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.
Some of these I’ve read, and all of those have been good, although I wasn’t crazy about “Brave New World”.
“A Clockwork Orange” was one of the greatest reading experiences of my life. I’d recommend it to anyone. There is a glossary of the thugs slang and at the start you’ve got to turn to it all the time. But by the end you can pick up a new word’s meaning just from context. It’s like learning a new language.
And the first Dune book is also one of the greatest reading experiences, you are in a whole ‘nother world and yet it is complete.
I’m not a big sci fi/fantasy person, but there a a few things I would suggest, and admit it, they seem to have been pretty “big tent”. I mean “The Once and Future King”? But OK, going with all that....
No Blade of Grass by John Christopher, I read this years ago when my then sci fi loving bf got it for me. I don’t really remember the story, but I did enjoy it a lot.
Samuel R. Delaney, I had a short story collection by him and he was a very elegant writer. My recollection is that he wrote the single best sentence I’ve ever read.
Ridley Walker by Russell Hoban. “The heart of the wood’s in the heart of the stone” Something like that. I really enjoyed this book too.
Now, as I said, I’m not a sci fi person and if I re-read some of these I might find them objectionable for various reasons, so, you know, don’t flame me if you hate them!
But to me they were all great reads and I WILL see if I can get “A Canticle for Leibowitz” and also “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” for my kindle.
Maybe have a sci fi late august!
Canticle is worth the read. Very good; probably my intro to “heavy” sci fi in high school.
Wonderful story. Apocalyptic and a bit dark though...
My mother, I, and both of my brothers, all without prior coordination, gave each other copies of “A Canticle” for Christmas one year.
The funny part - every copy gifted had been read.