Posted on 08/11/2011 5:46:33 PM PDT by Tanniker Smith
More than 5,000 of you nominated. More than 60,000 of you voted. And now the results are in. The winners of NPR's Top 100 Science-Fiction and Fantasy survey are an intriguing mix of classic and contemporary titles.
A quick word about what's here, and what's not: Our panel of experts reviewed hundreds of the most popular nominations and tossed out those that didn't fit the survey's criteria (after — we assure you — much passionate, thoughtful, gleefully nerdy discussion). You'll notice there are no young adult or horror books on this list, but sit tight, dear reader, we're saving those genres for summers yet to come.
So, at last, here are your favorite science-fiction and fantasy novels. (And a printable version, to take with you to the bookstore.)
Yea, most after 6 were fluff, but Brandon Sanderson has picked up the pace in the last 2 - including the much-awaited return of a character that was missed - and is working on the last one. the final book will be most bittersweet, since I’ve been reading the series since college.
While we're at it, the Iliad and the Odysee would fit right in.
Notice they didn’t include ‘young adult’ but I just finished the Hunger Games trilogy and loved it. It contained no bad language or gratuitous sexual imagery. It posed valid reasons for war, and against it, leaving the reader to determine whether it was worth it or not. And the main characters, Katniss, Peeta and Gale, were outside of the box, atypical main characters. LOVED each of the books!!!
Not to mention America could be Panem any day now.; )
Zero’s autobiography isn’t there.
Some list...feh.
bkmk
Douglas Adams is one of the authors that you either love or don't understand what the fuss is all about. I personally agree with you, I found the Hitchhikers series to be dull, not particularly witty or funny, and essentially pointless. However, my two brothers absolutely love the Hitchhikers series, think it one of the best series of all times. To this day they still quote lines from the book.
Yea, Neal Stephenson. Four times. I’ve read everything he ever wrote. Not so sure about Anathem though.
And about half of PKD’s book.
Surprised the “shanara” books by Terry Brooks didn’t make the list.
What the heck is a “trope”?
Watchmen over I, Robot?
That’s... that’s a bold statement.
“that really seemed to “get right” just what it might be like when humanity made “first contact” with an alien race.”
And what a great movie series it would make. Just as exciting as “Star Wars.” With today’s tech,,,,, no problem!
Rendezvous with Rama should be higher
this list was written by jerks
Hear, hear!
“Trope” is a fancy modern way of saying “theme” or “motif.”
I think that they did...
Sci-fi ping.
The Mote In God's Eye
by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
The accidental killing of a group of emissaries to Earth threatens man's survival.
**** Minor Spoilers To any that haven't read the book********
WTF?!? Did the people that write the description even read the same book? Granted it's been over 10 years since I read the book. But as I recall the "emissaries" didn't go to earth but to a human colony in a different solar system, and they weren't really "emissaries", but a colonizing force that were directed to crash their craft into the sun if it was discovered the system was already occupied by another species so they couldn't be traced back to their home planet. so they weren't killed "accidentally".
NPR? WhO cares what they think about anything
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.