When I saw Rinn's Science Fiction challenge list, I did something I had been thinking of for some time - my own list. Majority of it is based on Rinn's list (big thanks for that!), but I did make some changes, which are marked in green colour. Since I'm not a particular YA reader, I removed a bunch of books from there from my own list, and added a few to classic sci-fi and newer sci-fi lists, plus I added two books overall so that I had nice round number 60 in the list. I kept five YA choices based on popularity and what I think could be interesting so that I would roughly know what is going on in that sub-genre.
I've always loved sci-fi, but unfortunately lately have been steering very much away from it because I read too very many different genres. Back at home at my parents we had quite a selection of Russian (and other) sci-fi books (translated into Estonian), which I remember reading during hot summers. One of the first sci-fi books I ever read was Andromeda: A Space-Age Tale by Russian author Ivan Yefremov. Wikipedia describes this book as "a classic communist utopia set in a distant future"; now, I remember near nothing about the communist part but I remember it was an awesome book.
In that sense I've always been more of a sci-fi girl than fantasy girl. Fantasy came into my life a lot later.
I discovered that the Classics Club list is working super well for me, in the way that I pick books out of it quite regularly, so I decided to make similar reading lists for myself for science fiction and fantasy as well.
Carl over at Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting another two-month reading event (last one being RIP VIII) called The 2014 Sci-Fi Experience, this time it's for sci-fi and it lasts from December 1st to January 31st. I decided to take part because RIP VIII was great success (two-month events are good!) and that goes nicely with my brand new sci-fi list as well.
Classic sci-fi
1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams - own the book
2. I, Robot, Isaac Asimov
3. Foundation, Isaac Asimov - re-read
4. The Drowned World, J.G. Ballard
5.
6.
7. 2001: A Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clarke
8. The Lost World, Arthur Conan Doyle - own on Kindle, free download
9.
10. The Man in the High Castle, Philip K. Dick
11.
12. Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein
13.
14.
15.
16. I Am Legend, Richard Matheson
17. A Canticle for Leibowitz, Walter M. Miller Jr.
18. Ringworld, Larry Niven
19. The Mote in God's Eye, Larry Niven
20.
21. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
22. A Princess of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs
23. Frankenstein, Mary Shelley - own on Kindle, free download
24. Star Maker, Olaf Stapledon
25.
26. Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Jules Verne
27. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne - own the book
28.
29.
30. The Time Machine, H.G. Wells
31.
32.
33. We, Yevgeni Zamyatin
12/33
Newer sci-fi
34.
35.
36.
37. Consider Phlebas, Iain M. Banks
38.
39.
40.
41. Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton
42. Neuromancer, William Gibson
43. The Forever War, Joe Haldeman
44. The Road, Cormac McCarthy - own on Kindle
45.
46. The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin
47.
48. House of Suns, Alastair Reynolds
49. Revelation Space, Alastair Reynolds
50. Red Mars, Kim Stanley Robinson
51. The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell
52.
53.
54. Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson
55. Mockingbird, Walter Tevis
10/22
Young adult sci-fi
56.
57. The Maze Runner, James Dashner - own on Kindle
58.
59. The Knife of Never Letting Go, Patrick Ness
60. All Our Yesterdays, Kristin Terrill
2/5
Some lovely additions! I've linked this up in the schedule too =D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rinn! :)
DeleteOMG! I love this! I'm so in! Can I add the titles you added to my list too? I really like what you added :)
ReplyDeleteHehe you don't have to ask my permission to read awesome books ;) Thanks, and also if you want, we can even read some together, some time.
DeleteI've made a button for this list, it's in the sidebar of my blog. You may use it too if you like :) I kinda was uncomfortable without having one :)
DeleteI love the button! Buuut I have no idea how to add buttons to the sidebar. I'll do a Google search later today, it would be nice to have the events and lists on the sidebar as well just like you have. Admittedly, when it comes to the more technical side of the blogging I am quite hopeless :(
DeleteUse this: http://www.thebookvixen.com/2011/01/tutorial-reading-challenge-progress.html
DeleteI'm also a lamer in html, but this is clear and easy. Just play with the color a bit :)
Oo, thanks, this looks very helpful. I hope I find time one of these weekends to dig into the html world :))
DeleteSci fi is something that I find difficult to get into, but want to read more. I love fantasy but do find sci-fi hard. Your list has inspired me and I can't wait to read your reviews during Carl's event.
