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

[AlanN]

The City And The Stars by Arthur C. Clarke (or its earlier incarnation, Against The Fall Of Night, take your pick). Published in 1956, it's one of a very few books in the SF genre which I might call "timeless". Takes the idea of what humanity might look like in the distant future and imbues it with a sense of wonder.

Have to agree, although I would always pick Against the Fall of Night. It's just a perfect little novel, and one that's always stayed with me.

 

[BAYLOR]

Gladiator at Large by Frederick Pohl and C M Kornbluth

 

[logan_run]

Ray Bradburys
the martian chronicles.

 

[BAYLOR]

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

 

[galanx]

Gladiator at Large by Frederick Pohl and C M Kornbluth

Yes, liked that more than The Space Merchants, which is usually cited as their best collaboration.

 

[galanx]

As for short stories, one of the best is "Stranger Station" by Damon Knight

 

[Mirannan]

You want SF which is truly mind-expanding - which stuns you with sheer scale?

Try a pair by Olaf Stapledon, the first as a warm-up. Last and First Men and Star Maker. (The entirety of the first comprises about half a chapter of the second. )

For fantasy, I offer Magician. Contains the best description of a really powerful wizard in a bad mood I've ever seen. Honourable mention to Dian Duane's Young Wizards series.

 

[BAYLOR]

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury

 

[BAYLOR]

The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester . Considered one the messy science fiction books ever written an like The Demolished Man yet to be adapted for the big or small screen.

 

[Extollager]

Rogue Moon Algis Budry

That one, and Moore and Kuttner's "Vintage Season," are the two novellas (?) that I have my students read, in Intro to Literature, in a unit on getting acquainted with science fiction. They also read a few shorter works.

 

[BAYLOR]

That one, and Moore and Kuttner's "Vintage Season," are the two novellas (?) that I have my students read, in Intro to Literature, in a unit on getting acquainted with science fiction. They also read a few shorter works.

Budry underrated as writer. I don't see his books in the bookstore anymore.

 

[BAYLOR]

The Penultimate Truth Phillip K Dick

 

[althea]

I have read many of the books mentioned in this thread and am making a list of some of the others,which I hope to read soon.
I think I would not have learned about Phillip K Dick,or read his considerable portfolio, if I hadn't joined SFF Chronicles.

 

[althea]

I am a Ray Bradbury fan,he is an extraordinary story teller.
I haven't come across Dandelion Wine,so thanks for that,Baylor.
That is now on my LIST.

 

[BAYLOR]

Dangerous Visions and it's sequel anthology Again Dangerous Visions. edited by Harlan Ellison. Both terrific.

 

[althea]

Will look for those.

 

[clovis-man]

Dangerous Visions and it's sequel anthology Again Dangerous Visions. edited by Harlan Ellison. Both terrific.

Will look for those.

Both these books enjoyed a prolific publication life. So they are usually available fairly often at used book stores. Happy hunting.

 

[BAYLOR]

Both these books enjoyed a prolific publication life. So they are usually available fairly often at used book stores. Happy hunting.

Those two anthologies were groundbreaking in alot of ways

 

[BAYLOR]

I tried to read this one because it's such a clever idea, but I couldn't finish because it does too good a job at imitating a second-rate pulp SF adventure built on a racist, fascist worldview. It eventually wore on me... For those who don't know, it's meant to be the book that Hitler would have written in his youth if he wrote SF instead of painting!

For me, hands down it's Moorcock's Elric saga. Writing fantasy epics that are hugely epic in scope as well as page count is one thing; doing it with the economy of word that MM used (in the 60's & 70's) is way more impressive. Many or most others will differ, but what I tend to dislike about epic novels is an excessive amount of detail given to the kingdoms, the settings, the backstories, etc. Just give me original, flesh & blood characters fighting in an epic struggle. In a few strokes, MM will give you all you need to know to enjoy the action.

A second pick and big influence on my ideas as a writer was Fritz Leiber's The Big Time for an intimate plot set against a huge cosmic backdrop.

Agreed.

 

[BAYLOR]

Simarillian. I know it's not easy to get on with, but for me I absolutely loved the breadth of the tale and the heroics around trying to recover the silmarils. It also gives a magnificent background to Lord of the Rings. It explains the Elf/Dwarf wars and the hatred between the races. Any book that has a chapter "Battle of Unnumbered Tears" has to be moving. Other than that Tarzan...oops slipped that in.

I read it years ago, brilliant stuff. But I do wish he had converted it into a saga like LOTR.