[aldiboronti]

In no particular order, here`s my selection.

The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester
Dune - Frank Herbert
Emphyrio - Jack Vance
Counterclock World - Philip K. Dick
Hyperion - Dan Simmons
Liege Killer - Christopher Hinz
Plague of Demons - Keith Laumer
The Demolished Man - Alfred Bester
A Deepness in the Sky - Vernor Vinge
Lord Valentine`s Castle - Robert Silverberg

[Vitriol]

Now this is difficult.

Rama II et al - Clarke/Lee
Startide Rising - Brin
Childhood's End - Clarke
The City and the Stars - Clarke
The Gods Themselves - Asimov
Mote in God's Eye - Niven/Pournelle
Footfall - Niven/Pournelle
The Star Beast - Heinlein
Hitchhikers et al - Adams
The Zero Stone - Norton

With short stories included, I'd also have to add Asimov's Robot Series, Simak's City, Clarke's Of Time and Stars and Cordwainer Smith's future histories.

Strangely, as a general rule, I don't much like A.C.Clarke as a writer; I think the character input in Rama II by Gentry Lee made it superior to most of his books. Having said this, he's written a couple of really excellent ones

[This message has been edited by Vitriol (edited December 17, 2001).]

[Hobbit]

Interesting list, Vitriol!

I'm a big fan of ACC myself - his stories were partly what got me into SF in the first place.

I would agree with Childhood's End and City in the Stars but would probably add The Songs of Distant Earth myself. For those who have a go at Clarke for his characterisation, this (IMO) goes against that.

Others - tends to work in series myself:
EG:
Dune Series - Frank Herbert
Foundation Series - Isaac Asimov
Hyperion/Endymion Series - Dan Simmons
Snow Queen Series - Joan Vinge
Mars Series - Kim Stanley Robinson
Night's Dawn Series - Peter F Hamilton
Miles Vorkosigan series - Lois McMaster Bujold etc etc

There are others, which change week by week - EG:

Greg Bear's Moving Mars and Darwin's Radio
David Brin's Startide Rising
Most of Heinlein's early short stories
Poul Anderson's Tau Zero and Boat of a Million Years
CJ Cherryh's Downbelow Station
Frederik Pohl's Gateway
Niven and Pournelle's Mote in God's Eye
William Gibson's Neuromancer
Fritz Leiber's The Wanderer
Connie Willis's Doomsday Book (terrible title but fantastic book - if rather bleak)

...i'll stop there for now! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

(Way over 10 books, but you've started me off thinking now...) http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hobbit

[SusF]

I am just going to have to edit and add to my list as I think of more.

Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury

Starship Troopers and many other juveniles by Robert S. Heinlein

Neutron Star & Ringworld - Larry Niven
Forever War - Haldeman
Uplift War & Startide Rising - David Brin
Spider Trilogy - Gear

All short stories by Roger Zelazny, Damnation Alley, et al.

Dune (only the first one) - Herbert

All of Asimov's Robot stories, long and short. I'm ashamed to admit that I have never been able to read the Foundation Trilogy. I have it here on my shelf, and I've pulled it down from time to time to try to read it, but never made it past the first chapter. Someday, maybe.

2001 - Arthur C. Clarke (have not read the others)

Well there's a sampling. I can't narrow it down to 10. I'd have to look up titles and re-read stuff to come up with just 10 best.

Susan

[Shehzad]

And the Asimov fan leaps in....

The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov
Dune by Frank Herbert
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov
Robots Series by Isaac Asimov
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Conquerors Trilogy by Timothy Zahn
Neuromancer by William Gibson
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
(well to be honest, I'm currently reading the last two but so far they're up there. I'm aslo looking forward to hyperion adn Steakley's Armour)

[Hobbit]

OK - see what I mean? How could I forget The Forever War?

Shezhad - I enjoyed Steakley's Armour - sorry, Armor. it's like another take on Starship Troopers. In fact reading it by chance just before seeing the film, the bugs/enemies are very similar, if I remember right.

And I've got a copy of Cryptonomicon but can't get into it - a bit like Sue and Foundation, I've tried.. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif (Stick with it Sue - it gets quite interesting later in the series!)

Hobbit

[Rob B]

Hobbit, glad I'm not the only one that didn't get into Cryptonimicon. I read about 200 pages (out of 900) and did not feel at all compelled to read on, I thought it was boring and didn't care about the characters or the story. It was such disappointment to me (1) because it was much lauded and praised and (2) I absolutely loved Snow Crash.

I'll get my top 10 here soon, I am more versed in the Fantasy side of the genre. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[aldiboronti]

Whew! I thought I was the only one! I pick up my copy of Cryptonomicon every now and again, feeling really guilty that I can`t get into it. I desperately try to remember what`s gone before, read a couple more pages, then down it goes again till the next time. I too loved Snow Crash, and considered him one of the most promising SF writers around.

[Hobbit]

*sudden realisation that Hobbit has found a cabal of other people who 'couldn't get it', when he thought it was just him!*
http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I also liked Snow Crash and The Diamond Age...

Hobbit

[SusF]

Ahem, what IS Cryptonomicon? http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif Never heard of it.

Ok, I WILL read Foundation series someday.. before I die... I've read and enjoyed all of Asismov's other SF works (and I read the first to volumes of his autobiography...

I skipped quite a few of Heinlein's later works as well. Is it me or did his writing turn kinda strange in later years? Especially the sexual relationships. I read a letter to playboy once years ago that I could have SWORN was written by Heinlein.

Susan