Posted on 08/01/2015 1:29:27 PM PDT by EveningStar
Science fiction and fantasy offer a rich legacy of great books--but that abundant pile of reading material can also be daunting. So sometimes, it's easier to fake it. We asked some of our favorite writers, and they told us the 10 books that everyone pretends to have read. And why you should actually read them.
From Asimov to Pynchon, science fiction contains some fantastic, ambitious works of genre fiction. But a lot of us get overwhelmed. And it's not that hard to fake a first-hand knowledge of these books, because they're everywhere, and we've heard people talk about them so many times. We SF fans are good at pretending. But these books are classics for a reason -- and they're worth reading.
(Excerpt) Read more at io9.com ...
Yes, Wolfe is a conservative Catholic like John C Wright, who is also a conservative Catholic and a huge fan of Wolfe. I think John C Wright is one of the better authors I have come across in the last ten years or so. Gene Wolfe might be the US’s greatest living author, of speculative fiction or not.
Freegards
Thanks for the recommendation, tbw2!
Sounds like a good read, I will put it on my reading list!
Have a good day!
Rad
+10 !!!
Yes it was excellent, I also liked Hawksbill Station by Robert Silverberg. Perhaps it is more relevant to today's world?
I think 1632 is one of the best stories I’ve ever read. It really makes you think about some rather interesting stuff. Best thing is, for those of uou who have not read it, the first two novel in the series are available for free downlosd on the Baen website. Be forwarned though. Like any good drug dealer, the first one’s free. And, in the years since it was first introduced, there has been a lot written in that universe. I especially like the gazettes. They have 50 or so of them now. I’m an addict.
I think Scalzi’s newest book is available for download now.
I loved “Old Man’s War”, but some of the subsequent books were spotty at best.
“Spelled Perelandra” You’re right and I even looked it up. I think I need to get these on Kindle. I’ve read them, listened to the unabridged audio books, and now want to reread them on Kindle. My favorite is probably Out of the Silent Planet because I love little furry things that talk. LOL
I was disappointed that it never seems to occur to Ransom to pray. I was practically yelling at him in Perelandra that a few Our Father’s and a bunch of Hail Marys (I know, C.S. Lewis was not a Catholic but still) would have gone a long way to keeping the Queen safe.
Here's what they have of his...
Lewis, C. S. [Clive Staples] (1898-1963) [Irish critic, novelist, poet, and theologian] Wikipedia
The science fiction trilogy:
Out of the Silent Planet (1938) Wikipedia Lewisiana (notes by Arend Smilde) [Lewis's first science fiction novel: an ageless classic. Elwin Ransom, a Cambridge academic, is on a walking holiday in rural England, when he is abducted, to the planet of Malacandra (Mars), where he and his kidnappers encounter intelligent beings, of more than one species. Interesting events ensue, for good and for ill.] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped UTF-8 text UTF-8 text zipped EPUB [PGC #1169]
Perelandra (1943) Wikipedia Lewisiana (notes by Arend Smilde) [The second of Lewis's three science fiction novels: the alternative title Voyage to Venus is found in some editions. Dr. Elwin Ransom is called upon to make a second interplanetary voyage, this time to Venus, which turns out to be something close to paradise. But he has been summoned there for a reason...] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1221]
That Hideous Strength. A modern fairy-tale for grown-ups. (1945) Wikipedia Lewisiana (notes by Arend Smilde) [The final of the three stories in Lewis's science fiction trilogy. The story which began on Mars and was continued on Venus comes to its conclusion on Earth.] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1224]
The seven children's novels Wikipedia about the land of Narnia, in the order of the events they describe:
The Magician's Nephew (1955) Wikipedia [Novel for children. "It is a very important story," Professor Lewis comments, "because it shows how all the comings and goings between our own world and the land of Narnia first began." Two children, Polly and Digory, are spending their summer in London. But a chance encounter with Digory's Uncle Andrew takes them far from that city...] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1151]
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. A Story for Children. (1950) Wikipedia [Novel for children. The four Pevensie children are living in a large house in the country, a house with many rooms, which are filled with many things. But one of the rooms is absolutely empty, except for a single piece of furniture: a large wardrobe. It is a wardrobe, the children discover, which has magical properties. (Our ebook is based on Macmillan's New York edition, and therefore includes certain minor changes made by Lewis after the London edition had been published. These changes are described in the Wikipedia article on the book.)] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1152]
