Star of the unborn , farewell earths bliss and ice I have not read but will hunt those 3 down .Some fantastic books there, I started reading malzberg last year and he is fast becoming a firm favourite along with Christopher priest I will be reading lots more of both this year.
He hasn't written SF in over a decade. It would be nice if he suddenly crops up with a new book, but it looks like his SF career is over - hopefully he's having a good retirement.
Silverberg has been retired yet again for some time now. Almost anything he wrote between 1966 to 1976 just burns with brilliance. "Dying Inside" may be the best SF novel I've ever read.
Can we take a minute to appreciate no riff-raff in the beginning and jumping straight into it. We read the video title. No need to spend 5 minutes restating it.
I keep forgetting to mention it, but having the titles in the description is a life saver for doing further research, saves me soo much time. The timestamps are also amazing and thank you for including both of these, the extra work they take is very much appreciated (and could well be the next dune.)
I just wanted to thank you for directly getting to the point as soon as the video starts, without wasting anyone's time with frivolities. Very much appreciated.
Thanks for this list! Your tastes don’t exactly align with mine, but I really appreciate how clear and consistent you are for why you like (or don’t like) a book.
I remember watching the Dune movie and just being so intrigued by the sci-fi genre that i went on a 4 hour binge on booktube. Your videos are truly amazing and just the way you explain the plot and the vibe of the book makes us understand exactly which book we would like which is unlike others. I hope you keep making such videos and spreading your knowledge
Would love to have heard you were so intrigued by the genre you actually went and read some of them. I know, it's 2024 and all. (Sorry if that sounded snarky or "you kids get off my lawn"ish. Culture and technology do move on...)
@@norfsidejayy1223 what did you think of God Emperor? It blew my mind when I first read it in the 90s and even after six rereads of the series it remains my favorite (probably tied with the first novel, that one changed the way I viewed the world as a young teenager)
Blindsight without a doubt deserves as much praise as it can get. Watts is underrated in his writing ability, for clever sharp and effective prose. Absolutely deserves its spot on the list. Appreciated the video as always.
I think “this or that changed my life” is used too often by people to describe things that are cool or original, but not really life changing. This book, however, changed my life too. I learned or gained understanding so many words and concepts for the first time (and I was already almost 40). To say it’s astonishing is an understatement. Seriously, if you read one book on this list, it should be Blindsight - I’ve read almost all of the others and agree to some extent or other that they deserve to be considered great, but Blindsight… wow.
the writing is sharp as a tack. or a better word maybe is crisp, almost flinty even. i liked that a lot. it was just a cool style, but it fit the story.
Blindsight was a bit of a frustrating read for me. The technical jargon at the beginning was hard to understand, and made it difficult to have a mental model of what was going on physically during the book. Everything else, like the interactions between the characters, flashbacks to earlier events, the way the protagonist felt, and overall what was happening was masterfully written, but the details of what was going on were difficult to understand. I often had trouble really painting a mental picture of what was going on physically, and I had to update my mental model of the ship or of Rorshach because I had missed something or my mental model didn't fit what was happening. It kept taking me out of the experience instead of being gripped by what was happening and along for the ride. The ideas in the book definitely did have a big impact and it's something I bring up fairly often. I really enjoyed the ideas presented in the book, and it did feel huge and very interesting, but it just wasn't a fun read. But I find it hard to recommend the book due to it being frustrating for me to read. It especially feels ironic since the protagonist is supposed to be an expert at "synthesizing" difficult to understand information, and yet the technical jargon just got in the way far too often.
I read Blindsight over the summer based on your review. I had, and still have, the same reaction that you describe. I can’t stop thinking about it. Every other thing I’ve read since that addresses human consciousness leads me back to Blindsight. I’m an old fart, and it’s been a long time since I read a book that wowed me like this one. It just, please forgive the cliche, blew my mind.
I'm surprised that The Dispossessed was knocked off your list between the last video and this one given what you said about it before. I picked up that book on your previous recommendation (my first Le Guin) and I was absolutely blown away by it. What you said about reading something that "just sticks in your spinal column" -- 100% true, and I can't stop thinking about this book. I'm super excited to read more Le Guin. I have yet to read *any* of these other books you've recommended, so I'm not sure how closely our interests align, but if these others are really so good as to knock The Dispossessed off the list then I'm in for many treats. (Also, I just generally love listening to you talk about books, whether I've read them or ever plan to read them or not.)
