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The Twenty Sci-Fi Novels that Will Change Your Life

io9.com — Whether it's because they've altered the course of science fiction writing, or simply provide a genuinely alien perspective on ordinary life, these are novels that will rearrange how you think. Check out our list below.

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  • dotlizard, on 02/29/2008, -6/+97no Stranger in a Strange Land? hmmph.
    • victorycig, on 02/29/2008, -1/+15Exactly what I was thinking. That book really did change my life. I recommend it to all diggers.
      • divrekku, on 02/29/2008, -4/+30No Dune? pfft. Lame.
        • lostarchitect, on 02/29/2008, -1/+4*****. i meant to dig you up. sorry.
        • AxeSwinger, on 02/29/2008, -0/+2Dune is a great book but a sleeper of Herbert's and a better book in my opinion is "White Plague". I think it's out of print but used book stores usually have a copy.
      • caferrell, on 03/01/2008, -0/+5No Foundation Trilogy?
    • doctechnical, on 02/29/2008, -2/+9My thoughts exactly. It might be biased towards the newer stuff, but Asimov's "I, Robot" is there, and that's about as old school as it gets.
      • dracken, on 02/29/2008, -2/+11A list without the foundation series ? Bah.
        • NeverSage, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2As good as the Foundation series is, has it really changed your life? I guess the whole Psychohistory thing is thought provoking at least... Even so, if I could only pick one Asimov book I'd have to agree with the article that I, Robot is the most life-changing. I, Robot even affects the Foundation series in the later books...
        • Jemulov, on 03/04/2008, -0/+1I happen to like the Caves of Steel more. I like the whole socio-economic standpoint of robots in a society.
    • neognostic, on 02/29/2008, -2/+16I couldn't get to the comments fast enough, to leave out Heinlein's masterpiece is unacceptable. How many other Sci-Fi books have songs written about them? Leon Russell ftw -This book did change my life in many profound ways.
      • haydesigner, on 03/01/2008, -3/+4Writing FTW is starting to become reason to Digg someone down.
        • Wartz, on 03/01/2008, -2/+1No, you don't decide what should be dugg or buried, I'd get some help for those delusions of grandeur.
    • SuperWinner, on 02/29/2008, -2/+6"Sci-Fi Novels that Will Change Your Life"
      What if my life is going really well tho...?
    • kingmanic, on 02/29/2008, -1/+5The Fosterites are a satire on the Scientologists.
      • Plotinus, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Actually, check the dates, the Fosterites predate Scientology ^^ Dianetics wasn't a religion then. Loony Ron Hubbard steals yet another idea?
    • cheezus, on 02/29/2008, -1/+9I really can't imagine this list existing, particularly TWENTY long, without including Stranger. WTF?
    • redlantern64, on 02/29/2008, -2/+13Buried as inaccurate until they add at least ONE Heinlein book to their list, and yes, preferably Stranger in a Strange Land.
    • SineCurve, on 02/29/2008, -2/+17Definitely. Heinlein, no Frank Herbert, no Clarke. Meh.
      • emmeron, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1That's all I need to say "this is a ***** list"
    • PunkRockRalph, on 02/29/2008, -1/+8a scanner darkly anyone?
      • supertom2, on 02/29/2008, -0/+3we are one scramble suit invention away from a scanner darkly becoming a very accurate prediction of the future. It is hard to believe it was published in 1977
      • NaziHatinChimp, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2No I still do drugs.
    • SoxSweepAgain, on 02/29/2008, -0/+4Regardless of how he's transmogrified, there should have been something by Ray Bradbury on here, as well. IMHO.
      • kgool, on 02/29/2008, -0/+6Absolutely, this list cannot be valid without Fahrenheit 451 and Stranger in a Strange Land as mentioned above.
    • floppyparty, on 02/29/2008, -1/+7I would rather have a list of books I haven't read then validation for the books I also hold in high esteem! Come on People!

      (No Bear??)
    • ncdave101, on 02/29/2008, -3/+10Meh, the only thing I got from Stranger in a Strange Land was the word 'grok'. And maybe I didn't grok the book the same way others above have, but my impression of the book that it was more of Heinlein wishing he could make the clothes of attractive women disappear by snapping his fingers than an 'outside looking in' story about humanity.

