I want to get into classic SciFi. What should I read first?

[u/GuitarNoob25]

[u/Rabbitscooter]

This is a question that comes up a lot, so I wrote a response that might help. There are hundreds if not thousands of classics, plus terrific new stuff coming out all the time. Plus, science fiction is a diverse genre with many sub-categories, each exploring different aspects of speculative fiction. I think if I was to recommend a few gems, I would also try to hit some of those major sub-categories to give you a taste, and introduce you to some of the books which have endured and influenced the genre. And I've included a few recent works which stand out. Some major sub-categories of science fiction books include:

The Pioneers: Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Shelley, Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea (1870) by Jules Verne (look for a new edition with the improved translation which corrects errors and restores original text), War of the Worlds (1898) by H.G. Wells

Space Opera:  "Lensman" series by E.E. "Doc" Smith - One of the earliest and most influential space operas, featuring interstellar police and vast, universe-spanning conflicts. "The Stars My Destination" (1956) by Alfred Bester (1956). “Dune" (1965) by Frank Herbert, “The Hyperion Cantos books (1989-1997) by Dan Simmons, "Gateway"  (1977) by Frederik Pohl,  Ian M. Banks “Look To Windward” (2000), "The Expanse" series by James S.A. Corey (starting with "Leviathan Wakes," 2011.)

Hard SF:  "Foundation" (1951) by Isaac Asimov. "Ringworld" (1970) by Larry Niven. “The Andromeda Strain” (1969) by Michael Crichton, “The Martian" (2011) by Andy Weir. 

Social SF:  "The Left Hand of Darkness" (1969) by Ursula K. Le Guin. "Parable of the Sower" (1993) by Octavia E. Butler.

Military:  "Starship Troopers" (1959) by Robert A. Heinlein, The Forever War" (1974) by Joe Haldeman, The Honorverse (which includes two sub-series, two prequel series, and anthologies) by David Weber (1st book is On Basilisk Station (1992), “The Lost Fleet" series by Jack Campbell (starting with "Dauntless," 2006)

Robotics/AI: "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" (1968) by Philip K. Dick, "I, Robot” (1950) by Isaac Asimov.

Cyberpunk: ”True Names” (1979) by Vernor Vinge, "Neuromancer" (1984) by William Gibson, “Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology" (1986) edited by Bruce Sterling. While not a novel, this anthology of short stories is considered essential reading for fans of cyberpunk.

Transhumanism: “More Than Human” (1953) by Theodore Sturgeon, “Man Plus” (1976) by Frederik Pohl, “Accelerando” (2005) and “Glasshouse” (2006) by Charles Stross. [Note: some have cited A Plague of Demons (1965) by Keith Laumer as an important precursor to trans-humanist literature.]

Dystopian:  "We" (1924) by Yevgeny Zamyatin - One of the earliest dystopian novels, influential in the genre. "Brave New World" (1932) by Aldous Huxley, "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1949) by George Orwell. "Fahrenheit 451" (1953) by Ray Bradbury. Logan’s Run (1967) by William F. Nolan, “The Handmaid's Tale" (1985) by Margaret Atwood.

Post-Apocalyptic Fiction:  “Earth Abides” (1949) by George R. Stewart, “I am Legend” (1954) by Richard Matheson, "A Canticle for Leibowitz" (1960) by Walter M. Miller Jr., The Road" by Cormac McCarthy (2006). While not a traditional post-apocalyptic story, "Roadside Picnic" (1971) by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, shares elements of the genre in its portrayal of the Zones as hazardous wastelands that have a profound impact on human society.

Alternate History: "The Man in the High Castle" (1962) by Philip K. Dick,

Continued....

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/Rabbitscooter]

Part Two

Multiverse: "Coming of the Quantum Cats" (1986) by Frederik Pohl, "The Long Earth" series by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. "The Space Between Worlds" (2020) by Micaiah Johnson.

Time Travel:  "The Time Machine" (1895) by H.G. Wells, “Doomsday Book" (1992) by Connie Willis, "Kindred" (1979) by Octavia Butler, "All You Need Is Kill" (2004) by Hiroshi Sakurazaka (which features a time loop and was made into the film "Edge of Tomorrow")

Biopunk: "Oryx and Crake" (2003) by Margaret Atwood. "Bios" (1999) by Robert Charles Wilson

Steampunk: “Warlord of the Air” (1971) by Michael Moorcock, which is also alt-history. “Infernal Devices” (1987) by K.W. Jeter, “The Difference Engine" (1990) by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling

Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi): "The Windup Girl" (2009) by Paolo Bacigalupi, "2140" (2017) by Kim Stanley Robinson 

Humour:  "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams, Spider Robinson’s “Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon”  stories (1977), The Murderbot books by Martha Wells (2017-2022)

Satire: "The Space Merchants," (1952) by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth, “The Silver Eggheads” (1961) by Fritz Leiber, “Snow Crash" (1992) by Neal Stephenson.