The Horse and his Boy (1954) Wikipedia [Novel for children. "This is the story," explains Professor Lewis, "of an adventure that happened in Narnia and Calormen and the lands between, in the Golden Age when Peter was High King in Narnia and his brother and his two sisters were King and Queens under him." Shasta, an orphan boy in the empire of Calormen, wants to escape to Narnia, which is situated to the north. His first ally in this venture is Bree, a horse from Narnia who wishes to return to the land of his birth. But a long and perilous journey awaits the two travellers...] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1153]
Prince Caspian. The Return to Narnia. (1951) Wikipedia [Novel for children. Centuries have passed since the Pevensie children were the kings and queens of Narnia, and the country has greatly changed — not for the better. Prince Caspian, the rightful heir to the throne, is in flight from his evil uncle. Who can set things right?] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1154]
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952) Wikipedia [Novel for children. It is the third year of the reign of King Caspian of Narnia. The new King sails east in search of seven lords of Narnia, friends of his father, who years before sailed east but never returned. Many adventures occur along the way. (Our ebook gives the text used by Lewis's London publisher, before certain changes were made by the author for the New York edition. These changes are described in the Wikipedia article on the novel.)] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1155]
The Silver Chair (1953) Wikipedia [Novel for children. King Caspian is now well on in years, and has a son and heir, Prince Rilian. Rilian, however, disappeared from Narnia under mysterious and sinister circumstances, and has been missing for some years. He must be found...] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1156]
The Last Battle (1956) Wikipedia [Novel for children, with strong elements of theology and philosophy. The history of Narnia comes to its end. But an ending is also a beginning... Winner of the 1956 Carnegie Medal.] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1157]
Theological works:
The Problem of Pain (1940) Wikipedia catholiceducation.org (Jacek Bacz) [Lewis's first book of theology: an examination of physical pain and mental suffering, and their place in the universe.] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1185]
The Screwtape Letters (1942) Wikipedia Lewisiana (notes by Arend Smilde) [Theology, in the form of a series of letters purportedly written by the old and cunning devil Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood, on the subject of how to distract humans from God and the path of salvation. "This admirable, diverting, and remarkably original work... the most exciting piece of Christian apologetics that has turned up in a long time... a book for which believer and unbeliever alike may give thanks." (Leonard Bacon, Saturday Review, 17 April 1943)] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1179]
Transposition and other Addresses (1949) [Three sermons and two talks delivered by Lewis during and shortly after the Second World War. Written in a conversational style appropriate to the circumstances of their creation, but full of substance, as one expects from Professor Lewis.] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1218]
The Four Loves (1960) Wikipedia [Philosophical/theological monograph: a study of love. But the single English word "love" is used for several quite different things, as Professor Lewis demonstrates with his customary clarity and brilliance.] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1202]
Literary criticism:
On Stories (1947) [Essay. "It is astonishing", Professor Lewis writes, "how little attention critics have paid to Story considered in itself." His essay pays a great deal of attention to this question. Itself a fine piece of writing, along the way it provides some very good reading suggestions!] HTML HTML zipped Text Text zipped EPUB [PGC #1212]
When I read the Narnia books (and I do about every five years) I start with the Magician’s Nephew. It’s probably my favorite. I will probably get them through Kindle. They aren’t expensive and then they will synch between (among) my several devices. But thanks. Good to know.
Drake’s on my list too...but prefer Weber. Read a lot of “Slammers” years ago...probably why I prefer Weber, more recent memory.
Juvenile? Not sure about that...irreverent,jingoistic, slightly (or not so slightly) over the top...sure, I’ll buy that.
Amp up that “over the top” by double or more, add in a bunch of zombies, and you have “Black Tide Rising”.
Try the “Sword of Truth” series by Terry Goodkind. Another high commitment fantasy series, this one definitely written by a “rationalist” libertarian.
Predictable. Kind of campy...but I enjoyed the hell out of it.
Recommended to the kids and some of them read it. But the books I named were part of the curriculum.
And yet they include Orwell who is very readable
Honestly, I struggled through 1984, but I was only a child when I read the book. Recently, however, I was reading parts of 1984 online and found it readable... I was tearing through it. I do recall tearing through Animal Farm, no problems.
I think my problem with fiction, particularly sci-fi or fantasy is being able to connect to the characters. When it is hard to remember who is who and all the names seem the same, it’s not going to be comprehended. Tolkien for me was torturous... just from the set of character names.
Try reading some of Orwell’s biographical books. Down and Out in Paris and London is fascinating.
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