Good list. You helped me to decide what book read next after I finish Swan Song, namely Rendezvous with Rama which I happen to own but haven't read yet. Culture is also my top favorite SF series alongside with Hyperion. I wish success to you and your channel.
@@BenjaminsBookclub Thanks, I'm sure I will. Classic SF is the best :) Swan Song is very good, easily among the best books I've read. A bit like Stephen King's The Stand, a post-apocalyptic road story with some supernatural/horror elements.
hail mary came out of nothing, i picked it up OFF THE GROUND near a public swimming pool. i was like huh interesting, let's take it home and read it. turns out to be one of the most fun scifi books ever.
Thank you for the list ! I have just finished Project Hail Mary and I loved it so much. It was my second book in sci-fi so now I want to read more of it!
Great picks! I LOVE the Dark Forest, Project Hail Mary, and Children of Time and the whole Expanse series. Blindsight sounds amazing as does Excession for me
Thank you, as a novelist (or a budding one at that), your reviews have been very respectful but honest and that is wonderful to see. Every book you picked I enjoyed myself and you put a different spin on it where I think I want to read a few of them again. Please keep these awesome reviews coming.
Love your list, but I have to ask. Rendezvous with Rama? Nothing happens. I found it interesting, but I found it to be a big meal that wasn’t filling. Children of Time, Blightsight, Ubik I think about all the time. RwR, not so much. Thanks for sharing. Try Roadside Picnic.
I get that take, I think things happen in Rendezvous with Rama, but I think the important distinction is things don't really happen in response to the humans actions or presence, it's that feeling that the human characters don't matter to Rama, that it barely takes notice of them at all, that leads to the atmosphere that makes me adore the book so much. I read Roadside Picnic this year! Absolutely brilliant, will definitely make an appearance in my next list!
Had to revisit this video to hear your thoughts on Abaddon's Gate. I loved the first two Expanse books but was really struggling with this one-the new characters (Anna, Melba, and Bull) just weren't clicking for me, and I missed Avasarala and Bobby. Listening to your review gave me the push I needed to make it to the halfway point, where things really start to kick off. Now I'm fully hooked again!
Awesome! I love hearing that!! I really need to get back to it and finish the last couple books. I probably need to read plot summaries to get caught back up again.
really enjoyed the list. I have read most of the books here, Rama is one of my all time favourite books too, a 10/10 for me that I read over 40 years ago. There are tons of other books dealing with a BDO entering the solar system but this is the grandaddy and all the others have been inspired by this.
Interesting list. Never got the Warhammer books but I knew a few friends who were into them. I think Gaunts Ghosts were the ones they mentioned to me. Glad to see Iain M Banks there, but I'd personally replace Excession with Player of Games (but I know the fanbase is split with which one to recommend). I see from some of your other replies that you've read some other classics this year, so they might make the list next time. My list would probably go 1. Dune - Frank Herbert 2. The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester 3. Lord Of Light - Roger Zelazny 4. Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion - Dan Simmons 5. Player Of Games - Iain M. Banks 6. Altered Carbon - Richard Morgan 7. Stations of The Tide - Michael Swanwick 8. To Say Nothing of The Dog- Connie Willis 9. The Diamond Age- Neal Stephenson 10. Rendezvous With Rama - Arthur C Clarke But now I feel bad for not including a bunch of authors who I really enjoy like Neal Asher, and Alastair Reynolds.
Narrowing it down to just 10 is so hard! I also left off a lot of Authors I love. I didn't include anything I'd read recently in this list, when I update it though I am certain one of Herberts Dune books will be on there! I need to read Bester, Zelazny and Stephenson still! I also have Hyperion penciled in for like a July or August read!
Great list of wonderful stories. For PKD, many wonderful books - I particularly like Flow My Tears the Policeman Said, and, A Scanner Darkly, which I have purchased a number of times over the years. If you've never read him - pick up some Cordwainer Smith - I don't read a lot of short story collections, but Cordwainer Smith's short fiction is simply stunning, stories unlike any others.
My first introduction to Smith was his Best of Cordwainer Smith book, which I guess is available as The Rediscovery of Man,, which, confusingly can either be a reprint of The Best of, or a new collection, which contains twice as many stories, but retains most, if not all of The Best of collection. I hope you enjoy A Scanner Darkly. It is a piece of work. Additionally, if you have seen the movie Blade Runner, you should be aware that the movie only covers about 2/5 of the Dick novel, and tells a deeper, more complex tale.
If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". It's got humor and also very poignant and based upon what you've recommended, I think you'd like it.
I have read it! I really really liked it! I've got a review up on the channel. I'm not sure if it breaks into my top 10 when it comes up again, but I really really enjoyed it!
Great video. Love the list. Couple books there that I have not read but may pick up: Altered Carbon and Excession. I really have to start meeting the Culture series. Your choice as a favorite book is interesting as I t’s not one that I hear people talk about. Most usually mention Use of weapons or Player of games as their favorite. Ubik, Children, Blindsight, Project, and Rendezvous are all books that I would at least consider when putting together my top 10. I gotta make that list at some point soon!
I adore Player of Games and Use of Weapons, both 5 star reads for me, Excession is just the one I always come back to re-read given the choice. It's not as difficult a read as use of weapons, and it's scope is much grander than player of games.
Great list!! I loved altered carbon! The Netflix series (season 1 only) is really good also they tried to stick to the book. I loved project Hail Mary as well. I read Martian first and loved it and for me project Hail Mary was just as good if not a bit better. One of my favorites of all time is old man’s war by John Scalzi. I’d highly recommend that one if you haven’t read it already. Great video!!
I have Old Man's War sitting on my shelf, I really do mean to get to it! Maybe I'll check it out soon. Does it stand well alone or do you really need to read the rest as well? I need to read the Martian as well, I have watched the movie but I know I will love the book. And I also need to watch Altered Carbon, I am so far behind on TV! Thanks so much for watching!
I’ve been wanting to getting into Warhammer for a little bit now. Maybe I’ll start with Soul Hunter! Also a lot of epic sounding books that I haven’t even heard of! My TBR list just grew! Great video Benjamin
From the top-10 list, I am familiar with 5. I read for enjoyment as well as learning about new worlds and ideas, so my top 2 from the list are Project Hail Mary and Altered Carbon. I couldn’t get through Dark Forest and Rendezvous with Rama. I skipped around to finish them, but they were dry. I couldn’t believe some of the science, and yet their technology seemed oddly limiting as well. Blindsight was pretty good and enjoyable. I read so many scifi books it’s hard to recommend just a few, but SnowCrash and Diamond Age were very enjoyable and memorable. Fall or Dodge in Hell, Seveneves, Old Man’s War, Forever War, The Word for World is Forest, and Diaspora are some other memorable books. A Good list, and I hope you do a longer list with more books next. 😊
To me, Martian was a boring book. Hail Mary was Far, Far Better! I couldn’t get past potato farming on Martian soil, from a few whole potatoes shipped from Earth months ago, frozen presumably for months, and maybe irradiated too.
I adored Diaspora, read that a month or so ago, I have a video up for it too :D Dark Forest and Rama are definitly the drier of the books on my list, can't fault you there! SnowCrash is getting read this month hopefully as part of CyberPunk Month. Old Man's War and Forever War are on my list to try to get to before the end of the year as well! Thanks so much for the recomendations!
Was wondering if you've read Gateway by Frederick Pohl? I see it in book shops alot and it has a SF masterworks print like lots of iconic SF books, but I rarely if ever hear people talk about it. It was one of the first SF books I read and I really enjoyed it.
I've heard of Gateway, and Phol, but never read it or anything else he has written. I'll add it to my wishlist and keep an eye out for it in the stores nearby! Thanks for the recommendation!
@@BenjaminsBookclub I will say, it's a polarizing book due to the fact that the main character is unlikeable. I think it's done intentionally to serve as a thinking point throughout, but I've seen people say they didn't like it because the main character sucks so it depends on your outlook on it I guess.
So glad to see Children of Time on the list because it's absolutely fantastic. That book had everything I love in a sci-fi novel. Huge world building, first contact, evolution, strong characters (some of which are spiders). One of my favorite sci fi books. Blindsight and the entire Remembrance of Earths Past series are also fantastic. Both of those books were practically life changing lol.
Great list!! My personal top 3 are 1. Demon in White (Sun Eater series. Idk if you’ve read it but its my favorite ongoing book series along with Stormlight. The first book is a really solid 8/10, but the series only goes up in quality after the first book. The series seriously has three 10/10 books, and all 6 books are just consistently super high quality, with the first one being the worst). I’m very nostalgic for Dune, but this series wipes Dune. Its absolute peak 2. Children of Time 3. Hyperion
Great list! I am going to start Sun Eater soon, going to collab with a friend of mine and read them all together! Children of Time, Absolute classic. Hyperion is scheduled for January, I am super excited to get to it! Thanks so much!