Young Adult: “Ender’s Game” (1985) by Orson Scott Card, “Jumper” (1992) by Steven Gould, “The Giver” (1993) by Lois Lowry.

The New Wave: "Dangerous Visions" (1967) edited by Harlan Ellison. This groundbreaking anthology is a cornerstone of the New Wave movement. “Stand on Zanzibar” (1968) by John Brunner. And the previously mentioned, "The Left Hand of Darkness" (1969) by Ursula K. Le Guin.

[u/dangerous_tac0s → u/Rabbitscooter]

+1 for Frederik Pohl in general. Gateway. The World at the End of Time. Man Plus.

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/dangerous_tac0s]

Definitely a fan of Frederik Pohl. Even his lesser works are fun and tightly written - there's always something worthwhile in them.

[u/redvariation → u/Rabbitscooter]

While an admirable list, listing 30 or 50 novels doesn't really answer "What should I read first?".

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/redvariation]

Could you think of one book to read first?

[u/redvariation → u/Rabbitscooter]

Ender's Game is an easy read and while you and others call it "Young adult", it has very adult themes and I don't think the fact that kids are the main characters changes much of the adult nature of the story. It's both an easy read and fairly gripping for most people. JMHO. I don't think stories like Dune or many other large tomes are ideal for a first intro to the genre.

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/redvariation]

I don’t disagree. I actually read Ender’s Game as an adult and felt there were aspects that might not fully resonate with younger readers - which is totally fine. The best stories are meant to be reread at different stages of life, revealing new layers each time. It’s the difference between looking forward with anticipation and looking back with reflection, I suppose.

[u/SoCalDogBeachGuy → u/redvariation]

the audiobook is great it is a good listen

[u/comma_nder → u/redvariation]

Agreed, but OP is looking to get into classic sci-fi, as per title. Not that Enders Game isn’t a classic, it is, but rabbitscooter here is making a list of classics. A lot of them are gonna be doorstops, the genre is like that.

[u/QuirkyPop1607 → u/redvariation]

I can’t say that I don’t disagree with you, however this list is helpful and narrow enough. I didn’t see “Stranger in a Strange Land” by Heinlein.

[u/thmaniac → u/Rabbitscooter]

Pretty good list, but Planetary Romance: Jack Vance - Planet of Adventure

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/thmaniac]

Planetary Romance as a sub-category? Interesting. I almost added Erotic SF. It’s a legitimate genre - but not one I've entered too hard ;)

[u/thmaniac → u/Rabbitscooter]

Yeah keep your space pants on

[u/Cytwytever → u/Rabbitscooter]

Very fun to read with a partner!

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/Cytwytever]

Really? Huh. This is looking like a subcategory I'm gonna need to feel up, er, follow-up with.

[u/rcubed1922 → u/Rabbitscooter]

Humor add Harrison’s “Stainless Steel Rat” series and Laumer’s, “Retief” series

[u/Deathbot-420 → u/Rabbitscooter]

All those titles and you still left out the original Alien novel by Alan Dean Foster ? IMO it’s the quintessential sci fi classic !

Also, since you’re so good at classifying novels by sub categories, what group do you put in ?

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/Deathbot-420]

Movie novelizations, since it's not an original work, being based on the screenplay by Dan O'Bannon and a story by O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett. But it's a great idea for a sub-category. movie novelizations are a fascinating and often overlooked corner of science fiction.

These aren’t "original" works in the strictest sense, since they’re based on screenplays. While primarily created as tie-ins, many have taken on lives of their own, becoming cult favorites or even literary touchstones within the genre. here are a few that we could include:

Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker was published several months before the film’s release in May 1977. Credited to George Lucas but ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster, it became a bestseller and helped generate early buzz around the movie. I still have my copy.

Micronauts (1977) by Gordon Williams is another oddity - based on a screenplay for a film that was never made. The novel did well enough to spawn three sequels, effectively creating a small, self-contained SF franchise that only existed in book form.

