SciFi Leaderboard
I love science fiction, despite being teased by various people for reading “fantasy books”. Certainly hard scifi is not fantasy; it is a projection into the future based on the trends and theories of the present. But what about when the fictional technology is so far-flung and unexplainable that it may as well be magic? Well, then you’re dealing with science fantasy:
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
- Arthur C. Clarke
Add soft scifi to the mix and you might argue that I’m often reading Dragonlance in space. I’d like to say that I prefer hard scifi, but my favorite book right now is Hyperion – which I believe falls squarely in the realm of fantasy/soft scifi. But regardless of the sub-genre, I find that science fiction consistently provides me with new ideas, new perspectives, and of course, entertainment.
A few years ago I decided to filter my scifi consumption by Hugo and Nebula award winners. Below you can see the ones I’ve read, sorted by how much I enjoyed them.
| Novel | Author | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Hyperion | Dan Simmons | Hugo (1990) |
| Ender’s Game | Orson Scott Card | Hugo (1986), Nebula (1985) |
| Neuromancer | William Gibson | Hugo (1985), Nebula (1984) |
| A Fire Upon the Deep | Vernor Vinge | Hugo (1993) |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Hugo (1966), Nebula (1965) |
| Rendezvous with Rama | Arthur C. Clarke | Hugo (1974), Nebula (1973) |
| The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress | Robert A. Heinlein | Hugo (1967) |
| Mirror Dance | Lois McMaster Bujold | Hugo (1995) |
| The Forever War | Joe Haldeman | Hugo (1976), Nebula (1975) |
| A Deepness in the Sky | Vernor Vinge | Hugo (2000) |
| Moving Mars | Greg Bear | Nebula (1994) |
| Ringworld | Larry Niven | Hugo (1971), Nebula (1970) |
| Lord of Light | Roger Zelazny | Hugo (1968) |
| Seeker | Jack McDevitt | Nebula (2006) |
| The Terminal Experiment | Robert Sawyer | Nebula (1995) |
| The Gods Themselves | Isaac Asimov | Hugo (1973), Nebula (1972) |
| Rainbows End | Vernor Vinge | Hugo (2007) |
| Stranger in a Strange Land | Robert A. Heinlein | Hugo (1962) |
| Forever Peace | Joe Haldeman | Hugo (1998), Nebula (1998) |
| Foundation’s Edge | Isaac Asimov | Nebula (1983) |
| Darwin’s Radio | Greg Bear | Nebula (2000) |
| Blue Mars | Kim Stanley Robinson | Hugo (1997) |
| Doomsday Book | Connie Willis | Hugo (1993), Nebula (1992) |