      I do agree that Dune should have been in the list somewhere. Much more thought provoking a read.
      • NeverSage, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4Dune definitely affected me when I was reading it. I started drinking a ton of water...
    • twinklyJesus, on 02/29/2008, -1/+12Not only Stranger in a Strange Land, but Farenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, 1984, ??? What gives?
    • Ramble, on 02/29/2008, -1/+10No Neuromancer? No 1984 or Brave New World? Maybe not strict sci-fi but damn near close enough.
    • jibii, on 02/29/2008, -0/+5While I agree that this list lacked a lot of well known classic scifi, like Stranger, but that's just it, those are well known. This guy listed quite a few interesting books that I'm totally going to pick up this weekend.

      I would have put Left Hand of Darkness on the list, but he already had a LeGuin book.
      • Heywoodj, on 03/01/2008, -2/+1The author of this list is a woman.And it would serve her well to to change the title to "25
        great si-fi books from a si-fi girls perspective". It's a lot less heretical from that point of view.
        @jibii Left Hand of Darkness never gets any love on these lists and its a great read.
        Here have a digg
    • kidlawless, on 02/29/2008, -0/+2Absolutely (SiaSL) -- I just logged in to start to comment the EXACT same thing. SiaSL changed my life, and should be in any high school lit class's reading list. Good stuff. Stupid list, though, that doesn't include it.
    • rhinopig, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4Yeah. I can understand that some books (1984, Brave new world, Fahrenheit 451) would be considered to well known to include in the list (ie they won't change your life because you probably already read them in highschool), but according to wikipedia "For many years, Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke were known as the "Big Three" of science fiction." and given that they included an Asimov book, and that Heinlein is probably least known of those 3, they definitely should have included a Heinlein book ('The moon is a harsh mistress' was a good one).

      Or if they are excluding writers who are to well known, they could have dropped Asimov and included a Philip K Dick book.
    • mikesbaker, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2Pattern Recognition but no Neuromancer???
    • aristideau, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1I am just reading it now, its OK, but it is not a page turner, (just read a bit where I assume Foster is in heaven, I am a bit confused)
    • starbugtwo, on 03/01/2008, -0/+0little late to the table. I was about to add this comment and figured someone else in the wold would have. Just didn't think it would be the first. I still recommend that book to people. I once told a couple of Morman nuns trying to convert my friends to read it. I hope they did. I'm going to read it again dammit.
    • Stevanoski, on 03/08/2008, -1/+1Ringworld Engineers the best in my humble opinion.
  • roadnottaken, on 02/29/2008, -3/+104A few good selections in here, for sure, but I've never heard of half or more of those books or even their authors. If you didn't have that leading "The," your post would be fine - I'd take those unfamiliar titles and authors as suggested reading. But with that leading "The" I must protest. I read hundreds of SF and fantasy books in junior high through college (not as many since, but some). No 2001? No Ringworld? You should definitely include Gibson, but his "Neuromancer" (ca. 1984) was the one that "altered the course of science fiction writing", not his later work. "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." How about Hitchhiker's? Fahrenheit 451? Blade Runner/Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

    Just change the title and get rid of "The" and we'll all take it as your personal favorites list. Thanks for some new suggestions, though.
    • JAVandiver, on 02/29/2008, -0/+8More Dick: The Man In The High Castle and The Divine Invasion.

      I entirely agree with Gibson's Neuromancer series being superior, but at least the author of this list did not include Difference Engine over it.
    • doctechnical, on 02/29/2008, -0/+4Ditto on the Gibson. While he might not have invented cyberpunk, he sure put it on the sci-fi map.
    • charliejane, on 02/29/2008, -10/+3Maybe the fact that you haven't heard of 10 out of these 20 novels means that you need to expand your horizons a bit? Just a thought...
    • ghidorahnotweak, on 02/29/2008, -7/+3If your main education in science fiction was during junior high and high school, maybe it's time to open up and learn new stuff? This list isn't supposed to be comprehensive -- it's supposed to be mind-expanding.
    • satanswetnipple, on 02/29/2008, -12/+5I dugg the story BECAUSE it had no 2001. 2001 is a piece of trash that is used by idiots who have either read no scifi or who believe that continually referring to it, makes them sound more intelligent/important than the other scifi fans.
    • dusanmal, on 02/29/2008, -1/+5For expanding the horizons try E.Zamyatin's "We". Past the copyright age so:

      http://www.maletic.org/Zamyatin_Yevgeny_We.pdf

      (The actual source for the 1984 which most have likely seen or read and inspiration for works like The Brave New World, The Space Merchants,... by the statements of the authors of those works themselves).
    • urbancontra, on 02/29/2008, -4/+4I've never heard of some of these books, they must not be good!