@@MaliciousChickenAgenda Do you have any recommendations for 'Epic' sci-fi in the vein of Dune and Hyperion? Neuromancer is incredibly but William Gibson doesn't hold your hand, be prepared for that.
3 & 4 I read this year, and will almost certainly be making an appearance on next years list :) I am 100% reading Hyperion in the next few months, I also want to read Childhoods End, and I have never heart of Gateway!
@@SciFiFinds these recommendations might not be similar to Dune & Hyperion but they’re nonetheless epic- I’ll start with Starmaker by Olaf Stapledon. I personally loved it and it’s still in my top ten after all these years. I won’t say what it’s about just read it. Maybe google it first to see if it’s something you’d find entertaining. I thought it was fascinating and it stuck with me a long time! The forever war by Joe Haldeman is well worth checking out and The Stars my destination by Alfred Bester is a cracking yarn. One more - Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is , it’s a sad one but it’s a beautiful story
Great list. Among those I've read, I agree Children of Time and The Dark Forest are 5 star reads. I haven't read Rendezvous with Rama yet but I recently really enjoyed 2001 and would like to read more Clarke. Ubik is another I one really need to read. Have you read Hyperion or A Fire Upon the Deep? Looking at your tastes, I think they would appeal to you.
Thanks! I really need to read more Clarke, I think I'll pick up Childhoods end when I next allow myself to buy books. I havnt read either yet, but both are on my shelf waiting their turn. Id be shocked if I got to the end of the year without reading them both.
This is a great list! Have you ever read the expanse series ? I haven’t but I heard it is good too. I like the cyberpunk genre, looking forward to read altered Carbon and Neuromancer.
Thanks so much! I have read the first 6 Expanse books! Which were all that were put when I read them, now that the series is finished I'm deciding between a full re-read or just reading some plot recaps and jumping into book 7. They are amazing books. Neuromancer is a book I read thos year, so didn't make the list this time, but I would be absolutely shocked if it wasn't in the top 5/3 of next year's list, brilliant book and I can't wait to read the sequels.
Thanks. I may try Dark Matter again. I don’t think I gave it a fair shake. Children of time appealed to me from your description. BTW your descriptions are great.
@@BenjaminsBookclub Well,I had to wait almost forever for the Project:Hail Mary. I was something like 25th in line. Probably because they are making a movie from the book,I've read.
They didn't do it for me 😔 it's not them it's me. They are like my perfect set up for a sci fi story, but set as comedies instead of the darkness I would of loved. I just bounced off the jokes, I think most people would love them, just not for me :( i did read the first 3 though.
Thank you for the recommendations. Among my top 10 would be Hyperion, Red Mars (and continuations), Dune (without the continuations), Rendevouz with Rama, The Foundation Trilogy, and by P.K. Dick, if you liked Ubik, I recommend you read 'The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch' that it seems to me even better than Ubik. I have only read 'The Player of Games' by Banks, but I really liked it Your comments about 'Children of Time' made me to be interested on than book...
Currently doing a read along of Red Mars on the channel, just about to start part 4! Loving it so far. I read Dune and the first 3 sequels earlier this year, I absolutely adored Messiah. I have picked up The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, it's deffinitly going to be read very soon! Thanks so much for watching, and for the recommendations.
As a novice reader who struggles to read consitently, Project Hail Mary is my favourite book I've read so far. I got through it in less than 2 days and loved the hard sci-fi in it.
Philip K Dick is a whole different category of SF! He’s so unique & wild you can’t really compare him to typical SF writers! I treat him on a different level completely. Reality Bending SF really! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Someone once referred to a category “jazz masters” of SF. He was referring to Zelazny and Bester in a preface to an indescribable novel called Psychoshop that Bester started and Zelazny finished. I wonder if Dick falls in that category.
I loved Altered Carbon, good review! The Netflix is pretty good; they did not try to exactly replicate the book, but the changes are good. Rendezvous' With Rama is one or my faves as well.
I have re-activated Netflix to watch a few shows with my wife, so while I have it running I should get around to actually watching Altered Carbon. I also should try to get my own copies of the books, I only have 2&3 on my shelf, and they're both accidentally stolen from a friend I havnt seen in years.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I hear you, I have not had Netflix for ages. Probably not since I watched Altered Carbon, in fact. I have copies of the books that were kindly and voluntarily donated by a friend.
Love your list.... Others worth a go are : Ringworld - Larry Niven; Riverworld series - Philip Jose Farmer; Dayworld - Philip Jose Farmer;Gatewway series - Frederick Pohl; Lucifer's Hammer - Jerry Pournelle & Larry Niven; The Mote in Gods Eye - Jerry Pournelle & Larry Niven; Hothouse - Brian Aldiss; Wool Trilogy - Hugh Howey; Nexus trilogy - Ramez Naam.... I could go on....
Awesome! Thanks for the great recommendations! Ringworld, Mote in Gods Eye, Hothouse and the first Wool book are all sitting on my shelves waiting for me. Riverworld has sounded amazing ever since I watched bookpilled review it, but I have yet to find a copy in any store I've checked, keeping my eye out. The rest I hadn't heard of before! Going to spend some time tonight looking them up and adding them to my hunt list!
"I know I did say vampires, and it sounds silly" I love that. Adding that book to the wishlist (and hunting pretty versions) Several books on there I haven't read and (gasp) a couple I hadn't heard of. Great ranking.
Thanks! I quite like the cover I had up on screen for blindsight, my copy is the duology that includes the sequel, the collection called Firefall, which doesn't have as nice a cover I think.
The only other hard sci fi first contact book I've read is probably Blindsight, which is very very different from Rama but I do love that book and recommend it.
Excellent list, many are on my to read list :). Have you read any books by Alastair Reynolds, if you like epic space stories with no FTL, I recommend his Revelation Space series. Scratch that I just saw your play list 😅.
Thanks! Haha yeah, getting halfway through revelation space and wanting to talk to someone about it is what made me start this channel actually, what a great book, I am going to jump into Redemption Ark or House of Suns very soon!
@@BenjaminsBookclub I'm planning a re-read at some point to re-freshen up so I can get into his newer book Inhibitor Phase. House of Suns is a real favorite of mine too. Very interesting concept, hope you will like it too. Now i'm reading through the Dune books, almost done with Messiah. Glad I found your channel!
@@BenjaminsBookclub Finished it. I liked it. I knew most of the story before hand having watched the mini-series Children of Dune (which include Messiah) but the book give more complex motivations of the antagonists, where as the mini-series is more one dimensional god vs bad. Now I got intrigued by "The forge god" which will be my next book, so I will following your read along. Thanks!😀
Finally, someone who reads “normal” AND Warhammer 40k!! Great list, esp. Ubik, Blindsight, Iain M. Banks, and agree the Soul Hunter trilogy is great - personally prefer Horus Heresy series, Primarch novellas, Infinite and the Divine, Eisenhorn series, Peter Fehervari’s Coil series, Ciaphas Cain series, and a million others. Just about every PKD book is a great, then William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Reynolds, etc. are logical next thematic choices.
I do indeed read "normal" and 40k :D I love that phrasing. I love the Horus Heresy, I think Nightlords just edges it out, maybe mainly because its a complete trilogy, a lot snappier than the 50+ books of HH :D I need to get to Infinite and the Divine! I have read, Gibson, Reynolds and Stephenson this year, I would be shocked not to see some of them on next years list :D
Most of these sound really interesting! I couldn't get Three Body Problem, but I like Project Hail Mary so far. Does Excession have a lot of POV's? I usually get confused after more than two, but it sounds like it could have quite a few.
Three Body Problem is definitely not for everybody. Excession does have a few POV characters, off the top of my head it's atleast 4 I think, but it may be more. If you are enjoying project hail Mary, I would suggest Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, I just finished it last night and it reminded me a lot of Andy Weir.
Rendezvous with Rama is Amazing, it's a masterpiece. It's paced so well, it read like a great scifi movie. one of the best books I've ever read. it's so good that I can't bring myself to read the sequels .
I am absolutely not reading the sequels either. I've read very mixed reviews, and honestly any further explanations to the mysteries will just serve to hurt the books impact I think. I believe it has been licensed for movies a few times. I believe it's currently being prepared as a screen play to be directed by my faveorite director, Denis Villeneuve. If that goes ahead I will be the happiest little boy in sci fi town.
That's probably good. I liked R with R but I don't think it's top Clarke. I read I think 1 1/2 of the sequels and found them disappointing. Not well written, and seemed to be going deeper and deeper into a cold, lifeless universe that just creeped me out.
