Posted on 12/13/2013 8:49:04 PM PST by Kip Russell
Everybody (well, everybody who reads sf/fantasy) has their favorite novels in each genre...which are usually a bunch of other people's favorite novels as well. This only makes sense, since cream rises to the top.
But even so, there are plenty of obscure books that for whatever reason, never really caught on. They might well be great reads, but no one seems to have heard of them...so what's your favorite sf and fantasy novel that still lies in not-so-deserved obscurity?
With any luck, we'll all discover a bunch of great books that we've never heard of before!
I'll start off with mine: for sf, "The Killing Star" by Charles Pellegrino and George Zebrowski.
In the late 21st Century, our solar system is attacked by aliens using "relativity missiles"...boulder-sized hunks of metal accelerated to 90% of the speed of light. Thousands of them. 99.9999% of humanity is wiped out in a few hours. There's no need for a spoiler warning, this happens in the first 20 pages. The rest of the novel follows the desperate struggle of the few survivors spread throughout the solar system.
For fantasy, "A Personal Demon" by Richard Brown, David Bischoff, and Linda Richardson.
When Willis Baxter, a frustrated professor at a New England university with a penchant for drink and remarkable talent for failure in romantic relationships, got too drunk at his own party, unexpected results ensued. Instead of just impressing his guests with his knowledge of obscure magic rituals, he summoned an absolutely stunning female half-demon, Anathae. The demon, who looks like a naked sixteen year-old redhead with small horns, hooves and a tasteful tail, has been unhappy in Hell, and is extremely grateful to her "liberator". Luckily, most guests attribute the summoning to a party trick, with amusement value pretty much divided by gender.
Hilarity ensues. "I Dream of Jeannie" meets Faust...
The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison. Apparently an inspiration for both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
Glad to hear it. Lovecraft was absolutely mainstream when I was in college, we discussed his works endlessly. I don’t know anyone who’s heard of him, except in an obscure sort of way.
His books need to be rediscovered by another generation, passed around, discussed, etc. He’s too good to be relegated to obscurity.
You guys made me spend thirty bucks on Amazon.com.
Yes!!
When I was a kid I read a book about a boy and his android friend/brother, they lived on a space station and had adventures together.
I have no idea what they were called.
I remember reading this one story one time when I was very young, I have it somewhere in my many books—just can’t find it, but it was about an alien boy who came through a “doorway” to earth (I didn’t realize it then what a “progressive” book it was), but the boy was a vegetarian, wore “vegetation” clothing, was about peace and all that jazz. Any one remember anything like that?
Presents to ones self are not necessarily a bad thing.
wow all the way to post72 and no mention of
Olaf Stapleton’s “Starmaker” or his other “sirius” English author from the 30’s
“A Voyage to Arcturas” cant recall author but a very strange read
Stanislaw Lem (my fav short stories) “Tales of the Cybernetic Age” hilariuos......
Aynn Rand’s “Anthem”
Also Ira Levin who wrote Rosmary’s Baby which i didnt like wrote “This Perfect Day” good read
love so many of the other posts listed here Some Great Books
I always liked CS Lewis’ trilogy: Out Of The Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength.
Sounds like fun, I'll have to look for it.
And the second and third novels in the "Skyway" series by DeChancie are "Red Limit Freeway", and "Paradox Alley".
Took me decades to get around to reading that, but it was a stunner for sure.
Actually, Lovecraft has seen something of a Renaissance recently. He’s been credited as one of the fathers of modern horror, and is tremendously influential to other authors.
Man there’s a lot of great books being shouted out that I wouldn’t consider obscure. Maybe that’s just me.
Jack Vance, The KRAGEN/Blue World
Vance’s response to good friend Herbert’s Dune.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_World
L. Sprague DeCamp, The Fallible Fiend
A comedic look at demon summoning from the other end of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fallible_Fiend
Gene Wolfe, Soldier of the Mist
An unreliable narrator mercenary soldier in the army of Xerxes gets a head injury that makes him forget all that happens after he goes to sleep for the night. He starts writing down what happens in a scroll, but you can only read so much in a day...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldier_of_the_Mist
Freegards
Moon Is A Harsh Mistress and Have Spacesuit Will Travel
Yes it is.
A Voyage to Arcturas cant recall author but a very strange read”
David Lindsay. Yes, it’s a very strange but very good book. Written in 1920, good pick!
Freegards
...
Will this book change my life if I ever get to read it?
I don't know about that, but it is very well written.
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