The 10 Best Science Fiction Books I've Ever Read

Welcome to our in-depth look at the top 10 science fiction books of all time. This list features masterpieces that have shaped the genre, boasting compelling storylines, in-depth world-building, great prose, and philosophical themes. Delve into the worlds and ideas presented by these groundbreaking authors and explore the best that science fiction has to offer.

Enjoy!
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Begin 0:00
The Space Trilogy 0:30
Remembrance of Earth's Past 2:12
The Left Hand of Darkness 5:00
Earthseed 6:38
Dune 9:00
Book of the New Sun 12:38
A Canticle for Leibowitz 15:10
Player of Games 16:49
Anathem 20:18
The Dispossessed 22:38

[_jared]

Neal Stephenson, of course, is the author of Anathem, not Neal Stepson. Let’s just say that proofreading has never been my strength.

[CainOnGames]

That’s a great list. I’m so glad you included A Canticle For Leibowitz. It was a huge influence on my game Fallout, and I’m always encouraging people to read it.

[bobaloo]

I'm in the middle of my annual re-read of Anathem. I've been reading scifi for 60 years and it's in my top 3 of all time. Every time I read it I'm absolutely amazed at what Stephenson was able to do with this book, it boggles my mind that anyone could write so well with such creativity. I did start it and quit the first time after reading about 50 pages, I couldn't stand it. My daughter said "stick with it for 100 pages", I did and was hooked.

[TheMisterGriswold]

I have read countless science fiction books over the last 60 years. These are all great, but my favorite is "Hyperion" by Dan Simmons.

[feanor]

Glad to see you mention Wolfe. Book of the New Sun was life changing literature, my best literary discovery of the past 10 years of life as a reader. I’m soon to jump into his Book of the Long Sun series.

[DUFMAN]

Your videos have inspired into reading Le Guin for the first time. Both Left Hand and Dispossessed were exceptionally good. She's now counted among my favourite authors.

[jamesdrynan]

Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama is a good read, too.

[ronaldcobb]

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by R.A.Heinlein is my favorite. I read it back in the 80's the first time and just recently re-read it.

[tomlabooks]

SO GREAT to see Gene Wolfe in this Top 10 list. He deserves it. And the 5th book (Urth) is quite possibly the very best one of them.

[fartissimo]

I'm surprised you didn't include the 4 book Hyperion Cantos series by Dan Simmons. I just finished the series and it left me spellbound and enthralled like very few works of literature have. I would put it up there with Lord of the Rings in originality, scope and vision. I absolutely agree with your assessment on Remembrance of Earth's past, however. I LOVED that series and wonder if it could ever be made into a movie

[lawrencecoleman]

As usual, Clifford Simak's little gem is left out -"City, " a tale of a future of dogs, robots, the mutants, and the ants and more importantly, the entity called man. The dogs consider him myth, but the dog scholar Tige makes the case that man not only existed but that he built the dogs' prehensile servants the robots. It's a charming little book with a touch of melancholy.

[gregjacob]

As a nearly 60 year reader of SF I greatly enjoyed your list.(I've read 8 of the 10 you've listed) Like several other comments have mentioned, I'm surprised you did not include The Hyperion series by Dan Simmons.
A couple of lesser known great reads that you might want to consider: 'City' and 'Way Station's by Clifford Simak. 'City' is a very simple book consisting of ten separate stories that are all linked together. It touched my heart unlike no other SF book has ever done.
If you like Robert Heinlein, 'The Moon is a Harsh Mistress' is my runaway favorite by him. So worth reading.
Ben Bova is another excellent SF author that has written many fantastic books. The 'Red Mars' series is perhaps his best.

[alexjack]

The Book of the New Sun changed my life. It is a spiritual experience going through it.

[brookestephen]

Clarke's "Childhood's End" was masterful, as was the grandeur evinced in Niven's "Ringworld." Have you read either?

[AdamSamuel-oz]

I absolutely love the Remembrance of Earth's Past series, which is why I was shocked when I saw it placed only at the 9th spot. I am very excited to read some of your recommendations!

[LennethValkyrie]

As soon as you started talking I subscribed, and I looooved that you mentioned Cixin Liu's trilogy. Geez, those books blew my mind! Also, I'm definitely reading all the other books you mention. Thank you so much for sharing, I'll be checking out your other videos 😸🛸

[DannySabraArt]

Fully agree about The Dark Forest, it inexorably changed how I view all other science fiction, especially first contact type stories, and even more wildly the series impacted my worldview generally. Maybe it’s time for a reread!

[WychardNL]

My favourite SciFi book is "The Voyage of The Space Beagle" (1950) by A. E. van Vogt. The great diversity of alien contacts and alien life forms written as a thrilling story is very entertaining. Maybe you find it worth mentioning in a future list.

[thomasmoore]

You’re probably the first booktuber I’ve watched that places Dispossessed above Left Hand of Darkness. I’ve never read Le Guin, but recently bought The Dispossessed and am very excited to read it! Cheers!

[hermeticum_]

You should consider Stanislaw Lem; his philosophical ideas are fascinating (in particular his thoughts about the impossibility of human communication with alien species); my favourites are Solaris, The Invincible and Golem XIV