I agree! I loved the dispossessed based on his recommendation I also read roadside picnic but I ended up liking the dispossessed more. (Not to say roadside is bad it is also a fantastic read) I am going to try and read all of his top 15 this year and see what my opinion is at the end of it.
Check out her short story "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" too, if you haven't come across it already. That's one that stuck in my spinal column and is still there years later.
But it’s also appropriate to say that the “usual suspects” are “usual suspects” for a reason. I was very surprised to not see a single one on a “best of all time” list. Makes me question the validity of this.
I read Blindsight because of your recommendation. It has been 3 months since I finished and I still can't stop thinking about it. Easily one of the greatest books I have or ever will read.
I love this list and I especially agree about Roadside Picnic! Even after reading hundreds of SF novels since I was a teenager, Roadside Picnic was a revelation when I read it a few years ago! I love these kinds of discussions and think it lifts the genre to a new level! Thanks for your very cogent reviews!
If you like Lem, Jacek Dukaj is another Polish author (sometimes called Lem's succesor) with very unique hard sci-fi ideas and beatuiful style of writing. Not many of his books were translated into english but I can recomend one of his most recent ones - "The Old Axolotl". Very close thematically with Solaris is his "Cathedral" which some passages you can find on his wiki page to have a sense of his style ofc if you are interested.
My reading habit has been on hold for the past 9 months since the birth of our second kid. Your reviews inspired me to pick up the copy of Neuromancer that's been sitting on my shelf for years. It was amazing. I blew through it. I can't wait to hop into my next book. Thank you so much!
A great list! -- I discovered your channel a few months ago while doing "research" for a university class I have started teaching, "Philosophy and Science Fiction". Yes, I am a professor of philosophy. And based on your review and high praise of the novel, I read *Blindsight* for the first time in just the past month. And I thought it was fantastic. So, thanks for that. BTW, *Solaris* remains my all-time favorite for the same reasons you give, and I love *Roadside Picnic*, *Neuromancer* and *Ice*, too. I hope to work through the remaining novels on your list (which I don't know) before the next iteration of my philosophy class.
You got me started in reading sci-fi and my little collection is almost all based on your reviews. From the things I have read so far, I really trust your judgement on the QUALITY of a book, whatever the style/vibe may be. You also led me over to Outlaw Bookseller and I revere his opinions as well. Thanks!
Love Downward To The Earth and it has sent me down a whole Silverberg path. I will be checking out some of the books you have listed. I read Roadside Picnic last year off your list. It’s a book that stays with you.
You are more than a dude in a beanie...this includes being my favorite book reviewer on The Tube...many thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, you have introduced me to new and meaningful ideas
I wanted to thank you for the Blindsight rec. I've been an avid SF reader for decades and somehow this slipped past my radar, but I just finished reading it, largely based on your frequent recommendations. The book is likely going to haunt me for the rest of my days. I had an aneurysm back in 2000 that initially left me largely paralyzed on my left side, with the worst of the effects trailing off to become bearable over the following couple of years. These days people hardly notice the effects. In any case, the description of the disorienting (to be kind) effects experienced by the crew in their excursions to the Rorschach are by far the best depiction of what it was like to be stuck in my head in those first few months after my head exploded I've ever come across. The depiction of the fragility of our perception of "reality" is just magnificent. Thank you again... And carry on, please. I don't always agree with your take (I'm a big Remembrance of Earth's Past fan), but I almost always enjoy the thoughtfulness and reasoning behind your opinions..
Thanks for starting with Hothouse! Aldiss, along with JG Ballard, were my favourite authors growing up in the UK in the 60s and early 70s. The books meant a lot to me. Had the opportunity of meeting Aldiss's son a few years back - he was a customer at my little print shop, and I asked if he was aware of a writer with the same surname as him. I think he was a bit taken back by me suddenly gushing praise about his father when he told me who he was! (Brian W Aldiss was still alive at the time, but he died a short while later).