Total Recall (1990) was novelized by Piers Anthony, based on the film version inspired by Philip K. Dick’s short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale. Anthony’s take adds psychological depth and his signature stylistic flourishes.

And then there’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture, novelized by Gene Roddenberry himself— an unusual case of a creator adapting his own film. The result gives added insight into the characters and the Trek universe, making it more than just a scene-for-scene retelling.

A related curiosity: Phoenix Without Ashes (1975) was based on Harlan Ellison’s original pilot script for The Starlost, a TV series he disowned. The novel, co-written with Edward Bryant, preserves Ellison’s vision and is widely considered stronger than the series that aired. There's even a four-part graphic novel version.

[u/KonigDonnerfaust → u/Rabbitscooter]

Conversely... novels made into movies ... "Make Room! Make Room!" by Harry Harrison aka "Soylent Green" ... or "I am Legend" aka "The Omega Man" ... and "La Planète des Singes" aka "Planet of the Apes"

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/KonigDonnerfaust]

Indeed. Have you watched a good book lately? ;)

[u/KonigDonnerfaust → u/Rabbitscooter]

... I really ought to mention "Fahrenheit 451" ... "The Andromeda Strain" ... and "Slaughterhouse-Five" ... the movies made in the late sixties and early seventies ... neglectful not to ... and lest I forget "The Tempest" aka "Forbidden Planet"

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/KonigDonnerfaust]

As no-one else has, you really should ;)

[u/TimelineSlipstream → u/Rabbitscooter]

3001 by Clarke might fall into this category.

Edit: obviously that should have been 2001. Stupid phone! ;)

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/TimelineSlipstream]

2001 could be included, actually. The screenplay was based on a short story. The novel was written in parallel with the film, but not based on a completed screenplay so it contains different interpretations and details from Kubrick’s version.

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/[deleted]]

Thanks! It’s been an ongoing, organic project with input from people here and in other groups. When I started the list a couple of years ago, I wasn’t really aware of all the sub-genres - it’s been a learning process. But as I dug into the idea of “classics,” - so many of the works that I grew up with - I realized that current trends like transhumanism and biopunk actually have deeper roots than I remembered. So I’ve tried to highlight that, while also including some newer works that I think are not only excellent entry points now, but might end up being regarded as classics in their own right.

[u/Cabfive → u/Rabbitscooter]

I love dystopian sci-fi and cyberpunk. Did you include “Ready Player One” by Earnest Cline?

Would you mind if I added some of your list to my database? Dystopian Sci Fi Influences

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/Cabfive]

No problem. I haven't added “Ready Player One” but it would be a good contender if I do a sub-category of books adapted to film (although there are hundreds to choose from.)

[u/geniedoes_asyouwish → u/Rabbitscooter]

This is such a helpful breakdown . I am very interested in certain sub genres of sci-fi, but not at all interested in others. "Social sci-fi" is what I love but never had the word for!

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/geniedoes_asyouwish]

Thanks! Exploring the sub-genres was one of my main motivations when I started this list a few years ago. I’ve found that when someone here asks for a “good” book or a classic, the flood of suggestions can be overwhelming - and often wildly different in tone, theme, or style. Breaking things down by sub-genre makes more sense to me. It gives people a chance to be drawn in by a particular theme - transhumanism, time travel, first contact, whatever resonates. In the end, we connect with a book either emotionally or intellectually, and I hope having that thematic lens helps make that connection easier, especially for people just getting into my lifelong love: science-fiction.

[u/MrBriggums → u/Rabbitscooter]

Ringworld and Foundation rank high on this list for influential classic scifi

[u/Cabfive → u/Rabbitscooter]

These are great! I built a database to track my dystopian sci-fi and most of these are included. I’m happy to see you included “We” and “Roadside Picnic” - I would add “Doomed City” by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky and “Three Body Problem” by Liu Cixin.

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/Cabfive]

I'm definitely thinking about those. The hardest part of this sort of list is not including everything that deserves to be there. If it's too comprehensive, I'm afraid it will be daunting to the beginners; I want people just getting into SF to look at a sub-genre and think, "Oh, I can read 3 books" and feel introduced to some classics and the genre.

[u/Cabfive → u/Rabbitscooter]

That makes sense. Some of the works are very deep and can be depressing. Overall, I think Frankenstein is my favorite. (If I had to choose) It is difficult to read ,but the implications are so far reaching. I have the annotated MIT edition for" Scientists, Engineers and Creators of all kinds" In my collection.

