Top 100 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books

[Tress]

Some of you have probably seen this already, but I thought I would share. Behold,the Top 100 Science-Fiction and Fantasy books according to NPR:

1. The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
3. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
4. The Dune Chronicles, by Frank Herbert
5. A Song Of Ice And Fire Series, by George R. R. Martin
6. 1984, by George Orwell
7. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
8. The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov
9. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
10. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
11. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
12. The Wheel Of Time Series, by Robert Jordan
13. Animal Farm, by George Orwell
14. Neuromancer, by William Gibson
15. Watchmen, by Alan Moore
16. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov
17. Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein
18. The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss
19. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
20. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
21. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick
22. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood
23. The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King
24. 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke
25. The Stand, by Stephen King
26. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
27. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
28. Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
29. The Sandman Series, by Neil Gaiman
30. A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess
31. Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein
32. Watership Down, by Richard Adams
33. Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey
34. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein
35. A Canticle For Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller
36. The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells
37. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, by Jules Verne
38. Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keys
39. The War Of The Worlds, by H.G. Wells
40. The Chronicles Of Amber, by Roger Zelazny
41. The Belgariad, by David Eddings
42. The Mists Of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
43. The Mistborn Series, by Brandon Sanderson
44. Ringworld, by Larry Niven
45. The Left Hand Of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin
46. The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien
47. The Once And Future King, by T.H. White
48. Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
49. Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke
50. Contact, by Carl Sagan
51. The Hyperion Cantos, by Dan Simmons
52. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
53. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
54. World War Z, by Max Brooks
55. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
56. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman
57. Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett
58. The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever, by Stephen R. Donaldson
59. The Vorkosigan Saga, by Lois McMaster Bujold
60. Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett
61. The Mote In God's Eye, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
62. The Sword Of Truth, by Terry Goodkind
63. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
64. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
65. I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson
66. The Riftwar Saga, by Raymond E. Feist
67. The Shannara Trilogy, by Terry Brooks
68. The Conan The Barbarian Series, by R.E. Howard
69. The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb
70. The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
71. The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
72. A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, by Jules Verne
73. The Legend Of Drizzt Series, by R.A. Salvatore
74. Old Man's War, by John Scalzi
75. The Diamond Age, by Neil Stephenson
76. Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke
77. The Kushiel's Legacy Series, by Jacqueline Carey
78. The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. LeGuin
79. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
80. Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
81. The Malazan Book Of The Fallen Series, by Steven Erikson
82. The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
83. The Culture Series, by Iain M. Banks
84. The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart
85. Anathem, by Neal Stephenson
86. The Codex Alera Series, by Jim Butcher
87. The Book Of The New Sun, by Gene Wolfe
88. The Thrawn Trilogy, by Timothy Zahn
89. The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldan
90. The Elric Saga, by Michael Moorcock
91. The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury
92. Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
93. A Fire Upon The Deep, by Vernor Vinge
94. The Caves Of Steel, by Isaac Asimov
95. The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson
96. Lucifer's Hammer, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
97. Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis
98. Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville
99. The Xanth Series, by Piers Anthony
100. The Space Trilogy, by C.S. Lewis

(If you are looking for descriptions and links to individual books, click on the link above)

 

[bhamv3]

My news years resolution will be to read them all. I think I've only read a quarter of them.

Also, woot on Anne McCaffrey's Dragonflight placing quite high. The Pern series is one of my guilty pleasures.

 

[Tress]

And if that list seems overwhelming, there is a handy-dandy flowchart to help you find which book is right for you.

 

[Piotyr]

I'm actually pretty surprised The Chronicles of Narnia aren't on the list.

 

[Dave]

The Chronicles of Amber being only one step above the Belgariad is a fucking travesty.
Added at: 14:12
And Belgariad above Thomas Covenant? Are you fucking insane?!?

 

[Shegokigo]

Personal favorite that didn't make the list:

Villains by Necessity

In my opinion, one of the best written, original, fantasy novels ever written. Sad that it disappeared into obscurity.

 

[Tress]

I'm actually pretty surprised The Chronicles of Narnia aren't on the list.

I was going to say that they excluded books aimed at children and young adults (according to their own detailed list), but Ender's Game is #3 on the list. I think they excluded Narnia for that reason but let a bunch of other books slide.

 

[Fun Size]

I've only read 22 of them, but then I'm not actually interested in fantasy, so that eliminates a lot of the list.

 

[Gryfter]

Added at: 14:12
And Belgariad above Thomas Covenant? Are you fucking insane?!?

Yeah, I love both, but Covenant should definitely be higher, at least the original trilogy, it's a toss up for the rest but I think the second and final chronicles of Covenant still beat out the Mallorean and subsequent books so Donaldson should rate higher than Eddings.

 

[sixpackshaker]

I have also read only 22 of those. I am a little shocked that I've read that many of those books. It helps to be a Stephen King, Robert Heinlein and Ray Bradbury fan.

 

[Gryfter]

Also both should be higher than the Wheel of Time series.
Added at: 13:07
And I've read 45 off that list but I feel they could've added more by lumping all the Pratchett books in one Discworld listing instead only mentioning a few.

 

[drifter]

I'm honestly surprised Wheel of Time is that high. I had no idea it was so popular.

 

[Gryfter]

Also no Good Omens so... fail

 

[GasBandit]

I'm honestly surprised Wheel of Time is that high. I had no idea it was so popular.

If you leave out most of the middle books, it's pretty readable. Not "number 12 on a list of 100" good, but it should be SOMEWHERE on that list...

I think the Riftwar books by Raymond Feist should probably trade places with it... 66 is about right for Wheel of Time, I think. There are over 20 books in the Riftwar saga and all of them are good.

