[Lepton]

Can I vote for Contact by Carl Sagan here as well?? If it's the best movie, it must be the best book, right? Of course, I read it when I was a teenager, so I have no idea what it was really like. I'll have to admit to not having read a lot of sci-fi novels, but those that do stick out in my head are those of Ursula K. Le Guin (The Lathe of Heaven, Left Hand of Darkness) and although she is not a sci-fi author, Margaret Atwood (The Handmaiden's Tale).

I've tried to read some Phillip K. Dick but I have not been able to stick with him. I have yet to finish one of his novels.

[kukalakana]

Originally Posted by Lepton

Can I vote for Contact by Carl Sagan here as well?? If it's the best movie, it must be the best book, right?

Well not necessarily although it can possibly be both. Maybe there is a better book that has not been turned into a movie, or maybe the movie is better (it isn't, but then again, it could've been.)

But both movie and book are pretty good as movies and books go. Also, some of Dr. Sagan's non-fiction work is quite good as well.

[Nemesis]

The Dune series.. there's nothing else better!

[RedAlertRiker]

I think Asimov's I Robot is an incredibly powerful and still relevant look into the possible future of robots. Chilling and engaging, creative yet realistic. Definitely one of my all time favorites.

[JERRY]

I, too, can't name just one, but any of Asimov's works influenced me growing up.

[kukalakana]

Some of Asimov's short stories are also quite good.

[Iamhanuman]

Cloud Atlas - although not straight sci-fi, is Very good

[schmoekus]

The Carpet makers by Andreas Eschbach (some promotion for a german writer i realy prefer )

http://www.amazon.com/Carpet-Makers-...3070380&sr=8-1

[Moonwatcher]

1).The original Dune (the others tend to be repetitive)
2).The works of Arthur C. Clarke (2001, Rendezvous With Rama, plus numerous short stories)
3). The works of Orson Scott Card (my personal favorite, Pastwatch the Redemption of Christopher Columbus)

4). Vernor Vinge's A fire Upon The Deep, & A Deepness In The Sky
5). The works of Michael Crichton (not quite sure one would classify them as scifi, except maybe The Andromeda Strain and possibly Jurassic Park)