[Zsinj]

I don't know if anyone has written on this topic here before, odds are they probably have, but I just wanted to ask the question myself; what sci-fi novels were you surprised at that made it to the sci-fi classics/must-read list?
For me, it's gotta be Edgar Rice Burrough's "A Princess of Mars". I was expectlng a great, action packed science fantasy in this similar to Leigh Brackett, but what I got was a very dry read that practically bored me to tears. It's a really thin book, and I only made it about halfway, it was so bad! I was greatly dissapointed. I even tried to listen to an audio version of it on the internet not too long ago, and it bored me so bad that I quit earlier into the story than where I quit the first time!!

[ArthurFrayn]

As a result of getting to the middle of the "modern classic" The Mote in God's Eye only by skim reading (not possible otherwise), I'd have to say this is the most overrated novel I've ever come across. I'll be g-damned as I sit here right now, if I can understand why this book is almost universally praised. Illustrating scientific concepts and principles is fine, but does not function as a replacement for the ability to write effective narrative. This book is routinely praised as "well written", and, unless it dramatically improves, it's shaping up to be possibly the most inept piece of fiction I have ever read in my entire life. Everybody's favorite donut chemist EE Doc Smith, can be excused for writing stuff like this in the 30s/40s. This book was written in the mid 70s!!!! :eek:


An alien that decided to write a novel about human beings after watching us through a telescope, might come up with characters something like what's in The Mote in God's Eye.

[Bill]

Huh. I've read all of Burrough's Mars books, and I believe Mote is a great classic. Different strokes....

The Left Hand of Darkness is my big disappointment. I had liked Le Guin's Earthsea books, so I had every expectation of liking it, too. I managed to get through it, but I found it dull.

The Foundation series wasn't as big a disappointment as LHoD, and I read the first three novels, but I didn't find them all that special, either.

In fantasy, I found the Amber novels dull in places, and their underlying concept that only a handful of people and one place are actually real was rather disturbing.

[Rob B]

The Left Hand of Darkness is my big disappointment. I had liked Le Guin's Earthsea books, so I had every expectation of liking it, too. I managed to get through it, but I found it dull.
I agree, I found this book very dull and somewhat boring.