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?
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.
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.
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.
I have no faith in anyone who lumps sci-fi and fantasy into the same genre.
Yeah this list is wack. Not that these are bad choices per se but so many are just not sci fi.
As far as “best” go, I’m non plussed. Some of these I really liked, some… not so much.
Personal positive votes:
Perdido Street Station - absolutely loved it, great social commentary undertones while the story goes its own way in an incredibly vivid world
Fifth Season - great first book of a good series, good writing and good tension points
Saga - great art to match a great retelling of Romeo and Juliet in space, where all tropes are out the window
Personal “good but not great”: All Systems Red - fun light read, nothing more
Personal negative votes:
The Name of the Wind - it’s the archetypal fantasy story, with a lot of world building and little else, a Marie Sue as a main character and a love story with many many problems. I guess it’s there because it’s famous thus essential?
The Three Boby Problem - the writing is dry, the math is wrong, I can’t stand this book
American Goods - talking about dry writing style. And keeping the reader in the dark about completely arbitrary world rules. I did not enjoy it, often it feels Neil Gaiman writes to show you how much smarter he is than you. I will admit that Gaiman has been extremely influential, so I support it being on the list
Mistborn - page turner with little else to its name. The characters drop their life long ideals so easily to facilitate the plot, they are hardly believable
The other books in the list I haven’t read nor were on my reading list, most I hadn’t heard about before.
The only one of the ones you mentioned that I’ve read is American Gods, which I liked a lot, but I’m a different audience for that. I’m an atheist who is fascinated by religions, so I know a little about a lot of them, and I also don’t mind slowly-paced books. There were lots of references to things that made me smile and kept me engaged.
Oh, I read All Systems Red as well, and liked it, but also agree with your observations: it’s a fun, light read. Also worth noting that it’s a novella, so there wasn’t as much room to develop a lot of complexity as for a book twice its length.
Huh, none. I see seveneves, and I actually have a hold on that to finally see what that author is like. It’s several months out though, apparently very popular
It is worth purchasing I think. Something to read more than once.
I’ve read schockingly few of the ones on the list, and from what I know, I feel torn. Some I’m happy to see: NK Jemisin is a great author, and although I haven’t read Exhaltation by Ted Chiang, everything I’ve read of his has been incredible.
On the other hand, seeing Perdidio Street Station as the first entry really threw me for a loop. The book is totally fine, but it is extremely weird, and I definitely don’t see it as a must-read.
Edit: typo
Perdido Street Station is SO not one of his better books. I think it only gets recommended because it is so very weird.
Exhalation is a fantastic collection of novels. I think it is even better than The Story of Your Life
@AFKBRBChocolate Mmm. Got a long way through the list thinking “where are the women authors”? They did eventually appear, but not enough. No Aliette de Bodard? Several of the books on the list I’ve read and really don’t rate. All Systems Red and The Long Way are books I return to again and again.
No Robin Hobb?!
Uprooted is a legitimately fantastic fantasy book but it is absolutely not even remotely sci-fi. Annihilation is…fine. Honestly I was kind of let down after the movie generated all the (brief) hype and it left me not caring about the next books enough to bother. American Gods is American Gods, if you know you know. I think I read one of two others on the list but forgot what they are.
Kind of surprised piranesi didn’t make the list tbh. Legitimately terrific blend of sci-fi fantasy and mystery. Not a hard/long read but well worth the time!
By the way, as mentioned elsewhere, the list is SF and fantasy, not just SF. American Gods isn’t SF either.
I haven’t read or seen Annihilation yet.
Hmm, no Andy Weir? But some rather whacky stuff? Well, everyone has his or her own favorites, and this list is not mine.
I kind of get it. I loved The Martian and Project Hail Mary, but best books this century? I’d have to read the others on the list to see if Weir should knock any of them out.