Great list! I watched expanse series I’ve been wondering if the book is very different then the show. The show got kinda wierd I love the belters! The idea of living in the belt!! Feels closer to home like it could maybe a realistic future.
Yeah the setting of The Expanse is very believable! One of the reasons I enjoy it so much, I only watched the first season of the show, and there were differences in that I noticed. The books get weird as well watch out!
Surprised there is no sun eater or Hyperion. Happy that you had a Warhammer 40k book. I think my favorite series from that were the soul drinkers, or the esienhorn trilogy. Agree with you about project hail Mary.
I havnt read soul drinkers :( in usual black library fashion it seems like the only copies are hundreds of dollars. Sun eater and Hyperion, I have not read. But I will hopefully be starting a buddy read of Sun Eater soon, and Hyperion is probably early next year.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I think sun eater will become one of your new top ten. Maybe not empire of silence. But the 2nd and 3rd books at the very least. Hyperion is an acquired taste. Do you not use LibGen to get free book downloads?
Sci-fi isn’t my go to genre. I’m more into horror/extreme horror and thrillers, but Project Hail Mary was my intro to sci-fi and I got a kick out of the story. I think I’m going to read the three body problem once I’m done with what I’m currently reading.
Excession was my intro to The Culture. What a great universe to explore! I wonder how much anxiety one would have living there given the power levels of the Minds.
I was told altered carbon is hard to get through. I think it honestly depends on personal taste. I have it sitting on my shelf, I’m more tempted to read it now after this review 😊 I was told Dune was a hard read too but I didn’t have an issue with it, I thought it was epic!
Absolutely a taste thing I'd say, lots of books people have raved about fell very flat for me, and vice-versa. I struggled with Dune before the movies, and then after the movies flew through Dune.
@@BenjaminsBookclubmy uncle read the first three body problem novel and wasn’t keen on it. He said it was heavy on science concepts and I think he prefers a story to be more character driven. I’ve yet to read Cixin Liu. I picked up the first one so I’ll give it a shot at some point. I see you’re a fan of Iain Banks! I love his stuff he’s amazing 😊
@@MaliciousChickenAgenda Yeah characters are not a strong point of the Three Body Problem books, they're 100% focused on the science and sci fi ideas and concepts over the characters. I adore Banks :)
I picked up Adrian Tchaikovskys Children of time, still waiting to be read. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Oh you’re a fan of Ubik! Another one of my favourites! Phillip K Dick is awesome, very thought provoking and Clarke too. Loved Rama, Childhood’s end and Space Odyssey 2001. I read another one of Clarkes about a big space elevator but I wasn’t that keen on it
I would think if you got through Dune, then you wouldn't find it hard to get through Altered Carbon. It is a totally different vibe though, which I loved. It's pretty brutal and graphic at times, which honestly was a breath of fresh air when It came out. But it does also pose some interesting questions alright in that, if we can download our consciousness, then is that immortality? Or do we die each time. So, what does life, death, morality, religion, identity, etc mean anymore? Plus, there's a murder mystery to be solved. Well worth a read.
Great list! I've read all ten and loved 8 of them. I found Blindsight confusing; I need to reread it. I didn't care for Ubik, but that's more about me than the book. My top ten is completely different, and admittedly it's dominated by "classic" sci-fi highspots: 10. More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon; 9. Gateway by Frederik Pohl' 8. Ender's game by Orson Scott Card; 7. Hyperion by Dan Simmons; 6. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; 5. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller; 4. The Left hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin; 3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley; 2. 1984 by George Orwell; and 1. Dune by Frank Herbert.
Of your 10 I have only read Dune. I am very embarrassed! Of the other 9, I own, 4 of them, which will likely all be read this year, Hyperion, 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and Ender's Game. I don't think Ubik is for everyone, its a very odd book. I have read plenty of highly rated books that just didn't land for me at all, its a rubbish feeling, makes you doubt yourself somewhat in my case haha.
is the book close to the movie they make. there is a Altered Carbon movie. it sometimes feels that books that may be good then they make the movie is not as good or changed too much. I love Arthur C Clarke since this book was from some time ago has many newer book used parts of older Sci Fi books
Admirable list. As an old geezer reading scifi from the seventies on i have read every book on your list. But all of them are in my top fifty list, not top ten.
I am starting to try to work through more of the classic must reads of sci fi, chances are high that if its not on this list and you think it should be I probably hadn't read it yet. Whats your top 3 if you had to pick em?
@@BenjaminsBookclub Damn, my brain melts. I've read maybe thousands. Top three would propably contain Wolfe's Book of the New Sun (titillating complexity) , Ursula le Guinn's Left Hand of Darkness (insight and psychology) and Forward's Dragon's Egg (sheer, accurate physics madness). Bubbling under is Greg Egan's Diaspora (flabbergasting scope)
@@akiyrjana6558 I adored Diaspora! I have Le Guinn and Wolfe on my shelf waiting for me, but Dragons Egg, is one that sounds amazing, but I've not yet been able to find a reasonably priced copy, still keeping my eye out though. Thanks so much!
Yeah not everything's for everyone is it :). Finding things like Project Hail Mary is quite hard, I found it quite unique. Children of Time has some of the problem solvingy stuff as PHM but not the focus, but it does have a lot of space.
‘Midshipman’s Hope” by David Feintuch is astounding. Interstellar travel intermingled with tragedies, gripping tension, plot twists, and an ending that causes you to hope for sequels.
I’m not a sci-fi reader but I loved Project Hail Mary and The Martian. Can you and your subscribers make any recommendations for me? I like character driven books but I also like a good chase/battle scene. I like the sound of Rama.
Just last night I finished Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and found myself comparing it to Project Hail Mary, both have scientist in strange situations, needing to use science to understand and problem solve. I really enjoyed it, and with the tv show coming up soon it's a great time to read it, I think I'll do a video on it infact!
"We Are Legion, We Are Bob", "Old Man's War", and maybe The Vorkosigan Saga. Lois McMaster Bujold is pretty wide ranging so not all of her books work for everyone but her characters, mysteries and battles are fun.
haha, one of like 50 kits I've built, and a few too many still in boxes! The three "main" suits of Zeta Gundam in this video, The Zeta is my favorite gundam, and Zeta is my favorite series so far.
I think I see Hyperion on most people's top 10s for sci fi. I know it's the top of a few of my friends lists. It's not on my list because I havnt read it yet, same as why Dune wasn't on this list. I have now read the first 4 dune books, and I am going to read Hyperion in January!
It is one of my favorite books of all time, but honestly, probably not for you it seems. It is definitely better than The Three Body Problem, but a lot of the problems with that book, awkward pacing, pretty dull characters, choppy dialogue, are all problems in The Dark Forest as well. Not every book is for everyone, I suspect if you really disliked The Three Body Problem, you probably won't suddenly fall in love with the rest of the series.
As soon as I saw Andy Weir and one of the dismal 3-Body books, I knew this video would not be for me. I am curious about Banks (having read most of his non-SF work which is excellent) and the PKD. Anyway, congrats on not including Dune, which is a middling book that people often feel obliged to put in their top 10 lists (a bit of an emperor's new clothes thing).
I think you'll be dissapointed, I hadn't read dune when I made this, I would now include the sequel Dune Messiah on this list :) Different tastes for everyone, I would suggest checking out Banks Culture books for sure!!
@@BenjaminsBookclub sweet. you might even like DAWN by Butler even more. As for Delany, based on your geekier/dreamier tastes, i think you'd dig NOVA or BABEL-17. Most people say DHALGREN is his best work, but honestly i have yet to crack that one open. I do have to say that STARS IN MY POCKET LIKE GRAINS OF SAND is my favorite book of all time, regardless of genre. Hope this helps! Hope you pick one up
@@Majesticon Awesome thanks so much! I will keep an eye out for Nova, Babel-17 and Stars in my pocket at my local stores and add them to my wishlist! They all seem really interesting!
Abaddon's Gate is such an underrated book. Most seem to say it is the weakest of the series. I think it is prob my 2nd fav following Book 1. It also is the book that the TV series changed the most. Also, Children of Time was one of those books that I seemed to like it more as time as gone by after reading it. I have had a couple I feel that way about. Malice is another.
You know I really need to both finish the series, and watch the TV show, I have only ever seen the first few episodes, and I decided to wait until I read all the books to continue, then I just haven't kept reading the books. Malice by John Gwynne? Or by Keigo Higashino, I've read Higahino's and loved it, one of the few crime fiction authors I've actually read.
It's unusual to see a top ten science fiction book list that omits Dune., I would also include Ender's Game, and the Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but I am a lot older.
