I have been putting off reading a lot of the sci fi classic and have finally decided to go pick up a few from the local library. I was thinking of picking up 1984, brave new world, i-robot and I am legend. Are there any other books that I have forgotten which could be considered sci fi classics that I should read?
Cheers
PS: I have read all the dune and ender novels.
Just to name a few, Dune, A space odyssey series,
Can't go wrong with most of Heinlein's work. Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers, etc. Brave New World is a good read. The Hitchhiker's Triligy (all 5 books, if you find one of the collected editions it includes an extra short story). Here's a blogpost that has a list from reddit, every one of the books I've read on this list has been awesome. Although it was only published in 2002 Altered Carbon is a cult classic, blending a hardboiled detective plot with a gritty dystopian future. Although that list recommends Pandora's Star, The Night's Dawn trilogy (same author) is better IMO. Both are good if you're into epics. Back to older classics Vonnegut's Welcome to the Monkey House is a great compilation of short stories. Pretty much anything by him is good. If you're looking for something lighter look for books under his pen name Kilgore Trout. Fahrenheit 451 is a compelling read and about as classc as they come. That's about all I can think of at the moment.
If you find Starship Troopers a little to heavy for you, you could read Armor by John Steakley. Iain M. Banks Culture novels are newer Sci-fi but they are good solid books that address many modern scientific trends, such as artificial intelligence, space travel and transhumanism.
I forgot to mention Orson Scott Card has a new series out called the 'Formic Wars' which are a prequel to Ender's Game. The first one is out and it is a solid read.
I've been reading a lot of karen traviss lately since she does all the halo and gears of war novels (which were pretty damn good) and so I got caught up in her wesshar series naturally which has also turned out to be pretty good.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Traviss#The_Wess.27har_Wars
I'll eventually have to pick up her star wars series, I quite enjoy her writing style.
Dunno if it can be considered classic, but... anything written by Gene Wolfe, in particular:
- The Book of the New Sun series (4 books plus coda)
- The Book of the Long Sun series (4 books)
- The Book of the Short Sun series (3 books)
And yes, they are all connected. But be warned, these books are not for for the shallow reader. If you want to finish the books having a good grasp of what just happened along the story, be prepared to use your grey matter and pay attention to every detail! Nothing of what is written in the books is there by chance or mistake.
Asimov's Foundation series is a must. Go ahead and read I, Robot too but be aware it isn't even a little bit like the movie; it is in fact a collection of short stories that are all set up like logic problems... I thought they were great, personally.
I'll agree that anything, or nearly so, by Robert Heinlein is a win. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress is one of my favorites and a good place to start. Sranger In A Strange Land is his masterpiece; it has an Iron Maiden song named after it and everything.
If you dig around half-price bookstores you can find compilations of Hugo or Nebula award winners; they'ree often cheap and always worthwhile.
The Manifold series by Stephen Baxter.
-Manifod Time
-Manifold Space
-Manifold Origin
Also, the Space Oddessy books (2001, 2010, 3001) are fantastic.
I agree with everyone else here and would add The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. Also, the Hyperion series by Dan Simmons is very good.
As it happens I'm smack dab in the middle of those!
As for others, let me try:
David Brin's Saga
Philip José Farmer's World of Tiers
Most of the Strugatsky brothers.
Stanislav Lem's diaries
All sorts of Zelazni books(including the Chronicles)
Dan Simmons Hyperion series
Larry Niven's Ringworld and others
And I can't believe I almost forgot RAMA.
If you have to choose right now go for Clarke, Strugatzki or Zelasni.
I absolutely endorse David Brin's Uplift Saga. It's a really intriguing series presenting a story about the origin of humankind amongst a universe full of other alien species.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uplift_Universe
Also, Earth, by the same author, is a fun read about the not so distant future. It was published in 1990, and some of the predicted historical events and life styles are spot on. This would be a good read to get a quick taste of Brin's writing without diving into the Uplift series.
These are not classics, but they are fairly aged (80s/90s), and they remain in my top favorite books. They might be slightly hard to find in libraries but I've spotted them once or twice.
I read slaughterhouse 5 recently and it's seriously one of the best written pieces of sci fi i've ever read. Also obligatory Asimov.
Autumn rain Series
By: David J. Williams
Book I: The Mirrored Heavons
Book II: The Burning Skies
Book III : The Machinery Of Light
these are the books that the New amazing game - Star Citizen - is loosley based off of. They are very very good
One of my favorite books growing up was Childhood's End by Arthur C Clarke.
I Higly reccomend "Roadside Picnic" by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky. It's in the Sci-fi Masterworks. and if it were not for this book, We would not have any Stalker movie by Andrei Tarkovsky or Any S.T.A.L.K.E.R games thus no Metro 2033 Book and Game.
I really enjoyed "The Sheep Look Up" as well as "Stand on Zanzibar".
A. E. Van Vogt's Isher civilisation novels are great
The Seesaw
The Weapon Shop
The Weapon Shops of Isher
Edit: Oh and Murray Leinster
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=2302659
If you want something more modern try David Webber his Honor Harrington series is quite popular I like it but think his earlier works were better.
i will not say this series is a must but with you enjoying cards with with the ender series you mightt enjoy the sword of truth series its not a space scifi but it is a solid series. ive read the ender's series and shadow series at least 2 times and im on my third go of the sword of truth :) i just cant put words to love i have for orson scott cards work and terry goodkind's work.