With regard to Blindsight's inclusion of a "vampire", I thought it was a really solid take on how such a thing might be a biologically feasible variant of past evolutionary lifeforms.
Late bloomer to hard sci-fi. I was over 30 when I first read Neuromancer. Your observations are well captured. ....that first page; I knew I was experiencing something unique.
Fantastic, clear, and thoughtful as always. Love the channel and I feel like I get to vicariously live the dream of reading ludicrous amounts of science fiction through you.
Solaris is one of the greatest works of literature ever written. It’s endlessly readable, with multiple psychological insights. Glad it was so high on the list. Fantastic video 👍
Could not agree more on Vinge. At times I felt like I was suffocating while reading about the mental tortures. And Gibson prose is as great as you say. I look forward to some on your list which I have not read. Thanks for your clear and intelligent capsule reviews.
Phenomenal recs. I had the same experience with A Fire Upon the Deep. The first hard sci fi book I read, my mind was completely blown and I couldn't put it down. Such a wonderous experience to have, and I've been chasing the same since
Great video. Favorite books are obviously completely subjective, so anyone surprised a given book didn't make the list needs to remember that all of us have unique experiences that shape our preferences and aversions as we grow, and that that, more than anything else, decides what one's list will look like - not popularity, renown or reviews. For me, Dune reigns supreme, but that's largely down to how and when I discovered it, and who I was at the time. Another book at that time might just as easily imprinted as deeply on me had the circumstances and my personal past been even just a little different. I'll definitely be checking out several of the books on your list, beanie guy.
A very good perspective regarding when, where and who we were when we first discovered a certain work. I often make the same point about musical works and genres. People tell you their favorite music and you ask "How old were you when you first heard [X music]?" and it's almost always 14, 15, 16. With literary works its skews a little older.
Just found this list and so glad it has so many authors I never heard about. Strugatsky brothers and Lem are insanely good so I'm looking forward to get familiarized with the others I don't know about. Thank you!
Great list but the commentary is even better and super helpful. I know from previous videos you are not a fan of early Iain M. Banks (neither am I) but I can recommend “Look To Windward” as a mind blowing space opera that is tied with “A Fire Upon The Deep” in my own list.
This rocked ! Found a few novels and authors never heard of. Most vids of " my best sci fi " usually is a list of every reccomended " classic". All of wich i have read or is on my tbr list. Thanks
Thanks a lot. Been looking for some good sci-fi that I haven’t read yet, and picked a number of your suggestions. Looking forward to getting into them!!!
Another great video, thank you! I've only read 3 on this list; Solaris, We Who Are About To and Roadside Picnic. The latter two I read directly off your recommendations. I must also thank you for opening the world of Samuel Delany to me - a real life-changer. Still looking for some of your highly recommended titles in accessible format - Star of the Unborn is on the Internet Archive, but I haven't gotten round to it yet as I have to read it using text-to-speech, which isn't ideal. I read all of We Who Are About To using TTS, but it's a shorter book. Will keep searching! Definitely need to dive into the Silverberg rabbithole... here I go!
You explain so well what these books are about. Thank you for introducing us to these books I've not heard of a few of them. Keep up the good work. Lol...and you're not just "...some guy in a beanie."
Anna Kavan's *_Ice_* was one of my favorite finds at the used bookstore back in the 1970s. An unreliable narrator with an unreliable everything, yet unbelievably well written.
Great review. Of all the books in the list that I have not read and will give a try is Hothouse. The review reminded me of Roger Zelazny's Jack of Shadows. I have enjoyed some of Zelazny's fantasy and science fiction so I thought a try at science fantasy would be right up his alley but he failed to deliver. I think Aldiss nailed it. Star of the Unborn by Franz Werfel is one book I will also be looking for.
Thank you for putting together this list of thinking person's sci-fi - new books to explore! Have read Neuromancer & Blindsight but not the others. A Canticle for Liebowitz as runner up? I loved Robert Silverberg's Lord Valentine's Castle, pure 70s sci-fi bliss. Especially the copy with the lost Bee Gees member juggling in tights on the cover. 😅
I found a copy of the UK Modern SF Classics edition of Roadside Picnic in a bookshop while on holiday a couple of months ago and bought it based on your previous report - I absolutely loved it and as you noted about the other books on this video list - it was the writing quality and the sheer pleasure of reading in addition to the story itself. Thanks for the recommendation!