Well I didn't include anything I read in 2024 in this list, which includes the first four Dune books, deffinitly will be making an appearance on the next version of this list! As for Enders Games I havnt read it yet, I really disliked the movie, so I've been putting it off. I actually have a review of Moon is a Harsh Mistress up on the channel! I really really liked it!
Thanks! Yeah I havnt read it, it's sitting on my shelf waiting for me. It's funny, Ive read some absolutly all time great books this year, I'm worried about adding another, already got like 5 that would of been book of the year any other year hah
I've watched the first season and I adored it, decided to pause watching until I finished the book series, and then have just not got back to either. Perhaps in 2025 I'll promise to finish the books, and the show.
@ oh, you must read the books at least up to Book 6. Then watch the TV which just goes to book 6 now. Then read the last 3 books. The TV is so well done that you can envision the TV characters while reading the books. (The TV show changed a little bit of how some of the characters interact but mostly it’s the same.)
If the Culture series is divisive on Booktube, that's simply an indictment of Booktube. Iain Banks is brilliant and the Culture series stands above just about all the other grand scope science fiction in existence.
E.E Doc Smith's Vortex Blaster,Cities in Flight by James Blish,and The Weapon Shops of Isher by A.E. Van Vogt are all great sci-fi from LONG ago. you might be hard put to even find them at a library, or a bookstore. One of my favorites is Heinlein's The Star Beast,one of his "kid-lit" books. it would make a GREAT movie today,IF they kept to the book and didn't "go woke".
Thanks for the suggestions! I hadn't heard of those novels but I have heard of the Authors, I will add them to the list I check out every time I go to a used bookstore!
So I read Solaris back when I first got back into reading, and I was reading lots of action heavy adventure sort of books, so the slower paced, more cerebral solaris didn't land with me at the time. I am convinced that if I reread it now I would love it though so I'll probably re-read it next year.
Not sure about individusl books, bit if i was creating a list it would start with books by... 1) Simmons 2) Hamilton 3) Reynolds 4) Corey 5) Herbert 6) Morgan 7) Donaldson 8) Vinge 9) Stephenson
I need to read Simmons and Vinge from this list! I also need to give Hamilton a proper go, I tried one of his books as audiobook, and unfortunatly half way through the 60 hour run time I changed jobs and no longer had to commute long distances for work, so my audio book consumption almost stopped. I think I have Salvation on my shelf.
I hadn't read them when I made the list, I have now finished all of them, and Burning Chrome. I would say Neuromancer 5/5 (this will 100% be on the list when I remake it next year) Count Zero 2/5 (You can check my review for why this one just didnt work for me) Mona Lisa Overdrive 4/5 (Not as magical as Neuromancer but a great end of the trilogy and ties things up well) Thanks!
As someone from mainland China and now lives in Australia, I have to say that I hate Liu's 3 body problem books. Upon first read they are great and thought provoking. But if you grow up in China where most people believe the society to be a jungle, you either give in to the jungle and become part of the competition, or you choose to leave. If you give in to the jungle, you will have to compete for every resource, the you become super utilitarian, like everyone else, then social Darwinism takes center stage. And if you "believe" in the way of the jungle, these books are like confirmation on their way of thinking: even the aliens are like this(not many actually think like this because they are not even aware of the words like social Darwinism, they just want to be better than their neighbors). Then there are the rebellious ones that hate the game but are also lucky enough to be able to leave, like me. We hate the books because it's a reminder of the jungle. Also there's almost no character building in the books, the people seem like machines that react to inputs, but not people with flesh and blood(just like many Chinese people I know that work their ass off and save up only for the sake of saving up).
I love the Hyperion cantos a lot better, love, family, romance, revenge, sacrifice, religion, rebellion, and even some cyber puke, and of course poetry... The 3 body problem books don't have any of these. This is why I say the 3 body problem books are limited.
I absolutely agree the charecter writing is not good in the series, it's one of the times where the sci fi concepts and ideas carry it enough that I forgive the very flat characters. I can't speak to the comparisons to life in China, but it was super interesting to read your views on it, I'd say you probably have it right on. From an outside perspective it's something that's interesting to read about, but if it were bringing back memories of my past I'd be much less enamoured. Thanks so much for your comment, it has given me a lot to think about.
I don't think I'm going to read the sequels, Ive heard pretty bad things about them, and I think attempting to explain Rama more would just hurt the mystery which I love in the first book.
Good list. You helped me to decide what book read next after I finish Swan Song, namely Rendezvous with Rama which I happen to own but haven't read yet. Culture is also my top favorite SF series alongside with Hyperion. I wish success to you and your channel.
Thanks so much for your kind words! I hope you enjoy Rama as much as I did! How was Swan Song?
@@BenjaminsBookclub Thanks, I'm sure I will. Classic SF is the best :) Swan Song is very good, easily among the best books I've read. A bit like Stephen King's The Stand, a post-apocalyptic road story with some supernatural/horror elements.
@@sorzotheheavybagslayer Sounds fantastic! I may need to bump it up my TBR
Did you end up reading Rendezvous with Rama?
@@BenjaminsBookclub Yes I did, and also Rama II and Garden of Rama. Rama revealed is waiting in my bookshelf, so I can say I liked Rama :)
I love that you included summaries, thank you!
Thanks so much for watching!!
Yeah
hail mary came out of nothing, i picked it up OFF THE GROUND near a public swimming pool. i was like huh interesting, let's take it home and read it. turns out to be one of the most fun scifi books ever.
What a great book to find at a pool haha!
Thank you for the list ! I have just finished Project Hail Mary and I loved it so much. It was my second book in sci-fi so now I want to read more of it!
Thanks so much! What a great book! I try to lend it to everyone I know 😂
Great picks! I LOVE the Dark Forest, Project Hail Mary, and Children of Time and the whole Expanse series. Blindsight sounds amazing as does Excession for me
I'm hoping to finish the Expanse very soon, got the last 3 books to go!
I think you'd really like Blindsight!
Thank you, as a novelist (or a budding one at that), your reviews have been very respectful but honest and that is wonderful to see. Every book you picked I enjoyed myself and you put a different spin on it where I think I want to read a few of them again. Please keep these awesome reviews coming.
Thanks so much for the kind words! What a great thing to start my day with :) Made my day already!
@@BenjaminsBookclub I am glad I was able to help. I can't wait to see what is coming up next from you.
Love your list, but I have to ask.
Rendezvous with Rama? Nothing happens. I found it interesting, but I found it to be a big meal that wasn’t filling.
Children of Time, Blightsight, Ubik I think about all the time. RwR, not so much.
Thanks for sharing.
Try Roadside Picnic.
I get that take, I think things happen in Rendezvous with Rama, but I think the important distinction is things don't really happen in response to the humans actions or presence, it's that feeling that the human characters don't matter to Rama, that it barely takes notice of them at all, that leads to the atmosphere that makes me adore the book so much.
I read Roadside Picnic this year! Absolutely brilliant, will definitely make an appearance in my next list!
@@BenjaminsBookclub that makes sense. Thanks for the reply!
Had to revisit this video to hear your thoughts on Abaddon's Gate. I loved the first two Expanse books but was really struggling with this one-the new characters (Anna, Melba, and Bull) just weren't clicking for me, and I missed Avasarala and Bobby. Listening to your review gave me the push I needed to make it to the halfway point, where things really start to kick off. Now I'm fully hooked again!
Awesome! I love hearing that!! I really need to get back to it and finish the last couple books. I probably need to read plot summaries to get caught back up again.
really enjoyed the list. I have read most of the books here, Rama is one of my all time favourite books too, a 10/10 for me that I read over 40 years ago. There are tons of other books dealing with a BDO entering the solar system but this is the grandaddy and all the others have been inspired by this.
Seems like a lot of people didn't like it as much as we did, but I'll stand by it till I die hah. Thanks so much for watching! Blows me away :)
Interesting list. Never got the Warhammer books but I knew a few friends who were into them. I think Gaunts Ghosts were the ones they mentioned to me.
Glad to see Iain M Banks there, but I'd personally replace Excession with Player of Games (but I know the fanbase is split with which one to recommend).
I see from some of your other replies that you've read some other classics this year, so they might make the list next time.
My list would probably go
1. Dune - Frank Herbert
2. The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester
3. Lord Of Light - Roger Zelazny
4. Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion - Dan Simmons
5. Player Of Games - Iain M. Banks
6. Altered Carbon - Richard Morgan
7. Stations of The Tide - Michael Swanwick
8. To Say Nothing of The Dog- Connie Willis
9. The Diamond Age- Neal Stephenson
10. Rendezvous With Rama - Arthur C Clarke
But now I feel bad for not including a bunch of authors who I really enjoy like Neal Asher, and Alastair Reynolds.
