Science fiction is worth reading because of the extraordinary creative works that exist in this genre, and the talented writers who compose science fiction including Orwell, Card, Adams, Verne, Asimov, Gaiman, Herbert, Le Guin, Bradbury, and Wells.
Below we examine the works of each of these authors, and consider whether science fiction is worth reading today, and whether each of these giants of the field is worth reading too!
Is Neil Gaiman Worth Reading?
Yes, Neil Gaiman’s worth reading. Perhaps more than any other author on this list, you’re likely to find Gaiman’s science fiction creative and distinctive. Gaiman offers his own particular flavor of the genre, creating memorable characters and settings with quirks. Gaiman also has a loyal following and has written extensively on his own writing process and efforts to battle against self-doubt.
What Is Neil Gaiman’s Most Famous Book?
Gaiman’s most famous book would have to be American Gods, followed by The Sandman, a work which has recently been adapted for and featured on Netflix. Gaiman wrote Coraline, which may be his most famous work among younger audiences. In a similar way to many other science fiction authors, Gaiman’s most famous works are often well-known for their screen adaptations.
Is Frank Herbert Worth Reading?
Yes, you will find Frank Herbert worth reading. Author of the well-known Dune series, which has been adapted for film on multiple occasions, with a recent release performing particularly well, Herbert has written a number of novels set within the Dune world. Herbert offers readers who enjoy sustained engagement with a story universe the chance to revisit this world time and time again, with six novels in the Dune series.
What Is Frank Herbert’s Best Book?
Frank Herbert’s best book has got to be the original Dune novel. That said, fans are also quick to commend his novel The Dosadi Experiment, which takes place in the ConSentiency universe, a different one to that of his Dune novels, as well as his short stories. You might like to begin reading Herbert’s short stories before moving on to his novels to get a sense of his abilities as a writer, and to also develop an understanding of which universes and styles of his are your favorites.
Is Ursula K. Le Guin Worth Reading?
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Yes, Ursula K. Le Guin has to be one of the science fiction authors most worth reading. Her novels frequently challenge norms we take for granted, or which go unexamined by other authors. Some have suggested that her Earthsea series might be responsible for the themes of Hayao Miyazaki’s famous film, Spirited Away, while Neil Gaiman also credits Le Guin for the role her work played in the development of his own writing.
What’s Ursula K. Le Guin’s Most Famous Book?
Ursula K. Le Guin’s most famous book would have to be A Wizard of Earthsea, with the rest of the novels in the Earthsea series to follow. The Dispossessed, another novel, also won Le Guin considerable fame and accolades. If you’re after a science fiction writer unafraid to be experimental and to take risks, you’re likely to really enjoy Le Guin’s novels, no matter where you begin reading.
Is Ray Bradbury Worth Reading?
Yes, you’re going to find Ray Bradbury worth reading. A writer who wrote with a particular ability to capture the sentiments present during the twentieth century, Bradbury wrote novels and wrote also for the screen. Bradbury wrote some of his best novels on coin-operated library typewriters. Imagine how trying that process must have been! He believed, as many science fiction authors do, that anything can be achieved and that all things are possible.
What’s Ray Bradbury’s Best Book?
Though Fahrenheit 451 receives a lot of publicity, among fans, most Bradbury fans consider The Martian Chronicles their all time favorite and his best book. Both books feature heavy references to the political context Bradbury was writing in, with the aftermath of World War II and frightening threats present during the Cold War responsible for the realities his characters face, and for much of Bradbury’s own messaging.
Is H. G. Wells Worth Reading?
Yes, H. G. Wells has got to be worth reading! With novels like War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man and The Time Machine, Wells remains one of the most highly regarded science fiction authors to date. Amazingly, and largely before the start of the twentieth century, Wells was able to predict through his writing the advent of nuclear weapons, television, space travel and even the web!
What’s H. G. Wells’ Best Book?
There’s a lot of debate over the best H. G. Wells book. Many fans cite The Time Machine as their favorite novel, but even more fans still write that War of the Worlds offers some of the most ‘alien’ aliens of any science fiction novel. They describe War of the Worlds as a novel they return to time and time again. An honorable mention goes to The Island of Doctor Moreau, a novel also often mentioned as a fan favorite.
Is Isaac Asimov Worth Reading?
Yes, Asimov is worth reading because he is considered one of the foundational (pun intended) figures of the science fiction genre due to his enormous output, and the quality of his novels and stories which are both cherished by fans globally and regularly adapted into films.
Where to Start Reading Isaac Asimov?