      Seriously. Come on.
    • alfitzhugh, on 03/01/2008, -1/+3The poster is obviously 19 with no local library. Ben Bova, Harry Harrison, Keith Laumer, Piers Anthony, H. Beam Piper, Edgar Rice Burroughs, L. Ron Hubbard, Heinlein, Philip José Farmer, L Sprague De Camp, Philip K Dick, Andre Norton, etc., etc...
    • JettaMan, on 03/01/2008, -1/+5Atlas Shrugged is technically science fiction because it has things like a holographic projection over a town, special metal, and a hyper efficient engine. These things haven't been invented yet. In terms of changing people's lives, that one is up near the top.
    • harlowsmonkeys, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Ringworld is a great SF novel, but I don't see how it will change your life.
      • tony23, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Most of the books on the list are great SF, but not exactly life-changing.
    • melonhedd, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1why isn't my favorite pulp author on this list!!
  • suzywang3000, on 02/29/2008, -14/+0I'm surprised The New Pearl Harbor didn't make the cut - that was one scary book!
    • CryRightardCry, on 02/29/2008, -4/+7How is it possible to get dumber every day?
      Tell us your secret.
      What a goooood little rightard shill.
      Next tell us that Bush is the best Presdident EVER.
    • twinklyJesus, on 02/29/2008, -3/+2hehehe, you said "wang!" hehehe
  • JAVandiver, on 02/29/2008, -4/+48Nothing by Herbert at all?! I mean Dune is an obvious choice, but also the Eyes of Heisenberg, The Dosadi, The Jesus Incident, Lazarus Effect, and The Ascension Factor?

    Also what about Sturgeon? The Golden Helix and More Than Human?
    • W00DR0W, on 02/29/2008, -2/+18I agree, no Dune, It's officially a bad list.
    • Gryffydd, on 02/29/2008, -1/+6I think the author tried almost too hard to avoid 'obvious' choices like Dune.
      • fantasticFlan, on 02/29/2008, -0/+11Like Frankenstein, The Time Machine, and I Robot are less obvious choices than Dune
    • tattertech, on 02/29/2008, -0/+2I'm partial to "The Godmaker" personally
    • theinept, on 02/29/2008, -2/+5Agreed. Dune is seminal Science Fiction. It would have been my #1 selection. Also inexcusable is the lack of anything Dan Simmons, who I believe is an unparalleled modern master and infinitely superior to the likes of Charles Stross in skill and execution. Ender's Game is yet another inexcusable omission and is revolutionary Science Fiction.
      • PAStheLoD, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Hyperion is just epic, in it's deepest meaning. Sol's dilemma is no small question in the book. It may not changed my life, but affected more than Frankenstein.
    • ArrakisDune, on 02/29/2008, -1/+3I'm quite pissed my homeworld didn't make the list.
      We gave you sandworms for crying out loud, what more could you want?
    • Greyscale88, on 02/29/2008, -1/+3Seriously where the ***** is Dune.
    • DarkTrancer, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Digg for the Dosadi Experiment.
    • JettaMan, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2This list is a sham. It's got all these feminist authors pushing socialist ideas, especially in the later parts of the list. Whoever wrote it does not know good science fiction.
  • thespudmall, on 02/29/2008, -4/+13No andromedia strain?
    • Coven, on 02/29/2008, -1/+5While Crichton is a fine sci fi author, there are just way too many out there that put his work to shame. (this coming from somebody who's first sci fi novel was Jurassic Park when I was 9 years old. )
    • doctechnical, on 02/29/2008, -0/+13While I loved "The Andromeda Strain" (and most of the other Chchton I've read) I wouldn't call the book "life-changing". A ripping good read, yes.
  • aaaleman, on 02/29/2008, -3/+77These are all great recommendations. There will always be complaints about why *this one* and not *that one,* but that's typical. Better to think of these as 20 quality sci-fi reads and not the only, or top, sci-fi reads.

    There will always be glaring omissions. Let's add 20 more to the list of sci-fi books that can shake and illuminate your worldview... shall we (in no particular order): 1984, Cat's Cradle, Foundation, Ender's Game, Snow Crash, Neuromancer, Dune, The Handmaid's Tale, Stranger in a Strange Land, Never Let Me Go, Brave New World, The Years of Rice and Salt, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, Foucault's Pendulum, Ringworld, The Road, A Clockwork Orange, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, Hyperion, and Childhood's End.

