oblivion
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Post by oblivion on Nov 12, 2004 1:43:29 GMT -5
Here's a HARD question: For those who are science fiction fans, what are your TOP 10 favorites of all time?
I'll go first, not in any particular order....(and I'm restricting myself to ONE novel/series by any given author
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein (this was a HARD choice!)
Children of the Stars, Arthur C. Clarke
The Time Machine, H. G. Wells
Voyage to the Moon, Cyrano De Bergerac
Gulliver's Travels, Jonathon Swift
Foundation Trilogy, Isaac Asimov (I think his later Foundation novels were a little lame -- and I'm really struggling because I think The Gods Themselves is as good -- maybe better -- but I'm sticking to my rule about one per writer)
The Gate to Women's Country, Sheri S. Tepper
Dune, Frank Herbert (but, The Santaroga Barrier is is a real contender)
Margaret and I, Kate Wilhelm
Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood (Handmaid's Tale is WAY up there too)
I'm already to 10...and there are so many favorites left...
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ConqueringWolf
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Post by ConqueringWolf on Nov 12, 2004 8:17:05 GMT -5
Hmmmm....I am going to have to give this one some thought....for one trying to decide which were my favorite...and for another remembering what I have read..lol
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SunRay
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Post by SunRay on Jan 25, 2005 11:47:45 GMT -5
I'd have to add ( in no particular order ) my top 10. Guess its a good way to start my 1st posting to this forum.
#1 - Illegal Aliens - Nick Pollotta & Phil Foglio - Without a doubt one of the best and funniest books I have had the privledge to read. I find a new joke every time I read it and the best use of a universal translator I have ever seen.
#2 - HitchHikers Guide - Douglas Adams - All 5 books. This series taught me how to fly.Still find it disturbing that Willow is gonna be Marvin though.
#3 - The Illuminatus Trilogy - R Shea & R. A. Wilson - WARNING, If you read this book you will forever be looking over your shoulder. But it will answer every conspiracy for the last 50,000 yrs
#4 - DS9 Millenium Trilogy - J & G Reeves-Stevens A Stitch in Time - Andrew J. Robinson - DS9 is my all time Fav TV Show ever and these books just make it so much more.
#5 - Incarnations of Immortality - Piers Anthony - 7 book series, All 7 books, Will get you to look at Reality & Religion from a new perspective.
#6 - Time Enough For Love & I Will Fear No Evil - Robert A. Heinlein - The man was Waaaaaay ahead of his time. A Visionary
#7 - A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking - For making it easier to understand why we should hate Temporal Mechanics. Oh the Ripples.
#8 - Callahan's Crosstime Saloon - Spider Robinson - If you havent read this book yet, Forshame. just like his namesake, Spider can pull many strings at once and touch every emotion in you one by one.
#9 - Never Deal With A Dragon - R N. Charrette - Shadowrun #1 in a 40+ series. Truthfully most in series is kick@ss, but way too many to list and credit.
#10 - Chariots of the Gods - Erich Von Daniken - I've never believed we were native to this planet and that was before I read his book. He just helped me see it a lil clearer by pointing out some facts I didnt know yet
OK I know there are more than 10 listed but they matter that much. Like the DS9 books. I just couldnt decide which was best, so I comprimised. A Stitch In Time is written by the actor who plays Garak. Gotta love it. and Millenium Trilogy is just so well written. It would seem J & G Reeves-Stevens DO understand Temporal Mechanics.
i'd love to go on, but lets see how this sits 1st.
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oblivion
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Post by oblivion on Jan 28, 2005 21:11:24 GMT -5
SunRay,
That's a great list of books and you included a whole lot of my favorites, too. I can't think of a Heinlein novel or short story that I didn't love. Spider Robinson is a big favorite too. I like the whole Callahan series. Incarnations of Immortality is probably my favorite Piers Anthony series, though I've really enjoyed his time-spanning series that started with "Isle of Woman", AND his Blue Adept series.
