I’m not sure when it was written, but I ran across this list of the best science fiction and fantasy books this century, and I resonated with the ones I’ve read, so I thought I’d see what others thought of it. Have you read many of them?

  • @Bruncvik
    4•1 year ago

    I’ve read most of them, and I must say that I’m impressed by the list. A good half of the works are ones that I didn’t care about or outright didn’t like, but this is not a “best” list. As far as “essential” goes, they ought to be included.

    If I may, I would only do a few changes.

    To remove:

    • The Empress of Salt and Fortune - This is a historical fiction with a tiny little magic gimmick thrown in, which largely serves only to gloss over the worst logical inconsistencies. That should disqualify it from the list, but if that’s not enough, I found it so bland and derivative that I fail to see how this book ever becomes influential.
    • A Master of Djinn - Clark is amazing at worldbuilding, but one of his novellas should be nominated instead. I’d go for Ring Shout. A Master of Djinn entered the sub-genre of “public domain literary characters in alternate history” a little too late to influence it in a meaningful way, and made the main protagonist extremely unlikable.

    To add:

    • Too Like the Lighting by Ada Palmer - The entire series is amazing, and I’m shocked that it’s not being recommended more often. This book and its sequels may herald the return of more literary speculative fiction.
    • Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds - Just like Palmer channels Zelazny and revives literary SF, Reynolds channels Cordwainer Smith and introduces gothic horror in space to a new generation of readers. This book spawned an entire series, and I wouldn’t be surprised if other authors started mimicking his style.
    • Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey - If Relevation Space does not qualify (it was released in 2000, so technically in the last century), Leviathan Wakes and the series it spawned should take its place. The series is not high literature, but good, very accessible fun, which introduced loads of new reader to science fiction.
    • loobkoob
      4•1 year ago

      Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey

      This one being missing is what stood out to me. I’m admittedly a bit of a fanboy of the series (and the TV adaptation) but it certainly feels like it deserves a spot to me. Like you said, it’s good, accessible and fun, but I also think it handles geopolitics (well, solar system politics) in a fantastic and believable way.

      I think the series understands human nature on a fundamental level. A lot of sci-fi is great at exploring high-concept ideas but it often tends to falter when it comes down to the personal, more human, individual level, I find. The Expanse series feels like its high-concept, sociological ideas are an extension of the individuals, which really helps to sell the world, I think. It also means the “villains” and the “evil factions” tend to have understandable, if not sometimes even relatable, motives.

      It also just handles the science really well; the physics, especially, but also some biology, is integrated into the plot and world-building really nicely, but it never feels like you’re reading a dense scientific journal filled with techno-babble. It gets across the concepts really well without getting bogged down with unnecessary details.

    • AFK BRB ChocolateOP
      2•1 year ago

      You’re not the only one to say that A Master of Djinn shouldn’t be on the list. I haven’t read it, but the comments aren’t making me put it on the “must read” list. I also haven’t read the ones you recommend, but I’ll save this comment.