Start reading Isaac Asimov with the Foundation series. In this series of novels Asimov’s formidable writing powers are on show, as he demonstrates his mastery of a wide variety of scientific fields. He published over 500 works in his life, in almost all of the Dewey Decimal System categories!
What are the Best Novels by Asimov?
Isaac Asimov’s best novels include the Foundation Series, the Robot Series (37 stories, and 6 novels), and his collection of short stories Nine Tomorrows. You may have already seen the film I, Robot starring Will Smith! Nine Tomorrows is a secret favorite of many writers, and once you read it science fiction will never be the same for you again. They’re beautifully elegant. Let there be light! (If you know, you know.)
Is Jules Verne Worth Reading?
Jules Verne is worth reading because his stories have entered the global consciousness (whether we fully realize it or not), and because his science fiction titles are considered canonical classics of the form. Many contemporary science fiction tropes arise from his works!
Where to Start Reading Jules Verne?
You can start reading Jules Verne with just about any of his classic novels, but we suggest the most famous of all: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in Eighty Days, and Journey to the Centre of The Earth. I bet some of those titles sound familiar, right?
What are the Best Novels by Jules Verne?
Jules Verne’s best novel is likely a coin toss between Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and Around the World in Eighty Days. In ‘Leagues’ you will join Captain Nemo aboard the world’s first submarine The Nautilus! It’s a whale of a tale for all lovers of science and the sea.
Around the World in Eighty Days will see you take to the skies with Phileas Fogg, and his valet Passepartout as they circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon in order to meet the terms of a bet that will see them net about $3,000,000 USD in today’s money!
Is Orson Scott Card Worth Reading?
Yep, Orson Scott Card is worth reading as his classic Ender’s Game is held in such high regard by science fiction fans and writers the world over. This novel was adapted into a thrilling film starring no less than Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley among many other talented performers.
Where to Start Reading Orson Scott Card?
As you may have gathered, the best place to start reading Orson Scott Card is definitely Ender’s Game! This work has been translated into 34 languages, and won the ‘best novel’ category in the Nebula Award (1985) and Hugo Award (1986). It tells the tale of a young man by the name of Andrew ‘Ender’ Wiggin, who is revealed to be a tactical genius, and is put to work conducting war games to defend Earth from an Alien invasion. There are plot twists here to make you feel like you’re in zero gravity yourself!
Is Douglas Adams Worth Reading?
Douglas Adams is worth reading because his series of novels The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy had the world rolling in the aisles with laughter with its astonishingly pithy turns of phrase, and absurd situations which defy the rational mind.
What is Douglas Adams Famous For?
Douglas Adams is famous primarily for dreaming up an astonishing number of unforgettable characters, accompanied by reality twisting plots which boggle the mind. From poetry reciting Vogons, to aliens by the moniker of Ford Prefect, a journey through Adams’ imaginary is one littered with characters who become friends (and enemies!) for life.
Where to Start Reading Douglas Adams?
Definitely start reading Douglas Adams with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. This work started as a BBC radio play, and then expanded into an increasingly inaccurately named ‘trilogy’ consisting of five books. There’s so much material here, so many strange and interesting worlds, so many wacky characters both human and robotic, that you will be grinning for months on end: just remember not to panic and to always bring a towel.
Is George Orwell Worth Reading?
George Orwell is worth reading because in the final years of his life he produced two novels which are amongst the best known works of art of all time. Animal Farm, and 1984 have dominated lists of the most important works of literature since they were released. Unfortunately Orwell passed away shortly after they were published and did not live to see the full extent of their success.
Where to Start Reading George Owell?
Because this is primarily a close look at science fiction writers, we recommend taking a look at 1984. This work was finished in 1948, and is a dystopian examination of a nightmare future in which totalitarian regimes wielding invasive surveillance techniques crush the authenticity and humanity out of life entirely.
What is George Orwell Most Famous For?
While Orwell is certainly famous for the novels he wrote, he is also a widely celebrated nonfiction writer, and journalist. His rules for writing which were outlined in Politics and the English Language are still revered and observed today.
- Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
- Never use a long word where a short one will do.
- If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
- Never use the passive where you can use the active.
- Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
- Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Conclusion
So there you have it, science fiction is most certainly worth reading primarily because of the astonishing writers who have composed in the form, and the worthy produce of their labor. The science fiction authors most worth reading include Orwell, Card, Adams, Verne, Asimov, Gaiman, Herbert, Le Guin, Bradbury, and Wells.
We hope you enjoy reading the work of these authors, conclude that science fiction is worth reading, and start composing your own lists of favourites too!