Narrowing it down to just 10 is so hard! I also left off a lot of Authors I love.
I didn't include anything I'd read recently in this list, when I update it though I am certain one of Herberts Dune books will be on there!
I need to read Bester, Zelazny and Stephenson still! I also have Hyperion penciled in for like a July or August read!
Great list of wonderful stories. For PKD, many wonderful books - I particularly like Flow My Tears the Policeman Said, and, A Scanner Darkly, which I have purchased a number of times over the years. If you've never read him - pick up some Cordwainer Smith - I don't read a lot of short story collections, but Cordwainer Smith's short fiction is simply stunning, stories unlike any others.
I have been eyeing Smith, he has been recommended a bunch, is there a particular short story collection you like?
A Scanner Darkly is my next Dick!
My first introduction to Smith was his Best of Cordwainer Smith book, which I guess is available as The Rediscovery of Man,, which, confusingly can either be a reprint of The Best of, or a new collection, which contains twice as many stories, but retains most, if not all of The Best of collection.
I hope you enjoy A Scanner Darkly. It is a piece of work. Additionally, if you have seen the movie Blade Runner, you should be aware that the movie only covers about 2/5 of the Dick novel, and tells a deeper, more complex tale.
If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". It's got humor and also very poignant and based upon what you've recommended, I think you'd like it.
I have read it! I really really liked it! I've got a review up on the channel. I'm not sure if it breaks into my top 10 when it comes up again, but I really really enjoyed it!
Great video. Love the list. Couple books there that I have not read but may pick up: Altered Carbon and Excession. I really have to start meeting the Culture series. Your choice as a favorite book is interesting as I t’s not one that I hear people talk about. Most usually mention Use of weapons or Player of games as their favorite.
Ubik, Children, Blindsight, Project, and Rendezvous are all books that I would at least consider when putting together my top 10. I gotta make that list at some point soon!
I adore Player of Games and Use of Weapons, both 5 star reads for me, Excession is just the one I always come back to re-read given the choice.
It's not as difficult a read as use of weapons, and it's scope is much grander than player of games.
@@BenjaminsBookclub that’s good to know , thanks 👍
Rendezvous with Rama! 🛸 Such an amazing page-turner and unique take on first contact. 👽
I agree! Couldn't believe how fast I got through that book.
One of my favorite books of all time
reading it now, love it
thanks for some great suggestions,
saw some I have read on your list, so will give the others a try.
much appreciated my dude :D
Thanks so much! Come back and let me know how you found them!!
Great list!! I loved altered carbon! The Netflix series (season 1 only) is really good also they tried to stick to the book. I loved project Hail Mary as well. I read Martian first and loved it and for me project Hail Mary was just as good if not a bit better. One of my favorites of all time is old man’s war by John Scalzi. I’d highly recommend that one if you haven’t read it already. Great video!!
I have Old Man's War sitting on my shelf, I really do mean to get to it! Maybe I'll check it out soon. Does it stand well alone or do you really need to read the rest as well?
I need to read the Martian as well, I have watched the movie but I know I will love the book.
And I also need to watch Altered Carbon, I am so far behind on TV!
Thanks so much for watching!
@@BenjaminsBookclub awesome! Yeah you can read it by itself. The rest of the series is good but I think the first one is still the best.
I’ve been wanting to getting into Warhammer for a little bit now. Maybe I’ll start with Soul Hunter!
Also a lot of epic sounding books that I haven’t even heard of! My TBR list just grew! Great video Benjamin
Thanks Dan! I think you would love some of the Warhammer books!
I am so happy to have found this channel!😮 not enough people talk about SF 🚀
Thanks for being here! Agreed I adore sci fi!
From the top-10 list, I am familiar with 5. I read for enjoyment as well as learning about new worlds and ideas, so my top 2 from the list are Project Hail Mary and Altered Carbon. I couldn’t get through Dark Forest and Rendezvous with Rama. I skipped around to finish them, but they were dry. I couldn’t believe some of the science, and yet their technology seemed oddly limiting as well. Blindsight was pretty good and enjoyable.
I read so many scifi books it’s hard to recommend just a few, but SnowCrash and Diamond Age were very enjoyable and memorable. Fall or Dodge in Hell, Seveneves, Old Man’s War, Forever War, The Word for World is Forest, and Diaspora are some other memorable books.
A Good list, and I hope you do a longer list with more books next. 😊
To me, Martian was a boring book. Hail Mary was Far, Far Better! I couldn’t get past potato farming on Martian soil, from a few whole potatoes shipped from Earth months ago, frozen presumably for months, and maybe irradiated too.
I adored Diaspora, read that a month or so ago, I have a video up for it too :D
Dark Forest and Rama are definitly the drier of the books on my list, can't fault you there!
SnowCrash is getting read this month hopefully as part of CyberPunk Month. Old Man's War and Forever War are on my list to try to get to before the end of the year as well!
Thanks so much for the recomendations!
Was wondering if you've read Gateway by Frederick Pohl? I see it in book shops alot and it has a SF masterworks print like lots of iconic SF books, but I rarely if ever hear people talk about it. It was one of the first SF books I read and I really enjoyed it.
I've heard of Gateway, and Phol, but never read it or anything else he has written. I'll add it to my wishlist and keep an eye out for it in the stores nearby! Thanks for the recommendation!
@@BenjaminsBookclub I will say, it's a polarizing book due to the fact that the main character is unlikeable. I think it's done intentionally to serve as a thinking point throughout, but I've seen people say they didn't like it because the main character sucks so it depends on your outlook on it I guess.
@@Eddie_M16 I can get behind unlikeable main characters!
So glad to see Children of Time on the list because it's absolutely fantastic. That book had everything I love in a sci-fi novel. Huge world building, first contact, evolution, strong characters (some of which are spiders). One of my favorite sci fi books.
Blindsight and the entire Remembrance of Earths Past series are also fantastic. Both of those books were practically life changing lol.
Couldn't agree more! So glad you enjoyed them as well! Have you read Children of Ruin yet? I'm thinking of picking it up next
@@BenjaminsBookclub It's on my shelf, haven't gotten to it yet. Currently reading The Sparrow and it might be my favorite book so far this year.
@@ambassadorcartwright9127 I've heard good things about The Sparrow, I haven't picked it up yet but I probably need too.
Great list!! My personal top 3 are
1. Demon in White (Sun Eater series. Idk if you’ve read it but its my favorite ongoing book series along with Stormlight. The first book is a really solid 8/10, but the series only goes up in quality after the first book. The series seriously has three 10/10 books, and all 6 books are just consistently super high quality, with the first one being the worst). I’m very nostalgic for Dune, but this series wipes Dune. Its absolute peak
2. Children of Time
3. Hyperion
Great list!
I am going to start Sun Eater soon, going to collab with a friend of mine and read them all together!
Children of Time, Absolute classic.
Hyperion is scheduled for January, I am super excited to get to it!
Thanks so much!
Great video dude! Not sure about my top 10 but my top 5 is probably:
1. Childhood's End
2. Hyperion
3. Dune
4. Neuromancer
5. Gateway
Hyperion and Dune are epic! Loved childhoods end. I have neuromancer on my shelf, haven’t read it yet 😊
@@MaliciousChickenAgenda Do you have any recommendations for 'Epic' sci-fi in the vein of Dune and Hyperion? Neuromancer is incredibly but William Gibson doesn't hold your hand, be prepared for that.
3 & 4 I read this year, and will almost certainly be making an appearance on next years list :)
I am 100% reading Hyperion in the next few months, I also want to read Childhoods End, and I have never heart of Gateway!
@@BenjaminsBookclub Put Gateway on your list too! Would be keen to hear your thoughts on Childhood's End and Hyperion :)
@@SciFiFinds these recommendations might not be similar to Dune & Hyperion but they’re nonetheless epic- I’ll start with Starmaker by Olaf Stapledon. I personally loved it and it’s still in my top ten after all these years. I won’t say what it’s about just read it. Maybe google it first to see if it’s something you’d find entertaining. I thought it was fascinating and it stuck with me a long time! The forever war by Joe Haldeman is well worth checking out and The Stars my destination by Alfred Bester is a cracking yarn. One more - Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is , it’s a sad one but it’s a beautiful story
Great list. Among those I've read, I agree Children of Time and The Dark Forest are 5 star reads. I haven't read Rendezvous with Rama yet but I recently really enjoyed 2001 and would like to read more Clarke. Ubik is another I one really need to read.
Have you read Hyperion or A Fire Upon the Deep? Looking at your tastes, I think they would appeal to you.
Thanks! I really need to read more Clarke, I think I'll pick up Childhoods end when I next allow myself to buy books.
