50 for Science Fiction

I have read more science fiction than any other genre of fiction.  History would probably be number two overall.  I started reading “Tom Swift” and then moved on to Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Herbert and many others.  So I was intrigued when the folks at ABE Books put out a list of 50 “essential” titles in the genre.

What was stunning was to discover how few of the list I’d actually read!  Many of the titles are familiar, a few are total strangers to me.  The listmakers limited themselves to one title per author, so disputes arise immediately.  The only major complaint I have is the Heinlein selection.  There are several much more deserving titles.  So many books to read, so little time!  I have bolded the titles I have already read.

A Journey to the Center of the Earth – Jules Verne
The War of the Worlds – H.G. Wells
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
When Worlds Collide – Edwin Balmer & Philip Wylie
Odd John – Olaf Stapledon
Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell
Earth Abides – George R. Stewart
Foundation – Isaac Asimov
The Illustrated Man – Ray Bradbury (No idea how I haven’t read this)
The Demolished Man – Alfred Bester (ditto)
Ring Around the Sun – Clifford D. Simak
Mission of Gravity – Hal Clement
The Long Tomorrow – Leigh Brackett
The Chrysalids – John Wyndham
The Death of Grass – John Christopher
Starship Troopers – Robert Heinlein (so many better choices)
The Sirens of Titan – Kurt Vonnegut
Alas, Babylon – Pat Frank
A Canticle for Leibowitz – Walter M. Miller
Venus Plus X – Theodore Sturgeon
Solaris – Stanislaw Lem
The Drowned World – J.G. Ballard
Hothouse – Brian Aldiss
A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle
Dune – Frank Herbert
Make Room! Make Room! – Harry Harrison
Logan’s Run – William F. Nolan & George Clayton Johnson
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? – Philip K. Dick
The Left Hand of Darkness – Ursula K. LeGuin (No idea how this one slipped through either)
Behold the Man – Michael Moorcock
Ringworld – Larry Niven (I don’t think I’ve read this but I’m not sure)
Rendevous with Rama – Arthur C. Clarke (again, not sure I’d pick this one but a solid choice)
Roadside Picnic/Tale of the Troika – Boris and Arkady Strugatsky
The Female Man – Joanna Russ
Man Plus – Frederick Pohl
The Stand – Stephen King (some folks argue if this belongs on the list but not me.  Great book)
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
Nor Crystal Tears – Alan Dean Foster (Not sure about this one either, seems very familiar though)
Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
Consider Phlebas – Iain M. Banks
Falling Free – Lois McMaster Bujold
Hyperion – Dan Simmons
Red Mars – Kim Stanley Robinson
Ribofunk – Paul Di Filippo
Cryptonomicon – Neal Stephenson
Uglies – Scott Westerfeld
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
Acme Novelty Library #19 – Chris Ware
Embassytown – China Mieville