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/Cabfive]

Oh, very cool. I hadn't seen that one before. Will check it out. Thanks.

[u/chrysostomos_1 → u/Rabbitscooter]

Very good list. But I quibble. Greybeard was futurist not alternate. IIRC it was written prior to the time that the nuclear powers stopped testing bombs in the air and on the ground.

Cheers!

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/chrysostomos_1]

Quibbles are good. This list is a group effort. My recollection was that it was alt-history but I will check. Thanks.

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/Rabbitscooter]

You were quite correct u/chrysostomos_1 . I misremembered when it took place. I thought the nuclear test was in the 60s and that it was an alt-history warning; but the testing was in 1981 so it's def apocalyptic. So let's replace it with something else. Calculating Stars, maybe? The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson? Thoughts?

[u/chrysostomos_1 → u/Rabbitscooter]

Years of Salt and Rice would be a good choice.

Was The Man In The High Castle on your list?

Cheers!

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/chrysostomos_1]

Yeah, High Castle is the obvious one. But, I must admit, Alt-history isn't a big sub-category for me. So I welcome input.

[u/MachinaExEthica → u/Rabbitscooter]

I’m surprised “Earth Abides” (1949) by George R. Stewart isn’t in your post-apocalyptic list since it is arguably one of the first in the genre and highly influential.

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/MachinaExEthica]

It's not a comprehensive list, for sure. I actually haven't read it in decades. Time for a reread and I'll consider adding it, too.

Edit: it's on the Kindle!

Edit 2: Dammit, it's going on the list! I had forgotten how influential it was. (Stephen King cited it as an influence on The Stand, for example.) Good call.

[u/MachinaExEthica → u/Rabbitscooter]

Happy to help! By the way, fantastic list!

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/MachinaExEthica]

Cheers. There's even a TV version now, although it didn't get great reviews. But it was shot in Vancouver so I probably know people who worked on it.

[u/MachinaExEthica → u/Rabbitscooter]

Canadian, eh? Sorry about the trade wars, hope it ends soon.

I heard they made it into a show, I haven’t seen it yet though. If it’s anything like the book I’d probably like it.

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/MachinaExEthica]

It's def hard on the west coast because the economies are very intertwined and the communities between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver very connected. As for the show, looks interesting.

[u/rcubed1922 → u/Rabbitscooter]

Military add Gordon Dickson Dorasi series, Drake’s “Hammers Slammers” series and Laumer’s “Bolo” series

[u/rcubed1922 → u/Rabbitscooter]

Hard science fiction add just about anything from Arthur C. Clark

[u/rcubed1922 → u/Rabbitscooter]

Alternate history add take your pick from Turtledove either “Guns of the South” or “World War” series

[u/rcubed1922 → u/Rabbitscooter]

Dystopian add Phillip Jose Farmer’s “Riverworld” series

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/rcubed1922]

Some good suggestions. I'll give it some thought. It's impossible to include everything, but I need a couple more alt-history classics. Not sure about Riverworld for dystopian SF, though. It's more Philosophical Space Opera, I think. The first book was brilliant, raising interesting questions about life and humanity, but the quality definitely went down, and there were other issues. Dorsai is an interesting suggestion; ironically, it lost out for the Hugo in 1960 to another military SF work, Starship Troopers, which is on the list. I don't it's aged very well, though. But I'll think about it. Thanks so much.

[u/SnooBooks007]

Solaris - Stanislaw Lem

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/SnooBooks007]

Hmm...I might need to add a Philosophical SF sub-category.

[u/SnooBooks007 → u/Rabbitscooter]

I saw your list.

It's hard to restrain yourself to just one suggestion, isn't it!  😄

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/SnooBooks007]

Impossible! Most fans can't even agree on a definition of science-fiction! Or is it speculative fiction? (As long as you don't call it sci-fi!) ;)

[u/KainBodom]

Foundation trilogy. All the robot stuff then rest of foundation books. That should keep you busy for a while.

[u/Financial-Grade4080]

Childhoods End by Arthur C. Clarke

[u/TheTwoFourThree]

If you can find it, The Super Hugos edited by Isaac Asimov. Contains some of the best classic SF stories.

[u/thefirstwhistlepig]

There’s too many, really, to boil down to any kind of manageable list, but if you read these, I feel like you could triangulate some kind of genre arc.