Awesome video. I love how the opening line was "At #15 we have.." & immediately started talking about a Dying-Earth-adjacent book. I just nabbed a "Tales from the Flat Earth" omnibus pair by Tanith Lee, very similar feeling to Vance & TDE
Just finished ‘Ice’ by Anna Kavan. Despite 30 years of bookselling this title had passed me by until I saw your review of it. Everything you say about is true. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Keep up the good work!
I just found your channel, so please excuse this late comment. Why does youtube suck at recommending videos? This video is such a dense nugget of good commentary, i loved it. You strike the right balance of erudite literary context and the way a book makes you feel. I can tell we have similar but not identical taste in books, which makes me excited to see your other content. I usually don't rewatch videos, particularly right after i finish watching, but this video was fascinating and I'm going to enjoy it twice. And then I will probably binge some of your other videos. You've earned a subscriber this day.
Thank you for the list, I knew only the Jack Vance novel, Solaris and Roadside Picnick, but none of the others, though I've read other works by some of the writers, namely Shaw, Silverberg, Aldiss. My top 15 in no particular order: Niven/Pournelle: The Mote in God's Eye (best first contact novel) Poul Anderson: Any of the Merchant van Rijn stories really Asimov: Foundation Trilogy (only the original trilogy, not the later ones) Clarke: The End of Eternity Heinlein: Stranger in a Strange Land Cixin Liu: The Three Body Problem Jack Vance: The Demon Princes Frederick Pohl: Heechee Saga (Gateway Series) Ray Bradburry: The Illustrated Man Brian Aldis: Heliconia series Bob Shaw: Orbittsville Tad Williams: Otherland series Fritz Leiber: Sword series Robert Shea/Robert Anton Wilson: The Illuminatus! trilogy Philip K. Dick: Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep Bonus: Zamyatin: We Orwell: 1984 Huxley: Brave New World Butler: Erewhon Herbert: Dune/Dune Messiah Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 Simmons: Hyperion Corey: The Expanse series Simak: Way Station Robinson: Mars Trilogy
Fifty years ago as a teenager and young man I read and loved a lot of these books, and have spent the last ten years on and off trying to remember their names. YT and you have made me very happy, as I want to read them again.
The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel... And that's your ticket if you wish a ride into the world of Neuromancer. And what a hell of a ride it was the first time I read it, kudos to Gibson. Molly Millions...always will be my favorite razor girl.
Ahhh well said. I’m holding Neuromancer in my hand right now as I finish off the last 100 pages or so….love Molly’s vibe and prose…” wasting your time cowboy”
Just finished Roadside Picnic based on your recommendation. I haven't been pulled into a world so much in a long time. Great characters, dialogue, and an eerieness that kept me turning pages. Thank you!
No time to listen at the moment, but I've skimmed your comments, found so much high praise for you to interest me, really liked how you hyphenated "sci -fi," and found myself subscribing and hitting the bell for all notifications, then downloading this video so I don't miss listening to it. The thing is, I don't care much for sci-fi. Just being here is a big step for me; we'll see if your recommendations convert me or confirm my suspected sci-fi allergy. To all you nerds and geeks who've left comments, you're why I've stopped. Thank you! ❤
Thanks to you I started my Sci Fi journey with Fire Upon the Deep. It was a life changing experience to enjoy so many ideas about the future from the hand of Vinge. Thank you for the reviews my friend!
