What is the BEST SCI-FI book of all time?

[AviatorTom]

According to Esquire Magazine,

The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time

the top 5 Science Fiction books of all time are:

1 - Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
2 - Dune, by Frank Herbert
3 - The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
4 - The Fifth Season, by N. K. Jemisin
5 - Kindred, by Octavia Butler

What do you think is the BEST SCI-FI BOOK?

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley

Dune, by Frank Herbert

The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury

The Fifth Season, by N. K. Jemisin

Kindred, by Octavia Butler

Something Else - please tell us

[andreasderjuengere]

I think that there are plenty of ''worst'' books.

All the others that 'passed the test' are too individual in their thoughts to make a direct comparison. Aren't they all 'best' in themselves?

Some of my own favourites:

- Simulacron 3

- Flowers for Algernon

- The Alien Way

- The Beast of Heaven

- Foundation series

- A Canticle for Leibowitz

- The Gameplayers of Zan

- The Gods Themselves

(... looks as if Asimov takes the lead... :) )

[NamerOfStars]

So... no Verne, no Wells, no Cyrano? This tells me very clearly that Esquire doesn't know SQUAT about sci-fi.

[AviatorTom]

Good point. In the entire list of 50, Wells' "The Time Machine" is #38 but there is no Verne or Cyrano. I was surprised that Jules Verne wasn't included at all, considering his plethora of classic Sci-Fi novels: Around the World in Eighty Days‎, From the Earth to the Moon‎, Journey to the Center of the Earth‎, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea‎, and others.

[chrissykerdock]

there was the planet of the apes book but nothing like 1st planet of the apes movie... the 2nd planet of the apes movie it was closer to but not quite like the book still but closer... i read the books forget the title and author although probably can be easily looked up without knowing both.

[DizzyDesii]

Anything but Frankenstein. Gosh i couldnt stand that book. I guess A Wrinkle In Time if that eveb counts? I don't know im not a big book person

[exitseven]

I really liked Dune but I used to read this series.

Tarnsman of Gor

[AngryCarl2]

How far did you get?

[exitseven]

@AngryCarl2 I read these for years when I was a kid. There were probably 20 books. The first ten were good than they got repetitive.

[AngryCarl2]

I'm eight books in. The first six books were fine.

[exitseven]

@AngryCarl2 yes, i am surprised these books are still around. They were written back in the 60s and 70s.

[OfMiceandMen]

Frankenstein was one of the best among those above. True classic it has survived many years.

[TheSpaceGnome]

[LiamJHayden]

Pebble in the Sky. First novel published in what became Asimov's Robot/Galactic Empire/Foundation Series.

[HippieVeganJewslim]

Frankenstein is the only one I’ve read. Frankenstein did make some mistakes, but deserve not to die. Same goes for his monster.

[Nikki1989]

Frankenstein. Love the classics.

[OlderAndWiser]

Jules Verne, From the Earth to the Moon

[MysticDevice]

War of the Worlds
Dune
Rendezvous with Rama

[AngryCarl2]

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

[LovrUFFAllls]

Dune