 

[twitchmoss]

no problem with having small gods on there. but going postal? much as i like it, I'd rather see one of the city watch books on there, if we're choosing discworld. especially night watch.

 

[ThatNickGuy]

Yeah, the fact that Narnia isn't on the list pretty much nullfies this list. Though aside from that MAJOR insult, it's a pretty good list.

 

[Tress]

Yeah, the fact that Narnia isn't on the list pretty much nullfies this list. Though aside from that MAJOR insult, it's a pretty good list.

I don't think one exclusion "nullifies" anything. They didn't want to put any work aimed at young adults or children on the list. Some still got through, yes, but overall they were excluded. Settle down with the indignation.

 

[ThatNickGuy]

NEVER!

 

[fade]

no problem with having small gods on there. but going postal? much as i like it, I'd rather see one of the city watch books on there, if we're choosing discworld. especially night watch.

See, the City Watch books were my least favorite. I thought they were a bit too grounded for his style. Not that they weren't enjoyable. I just didn't think they were the best.

I know I'll catch hell for this, but it seems like more than a few dime-store trashy novels on that list...
Added at: 02:56
55 for Last Unicorn?!? Some of the best prose written in the 20th century gets 55?!?
Added at: 02:57
No Dandelion Wine? Really? At least they acknowledge Bradbury, because, wow can that man weave words. But they left out his best!

 

[Hailey Knight]

Personal favorite that didn't make the list:

Villains by Necessity

In my opinion, one of the best written, original, fantasy novels ever written. Sad that it disappeared into obscurity.

Looked it up on Amazon from your mention, and I wish it wasn't out of print. Paperback's expensive... maybe I could break my "no hardcover" rule just this once...

 

[Gryfter]

If you leave out most of the middle books, it's pretty readable. Not "number 12 on a list of 100" good, but it should be SOMEWHERE on that list...

I think the Riftwar books by Raymond Feist should probably trade places with it... 66 is about right for Wheel of Time, I think. There are over 20 books in the Riftwar saga and all of them are good.

Thank you for reminding me of the Riftwar books. Might have to pick those up again.

The Wheel of Time series it's okay but that's the only series of books that I would consistently find myself skimming whole chapters to get to the meat of the story. I liked the first... maybe, four books but it gets increasingly thick with excessive writing after that, and the story stagnates all over the place. The fact that it's number 12 on this list makes me wonder what their criteria was for determining this list.
Added at: 20:26
AHHHH.... it was listener votes that determined it.

 

[Shegokigo]

Looked it up on Amazon from your mention, and I wish it wasn't out of print. Paperback's expensive... maybe I could break my "no hardcover" rule just this once...

Yep, I have it on Hardback too. Though I did buy it when it was still in bookstores. I did look at the prices recently and wow, just crazy how rare the book turned out to be.

 

[Tress]

I know I'll catch hell for this, but it seems like more than a few dime-store trashy novels on that list...

No, I think some of those are a bit crappy too. I guess it's to be expected with popular votes. People don't always make the best choices as a group (as evidence I submit the continuing popularity of American Idol). I like the list overall, though.

 

[Tress]

hopefully you don't count 1984, brave new world, 451, stranger in a strange land and anything by vonegaut on that list as dime store crap.

Those are all classics. I have a copy of each on my shelf right now (except for Stranger in a Strange Land).

 

[figmentPez]

I counted 31 I'd read for sure, plus a couple partials (I haven't read all of the Space Trilogy).

Personally I thought "To Say Nothing of the Dog" was better than "Doomsday Book" but I'm very happy to see Connie Willis on the list.

Of course, my favorites aren't on the list ("A Night in the Lonesome October" by Roger Zelazny and "Changer" by Jane Lindskold) but I have oddball taste.

 

[Frank]

No one person will ever be happy with a large list like that, that's just how it is.

And for my whine, man, R.A. Salvatore's Mary Sue as fuck D&D novels? Oooooogh, I liked those books as a kid but man, they are the definition of trashy fantasy. Oh Christ, especially because it's higher than fucking Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke. Rama and The Hammer of God were my initiation into hard sci-fi.

 

[Krisken]

I'm just happy to see American Gods so high on the list. Still my favorite read.

 

[checkeredhat]

Well, this gives me some new books to read. I've actually barely read any of it. I'm actually reading the first volume of the Kingkiller Chronicle now.

 

[strawman]

Hrm. Only 33 or so. Time to add some reading to my list.

Odd that they put fantasy and sci-fi together. Probably would have turned out better had they two separate lists.
Added at: 08:38
Now that NPR's created this list, Amazon and Apple should offer the "Top 100 fantascifi ebook bundle" for $199.

 

[GasBandit]

No one person will ever be happy with a large list like that, that's just how it is.

And for my whine, man, R.A. Salvatore's Mary Sue as fuck D&D novels? Oooooogh, I liked those books as a kid but man, they are the definition of trashy fantasy. Oh Christ, especially because it's higher than fucking Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke. Rama and The Hammer of God were my initiation into hard sci-fi.

Heh, RA Salvatore was an Inuyasha fanboi back when Rumiko Takahashi was barely putting out her first Ranma 1/2 books.

 

[Frank]

I wish I had a clue about what you just wrote.

 

[figmentPez]

Odd that they put fantasy and sci-fi together. Probably would have turned out better had they two separate lists.

So, which list does Dragonflight go on?

 

[fade]

Libraries and bookstores always seem to merge them, too.

 

[Frank]

Chapters/Indigo, Canada's big bookstore chain separates them. Thank God. They also separate out all the Star Wars/Trek stuff and all the video game and rpg (Warhammer/D&D) novels too.

 

[Biannoshufu]

Enders Game #3?