Purely Whimsical

According to this site, the following books are the top 10 ten sci-fi ever published. Those who know me will not be surprised to find out that I have read all of these books. Some, more than once.

Rank Author/Editor 	Title 					Year
1    Orson Scott Card	Ender's Game				1985
2    Frank Herbert	Dune					1965
3    Isaac Asimov	Foundation				1951
4    Douglas Adams	Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy	1979
5    George Orwell	1984					1949
6    Robert A Heinlein	Stranger in a Strange Land		1961
7    Ray Bradbury	Fahrenheit 451				1954
8    Arthur C Clarke	2001: A Space Odyssey			1968
9    Isaac Asimov	I, Robot				1950
10   William Gibson	Neuromancer				1984

I don’t particularly agree with Ender’s Game being at the #1 spot, but I suppose it works. There are I could see Dune, Foundation, or Fahrenheit 451 at the top spot. They are all quite good books. I just realized I need to re-read Dune. I’ve been reading it once a year for many years now, but I’m overdue since I didn’t read it last year. I’ve reread Foundation recently, and it’s a great book.

Honestly, I’d even put Flowers for Algernon above Ender’s Game. But that’s just me.

The only truly “fun and easy” read in this list is #4 Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I’ve never seen the movie, so I don’t know if it was any good. I am not one who thinks that it’s the best thing since sliced bread, but it WAS a fun read. Ender’s Game is probably the next easiest read, which is probably why it made it to #1.

Stranger in a Strange Land was interesting. I understood a lot more about the sci-fi genre after reading it. It was in many ways a very insightful book. I did understand the comments about Heinlein and his dirty old man phase. There were some -perhaps- unnecessary sexual elements of the story. Didn’t add that much for me, but thinking back it may have added some perspective. Mind you, I have a terrible memory, so that could be entirely false.

Fahrenheit 451 is one I’ve been meaning to re-read for a couple of years now. I remember reading it when I was about 10 years old, and it just floored me. Even then I understood how plausible it was, and I imagine it has only become more so over the years. The social commentary was .. amazing.

Speaking of social commentary, _1984_. I loved and hated this book. It is one of the most ever driest reads in history. There’s almost no plot. It’s extremely boring, yet at the same time completely riveting. It grabs you, and it doesn’t let go. You want Winston to win, but you know it can’t happen unless he sells out.

On the other hand, I KNOW I’ve read 2001: A Space Odyssey, but I simply can’t remember anything about it. I remember the movie, which wasn’t at all like the book except for some superficialities. I do remember not getting that invested in the book. Perhaps I should slate it for a re-read as well.

And Neuromancer. It’s a classic that seems o-so-dated now, but back in the day it was awesome, much like an Apple IIe. A good read if only to get a handle on the cyberpunk speak. I believe it’s a very short novel as well so it shouldn’t take much time to read. It’s important to realize this was written not before the internet, but it was published at least 10 years before the Web, so it was pretty revolutionary for it’s time.

Speaking of before it’s time, if I remember correctly, Asimov manages to miss a lot of the stuff that dates other old sci-fi, but I think there is talk of a slide rule or two in Foundation. Also notable is the lack of any computers. It doesn’t detract from the story. Also, the movie I, Robot had little to do with the book. However, I thought the movie was pretty entertaining. The book was better.