I havnt read either yet, but both are on my shelf waiting their turn. Id be shocked if I got to the end of the year without reading them both.
This is a great list! Have you ever read the expanse series ? I haven’t but I heard it is good too. I like the cyberpunk genre, looking forward to read altered Carbon and Neuromancer.
Thanks so much! I have read the first 6 Expanse books! Which were all that were put when I read them, now that the series is finished I'm deciding between a full re-read or just reading some plot recaps and jumping into book 7. They are amazing books.
Neuromancer is a book I read thos year, so didn't make the list this time, but I would be absolutely shocked if it wasn't in the top 5/3 of next year's list, brilliant book and I can't wait to read the sequels.
I love seeing other people's favorites and why they like them. Thank you.
Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks. I may try Dark Matter again. I don’t think I gave it a fair shake. Children of time appealed to me from your description. BTW your descriptions are great.
Thanks so much, I really appreciate the kind words, I'd love to know what you think of them both when you finish! Come back and let me know!
I have read Rendezvous With Rama and Project Hail Mary,both excellent! Got both from my library as ebooks.
Great pick ups from the library! I've had trouble with my library not having much of what I'm interested in, even in ebook form :(
@@BenjaminsBookclub Well,I had to wait almost forever for the Project:Hail Mary. I was something like 25th in line. Probably because they are making a movie from the book,I've read.
@@mikedunn7795 Yeah I'm really excited for the movie, I don't think its even started production yet though, so a long ways off still.
The bobaverse we are bob is well worth a look.
They didn't do it for me 😔 it's not them it's me. They are like my perfect set up for a sci fi story, but set as comedies instead of the darkness I would of loved. I just bounced off the jokes, I think most people would love them, just not for me :( i did read the first 3 though.
The Martian was great!! Definitely read it
I might read it next. I need a book for the survival square for bingo.
I agree whole heatedly. The Martian got me into sci Fi
Thank you for the recommendations. Among my top 10 would be Hyperion, Red Mars (and continuations), Dune (without the continuations), Rendevouz with Rama, The Foundation Trilogy, and by P.K. Dick, if you liked Ubik, I recommend you read 'The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch' that it seems to me even better than Ubik. I have only read 'The Player of Games' by Banks, but I really liked it
Your comments about 'Children of Time' made me to be interested on than book...
Currently doing a read along of Red Mars on the channel, just about to start part 4! Loving it so far.
I read Dune and the first 3 sequels earlier this year, I absolutely adored Messiah.
I have picked up The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, it's deffinitly going to be read very soon!
Thanks so much for watching, and for the recommendations.
As a novice reader who struggles to read consitently, Project Hail Mary is my favourite book I've read so far. I got through it in less than 2 days and loved the hard sci-fi in it.
I love it, it's an easy read that's also just so entertaining!
Concur. “Artemis” is similarly good - I believe by the same author.
Philip K Dick is a whole different category of SF! He’s so unique & wild you can’t really compare him to typical SF writers! I treat him on a different level completely. Reality Bending SF really! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
I really need to read more PKD, after Ubik I was blown away!
Someone once referred to a category “jazz masters” of SF. He was referring to Zelazny and Bester in a preface to an indescribable novel called Psychoshop that Bester started and Zelazny finished. I wonder if Dick falls in that category.
I loved Altered Carbon, good review! The Netflix is pretty good; they did not try to exactly replicate the book, but the changes are good. Rendezvous' With Rama is one or my faves as well.
I have re-activated Netflix to watch a few shows with my wife, so while I have it running I should get around to actually watching Altered Carbon. I also should try to get my own copies of the books, I only have 2&3 on my shelf, and they're both accidentally stolen from a friend I havnt seen in years.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I hear you, I have not had Netflix for ages. Probably not since I watched Altered Carbon, in fact. I have copies of the books that were kindly and voluntarily donated by a friend.
Love your list.... Others worth a go are : Ringworld - Larry Niven; Riverworld series - Philip Jose Farmer; Dayworld - Philip Jose Farmer;Gatewway series - Frederick Pohl; Lucifer's Hammer - Jerry Pournelle & Larry Niven; The Mote in Gods Eye - Jerry Pournelle & Larry Niven; Hothouse - Brian Aldiss; Wool Trilogy - Hugh Howey; Nexus trilogy - Ramez Naam.... I could go on....
I should also mention Dragons Egg - Robert L Forward set on the surface of a neutron star with extremely high gravity
Awesome! Thanks for the great recommendations!
Ringworld, Mote in Gods Eye, Hothouse and the first Wool book are all sitting on my shelves waiting for me.
Riverworld has sounded amazing ever since I watched bookpilled review it, but I have yet to find a copy in any store I've checked, keeping my eye out. The rest I hadn't heard of before! Going to spend some time tonight looking them up and adding them to my hunt list!
Oh Dragons Egg sound super cool!
@@BenjaminsBookclub Quite old so hopefully still in publication
@@BenjaminsBookclub Just remembered the Saga of Pliocene Exile which starts with The Many Coloured Land By Julian May.. brilliant
"I know I did say vampires, and it sounds silly" I love that. Adding that book to the wishlist (and hunting pretty versions)
Several books on there I haven't read and (gasp) a couple I hadn't heard of. Great ranking.
Thanks! I quite like the cover I had up on screen for blindsight, my copy is the duology that includes the sequel, the collection called Firefall, which doesn't have as nice a cover I think.
You know a trilogy is good when you read it, and then read it again. I did that with Remembrance of Earth's past.
For sure! That feeling of finishing it and needing to read through the entire series again with the context this time. *chefs kiss*
Rendezvous with Rama is also my favorite of all time! Hard SciFi First Contact genre is my absolute favorite. Do you have any recommendations?
The only other hard sci fi first contact book I've read is probably Blindsight, which is very very different from Rama but I do love that book and recommend it.
Thank you!!
@@lb7060 If you do read it make sure to come back and let me know what you thought!
Excellent list, many are on my to read list :). Have you read any books by Alastair Reynolds, if you like epic space stories with no FTL, I recommend his Revelation Space series. Scratch that I just saw your play list 😅.
Thanks! Haha yeah, getting halfway through revelation space and wanting to talk to someone about it is what made me start this channel actually, what a great book, I am going to jump into Redemption Ark or House of Suns very soon!
@@BenjaminsBookclub I'm planning a re-read at some point to re-freshen up so I can get into his newer book Inhibitor Phase. House of Suns is a real favorite of mine too. Very interesting concept, hope you will like it too. Now i'm reading through the Dune books, almost done with Messiah. Glad I found your channel!
@@runmarty Thanks :D Thats lovely to hear, I'd love to hear your thoughts on Messiah when you finish it! I adore that book.
@@BenjaminsBookclub Finished it. I liked it. I knew most of the story before hand having watched the mini-series Children of Dune (which include Messiah) but the book give more complex motivations of the antagonists, where as the mini-series is more one dimensional god vs bad. Now I got intrigued by "The forge god" which will be my next book, so I will following your read along. Thanks!😀
Finally, someone who reads “normal” AND Warhammer 40k!!
Great list, esp. Ubik, Blindsight, Iain M. Banks, and agree the Soul Hunter trilogy is great - personally prefer Horus Heresy series, Primarch novellas, Infinite and the Divine, Eisenhorn series, Peter Fehervari’s Coil series, Ciaphas Cain series, and a million others.
Just about every PKD book is a great, then William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Reynolds, etc. are logical next thematic choices.
I do indeed read "normal" and 40k :D I love that phrasing.
I love the Horus Heresy, I think Nightlords just edges it out, maybe mainly because its a complete trilogy, a lot snappier than the 50+ books of HH :D I need to get to Infinite and the Divine!
I have read, Gibson, Reynolds and Stephenson this year, I would be shocked not to see some of them on next years list :D
Most of these sound really interesting! I couldn't get Three Body Problem, but I like Project Hail Mary so far.
Does Excession have a lot of POV's? I usually get confused after more than two, but it sounds like it could have quite a few.
Three Body Problem is definitely not for everybody.
Excession does have a few POV characters, off the top of my head it's atleast 4 I think, but it may be more.
If you are enjoying project hail Mary, I would suggest Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, I just finished it last night and it reminded me a lot of Andy Weir.
Rendezvous with Rama is Amazing, it's a masterpiece. It's paced so well, it read like a great scifi movie. one of the best books I've ever read. it's so good that I can't bring myself to read the sequels .
I am absolutely not reading the sequels either. I've read very mixed reviews, and honestly any further explanations to the mysteries will just serve to hurt the books impact I think.
I believe it has been licensed for movies a few times. I believe it's currently being prepared as a screen play to be directed by my faveorite director, Denis Villeneuve. If that goes ahead I will be the happiest little boy in sci fi town.
