The Greatest Science-Fiction novel of all time?

[Bick]

The Dreaming Jewels by Theodore Sturgeon

You had already voted about 7 books, Baylor - pick one. One.

I don’t know if I can. If forced into a half-Nelson, I think I’d probably go with Dune, also, but in part this is because of the strength and thoughtfulness of the sequels which add to the overall impression of the book upon re-reading.
As a shorter classic, I could on another day pick Childhood’s End, or maybe The Stochastic Man.

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

It is quite a challenge to choose just one, however from just the opening paragraph I'll choose: The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham.
But anything by H. G. Wells could have been there.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

or maybe The Stochastic Man.

Interesting. When I mentioned Dying Inside earlier in this thread I thought I might be a bit of an outlier. But now four or five people have mentioned Silverberg's books. Anyone who is inspired to pick up a Silverberg for the first time - and you should - please avoid the later work (say 1976 on). It goes downhill fairly quickly (I'm guessing he needed the money).

Meanwhile, regarding Dune, I see many think it is the greatest ever and some say it was, well, okayish. I'm going to stick my neck out (yes, I'm ready for the abuse) and say it was poorly written and nowhere near as clever as it thought it was. There, I've said it!

 

[BAYLOR]

You had already voted about 7 books, Baylor - pick one. One.

I don’t know if I can. If forced into a half-Nelson, I think I’d probably go with Dune, also, but in part this is because of the strength and thoughtfulness of the sequels which add to the overall impression of the book upon re-reading.
As a shorter classic, I could on another day pick Childhood’s End, or maybe The Stochastic Man.

It's difficult to choose.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Interesting. When I mentioned Dying Inside earlier in this thread I thought I might be a bit of an outlier. But now four or five people have mentioned Silverberg's books. Anyone who is inspired to pick up a Silverberg for the first time - and you should - please avoid the later work (say 1976 on). It goes downhill fairly quickly (I'm guessing he needed the money).

Meanwhile, regarding Dune, I see many think it is the greatest ever and some say it was, well, okayish. I'm going to stick my neck out (yes, I'm ready for the abuse) and say it was poorly written and nowhere near as clever as it thought it was. There, I've said it!

I am sad to admit that Silverberg lost me with the first Majipoor book. I wish him nothing but success and happiness anyway.

And I have to admit that I might label Dune as "most overrated SF novel" (right up there with Ender's Game, I'm afraid.)

Apologies to the many fans of both books. There truly is no accounting for taste.

 

[Bick]

Anyone who is inspired to pick up a Silverberg for the first time - and you should - please avoid the later work (say 1976 on). It goes downhill fairly quickly (I'm guessing he needed the money).

I wouldn't say avoid all his later stuff, but his period of great fiction was indeed the 10 years after Pohl encouraged him to take free rein over his work, from 67-76. He certainly didn't write later fiction for the money, as he had plenty by then. Perhaps he started to write what he wanted, and didn't need to push himself so much? Now, he did write all those porn novels in the 50's for money but that was before he started with serious books...

 

[Bick]

And I have to admit that I might label Dune as "most overrated SF novel" (right up there with Ender's Game, I'm afraid.)

Heartily disagree with the former opinion, but tend to agree with the latter. I see Ender's Game as a clever short story plot twist expanded to novel length. I enjoyed it, but it's not as good as its rep suggests. Dune, though... that's a masterpiece; though I suspect it appeals especially to those who love 'inhabiting' well-conceived new worlds. The world-building is extraordinary.

 

[Justin Swanton]

That Hideous Strength by C S Lewis is up there.

 

[Rodders]

Are we guilty of confusing favourite with best?

 

[Pyan]

I am sad to admit that Silverberg lost me with the first Majipoor book. I wish him nothing but success and happiness anyway.

And I have to admit that I might label Dune as "most overrated SF novel" (right up there with Ender's Game, I'm afraid.)

Apologies to the many fans of both books. There truly is no accounting for taste.

This is very true, Victoria: I don't think Dune can be overrated, and I was blown away by Lord Valentine's Castle, but that's just my opinion.
"Greatest" is a very nebulous concept, in my opinion.

 

[Bick]

Are we guilty of confusing favourite with best?

I’m not. Who’s ‘we’?

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Are we guilty of confusing favourite with best?

