The Greatest Science Fiction Novels

This article was originally a blog post, published Aug 9, 2007.

Well, the previous post (greatest science fiction movies of all time) was pretty popular, so let’s try a similar tack… how about the greatest science fiction novels of all time? Clearly, we are each entitled to our own definitions of both “science fiction” and “great”. I defined the former last time; but for the latter, I’m going to go with something incorporating a gripping narrative, good writing, a lofty and inspiring idea, and even something to do with the book’s impact on either society and/or the genre.

So here’s my top 5 list:

5. The Martian Chronicles – Technically this is not a novel, but a loosely strung together collection of short stories about the fanciful colonization of Mars, told poetically by one of the original grandmasters, Ray Bradbury. Its science is poor, but its poetry is deep.

4. Second Foundation – The third book of the original Foundation Trilogy, this one brings together all of the amazing initial threads of a grand tale lasting a thousand years. Pure, “golden age” science fiction at its best.

3. Red Mars – Really, this only works if one considers the Mars Trilogy as one great book. Robinson was created a modern, believable tale of the colonization of Mars, injecting politics, economics, human will and fragility in with a strong dose of speculative science.

2. God Emperor of Dune – An odd choice, considering the original Dune is considered to be the classic. But this, the fourth installation, is the grandest, spanning a time frame of tens of thousands of years, and embracing a truly wondrous political, scientific and emotional imagination.

1. A Deepness In The Sky – This probably doesn’t appear on anyone else’s #1, but this to me epitomizes the best of hard science fiction. In it, Vinge tells a tale of truly inspiring scientific imagination, with a gripping narrative told at various levels, any one of which would have been a satisfying novel for a lesser writer.

Honourable mentions:

Gateway, Ringworld, Rendezvous With Rama, Startide Rising, War Of The Worlds, The Time Machine, The Illustrated Man, The Robots of Dawn, The Caves of Steel, Dune… the list goes on and on.

Did I miss any? (And no, Neuromancer, doesn’t make the cut.)

The Greatest Science Fiction Films

This article was originally a blog post, published Aug 7, 2007

In this searing heat, I can’t seem to sustain a consistent high-level thought. So today instead of sociopolitical analyses, you get more entertainment news dithering. I saw a slew of new movies this past week. Here’s the rundown:

The Simpsons – passable for kids and for non-longterm fans. For the rest of us, though, this was shallow disappointment.

Sunshine – looks great, sounds great; first 2/3 were really compelling. But it fell apart in the final 20 minutes. Ecch.

The Bourne Ultimatum – perhaps the perfect action movie. Doesn’t talk down to you in any way.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – the 2nd best of the series so far (after The Prisoner of Azkaban). Stunning images.

Somewhere in this process, I decided to list the greatest science fiction films of all time. To do so, I had to decide upon a definition of “science fiction”. I decided that something is science fiction if it employs speculative science as a core element in its narrative. Star Wars does not qualify, for example, because its story could have taken place anywhere and anytime; the robots and spaceships were mere accessories not critical to the narrative.

So here’s my top 5. Feel free to add your own in the comments section.

5. Gattaca – Elegant, intellectual and moody, this film explores the meaning of humanity in a world in which we can select and design the biological trappings of humanity.

4. The Day The Earth Stood Still – How would humans react to an alien… really?

3. Planet Of The Apes – It’s got it all: spaceships, time travel, strange evolution… the ultimate hodgepodge of 1970s sci-fi ideas.

2. Blade Runner – Again, an exploration of what it means to be human, when humans can now be grown in vats.

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey – This was the first book I read cover-to-cover in one sitting. It’s a rare film that embraces grand ideas that inspire, challenge and uplift, and doesn’t bother to dumb it down.

Did I miss any?

2001

Blade Runner

Planet of the Apes

The Day The Earth Stood Still

Gattaca