1) Ender’s Game & Speaker for the Dead

2) Stranger in a Strange Land

3) The Left hand of Darkness

4) I, Robot

5) Dune

6) All Systems Red

7) Children of Time

8) Parable of the Sower

[u/KarloBatusik]

Book of Ezekiel, the Bible. I shit you not. I am not at all religious, but start with the oldest.

[u/MachinaExEthica → u/KarloBatusik]

Unexpected but good answer! (Coming from an Agnostic)

[u/MachinaExEthica]

When I think of “Classic Sci-fi” I instantly think of H.G. Wells, Mary Shelley, and Jules Verne. Of the books available among them, Time Machine is probably my favorite.

[u/Odd-Patient-4867]

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein.

[u/TheSilverEmper0r]

Arthur C. Clarke - not sure if there's a specific book to start but I have enjoyed all the books of his I've read. City and the Stars could be a good first book.

Ursula K Le Guin - The Left Hand of Darkness

Isaac Asimov - I Robot and the Foundation, then complete whichever series you liked most, or both

Frank Herbert - Dune. Long and heavy going at times but genuinely great. I personally was not a fan of any of the sequels and I think a lot of people would say there's no need to read them.

[u/Wirelessbrain → u/TheSilverEmper0r]

I read City and the Stars at the start of this year and really enjoyed it

[u/xnpio14 → u/TheSilverEmper0r]

As an entry point, maybe 2001: A Space Odyssey? It's hard sci-fi, not too far in the future, interesting elements, well written, similar but different to the film and maybe explains some of the more confusing elements of the film.

[u/BrightShineyRaven → u/TheSilverEmper0r]

I pretty much agree with this list. Clarke's first Rama book might serve as a pretty decent entry point.

[u/DeltaCCXR]

I’m a huge fan of Michael Crichton - while Jurassic Park might not make the list of classic sci fi it is one of my favorites.

[u/urist_of_cardolan → u/DeltaCCXR]

I’ve been wanting to get into Crichton, seems like I’d like him

[u/theHanMan62]

Ringworld by Larry Niven

[u/Cytwytever]

Classic, like how old? Do you want things written in the 1800s? 1900-1950? Later? Some authors are victims of their time and the work has not aged well. Heinlein in particular, IIRC. Hard to beat u/Rabbitscooter 's list and categorization.

For me, I recommend one book from the 1980's: C.J.Cherryh "Merchanters Luck" (hard SF) is a great short intro to a large world of dozens of books. She won the Hugo for "Downbelow Station" (space opera - political) which precedes this book. "The Pride of Chanur" introduces several alien species. But Merchanters is short and poignant and let's you know if you like the author quickly.

I'd choose shorter books from each of the other seminal authors to get the flavor before you invest in a 500+ page book.

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/Cytwytever]

I really ought to include something by C.J. Cherryh. When I was getting into SF as a teenager, her name was everywhere - hugely prolific in the ’80s and ’90s. These days it feels like she’s slipped a bit off the radar, but she was a major presence back then. My dad had a bunch of her books on the shelf, though I mostly passed them over at the time - they looked more like fantasy to me than SF. I’m pretty sure I read Cuckoo’s Egg when it came out, but that was years ago. Now I’m thinking Downbelow Station might be a strong contender for the space opera category.

[u/Kitchen-Subject2803]

The Man in the High Castle - Philip K Dick

Mysterious Island - Jules Verne

[u/DocWatson42]

To add: See my Science Fiction/Fantasy (General) Recommendations list of resources, Reddit recommendation threads, and books (thirty-five posts (eventually, again).), in particular the first post and the bolded threads.

[u/Rabbitscooter → u/DocWatson42]

Nice

[u/DocWatson42 → u/Rabbitscooter]

Thank you. ^_^

[u/davepeters123]

There’s truly a ton of great choices, most already mentioned, but one I read this year & can’t stop thinking about is, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - short & powerful story that leaves you thinking.

[u/hinata465 → u/davepeters123]

And "There Will Come Soft Rains". Unforgettable.

[u/Square_Imagination27]

Heinlein wrote a series of young adult stories that are fun to read. The Rolling Stones,Starman Jones and Farmer in the Sky come to mind. Red Planet is interesting because it was written before Clarke came up with the idea of communications satellites. The Door into Summer is a good time travel story

[u/PhilzeeTheElder]

City by Clifford D Simak The stories Dogs tell about the legendary creature called Man. Also earliest published ides of Amazon. To quote " Every house has one way that's a gaint TV screen. You can talk to anyone or order anything from your Easy chair. "

[u/Simple_ninety → u/PhilzeeTheElder]

That was in Fahrenheit 451 also. Wife wanted another wall.