    I could go on and on. Sci-fi can be truly great literature!
    • SuperWinner, on 02/29/2008, -0/+7Hyperion didn't change my life, but it did make me alter my plans for a few weeks... awesome series of books.
    • creoderiot, on 02/29/2008, -0/+2I looked all the one's I didn;t know up on wikipedia - "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" looks amazing - I'm definitely going to get that. I gotta say that although I felt Hyperion was mediocre.
    • SoxSweepAgain, on 02/29/2008, -0/+4They did other story collections, why not "The Martian Chronicles" or "Dandelion Wine"?
      • MrMongoose, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1"The Martian Chronicles" was fantasy, not sci-fi. Just because it has ray-guns and martians doesn't make it sci-fi.
    • samuraijoce, on 02/29/2008, -2/+3hell yes. "ender's game" is the best. i also think "rendezvous with rama" is pretty big
    • TomFrost, on 02/29/2008, -1/+5Ender's Game is fantastic, but I wouldn't call it life-changing, per say. Ender's Shadow and the rest of the Bean series however, definitely are. Anyone who says their brain or logical process hasn't changed after reading that book didn't read it properly.
    • sekhui, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2thanks for mentioning vonnegut! i was shocked that he was not mentioned. also, a vote for orwell from this corner. how can the writer ignore 1984?? baffling.
    • JustSomeDood, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2Dugg up for Snow Crash. Though it didn't change my life it was a great read. The audio book rules too.
    • graemee, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2I'd add Slaughter House Five. & The Hitch Hiker's Guide to any list.
    • joclark, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow are my top favorites. Love those books. Snow Crash is awesome too!!! I like your list better than the Top 20, maybe its more contemporary.
  • RadiantBeing, on 02/29/2008, -2/+70It's pretty sad that the list had room for Cory Doctorow's mediocre "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" but none for such works as:

    1984 by George Orwell
    Drowned World by JG Ballard
    Dune by Frank Herbert
    Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
    even Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, which introduced genetic engineering to hundreds of millions of people
    • obliviousfool, on 02/29/2008, -4/+2Micheal Crichton's new book Next is all about genetic engineering. It looks at the problem of genetics from about 30 different angles. It is a very quick and mind-expanding read.

      I recommend it highly to anyone who's interested in the future of genetics or anyone who likes a good book!
      • MacEnvy, on 02/29/2008, -0/+4Unfortunately, Crichton often gets basic scientific principles wrong in the wake of telling a good story. Timeline's tough to get through without suspending a certain amount of disbelief, and J.P. was already using obsolete paleontological theory when it came out (amphibian versus avian DNA?). I haven't read Next but reading your comment makes me interested, if apprehensive.
        • LacY, on 02/29/2008, -0/+3Be apprehensive... I really like most Crichton work, but Next had me so infuriated I could barely get through it. I know lots of Chricton books have the background theme of "foolish scientists mucking around end up screwing us all." But for some reason, it didn't bother me so much in JP and his other books. But this was just blatant "all scientists are evil freaks trying to make 'humanzees' and other horrific creatures." It blatantly preys on the current distrust in science and scientists. (BTW, Andromeda Strain was one of the first books that really made me want to become a scientist)
          • RobotBuddha, on 03/01/2008, -0/+3I could never stand most of his work for that reason. I always felt like I could hear a single human voice behind the characters. An annoying voice that had a single phobia he projected onto everything. Actually hearing him talk was confirmation of one of the largest science fiction writers terrified in their core of science.
        • obliviousfool, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1I'm not a huge fan of his writing by any means. Sphere, I think, was the only one that had any powerful literary imagery for me.
          I liked it more as a way to open a dialogue about genetic engineering. He basically throws a few dozen ethical and practical questions about genetics in your face and says "hey, guess what, we may have to answer these questions pretty soon!"
          For the issues, it's a springboard or a first salvo. It's not an exhaustive treatment. Very little gets resolved in the book actually.
    • aliengoods, on 02/29/2008, -5/+191984 isn't science fiction, since it's happening.
      • MrGordonLiu, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4You're thinking of fantasy, or science-fantasy.

        Science fiction novels are grounded in reality - some more than others. Good science fiction should take a look at something (an idea, or a piece of technology...) and examine how this thing impacts humanity and how humanity reacts to said thing.

        1984 is a quintessential example of science fiction.
      • Joey34, on 03/01/2008, -1/+0I wouldn't go that far.
        • Robbothehood, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Shame on you, not enough doom and gloom.
    • PleaseJustDie, on 02/29/2008, -2/+15I read that list just to see if Ender's Game was going to be on it. I'm sadly disappointed it wasn't, when I read that book there were so many spots where I just set it down and actually just had to think about what was going on and the whole scale of it for a few minutes.