ReplyDeleteYeah, sci-fi seems to be pretty much whether you like it or not, and also a lot to do whether you have been introduced to this kind of writing in younger age. When I was younger it was also considered more of a "boy thing", which isn't exactly helpful kind of attitude when it comes to literature.
DeleteI read The Hitchhiker's Guide a long time ago, and I still sometimes laugh thinking about the book. I think you'll have fun reading that one.
ReplyDeleteEveryone says it's such a funny book! The only problem is that my copy is The Ultimate book - a huge version that contains all the Hitchhiker books, so it is very big and thus it's not that convenient to read. I'm thinking of getting a virtual copy for the first one just so that I can get on track with this series.
DeleteVery ambitious--and so many good ones! A Princess of Mars and Cinder (an odd combination!) jump out as a couple of my favorites...but it looks like you have many great ones to choose from!
ReplyDeleteIt seems ambitious at first, but there is no deadline for me, so I can take ten years to read these books if I want :) Haha it is indeed an odd combination. I haven't read almost any YA sci-fi, so I'm a bit curious what Cinder will be like.
DeleteI quite like sci-di, and I love Isaac Asimov, I hope you ejoy his books!
ReplyDeleteKind regards,
Thank you Bettina, I've read Foundation when I was younger and I remember it was good, so I want to re-read it and then some more :)
DeleteI love sci-fi and there are some amazing books on your list. Some of my favourites are I, Robot, 2001: A Spacy Odyssey, Do Androids Dream of Sheep?, Frankenstein ... I'm always itching to read some sci-fi and luckily there are a few on my classic book list. Are there any particular books on your list that are priority reads?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get my hands on Electric Sheep! And I also have a few of those on my CC list, so they overlap - which is nice. I think I do have a few priority reads - The Quantum Thief, because Hannu Rajaniemi is originally Finnish and I live in Finland; re-read Roadside Picnic because I'm craving for good Russian sci-fi, and Ready Player One, which has received a lot of praise and I just want to see what it's all about.
DeleteOoooo I'm tempted to sign up for the 2014 Sci-Fi Experience, but I know I never get much reading done around the holidays :-/
ReplyDeleteYou have an awesome list though! Man, Jurassic Park and Ready Player One are fantastic.
Yes the holiday time is not the best time to read for me either, but I'm gonna sign up because it's such a long event with no pressure (can read only 1 book and it'll be enough), so I'm gonna at least try - it's been a while since I read sci-fi...
DeleteI'm glad you also liked Ready Player One, I have high hopes for this one!
What a great list! Thanks so much for taking part in this one. I have been so looking forward to this, hence the changing of the date to make it start in December. I always enjoy partaking of science fiction, but I get a double dose of desire for it once the weather gets cold.
ReplyDeleteThanks for organising! It is a good push for me personally to get back to the science fiction genre, which I've been neglecting a bit for the past year.
DeleteReally nice list of 'to reads' and reads.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of We in Classics (have to check that one), otherwise, yup read 'em all.
Missing about 8 in Newer and 2 in the YA list.
Great list! Hope you enjoy them all.
I've wanted to read We for a while, although the opinions I've read on this book tend to vary from "excellent" to like "really bad/meh". But I believe it'll be an interesting read.
DeleteI hope I will at some point also be able to say that I've read all the book in the classics section at least :)) Thanks!
I was very impressed with We when I read it a few years ago.
DeleteIt does sound like an interesting premise and I intend to read We next year the latest.
DeleteGood luck with your list! I like a lot of genres too, so I know it can be really hard to commit to one particular one. I read I, Robot in college and remember enjoying it. And Fahrenheit 451 is one of my all-time favorite books -- have been meaning to re-read it for The Classics Club, actually. The two Jules Verne books I also want to read for Classics Club (nice when there is some cross-over!) If I ever want to get more into sci-fi, I will have to consult your list, seems quite comprehensive :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! The classics section of the list contains some books that are more "general" with their ideas and yes as you say, cross over with the big classics' canon. In newer sci-fi section it can get a bit more specific and scientific, which can be hard to enjoy if you don't click with this kind of stuff. I sometimes find it hard to enjoy the books that are too much crammed with facts, for example, but then again books written by poets like Bradbury are something completely different.
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