERIES to be on this list it needs far more than a strong opening novel or two before descending to excessive vebiage in the name of profit or lack of further ideas.
Thus by my reckoning No Ender (Only EG and SFTD are really worth reading), No Dune, No Lensman.
Can’t believe not one of C J Cherryh’s series made the list Chanur has to be one of the Geat Series from start to finish.
Agree with the Honorverse. Another favourite of mine is David Feintuchs Seafort Saga. David Brin would also feature on my list, also whilst not being a fan of either of the New Sun books I have read I really enjoyed The Long Sun, stunning writing.
155. BigOldCat - May 17th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Niven’s Ringworld novels are part of his Known Space series, as are the (shared) “Man-Kzin Wars” tales.
eric (post #153) - I think that’s Jack Chalker’s “Well World,” but can’t say for sure because I haven’t read that series.
156. rushfan - June 10th, 2008 at 5:24 am
I don’t know if anyone mentioned the Gap Series by Stephen R. Donaldson, but it is the shit. It’s where I got my other screen name (Tranquil Hegemony)
If you like scifi and you like books, read these five books. You will not regret it. In fact, you will regret it if you do not read them. You already should.
I cannot stress enough what badass books these are.
157. Michael Blade - June 13th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I would like to add to the list…
I have added a 16th to the list on my science fiction blog at
http://webmac.com/blog
I believe that Jack L. Chalker is a unsung hero of science fiction as well with “The Four Lords of Diamond”, “The G.O.D. Inc” and “The Wonderland Gambit”, and many others, all great science fiction series. Check him out on wikipedia.
My final and 17th would have to be Philip K. Dick, who didn’t write series, but wrote a series of independent books which Hollywood has been mining for movie material for quite a while now. That would be the one that inspired Blade Runner (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Minority Report, Total Recall, Paycheck, Next, A Scanner Darkly to mention a few…
158. Brain - July 8th, 2008 at 11:39 am
David Weber’s ‘Honor Harrington’ series deserves some sort of nod for this category. Never before have I picked up a book just on the merits of the cover blurb (’On Basilisk Station’) and been so completely rewarded with a thoroughly thought-out future universe and storytelling that in my opinion few have been able to match. You may label it ’space opera’, but it is among the best - if THE best - in that genre. Extremely recommended!
159. kometman - July 27th, 2008 at 2:26 am
I haven’t read C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy, but from what I heard about it, shouldn’t it be on the list?
The Ender Series are so good!
Hey anyone here read Hyperion? I’m wondering if I should pick it up…
By the way this site needs a top 15 Fantasy Series list too.
160. Todd Pence - August 14th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Edmond Hamilton’s “Captain Future” didn’t make the list? For shame, for shame!
161. Ken Vermin - August 22nd, 2008 at 7:42 am
The follow-up books to Rendezvous with Rama were so bad, in my opinion, that I forbade one of my friends from reading them as I worried they would poison his view of Arthur C. Clarke. Rama was vitually perfect, as are many of Clarke’s stories, but the sequels were devoid of the master’s touch and read as if they had been written by a well intentioned, but hasty teenager. So bad in fact, that rather than give them away, I use the books as a doorstop for fear they may pollute impressionable minds if let loose. If ever we fall into the distopian world as depicted in 451, they will be first on the pyre.