What do you think Are the Best Classic Fantasy And Science Fiction Books and Stories of All Time?

[AE35Unit]

The Man-Kzin Wars is a shared universe set in Niven's Known Space universe. Many authors have written stories for it. Niven himself only contributed one; the first one.

Ah a bit like Lovecraft's Chthulu mythos

 

[AE35Unit]

It's hard to believe that Consider Phlebas was published in 1987.

Yea so far the only Banks book I've finished. I loved it

 

[BAYLOR]

The Man-Kzin Wars is a shared universe set in Niven's Known Space universe. Many authors have written stories for it. Niven himself only contributed one; the first one.

The Kzin should up in Star Trek the Animated series.

 

[Vince W]

The Kzin should up in Star Trek the Animated series.

Yes, they did and then Paramount changed it so they could never appear again. Fortunately, they are part of Star Fleet Battles so I get to pit my Kzinti fleet against the rest of the galaxy.

 

[Vince W]

Ah a bit like Lovecraft's Chthulu mythos

Exactly.

 

[Rodders]

Does anyone else think that Iain M. Banks books should be classics?

Absolutely. My selection for classic status would be The Player of Games, Use of Weapons, Look to Windward and Surface Detail.

I have always been curious at when does a book or author be considered as a classic?

 

[BAYLOR]

Absolutely. My selection for classic status would be The Player of Games, Use of Weapons, Look to Windward and Surface Detail.

I have always been curious at when does a book or author be considered as a classic?

That's a easy question to answer Rodders . A book becomes a classic when it goes out print and becomes difficult to find.

Actually , that is a good question and I don't know the answer.

 

[AE35Unit]

Absolutely. My selection for classic status would be The Player of Games, Use of Weapons, Look to Windward and Surface Detail.

I have always been curious at when does a book or author be considered as a classic?

I couldn't get into Player of Games. Dull as dishwater compared to Phlebas

 

[BigHappy]

One of my favourites was Surface Detail - in most fictional simulations it's like a utopia, but in this the simulation is a punishment instead.

 

[BigHappy]

I couldn't get into Player of Games. Dull as dishwater compared to Phlebas

It was a bit dull, but I liked how it got darker towards the end, and I'm pretty sure there was a good twist in the last part as well.

 

[G.T.]

All of these are books that just stuck with me and I go back to again and again periodically. Some are widely considered classics, others not so much. I tend to judge books on how they make me feel and all of these were a joy to read and re-read.

Legend - David Gemmell (all of Gemmell really but this is the best for me)
Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien (introduced me to fantasy back in the 80's)
Chronicles of Morgaine - C.J. Cherryh (loved the characters)
Dune - Frank Herbert (loved the setting)
To Ride Hells Chasm - Janny Wurts (underappreciated in my view, really liked her Cycle of Fire too)
Sheepfarmer's Daughter - Elizabeth Moon (the entire series is worthy, the first three especially)
The Gunslinger - Stephen King (I think he really captured something in this book)
Companions on the Road - Tanith Lee (there is something about this that gets me each time)

 

[Ellizze]

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Dune by Frank Herbert
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur Clarke

 

[BAYLOR]

And lots more coming down the Classics road.

 

[BAYLOR]

Bolo and Rogue Bolo by Keith Laumer

 

[Vince W]

Bolo and Rogue Bolo by Keith Laumer

Love Bolo. I would've made a film of them already.

 

[psikeyhackr]

NOW we are getting near the processing power to make the first bolos.

Night of the Trolls

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Night of the Trolls, by Keith Laumer.

 

[BAYLOR]

Love Bolo. I would've made a film of them already.

This is the film Id like to see James Cameron do .

 

[BAYLOR]

NOW we are getting near the processing power to make the first bolos.

Night of the Trolls

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Night of the Trolls, by Keith Laumer.

And his novel The Stars must Wait.

 

[Mon0Zer0]

War of the Worlds by HG Wells
Dune by Frank Herbert
Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake
Colour of Magic by Pratchett
Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
The Hobbit by Tolkien
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Adams
Martian Chronicles by Bradbury
Harlan Ellison's pretty much every book
Stranger in a Strange Land, and The Moon is a harsh mistress by Heinlein
Foundation by Asimov
Ubik, Man in the High Castle, Flow my tears, the Policeman said by Dick
The Handmaid's tale by Attwood
1984 by Orwell
Brave New World by Huxley
Jonathan Norell & Mr Strange by Susanna Clarke
Neuromancer by Gibson
Slaughterhouse-Five and Harrison Bergeron by Vonnegut
Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury
Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes
Rendezvous with Rama by Clarke
Frankenstein by Shelley
A Clockwork Orange by Burgess
Solaris by Lem
We by Zamyatin
Roadside Picnic by Strugatsky and Arkady

 

[BAYLOR]

War of the Worlds by HG Wells
Dune by Frank Herbert
Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake
Colour of Magic by Pratchett
Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
The Hobbit by Tolkien
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Adams
Martian Chronicles by Bradbury
Harlan Ellison's pretty much every book
Stranger in a Strange Land, and The Moon is a harsh mistress by Heinlein
Foundation by Asimov
Ubik, Man in the High Castle, Flow my tears, the Policeman said by Dick
The Handmaid's tale by Attwood
1984 by Orwell
Brave New World by Huxley
Jonathan Norell & Mr Strange by Susanna Clarke
Neuromancer by Gibson
Slaughterhouse-Five and Harrison Bergeron by Vonnegut
Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury
Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes
Rendezvous with Rama by Clarke
Frankenstein by Shelley
A Clockwork Orange by Burgess
Solaris by Lem
We by Zamyatin
Roadside Picnic by Strugatsky and Arkady

Superb list.