I'm actually in the middle of re-reading Illuminatus right now (along with 3 other books...must be ADHD, I keep bouncing between books). I'd forgotten how funny it was. And now that I know more about the religious movements the authors founded I'm enjoying it more than the first time. Eris RULES!
And Hitchhikers' Guide. That is some deep philosophy wrapped up in a wryly hilarious plot. It was a very sad day when Douglas Adams died so young.
I didn't appreciate the value of his advice to "Always carry a towel" until I had kids. And then a dog who likes water. I still keep a towel in my cars!
Thanks for sharing your list! It was a trip down memory lane, and will have to look up Illegal Aliens because somehow that one wasn't on my radar screen!
I restricted myself to 10 because I knew that otherwise I'd list 100...you have more self control than I do!
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SunRay
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Post by SunRay on Jan 30, 2005 3:30:59 GMT -5
I know. Way toooooooo many books to list. Mighta been easier to just ask top 10 authors. Took me a few hours to write that. Ran back an forth between rooms looking at all my bookcases.
Right now i'm rereading "On a Pale Horse" by P.Anthony and BSG "Armegeddon" by Richard Hatch for the 1st time. I need some real Battlestar right now.
and I am in complete agreement with the rereading and better than 1st time thought. The older I get, the more I find myself asking if I am gonna wanna rewatch or reread it ever again. I can enjoy something. But am I ever gonna wanna again.??.....The second time around will decide if it will stay with me forever.
I woulda liked to have added or mentioned a few you did, but I hadda make a choice. Like you said, It woulda been a top 100. Easy. I dont have walls to hold the roof up. No, I have walls to hold the shelves up. For all my books and chachkies. Sure I got bookcases, but not every wall can accomadate a bookcase. Shelves make up for that.
If you call yourself a Sci-Fi Junkie and a Trek fan ( by your tag and sig. Im only guessing, mind you. hehe.) You must have Illegal Aliens on your bookshelf. You'll understad why after you read it. Still havent found a PDF of it. If I knew how to create PDF's I'd make my copy a PDF. Too insure I forever have a copy on hand. I'm not kiddin when I say I've lost over 10 copies to others, or just out right theft. It was never printed in hardcopy, forshame and alas.
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oblivion
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Post by oblivion on Jan 30, 2005 13:07:34 GMT -5
Your house sounds like mine. Wall space? What Wall space? Illegal Aliens will be fighting for shelf-space within the week!
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ConqueringWolf
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Post by ConqueringWolf on Jan 31, 2005 13:19:33 GMT -5
Well....these arent really in any order but some of my top Sci/fi fantasy(I have to include fantasy because I read more of them than sci fi.. books are Battlefield Earth LOTR Chronicles of Thomas Covenant The Saga of Pliocene Exile Dune Starship Troopers The Riftwar Saga and those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.....
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oblivion
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Post by oblivion on Feb 1, 2005 20:49:52 GMT -5
CW, I have read all but Pilocene Exile. Is that SF or Fantasy? Who wrote it?
Never mind! That's what Amazon's for.
There's an unexpected bonus to this thread! I'm adding books to my "to read" list!
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ConqueringWolf
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Post by ConqueringWolf on Feb 2, 2005 10:58:53 GMT -5
The Plicoene Exile is written by Julian May and is about this portal that is found to another world and people use this portal to travel to this world for various reasons....what no one knows though is that there is a race there who makes slaves of humans as they pass through the gate. Also some people gain mental powers which can be enhanced through the use of necklaces called Torcs and tey seem to get preferential treatment over most of the other humans. One human gets sent thru who eventually gets enough mental powers without the use of a Torc even to where he can practically take on the whole population at one time.....it's definitely sci-fiish.....and a good read...i havent read them in probably 15-20 years....but i still remember loving the series...
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SunRay
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Post by SunRay on Feb 11, 2005 18:24:44 GMT -5
and Oblivion? Have you read it yet?? Huh Huh Huh? ? ?
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oblivion
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Post by oblivion on Feb 11, 2005 20:02:55 GMT -5
and Oblivion? Have you read it yet?? Huh Huh Huh? ? ? It's on my list. I make it a point not to have more than 6 books started at any one time.
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