Top 10 SF and Fantasy Novels?

[herongale]

So, NPR is doing this thing where they are going to put together a "Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels" list. Earlier they solicited nominations for potential titles, and now they are asking for people to vote: to vote, you are asked to check off your favorite ten (only ten!) titles and submit your ballot

Comments

[1010nabulation]

OH BOOKS. I LOVE BOOKS. Totally going to read your number 1 and 2 at some point; you have convinced me!

As for the list, I’m a little iffy about scifi and fantasy being grouped together like this, because they have very different feels to them and there are classics and influential books in each of these genres. I think my list is a bit biased toward fantasy, and I also chose books that I personally enjoyed most, regardless of other merits they may have. ;) Also, it’s been rather a while since I’ve read most of these. Anyway, on to my list!

1) The Dark Tower series, by Stephen King

Mmm, this is SUCH a rich and interesting western/fantasy quest/time travel/other dimensions/horror series! I remember the first book being a bit slow-going and difficult to get through, but the rest… oh, man. The gunslinger, Roland. The kid, Jake! T_T <3 EDDIE. (Heh, Susannah could have been left out and I’d have been happy. ^.^; But then a lot of the plot wouldn’t work, so, eh.) AND THE ENDING. I know a lot of people were not happy with it, but I adore it! I don’t want to give spoilers, but I’m actually damn satisfied with the way the series wrapped up (or didn’t). And there are so many delicious little connections and interrelations with King’s other novels spread throughout The Dark Tower series-locations, characters, events… it makes all of it seem more real to me. I love stuff like that! The Dark Tower is definitely my top fantasy-scifi-mishmash-whatever of all time. I would happily read it again and again.

AAAA and I just peeked at the Dark Tower wiki and learned that there’s another book coming out in 2012, set between the 4th and 5th books!!!! OMFG. I AM SO EXCITED. YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE NO MORE EVER. AAAAAA. Gah, now I’m kinda ruined for finishing the rest of these descriptions. XD Too excited too excited too excited!

2) The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien

Apart from being, like, fantasy’s grand and influential centerpiece, this series is just damn enjoyable. I read all of the books on a couple of sick days in college and I still remember the feel of being completely immersed in the world of Middle Earth. Hehe, Lord of the Rings has the power to cure illness! Or at least distract you from it until you’re well. XD Anyway, I don’t have a lot to say about it, but it’s dear to my heart and is therefore number 2 here.

3) Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card

Enderrrrrrr. ♥ This one is by far my favorite scifi book of all time. I can’t even count how many times I’ve read it, and it’s just as emotionally powerful each time around. Something about Ender’s point of view is very visceral and real. That’s the kind of stories I’m drawn most to, the ones with strong characters that change and learn and develop. Plus it was just a damn good story!

4) Watership Down, by Richard Adams

The bunnies. T_T They all have such distinct personalities, and the way language was used in the novel was brilliant. I don’t normally go for talking animal stories, but the way this one was done it seemed believable. And it’s such a dark, dark story. That’s another thing I love about it-a dark, dark bunny story. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read this one too. It really packs an emotional punch as well.

5) American Gods, by Neil Gaiman

I’ve always loved fables and folk tales and stories about other cultures’ pantheons, so naturally I ADORE American Gods. It’s such an interesting and unique twist on the way gods are portrayed, and I think what really got me most was how human and fallible they all seemed in the end. The old gods were struggling to survive in a new land, and the new gods… mmm, deliciously vile! I love all things Gaiman, but this one is definitely my favorite.

[herongale]

There was a time in my life when I swore I would never, ever, ever read Stephen King. But I keep hearing great things about him and every time I read a review by him I'm impressed by how smart and yet unpretentious he is. So damn. I think I'll have to try that series out.

Watership Down is one of those books I love to pieces but read it at the wrong time of my life... I read it when I was like 13-14 and I just wasn't ready for all that anguish. I CRIED LIKE, FOR YEARS, FOR THOSE DAMN BUNNIES. I still get a little teary eyed thinking about them.

I enjoyed American Gods too! But I was determined to only give Neal Gaiman one slot on my list and the Sandman series will always be closest to my heart. SO TAKE THAT, AMERICAN GODS. I still love you.

Have not read Ender's Game. For some reason that whole experience passed me by.

AS FOR MY TOP TWO CHOICES: HMM YEAH I THINK I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU READ CRYPTONOMICON FIRST. It's a little challenging (one of the early chapters gets into talking about advanced mathematics and although it is all explained super well you definitely need to slow down to appreciate it), BUT IT IS HILARIOUS AND STARTS OUT WITH A HAIKU (an ILLEGITIMATE haiku at that, since it's a haiku by a badass but only semiliterate American soldier). Also I think you'd just love Randy Waterhouse and his Lord of the Rings-based classification scheme of human beings.

And I have a totally separate recommendation for you based on my current reading: I recently just totally DEVOURED The Hunger Games. So, so good Ten! I think you'd enjoy it a lot!!!!!

[mikkeneko]

"Also I think you'd just love Randy Waterhouse and his Lord of the Rings-based classification scheme of human beings. "

Actually, as amusing as I found that allegory, that whole scene irritated me immensely. Because while the people at the party were acting like douches, they were still right about the problems of internet accessibility for the poorer classes.

[1010nabulation]

But early Stephen King and all the Dark Tower series is GOOD. :O It's the later Stephen King novels that got not-so-good. And yesss, he is lovely and smart and not pretentious about it. :) I like him a lot.

LOL WATERSHIP DOWN. I think I saw the movie when I was young and it kinda traumatized me, but then I read the novel when I was in my early teens and into creepy things (lol, I was a strange little girl) and it was still traumatizing, but deliciously so. XD

ENDER'S GAME. OKAY, READ THAT ONE FIRST. BEFORE DARK TOWER. Because AUGH WHAT WHY HAVEN'T YOU READ IT YET?! I think if you liked Hunger Games then you'd like Ender's Game. I think.

Ehehehe, Cryptonomicon sounds good! Will read!

I HAVE READ THE HUNGER GAMES AND LOVED IT, YES. One of my good friends loved it so much she got me the whole series for Christmas so I read them all at once. ^__^ GOOD TIMES. ALSO THERE IS A MOVIE COMING OUT NEXT YEAR. I GOT A FREE POSTER AT THE MOVIE THEATER. YYYAAAAAAYYYYY!

[herongale]

Okay I am reading Ender's Game!

I'm really looking forward to The Hunger Games movie. The casting is great and they are spending a lot of money on it, so I expect it to be fabulous.

YOU HAVE A POSTER FOR THE MOVIE ALREADY?? THAT IS AWESOME D: !!!!