I considered this, in relation to my own list of SF novels, but I think with the OP's phrasing of the thread title I am fine with The Mote in God's Eye being my own, subjectively chosen, greatest SF novel.

If I was asked to give a choice of the greatest work of literary SF, well I'd happily cross off Mote, and pick 1984, or some other brilliant book (I greatly admire the very bleak 1984 as fiction). But it's mostly subjective (though I can say, for example, Keith Laumer would never make my own list, though some of his books are fine), and if I could only ever read one last SF novel before my time here was done, I am pretty confident it would be Mote. (It might help that I read it within a year or so of its being published. It was one of my first SF novels, and has possibly an inherent, unfair advantage in choosing a greatest, over any other novel on my list.) So it might be my favorite, yes, but it was also probably my greatest SF reading experience, for the story and aliens (if not the quality of the writing).

Well, I am blathering. Great fun seeing everyone's choices, CC

 

[paranoid marvin]

I'm not sure that there is a difference between 'best' and 'favourite'?

In my opinion the purpose of a story is, first and foremost, entertainment. By 'entertain' I don't necessarily mean that we gain pleasure from reading it, but that it holds our attention, provokes and/or inspires us. No matter how well written, perceptive or imaginative, if it doesn't entertain then it has failed in it's purpose (at least on an individual level).

I think that there are two answers to this question: which one we personally consider to be the greatest, and which is generally considered to be the greatest. In respect of the first part I would say War of the Worlds or HHGTTG, in respect of the second I would say Dune or perhaps Foundation.

 

[Dave Vicks]

1984 By G.Orwell is up there.
Every time I watch SLEEPER I think about BRAVE NE

 

[tobl]

i've been thinking and thinking about let's say the quintessencial sci fi novel and here's is my vote ( if you haven't read it i suggest you do it, pronto.):
the escape orbit (OPEN prison) james white 1965

The Escape Orbit by James White

The Escape Orbit by James White - book cover, description.

www.fantasticfiction.com

honorable mention:
the cold equations
"The Cold Equations" is a science fiction short story by American writer Tom Godwin, first published in Astounding Magazine in August 1954.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

I wouldn't say avoid all his later stuff, but his period of great fiction was indeed the 10 years after Pohl encouraged him to take free rein over his work, from 67-76. He certainly didn't write later fiction for the money, as he had plenty by then. Perhaps he started to write what he wanted, and didn't need to push himself so much? Now, he did write all those porn novels in the 50's for money but that was before he started with serious books...

I probablty shouldn't have made the 'needed the money' comment (I try to be better than that). I believe you have the 'write what he wanted' part backwards though. He wrote his earlier novels for himself and adapted to the market later. In fact he discusses his later work quite openly with Harlan Ellison in an old radio interview that is still available on Youtube. In the late 70s and early 80s the Fantasy genre exploded and there was a huge demand but very few competent writers to serve that demand. So there was an opportunity there (and writing is a business). Silverberg and Ellison also talk of a 'dumbing down' of the Science Fiction Genre in the late 70s (Star Wars fans cover your ears!).

Relevant section is from around minute 42 to 46:

 

[psikeyhackr]

I'm not sure that there is a difference between 'best' and 'favourite'?

In my opinion the purpose of a story is, first and foremost, entertainment. By 'entertain' I don't necessarily mean that we gain pleasure from reading it, but that it holds our attention, provokes and/or inspires us.

Daemon is the best because no one else suggested it. It is not about the writing because I am incompetent at judging that and in many ways it is not entertaining.

It is not some far imagined future. It is quite possibly very near future but it is about making people THINK about what is happening with current technology and society. I do not doubt that very many people will find it unentertaining because of that.

 

[Dave Vicks]

SLEEPER reminds me of Brave new world

 

[psikeyhackr]

It has just occurred to me that the Vorkosigan series by Bujold is like halfway between Dune and Ender's Game. It has an emperor with conflicting nobel houses like Dune and space warfare with a tactical genius kid like Ender's Game.

Maybe Cordelia's Honor should be the greatest.

Nah, Daemon! Detective Sebeck is a bigger asshole than Miles. Loki is a bigger asshole than anybody.

 

[Danny McG]

if I could only ever read one last SF novel before my time here was done, I am pretty confident it would be Mote. (It might help that I read it within a year or so of its being published. It was one of my first SF novels, and has possibly an inherent, unfair advantage in choosing a greatest, over any other novel on my list.)

Ditto from me