A Fire Upon The Deep and its sequels will definitely be one of those series that I come back to as soon as I'm ready to reread them, like the Dark Galaxy books by Brett Fitzpatrick
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 *📚 "Hot House" by Brian Aldiss: A vividly imaginative novel set in a distant future where Earth has stopped rotating, featuring evolved life forms and primitive societies.* - Vivid world-building in a distant future with a unique premise. - Features evolved life forms and explores themes of evolution and genetic memory. - A crowd-pleasing science fiction novel with boundless imagination and philosophical twists. 02:06 *🚀 "The Palace of Eternity" by Bob Shaw: A concise and inventive space opera set on a planet sheltering artists during an intergalactic war.* - Concise yet inventive storytelling covering vast ground. - Well-rendered characters and surprising plot twists. - A complete package of great writing, characters, and plot within a short format. 04:12 *🌌 "Downward to the Earth" by Robert Silverberg: A profound science fiction retelling of "Heart of Darkness," exploring themes of guilt, colonialism, and spirituality.* - Profound exploration of themes such as guilt and colonialism. - Beautiful prose by one of the best writers in science fiction. - Offers a different intelligence than traditional science fiction, focusing on humanity and history. 06:02 *📖 "Star of the Unborn" by Franz Werfel: A philosophical and deeply philosophical science fiction novel set in a seemingly post-scarcity future, exploring themes of utopia, dissent, and Christian philosophy.* - Explores philosophical themes in a post-scarcity future society. - Features Christian philosophy and a unique narrative structure. - Considered an underground classic with a wild ending. 08:17 *🌍 "Farewell, Earth's Bliss" by D.G. Compton: A bleak exploration of society's ills through a story of criminals exiled to Mars, featuring evocative writing and an uncompromising moral vision.* - Bleak portrayal of societal and spiritual issues with evocative writing. - Uncompromising moral vision and examination of social structures. - Features an airtight, pessimistic narrative. 09:24 *🎚️ "A Case of Conscience" by James Blish: A profound exploration of religious themes in science fiction, examining morality and spirituality through the lens of a Jesuit priest on an alien planet.* - Best piece of religious science fiction with profound philosophical questions. - Explores morality and spirituality through intelligent storytelling. - Features one of the all-time great endings in literature. 10:58 *❄️ "Beyond Apollo" by Barry Malzberg: A provocative critique of NASA and societal values, blending psychological and political themes in a near-future setting.* - Critiques NASA and societal values in a near-future setting. - Features a fragmented narrative style and explicit content. - Offers a unique perspective on space exploration and its consequences. 13:03 *🚀 "We Who Are About To" by Joanna Russ: A ruthless exploration of survival instincts and patriarchal structures through a group of castaways on an alien planet.* - Ruthless critique of survival instincts and patriarchal structures. - Challenges traditional notions of heroism and survival in science fiction. - Features uncomfortable yet thought-provoking conclusions. 15:21 *🌀 "Ice" by Anna Kavan: A complex and ambiguous narrative exploring obsession, violence, and societal collapse against a backdrop of ecological and political crises.* - Highly sophisticated and ambiguous narrative with intense subject matter. - Features a nonlinear plot and deeply flawed characters. - Offers multiple layers of interpretation and is not for everyone. 16:56 *🌌 "A Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge: A monumental space opera featuring complex world-building, multiple alien species, and a gripping plot exploring the limits of intelligence and technology.* - Monumental space opera with complex world-building and gripping plot. - Explores the limits of intelligence and technology through diverse alien species. - Considered one of the best in the genre with unforgettable storytelling. 19:26 *📜 "The Dying Earth" by Jack Vance: A foundational work in science fantasy, known for its highly imaginative setting and influence on the genre, blending science fiction with elements of fantasy.* - Foundational work in science fantasy with a highly imaginative setting. - Influential in the genre, particularly in shaping Dungeons and Dragons. - Features stentorian dialogue and a unique atmosphere. 20:50 *📚 The speaker discusses the setting and premise of various sci-fi novels.* - The speaker introduces different sci-fi novels and their unique premises. - They touch upon themes such as cohabitation with demons, cyberpunk tropes, and tragicomic adventures. 21:41 *🖋️ William Gibson's "Neuromancer" is praised for its writing style and impact.* - "Neuromancer" is hailed for its dense yet captivating prose. - The book is noted for its influence on the cyberpunk genre and its awakening effect on readers. 22:50 *🤔 Peter Watts' "Blindsight" is highlighted for its philosophical depth and transformative impact.* - "Blindsight" is commended for its profound exploration of consciousness. - The book is discussed for its ability to provoke existential questioning and philosophical pondering. 25:03 *👽 Stanisław Lem's "Solaris" is praised as a masterpiece of science fiction literature.* - "Solaris" is described as a quintessential example of science fiction. - The novel's themes of alien consciousness and human limitation are discussed in detail. 27:08 *📖 Boris and Arkady Strugatsky's "Roadside Picnic" is lauded as a personal favorite and a perfect book.* - "Roadside Picnic" is celebrated for its perfection and resonance with the speaker. - The book's thematic depth, narrative style, and socio-political commentary are highlighted. Made with HARPA AI
As an old Army grunt, Armor by John Steakley has been one of my favorite books for ages. Excellent treatise on PTSD, splitting the psyche, and coming to terms with the insanity of war.
