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Top 100 Science Fiction/Fantasy books
NPR ^ | 8/11/11 | NPR

Posted on 08/11/2011 5:46:33 PM PDT by Tanniker Smith

More than 5,000 of you nominated. More than 60,000 of you voted. And now the results are in. The winners of NPR's Top 100 Science-Fiction and Fantasy survey are an intriguing mix of classic and contemporary titles.

A quick word about what's here, and what's not: Our panel of experts reviewed hundreds of the most popular nominations and tossed out those that didn't fit the survey's criteria (after — we assure you — much passionate, thoughtful, gleefully nerdy discussion). You'll notice there are no young adult or horror books on this list, but sit tight, dear reader, we're saving those genres for summers yet to come.

So, at last, here are your favorite science-fiction and fantasy novels. (And a printable version, to take with you to the bookstore.)


TOPICS: Books/Literature
KEYWORDS: books; npr; scifi
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To: freejohn

I heard of that one long ago but only now read it. HA! Thanks.


81 posted on 08/11/2011 7:19:11 PM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com/)
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To: Kellis91789

He has links to a vanity publisher where you can order a print copy. I like real books too, but I like having my library on my phone too, and ebooks, especially Baen’s earcs (advance reader copy) are available almost a year before the print books, and I just can’t wait :-)


82 posted on 08/11/2011 7:20:48 PM PDT by msgt (Press any key to continue...Press any other key to quit.)
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To: FredZarguna

I liked his “Tool of the Trade” a lot. Soviet sleeper in the US working as a psychology professor for twenty years inadvertently discovers an audible tone that will put most people into a hypnotic state and do whatever he tells them.


83 posted on 08/11/2011 7:22:09 PM PDT by Kellis91789 (There's a reason the mascot of the Democratic Party is a jackass.)
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To: OnlyTurkeysHaveLeftWings

I re-read I, Robot of late. It has not aged well.
Watchmen will age well because it was written as retro-history to begin with.


84 posted on 08/11/2011 7:22:32 PM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com/)
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To: Tanniker Smith

Starship Troopers the movie was based on the back cover of a novel by Robert Heinlein.


85 posted on 08/11/2011 7:23:45 PM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com/)
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To: Eepsy

YES! FREEPERS RULE!


86 posted on 08/11/2011 7:25:12 PM PDT by reed13
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To: jocon307

Canticle is worth the read. Very good; probably my intro to “heavy” sci fi in high school.


87 posted on 08/11/2011 7:25:32 PM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com/)
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To: Tanniker Smith

Other than LoTR, I just can’t get into the Fantasy novels. I prefer the harder sci-fi stuff...


88 posted on 08/11/2011 7:26:33 PM PDT by Paradox (Obnoxious, Bumbling, Absurd, Maladroit, Assinine)
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To: EN1 Sailor

John Ringo’s series - definitely and I would have liked to see the John Carter series by Edgar Rice Burroughs as well. Not sure if everyone would agree but it was one of my early favorites.


89 posted on 08/11/2011 7:26:55 PM PDT by JMS
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To: ctdonath2

It actually was one that I remembered from my teenage years!

(Good Lord .. A Long Time Ago!) LOL


90 posted on 08/11/2011 7:34:09 PM PDT by freejohn ("Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." --- Mark Twain)
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To: Tanniker Smith
Cryptonomican is Scifi/Fantasy?

Awesome Book but I always thought SCIFI was about the "possible future" and Fantasy was about the "impossible past". Crypto is a Historical Novel with a present day plot line as well using technology that is nothing out of the ordinary.

91 posted on 08/11/2011 7:34:43 PM PDT by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the 2nd one...)
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To: Tanniker Smith

Only three Heinlein books in the top 100 and one in the top 20?
Ludicrous.


92 posted on 08/11/2011 7:34:43 PM PDT by Lancey Howard (Go, Phillies!)
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To: Kellis91789
I’ve read everything Heinlein ever wrote and I was shocked when I found out he’d once been a socialist.

I wasn't. His understanding of freedom comes from having once believed in the other side's values and then thought about that belief system. Someone who has never been a socialist would not have as deep an understanding of its flaws as a convert.

93 posted on 08/11/2011 7:36:02 PM PDT by Pollster1 (Natural born citizen of the USA, with the birth certificate to prove it)
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To: jocon307
"I really need to read “A Canticle for Leibowitz” I’ve just always wanted to read it because of the great title and never have."

Wonderful story. Apocalyptic and a bit dark though...

94 posted on 08/11/2011 7:36:35 PM PDT by arkady_renko
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To: Tanniker Smith
No Laumer? No Retief, or Bolos? Meh.....
95 posted on 08/11/2011 7:39:22 PM PDT by Othniel (There is no god named Allah, and Mohammed is its false prophet.)
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To: Tanniker Smith
Anyone read "Eon" by Greg Bear?

Pretty good sci-fi...at least I thought.

96 posted on 08/11/2011 7:39:42 PM PDT by NELSON111
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To: Psycho_Bunny

That was one of the few I liked.


97 posted on 08/11/2011 7:40:42 PM PDT by TradicalRC (Zero Debt Now.)
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To: arkady_renko
Nothing by Alfred Bester?

Sad. The Stars My Destination was epic and one of my favorites.

98 posted on 08/11/2011 7:41:22 PM PDT by Noumenon (The only 'NO' a liberal understands is the one that arrives at muzzle velocity.)
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To: msgt

I looked all over fsand.com and couldn’t find the vanity publisher link you mention. Could you point it out ?


99 posted on 08/11/2011 7:42:32 PM PDT by Kellis91789 (There's a reason the mascot of the Democratic Party is a jackass.)
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To: Tanniker Smith
Wait Wicked makes the list but S.M. Stirling's Island in the Sea of Time doesn't?

B.S. Meter just pegged into the Red!

100 posted on 08/11/2011 7:42:57 PM PDT by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the 2nd one...)
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