[Singleton]

My english class has just started a sci-fi/fantasy novel unit, and I need to choose a book. There are no criterion for our choices, but I have some ideas of a book I would like to read.

I'm looking for a book, preferably from before 1980 (I am of the opinion that good books stick around longer), that deals with an original theme/idea/basis, and makes some applications with it. In other words, I'm not looking for an adventure story, but something with more meat to it.

If anyone has suggestions, I would love to hear them. I've read a lot of Bradbury and some Asimov, so I'm not too interested in them.

[Singleton]

My english class has just started a sci-fi/fantasy novel unit, and I need to choose a book. There are no criterion for our choices, but I have some ideas of a book I would like to read.

I'm looking for a book, preferably from before 1980 (I am of the opinion that good books stick around longer), that deals with an original theme/idea/basis, and makes some applications with it. In other words, I'm not looking for an adventure story, but something with more meat to it.

If anyone has suggestions, I would love to hear them. I've read a lot of Bradbury and some Asimov, so I'm not too interested in them.

[Gravity's End]

You mentioned Bradbury and Asimov - are you looking specifically for Fantasy or SF? Just curious if you had a preference.

[Duraccione]

I would recomend you right a Bradbury's book, "Fahrenheit 451", which imho is one of the best novels I've read too. :)
But consider also something by Heinlein...."Stranger in a stranger land" comes to mind.

[fluffy bunny]

farenheit 451

If you're fed up with Bradbury, try looking at some of Wyndham's books- day of the triffids and the chrysalids come to mind

[Dominus]

Depends on what grade you're in, by the way, your English teacher is cool, she lets you choose books from SF/F, respect her and treat her nice, I hear teachers like apples. And is it a single book, or can you read a series (might be good for extra credit!)?

[Shanoncia]

I would suggest picking something popular like LotR, WoT, M,S&T or SoIaF and so on because we have endless threads on all aspects of them here which could really help you out with your study. :)

[Hungry Jo]

Arthur C. Clarke - The City and the Stars

Might not really be what your looking for now I think about it, but read it anywhere its one of the best books ever, and I really mean that :)

[Lady Fox]

Here are a few suggestions:

Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen R. Donaldson
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
Dune by Frank Herbert
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Jaran by Kate Elliott
Nightfall by Mickey Zucker Reichert
Lord Valentine's Castle by Robert Silverberg

[Erfael]

I would second most all of Lady Fox's suggestions.

Of Shanonica's, I would only recommend LoTR, as that's the only one that originated before 1980. There are also any number of Ursula Le Guin books that would work well (The Dispossessed, The Left Hand of Darkness, Earthsea). For interest and challenge sake, you may want to explore fantastic elements in some of Stephen King's earlier novels(The Shining, Gunslinger are two that come to mind). I would resecond Lord Foul's Bane as a difficult book that is well worth the effort(took me two reads separated by a few years to really get that one). Many people also like Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn. As apologetic Christian fantasy, C.S. Lewis's Narnia Chronicles are excellent.

Those are just a few ideas that come to my mind right off. I will continue to mull it over. Please do let us know what your ultimate decision is. Erf.