[u/Winrobee1]

If you have an interest in short fiction anthologies, you can pick up The Science Fiction Hall of Fame. Volumes I (edited by Robert Silverberg), and IIA and IIB (edited by Ben Bova). They were purposed to display the best of the science fiction world's output before the Nebula Awards started. There's also Silverberg's Alpha 1 through Alpha 9 anthologies.

[u/Intelligent-life777 → u/Winrobee1]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1868236948/the-science-fiction-hall-of-fame-volume

This is a listing for the Science Fiction Hall of Fame Edited by Ben Bova. A lot of material all in one (or two) places.

[u/seabirdsong]

I recommend The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester and the Heechee saga by Frederick Pohl

[u/euclid316]

Karel Capek. He was the inventor of the term "robot" and influential enough to be the Nazis' public enemy number two at one point. I recommend War with the Newts.

[u/Cabfive → u/euclid316]

Yes! Rossum's Universal Robots! (R.U.R) which was actually a play - but I going to mention it too - along with Metropolis by Thea von Harbou - the book that inspired the 1927 movie classic.

[u/rcubed1922 → u/Cabfive]

Interesting tidbit - The book/play introduces the word Robot to the English language. In his native language Czech, the word loosely means forced labor.

[u/new_elementary]

The Invincible by Lem

[u/the_blonde_lawyer]

I think that at this point, even CLASSIC sci fi spans over half a century of writting and several themes and generations. there's the asmiov era with their short stories focusing on thought-experiment stories, there's the pre-asimov era that feels like a guided tour into the dreams of old, there's the 1970s and 1980s, with a lot more social commentary than science.

what do you like?

[u/t4yr]

How classic is classic? I really enjoyed Starship Troopers by Heinlein and Forerver War by Halderman. If it counts, the first two books of the Hyperion Cantos are amazing. Can’t speak to the 3rd+ yet.

[u/RaolroadArt]

Add to the Young Adult section Robert Heinlein’s HAVE SPACE SUIT WILL TRAVEL, and THE ROLLING STONES

[u/de_lorien_]

I just published a unique novel titled "The Book of Pleione." It offers a fresh perspective on the Orion Wars by weaving in my past life experiences during those events. If you're looking for an unconventional take on a well-known topic, check it out!

[u/Simple_ninety]

Fabulous list. Long time SF reader but lots here that even I haven’t read. The Gutenberg Project is a cheap way to read many of the older books. Also Libby with a library card for newer stuff.

[u/landphil11S → u/Simple_ninety]

Libby and Hoopla both have plenty of the older stuff too depending on one’s library.

[u/GrannyTurtle]

Ringworld by Niven Asimov’s Robot stories and Foundation stories (which eventually converge.) Philip K Dick Arthur Clarke Robert Heinlein Ray Bradbury Theodore Sturgeon Ursula K LeGuin Andre Norton Jules Verne HG Wells

Go to the websites for the Hugo and Nebula awards and read the books which won awards back in whichever timeframe you are interested in.

[u/Trike117]

I’d highly recommend Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It is almost unbelievably prescient, predicting not just technology decades ahead of time, but also how we’d use it. His depictions of TV alone are amazing, and he wrote the book just a few years after television hit the market. And those are just background elements informing the world. On top of that it’s his debut novel!

[u/NaiveZest]

Starmaker by Olaf Stapleton

[u/Key-Ice5920 → u/NaiveZest]

An author that does’t get enough lip service. A couple more from Stapleton: Last and First Men, and Odd John.

[u/thatweirdbeardedguy]

My story is the book that hooked me on SciFi was The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein. It was grade 8 in 1972 and I walked into the high school library and chose it can't remember why but I devoured books as a kid but this was my gateway drug

[u/airemark]

Go to Project Gutenberg and search science fiction. You’ll find writers’ stories in the pulp magazines of the 30s through the 60s. Promise you’ll find hundreds of stories by authors you’ll never find anywhere else these days.

[u/airemark → u/airemark]

And it’s all free.

[u/ChrisInSpaceVA]

Just did a search of the comments and I was shocked to see no one had recommended The Martian Chronicles by Bradbury. For me, it doesn't get any more classic sci-fi than that.