That's probably good. I liked R with R but I don't think it's top Clarke. I read I think 1 1/2 of the sequels and found them disappointing. Not well written, and seemed to be going deeper and deeper into a cold, lifeless universe that just creeped me out.
Great list! I watched expanse series I’ve been wondering if the book is very different then the show. The show got kinda wierd I love the belters! The idea of living in the belt!! Feels closer to home like it could maybe a realistic future.
Yeah the setting of The Expanse is very believable! One of the reasons I enjoy it so much, I only watched the first season of the show, and there were differences in that I noticed. The books get weird as well watch out!
Good list. Check out Bob Shaw and Alfred Bester.
Surprised there is no sun eater or Hyperion. Happy that you had a Warhammer 40k book. I think my favorite series from that were the soul drinkers, or the esienhorn trilogy. Agree with you about project hail Mary.
I havnt read soul drinkers :( in usual black library fashion it seems like the only copies are hundreds of dollars.
Sun eater and Hyperion, I have not read. But I will hopefully be starting a buddy read of Sun Eater soon, and Hyperion is probably early next year.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I think sun eater will become one of your new top ten. Maybe not empire of silence. But the 2nd and 3rd books at the very least. Hyperion is an acquired taste. Do you not use LibGen to get free book downloads?
Great list, a lot I've heard of and intend to read and a few I haven't!
Thanks mate! Would love to watch your thoughts on any of them!
Sci-fi isn’t my go to genre. I’m more into horror/extreme horror and thrillers, but Project Hail Mary was my intro to sci-fi and I got a kick out of the story. I think I’m going to read the three body problem once I’m done with what I’m currently reading.
I think Project Hail Mary might be the best Intro to Sci Fi book I can think of. Thanks for watching!
Great recommendations 👌
Glad you like them! Thanks so much for watching!
Excession was my intro to The Culture. What a great universe to explore! I wonder how much anxiety one would have living there given the power levels of the Minds.
If you get too anxious, just gland some calm and you'll be fine 😅
@@BenjaminsBookclub 🤣
Super interested to see how this list evolves over time 👍
Thanks mate!
I was told altered carbon is hard to get through. I think it honestly depends on personal taste. I have it sitting on my shelf, I’m more tempted to read it now after this review 😊 I was told Dune was a hard read too but I didn’t have an issue with it, I thought it was epic!
Absolutely a taste thing I'd say, lots of books people have raved about fell very flat for me, and vice-versa. I struggled with Dune before the movies, and then after the movies flew through Dune.
@@BenjaminsBookclubmy uncle read the first three body problem novel and wasn’t keen on it. He said it was heavy on science concepts and I think he prefers a story to be more character driven. I’ve yet to read Cixin Liu. I picked up the first one so I’ll give it a shot at some point. I see you’re a fan of Iain Banks! I love his stuff he’s amazing 😊
@@MaliciousChickenAgenda Yeah characters are not a strong point of the Three Body Problem books, they're 100% focused on the science and sci fi ideas and concepts over the characters. I adore Banks :)
I picked up Adrian Tchaikovskys Children of time, still waiting to be read. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Oh you’re a fan of Ubik! Another one of my favourites! Phillip K Dick is awesome, very thought provoking and Clarke too. Loved Rama, Childhood’s end and Space Odyssey 2001. I read another one of Clarkes about a big space elevator but I wasn’t that keen on it
I would think if you got through Dune, then you wouldn't find it hard to get through Altered Carbon. It is a totally different vibe though, which I loved. It's pretty brutal and graphic at times, which honestly was a breath of fresh air when It came out. But it does also pose some interesting questions alright in that, if we can download our consciousness, then is that immortality? Or do we die each time. So, what does life, death, morality, religion, identity, etc mean anymore? Plus, there's a murder mystery to be solved. Well worth a read.
Great list! I've read all ten and loved 8 of them. I found Blindsight confusing; I need to reread it. I didn't care for Ubik, but that's more about me than the book. My top ten is completely different, and admittedly it's dominated by "classic" sci-fi highspots: 10. More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon; 9. Gateway by Frederik Pohl' 8. Ender's game by Orson Scott Card; 7. Hyperion by Dan Simmons; 6. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; 5. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller; 4. The Left hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin; 3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley; 2. 1984 by George Orwell; and 1. Dune by Frank Herbert.
Of your 10 I have only read Dune. I am very embarrassed! Of the other 9, I own, 4 of them, which will likely all be read this year, Hyperion, 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and Ender's Game.
I don't think Ubik is for everyone, its a very odd book. I have read plenty of highly rated books that just didn't land for me at all, its a rubbish feeling, makes you doubt yourself somewhat in my case haha.
The entire gateway series was great but Gateway the best
is the book close to the movie they make. there is a Altered Carbon movie.
it sometimes feels that books that may be good then they make the movie is not as good or changed too much.
I love Arthur C Clarke since this book was from some time ago has many newer book used parts of older Sci Fi books
I've been lazy and still havnt watched the Altered Carbon show! I really should.
I would love a modern take on something like Rama!
Admirable list. As an old geezer reading scifi from the seventies on i have read every book on your list. But all of them are in my top fifty list, not top ten.
I am starting to try to work through more of the classic must reads of sci fi, chances are high that if its not on this list and you think it should be I probably hadn't read it yet.
Whats your top 3 if you had to pick em?
@@BenjaminsBookclub Damn, my brain melts. I've read maybe thousands. Top three would propably contain Wolfe's Book of the New Sun (titillating complexity) , Ursula le Guinn's Left Hand of Darkness (insight and psychology) and Forward's Dragon's Egg (sheer, accurate physics madness). Bubbling under is Greg Egan's Diaspora (flabbergasting scope)
@@akiyrjana6558 I adored Diaspora! I have Le Guinn and Wolfe on my shelf waiting for me, but Dragons Egg, is one that sounds amazing, but I've not yet been able to find a reasonably priced copy, still keeping my eye out though.
Thanks so much!
Made me think to check again and I have a copy of Dragons Egg on the way, expect a review by the end of the year I hope 😁
@@BenjaminsBookclub Brace yourself to paper thin human characters. The aliens loads have more internal life in this one.
I tried Dark Matter and didn’t stick with it. Maybe I should have. I’ll try again. I do like space things though!
Yeah not everything's for everyone is it :). Finding things like Project Hail Mary is quite hard, I found it quite unique. Children of Time has some of the problem solvingy stuff as PHM but not the focus, but it does have a lot of space.
‘Midshipman’s Hope” by David Feintuch is astounding. Interstellar travel intermingled with tragedies, gripping tension, plot twists, and an ending that causes you to hope for sequels.
Fantastic! I've never heard of it! Onto the wishlist it goes! Thanks so much sounds mint.
I’m not a sci-fi reader but I loved Project Hail Mary and The Martian. Can you and your subscribers make any recommendations for me? I like character driven books but I also like a good chase/battle scene. I like the sound of Rama.
Just last night I finished Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and found myself comparing it to Project Hail Mary, both have scientist in strange situations, needing to use science to understand and problem solve. I really enjoyed it, and with the tv show coming up soon it's a great time to read it, I think I'll do a video on it infact!
"We Are Legion, We Are Bob", "Old Man's War", and maybe The Vorkosigan Saga. Lois McMaster Bujold is pretty wide ranging so not all of her books work for everyone but her characters, mysteries and battles are fun.
Ender's Game is an easy read with great character development. Very highly recommended. I like surprise endings and this one has it all.
thanks will try it!
Both you mention have a humorous tone but if that isn't essential for you, Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky is an option.
Saw the Gundam in the back...
I trust all your opinions.
haha, one of like 50 kits I've built, and a few too many still in boxes!
The three "main" suits of Zeta Gundam in this video, The Zeta is my favorite gundam, and Zeta is my favorite series so far.
I just finished the Hyperion book series and found it to Dune level great. I don’t hear it mentioned much and I don’t know why.
I think I see Hyperion on most people's top 10s for sci fi. I know it's the top of a few of my friends lists.
It's not on my list because I havnt read it yet, same as why Dune wasn't on this list.
I have now read the first 4 dune books, and I am going to read Hyperion in January!
I really desliked "the three body problem', is the second one worth it?
It is one of my favorite books of all time, but honestly, probably not for you it seems. It is definitely better than The Three Body Problem, but a lot of the problems with that book, awkward pacing, pretty dull characters, choppy dialogue, are all problems in The Dark Forest as well.
Not every book is for everyone, I suspect if you really disliked The Three Body Problem, you probably won't suddenly fall in love with the rest of the series.
@@BenjaminsBookclub I struggled with it for those reasons.
