Posted on 12/04/2013 8:13:32 AM PST by Kip Russell
One of the things that makes science fiction so popular is that it means many things to many people. Some people will insist that they are not even reading science fiction when they read a Star Wars novel or a novel dealing with alternate history. That is what makes Sci-Fi so wonderful! It’s easy to love and difficult to define. What other genre has so many sub-genres? You have hard Sci-fi, often times written by people who actually were scientists. There’s Cyber Punk, adventurous Space Opera, Military Sci-Fi, Alternate History, Steam Punk, and even Space Westerns. Something for almost everybody!
In truth, speculative fiction dates back hundreds of years but modern Sci-Fi began to develop as we know it in the 19th century with writers like H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. But it was in 1926 that Sci-fi really began to take off with the creation of the pulp magazine, Amazing Stories, the first publication devoted to science fiction. The magazine survived for nearly 80 years and helped to launch the careers of greats such as Roger Zelanzy, E.E. “Doc” Smith, Jack Williamson, and countless others.
Trying to pick the 15 greatest writers is no easy task. I’ve based my list on a number of factors including body of work, influence, awards won, and staying power. With that in mind my list does tend to weigh heavily towards older writers. Another factor was that I went with writers who are predominantly known for their science fiction. Many great fantasy writers have written exceptional Sci-Fi stories but I decided to go with only those known for their science fiction. Ultimately is was more of a challenge to decide who to keep off rather than who to keep on.
(Excerpt) Read more at mania.com ...
The fact that Jules Verne does not occupy the #1 slot invaidates the whole list.
Verne is to Sci-Fi writting as Tolkein is to Sword and Sorcery Fantasy.
That’s my take.
L Sprague de Camp
H Beam Piper
Keith Laumer
Fritz Lieber
Fletcher Pratt
It wasn’t the overall concept of human extermination that was depressing; after all that gets threatened in most series. It was every single detail, every conversation, every facial expression in the whole series that just ground you down. It’s like the director and cast washed down valium with vodka before filming each episode.
Andre Norton
Personally, I’d knock Ralph Ellison off the list.
And I find it very hard to exclude:
Orson Scott Card
Gordon R. Dickson
Theodore Sturgeon
Jack Vance
Gene Wolfe
(But I’m not sure who else to knock off the list.)
In my opinion Joe Haldeman should be on the list also. Forever War is my favorite SF book of all time. Mindbridge and All My Sins Remembered are also great books.
An Arthur Clarke fan myself but H.G. Wells stuff spawned some great movies .
Not as prolific as these winners, but
Daniel Keyes - Flowers for Algernon
William M. Miller - A Canticle for Leibowitz
No H. Beam Piper?
Bogus.
Yes I hear you, It was described as a dark version of the original Battlestar Galactica series. A lot of it I just found ridiculous, however. The “Final 5” should have been called the “Original 5”, but the name was a plot device for the show. And how could it be impossible to tell Cylons from humans? Their spines lit up while having sex.
Absolutely concur.
I once made a 1/72 scale Starfury fighter from the series, pretty nice.
So does Harlan Ellison. A conspicuous absence.
Frank Herbert and Heinlein would be my top 2. Best Sy-Fi movie would be “Blade Runner”.
He's #8.
Yours doesn’t? Scratch that. I don’t want to know.
Well...just...damn! How'd I miss that? Need more coffee.
I’m convinced the UN and numerous govts are using his idea of promoting homosexuality to control the population.
Even though he’s a screaming lib, I’d also include Spider Robinson in the Honorable Mentions.
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