The RU-vid algorithms suggested this video and I'm very happy it did. Thank you for this very insightful list. I stopped reading Sci-Fi for a number of years and have only recently got back into it after a friend suggested that I might enjoy "Book of the New Sun" (I did!) This collection has some fascinating sounding books a number of which I will certainly enjoy!!
Interesting list! A few things that I hadn't heard of before, so thanks! Just for giggles, I wonder if you've read a few of my favorites; "Lord of Light," by Zelazny, "Hyperion," by Dan Simmons, and "Downbelow Station," by C. J. Cherryh. If you haven't read them, I'd strongly recommend them to you. Incredible prose that I think you'd enjoy based on your picks.
I am almost always left unsatisfied by list like these but when you started with Hothouse I knew I was going to see this vid through to the end, and this is a banger list. I'd probably put Solaris at #1, but I love Roadside Picnic too. This really made me want to jump on the few books in the list I haven't read yet... like Ice. Subscribed. Great work.
Gosh, I love every single sci-fi book review that you ever do. I am so thankful that I have found this channel. Wish you'd cover each book in a separate review: more videos & more reviews.
Great list. As someone who enjoys both some more "mainstream" sf books but also some more niche books this list will help me a lot. Like many other people said, there is no need to be angry about the fact you didn't include books such as Dune or Hyperion in your list, it is YOUR list! Thanks for the recommendations some really interest me :)
Just discovered your channel recently and I’m really glad I did. You’ve already put me on to a few gems I likely wouldn’t have found otherwise. Thank you for that!
You’re a beast man. Read roadside picnic last month and is in my top 5 all time. You should make videos along the lines of ‘why you should read silverberg, asimov etc and deep dive your knowledge of authors books. Your well-spoken and articulate language goes a long way with me and other people formulating opinions
Really appreciate these recommendations - I've got way more SF books than I'll ever have time to read in this lifetime, so anything that helps me prioritize is of real value. As it happens, I read Hothouse a few months ago, and have the Bob Shaw book #14 with the great cover, now next up on my reading pile.
Turned 60 this past November and had never heard of Brian Aldiss until you mentioned him. Finished Hothouse today. Mind blown - so much there, so ahead of his time, such a unique voice. On to The Palace of Eternity. Thanks!
Solaris, Blindsight, and Roadside Picnic are all fantastic. I haven’t read those Aldiss and Silverberg books but own others by them, so I’ll look forward to those two. And I’ll have to check out some of the others like Shaw and Russ.
You will never have heard of my favorite. Macroscope, by Piers Anthony. Written in the mid 60's, it is a rollicking space adventure that predicts the internet, albeit on a galactic scale. And it has heart. One of his last pure sci fi books before he started writing fantasy.
I was rather fond of Piers Anthony for a few years in the late 60s (Macroscope, Chthon, The Ring - even Sos the Rope) until it became obvious he was moving into 'slap it down, ship it out' territory with the appearance of lightweight fantasy trilogies which I assume must have outsold his more interesting early work.
Fantastic list, a few I've never heard of and will be grabbing now. I loved A Fire Upon the Deep too; I also like how it just casually 'solves' the Fermi Paradox too, even though it's not a 'Fermi story." It's just like, "oh, that's why we never see our neighbors down here," and off you go 😅 Just stumbled onto your channel tonight, and it's a big subscribe from me 👍
![The 15 Best Sci-Fi Books I've Ever Read [Updated Again]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
