What's the Best Sci-Fi Book?

[jamietocher]

Read the whole hyperion cantos and then endymion and rise of endymion. As a 4 book series the complete story is beautiful

[orderedlydisorder]

The left hand of darkness is far and away the best choic. Ursula k. Le guin is wildly underrated as a 20th c author but both her scifi and her non fiction writing is insightful and brilliant

[ethansmith]

Definitely left hand of darkness for sure!

Hyperion is a series that may take alot of time. Not a bad choice but left hand can be read by itself without the other books in the series its part of. I can't say the same for Hyperion.

Also left hand of darkness is more approachable to a non sci-fi audience.

[mordaeu]

I've only read Hyperion out of the ones mentioned, it kind of feels like a slower burn to me but you get all the character's points of view and it comes together pretty nicely. That being said, I think the series as a whole is a must read for the whole picture.

[minajefferson]

I think you’ll like left hand of darkness best. I love Children of Time, but it is hard sci-fi (aka focused on the science).

[ApartmentLibrarians]

Haven't read Hyperion, but it's one of the most talked about in the genre, so there has to be something to it. I'd guess this would be your favorite of the three.

Haven't read Left Hand of Darkness either, but the other Le Guin I've read has been incredible, so there's that.

Children of Time has to be my pick because it's one of my favorite scifi books of all time. I wouldn't call the writing simple; instead I'd say the prose is direct and a vehicle for the story, while also being beautiful and evocative, to my taste. I have a jumping spider tattooed on my forearm because of this book.

[tataloginova]

Recently I read Children of time. It is very interesting book. Unusual characters, world, and the ending is soo good!

[mematl]

I’ve read all three and you can’t go wrong with any of them. If I was to pick one though, it would be Hyperion.

[deanharton]

I recently read Hyperion and it is absolutely amazing! The philosophical and religious symbolism intertwined into the novel is incredible. My only critique (if you could call it one) is that Dan Simmons uses some big ass words lol and if you are pretty knew to sci fi it can be a difficult read but definitely worth it. Glad you picked up the book doesn’t get enough attention on online spaces.

[booksluggg]

Left hand is miles ahead of the other two in content. I think both Hyperion and children of time get more praise than they deserve, but are probably very enjoyable reads if you don’t read much of the genre.

[Lstudent]

Left Hand. I cannot speak to the other two since I haven't read them. Enjoy!

[OryBand]

Hyperion is a psuedo-short story collection, each brilliantly written and different from one another in style, and merged into a single overarching SF storyline. Among others, there's a noir detective story, a poetic story, a religious story, a war story, and so on. I enjoyed it a lot. It's a series but this one stands on its own very well.

Oh and it's supposed to be a re-imagining of the Canterbury Tales :)

[markrieksts]

Since you don't read much sci-fi, definitely "Hyperion".
It's like "Canterbury Tales", with perhaps the most terrifying creature ever created in the genre.

[RICDirector]

Any of the Vorkosigan series, or Falling Free, by Lois McMaster Bujold. Those are science fiction, but she does kick ass fantasy too.
Phenomenal WRITER, extremely easy to get caught up in, but not 'simple'.

[calumlott]

Hyperion for sure! Massive inspiration for my writing!

[harlan]

I'd say definitely Le Guin. It' s the only book out of the three where kings get pregnant.
A daring read.

[DrMetalpin]

All are good. Of those Hyperion is my favorite. Dan Simmons is such great writer; Hyperion, Carrion Comfort, The Terror, Drood, and Summer of Night (to a lesser degree) have always been books I’ve recommended to people.

[danburbul]

I would lean away from Hyperion because it's part of a duology so you would also need to read Fall of Hyperion to get the complete story, otherwise the ending of the first book is very abrupt and unsatisfying.

I haven't read Left Hand of Darkness but I've never been disappointed by Le Guin so that would be my recommendation.

[lightningbolt]

If you read Hyperion, you would have to devote to fall of Hyperion cuz that’s where the main sci-fi lies. However all your questions doesn’t get answered in fall of Hyperion so now you gotta read Endymion 👍. However children of time has a well-tied up ending. Both books are really good with Hyperion focused on characterisation and Children of time for its ideas

[Eternal_Champion]

Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe.. Best SF book ever written.