As soon as I saw Andy Weir and one of the dismal 3-Body books, I knew this video would not be for me. I am curious about Banks (having read most of his non-SF work which is excellent) and the PKD. Anyway, congrats on not including Dune, which is a middling book that people often feel obliged to put in their top 10 lists (a bit of an emperor's new clothes thing).
I think you'll be dissapointed, I hadn't read dune when I made this, I would now include the sequel Dune Messiah on this list :)
Different tastes for everyone, I would suggest checking out Banks Culture books for sure!!
Great list!
Thanks so much!
Rendezvous With Rama #1! I don't feel so crazy anymore. Can't wait for the Denis Villenueve adaptation. "Arrival on steroids," he said.
Yeah, that book just gripped me like almost no others.
based on your general tastes, i think you'd love books by Octavia Butler and Samuel Delany
I have Parable of the Sower sitting very near the top of my TBR pile, which Delany's would you recomend?
@@BenjaminsBookclub sweet. you might even like DAWN by Butler even more.
As for Delany, based on your geekier/dreamier tastes, i think you'd dig NOVA or BABEL-17. Most people say DHALGREN is his best work, but honestly i have yet to crack that one open. I do have to say that STARS IN MY POCKET LIKE GRAINS OF SAND is my favorite book of all time, regardless of genre.
Hope this helps! Hope you pick one up
@@Majesticon Awesome thanks so much! I will keep an eye out for Nova, Babel-17 and Stars in my pocket at my local stores and add them to my wishlist! They all seem really interesting!
Abaddon's Gate is such an underrated book. Most seem to say it is the weakest of the series. I think it is prob my 2nd fav following Book 1. It also is the book that the TV series changed the most. Also, Children of Time was one of those books that I seemed to like it more as time as gone by after reading it. I have had a couple I feel that way about. Malice is another.
You know I really need to both finish the series, and watch the TV show, I have only ever seen the first few episodes, and I decided to wait until I read all the books to continue, then I just haven't kept reading the books.
Malice by John Gwynne? Or by Keigo Higashino, I've read Higahino's and loved it, one of the few crime fiction authors I've actually read.
What is darter?
Not sure? Did I say Darter?
Marine series by Jay Allan worth a read
Some good stories and intersecting parts across the entire series
Ohh sounds good I hadn't heard of that one. Thanks!
Thanks!
Thank you so much for watching!
It's unusual to see a top ten science fiction book list that omits Dune., I would also include Ender's Game, and the Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but I am a lot older.
Well I didn't include anything I read in 2024 in this list, which includes the first four Dune books, deffinitly will be making an appearance on the next version of this list!
As for Enders Games I havnt read it yet, I really disliked the movie, so I've been putting it off.
I actually have a review of Moon is a Harsh Mistress up on the channel! I really really liked it!
If my count is correct, sounded like 3 books had some object found in deep space as a major plot point of the book.
You know, at a stretch it might even be 6! I guess I have a trope I really enjoy!
Altered Carbon is a great television series.
I should get around to watching it, Ive also been considering a reread of the books though!
nice video m8
Thanks for watching
What ! no mention of Hyperion by Dan simmons I guess you haven’t read it if not read it Gray vid by the way
Thanks! Yeah I havnt read it, it's sitting on my shelf waiting for me. It's funny, Ive read some absolutly all time great books this year, I'm worried about adding another, already got like 5 that would of been book of the year any other year hah
You will love the TV version of THE EXPANSE!
I've watched the first season and I adored it, decided to pause watching until I finished the book series, and then have just not got back to either. Perhaps in 2025 I'll promise to finish the books, and the show.
@ oh, you must read the books at least up to Book 6. Then watch the TV which just goes to book 6 now.
Then read the last 3 books. The TV is so well done that you can envision the TV characters while reading the books. (The TV show changed a little bit of how some of the characters interact but mostly it’s the same.)
Check out Illium By Dan Simmons
Added to my list! If I see it in a thrift store I'll pick it up! Thanks for the recomendation!
Ilium is awesome
If the Culture series is divisive on Booktube, that's simply an indictment of Booktube. Iain Banks is brilliant and the Culture series stands above just about all the other grand scope science fiction in existence.
I adore The Culture series, and am always a bit shocked when others don't like it, but different strokes and all that! Thanks for watching!
E.E Doc Smith's Vortex Blaster,Cities in Flight by James Blish,and The Weapon Shops of Isher by A.E. Van Vogt are all great sci-fi from LONG ago. you might be hard put to even find them at a library, or a bookstore.
One of my favorites is Heinlein's The Star Beast,one of his "kid-lit" books. it would make a GREAT movie today,IF they kept to the book and didn't "go woke".
Thanks for the suggestions! I hadn't heard of those novels but I have heard of the Authors, I will add them to the list I check out every time I go to a used bookstore!
In case you haven't read it i suggest you Solaris by stanislav lem
So I read Solaris back when I first got back into reading, and I was reading lots of action heavy adventure sort of books, so the slower paced, more cerebral solaris didn't land with me at the time. I am convinced that if I reread it now I would love it though so I'll probably re-read it next year.
Not sure about individusl books, bit if i was creating a list it would start with books by...
1) Simmons
2) Hamilton
3) Reynolds
4) Corey
5) Herbert
6) Morgan
7) Donaldson
8) Vinge
9) Stephenson
I need to read Simmons and Vinge from this list!
I also need to give Hamilton a proper go, I tried one of his books as audiobook, and unfortunatly half way through the 60 hour run time I changed jobs and no longer had to commute long distances for work, so my audio book consumption almost stopped. I think I have Salvation on my shelf.
Neuromancer and the rest of the Sprawl series.
I hadn't read them when I made the list, I have now finished all of them, and Burning Chrome.
I would say
Neuromancer 5/5 (this will 100% be on the list when I remake it next year)
Count Zero 2/5 (You can check my review for why this one just didnt work for me)
Mona Lisa Overdrive 4/5 (Not as magical as Neuromancer but a great end of the trilogy and ties things up well)
Thanks!
The characters in the Culture are not human, per se. They’re all aliens. The short story The State of the Art confirms it.
Very true, they are referred to as pan-human and humanoid a lot though, but yes, they're definitely not from earth. Close enough
God I fucking love Science Fiction lmao
Same!
Altered Carbon was good,
Thinking about it for this list makes me want to reread it.
Why is Neverness never mentioned?
Absolutely the best book I have ever read.
Period.
of any genre.
David Zindell
I had not heard of it. Looking it up it looks really interesting. I'll add it to my wishlist and try to find a copy!
@@BenjaminsBookclub So happy!
Read Ender's Game
It's on the list!
Damn there is a bell going off.
I suspect that's my parrot Kepler, she thinks it's important for the internet to hear her
As someone from mainland China and now lives in Australia, I have to say that I hate Liu's 3 body problem books. Upon first read they are great and thought provoking. But if you grow up in China where most people believe the society to be a jungle, you either give in to the jungle and become part of the competition, or you choose to leave. If you give in to the jungle, you will have to compete for every resource, the you become super utilitarian, like everyone else, then social Darwinism takes center stage. And if you "believe" in the way of the jungle, these books are like confirmation on their way of thinking: even the aliens are like this(not many actually think like this because they are not even aware of the words like social Darwinism, they just want to be better than their neighbors). Then there are the rebellious ones that hate the game but are also lucky enough to be able to leave, like me. We hate the books because it's a reminder of the jungle.
Also there's almost no character building in the books, the people seem like machines that react to inputs, but not people with flesh and blood(just like many Chinese people I know that work their ass off and save up only for the sake of saving up).
I love the Hyperion cantos a lot better, love, family, romance, revenge, sacrifice, religion, rebellion, and even some cyber puke, and of course poetry... The 3 body problem books don't have any of these. This is why I say the 3 body problem books are limited.
I absolutely agree the charecter writing is not good in the series, it's one of the times where the sci fi concepts and ideas carry it enough that I forgive the very flat characters.
I can't speak to the comparisons to life in China, but it was super interesting to read your views on it, I'd say you probably have it right on. From an outside perspective it's something that's interesting to read about, but if it were bringing back memories of my past I'd be much less enamoured.
Thanks so much for your comment, it has given me a lot to think about.
Hyperion is on my TBR for this year, I don't know why I keep putting it off.
I loved 'Rama' but book 2+ 3 had very disturbing moments.
I don't think I'm going to read the sequels, Ive heard pretty bad things about them, and I think attempting to explain Rama more would just hurt the mystery which I love in the first book.
Haha commendable of you to pause to figure out how to pronounce Cixin Liu
I did my best, still butchered it :D
PHM shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as some of the other books you listed. PHM is the fast food of science fiction.
Nothing wrong with a bit of fast food every now and then.
Great list!
Thanks so much :)