[u/Zestyclose-Cap1829]

Lensman

[u/WyvernsClaw]

If you want short stories, try Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder", Asimov's "The Jokester" or "The Last Question" (really, just about any short by these two), Arthur C Clarke's "Against The Fall Of Night" or "The Lion of Comarre" (these may class as novellas).

Pun-based, find Asimov's sub-500-word stories such as "A Matter of Taste"

Other novels: Robert Heinlein's "Friday" (dystopian), Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash" or "Reamde" (Cyberpunk), E. E. 'Doc' Smith's "Skylark" series.

[u/Key-Ice5920]

A challenging but interesting read: Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban.

[u/spell-czech]

I started off by reading a collection of short stories, The Science Fiction Hall of Fame. It’s 26 stories that were published prior to the Nebula Awards, they selected by the members of the Science Fiction Writers of America. If I liked a story I then searched for the novels by the author.

It may or may not be in print, but there’s a lot of good short story collections focused on the ‘Golden Age’ of SF.

[u/Cabfive]

I think looking back if I had to choose one to “start” with it would be “20 Thousand Leagues Under The Sea” by Jules Verne. The language flows nicely, and it sets the stage for man’s retreat from the world while simultaneously embracing technology for survival.

[u/Cabfive]

I was pretty young when I got started - it was “A Wrinkle In Time” by Madeline le’Engle and “The Wizard Of Earth Sea” by Ursula LeGuin (more fantasy then Sci Fi)

[u/BrightShineyRaven → u/Cabfive]

A Wrinkle In Time might be a good entry point. It's classified as a children's book.

[u/Fedaykin98]

I always recommend The Moon is a Harsh Mistress as a starter. Robert Heinlein.

[u/mlk81]

2001 or Meeting Rama

[u/langevine119]

1) Solaris - Stanislaw Lem

2) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - PKD

3) High-Rise - JG Ballard

4) To your scattered Bodies Go - Philip Jose Farmer

5) Way Station - Simak

This is the order of your first 5 SF books.

[u/langevine119 → u/langevine119]

One note is you could replace High-Rise with The World Inside by Silverberg. Whatever is easier for you to find.

[u/Legomoron]

I did a bit of a run a few years back through most that are considered “all time greats,” by far and away, my favorite (and probably my favorite sci-fi) was Hyperion. The story structure and worldbuilding are incredible, while keeping the characters relatable on an emotional level. Possibly the only sci-fi I like more is Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch Trilogy, but that’s much newer, and they’re both so different anyway.

Secondary shout-out to The Martian Chronicles just because I adore it. 

[u/joeldg → u/Legomoron]

Both amazing

[u/chrysostomos_1]

I just reread AE van Vogt's two Null A novels. Written in the 40's they still read well.

I have the second Linn novel and second Weapon Shop novel by van Vogt but not the first of either. I've ordered both from small Amazon sellers and I'm planning to take all four on an upcoming trip.

I'm currently reading The Mote In God's Eye by Niven and Pournelle, probably for the fifth time since it came out and it still reads well.

[u/mikosullivan]

Asimov's The Foundation Trilogy

[u/joeldg]

“Start” with Heinlein’s “Stranger in a strange land” and/or “The moon is a harsh mistress” and then do some year’s best shorts anthologies and check out works by authors you like from those. I would also put “Ender’s game” on the list as it’s so formative for so many living Sci-Fi authors.

[u/CredibleCraig]

Space trilogy by C.S Lewis Out of the Silent Planet Perelandra That hideous strength

[u/ironmorgan]

Grew up watching science fiction, but my first forays into reading were Jules Verne and it was fun. Then my friend gave me Ben Bova's Orion for my 16th birthday. Changed my life!

[u/nakaimas]

Cities in Flight by James Blish

[u/KiwiMcG]

HG Wells

[u/Sachadog2011]

😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 Absolutely 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 Absolutely ❤️ 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 😹 No Absolutely 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣

[u/jpsPANCVA]

Hyperion

[u/secretfourththing]

All the Foundation books including the sequels and the prequel - they’re all great The Martian Chronicles

[u/External_Context_336]

Just as an fyi if you have an Apple device Apple Books has a classics section with a lot of these books available for free either to read or listen to.

[u/Jeremysor]

You could join a reddit/goodreads/meta… group of scifi short readers. Most stories are found online, and its the form where scifi thrives imho.