      And 1984 is still science fiction. We don't have thought police yet. We can still think it as long as we don't say it.
      • Robbothehood, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2Ender's Game is one of my favourite books across all genres.

        Please, you can still say it too. Who isn't openly criticising the government these days? You think Digg is some haven of free thinkers who have broken free from the totalitarian oppression that is the American government or something? Don't answer that, you'll be better off.
        • PleaseJustDie, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Actually there are things you can't say. You can't say bomb or fire in a theater or plane, you can't say that you want harm to come to the president and you especially can't say you want to do the harming of the president.
    • MacEnvy, on 02/29/2008, -4/+2"Down and Out" is a great read, though I think Charlie Stross' Accellerando is superior in the same sub-genre. If anything of Doctorow's was chosen it should have been "Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town". It's a mind-twister.
      • MacEnvy, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Ouch, guess I was the only one who liked "Someone Comes to Town". Fair enough.
    • Chahrlie5, on 02/29/2008, -1/+4Same here, was hoping Ender's game would be on there too
    • pentak, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2The author, Annalee Newitz is a personal friend of Cory Doctorow.
    • lysdexic, on 03/01/2008, -0/+6Agreed. Doctorow is a hack writer. He's good at PR and internet marketing though.
      • Nick519, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1i agree that his book should not be on the list, but it's still a good book.
  • vermax, on 02/29/2008, -0/+6this perfect day, by Ira Levin. you'll never look at "rebels" the same again...
    • Klaatu14, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1I logged in just to digg this up! This Perfect Day by Ira "Rosemary's Baby" Levin deserved far more recognition than it ever received, and I've been recommending it for years. It's out of print now (a crime)...but if you ever see a second-hand copy, grab it. You won't be disappointed.
      "Christ, Marx, Wood and Wei,
      Led us to this perfect day.
      Marx, Wood, Wei and Christ,
      All but Wei were sacrificed."
  • oceanographer, on 02/29/2008, -2/+35DUNE
    • aaaleman, on 02/29/2008, -0/+7That novel deserves prophetic caps.
    • markperia, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2wow io9 managed to miss the most obvious choices for best sci-fi novels. Dune, Necromancer, Snow Crash, 1984, Ender's Game, Stranger in a Strange Land...

      Its a good thing they managed to keep IRobot in there.
  • geneticlemon, on 02/29/2008, -2/+34You do realize what you've done ...? I'll never have a free weekend for the rest of my life. Thanks a lot, jackass.
  • RealmDown, on 02/29/2008, -3/+62150 A.D.

    Oh, and let me ditto all the above who note the absence of "Stranger in a Strange Land"
  • senorcool, on 02/29/2008, -4/+43Vonnegut??????
  • SQLDigger, on 02/29/2008, -1/+22I don't think I can stand to have my life changed 20 times. If I read them in a different order, how will that affect the ultimate outcome?
  • AThoughtOrTwo, on 02/29/2008, -0/+0My vote for the book that MOST changed my life:

    F.M. Busby's Cage a Man part of the Demu Trilogy
  • wontstoptalking, on 02/29/2008, -7/+57What about (insert book here)????!!!
    • SQLDigger, on 02/29/2008, -3/+7OMG, I love that one. Could you believe the ending? Oh, ***** ME, that one was classic. . . .
      • jezsik, on 02/29/2008, -0/+9Hmm, I found it a bit contrived. I prefer his earlier stuff even it is dated by todays' standards.
  • psychotron, on 02/29/2008, -22/+5The Bible. Somebody had to say it...
    • zephc, on 02/29/2008, -7/+35You're in the Sci-Fi section. You want Fantasy, which is over there.
    • wenomspitta, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Oh. And what abut chariots of the gods then?
    • sfury, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1and not very life-changing
  • santiago1, on 02/29/2008, -0/+8Anything by Harlan Ellison!
    • doctechnical, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1Agreed, if for no other reason than he's improved my vocabulary immeasurably.
    • alfitzhugh, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1heheheh, A Boy and His Dog
  • sourwood, on 02/29/2008, -3/+33Where the ***** is 1984?
    • wrathchilde, on 02/29/2008, -2/+2-checks calendar...
      1984 is so last year
    • TnTBass, on 02/29/2008, -0/+10Its not on the list as fiction anymore. It has now been taken as truth.
      • doctechnical, on 02/29/2008, -0/+7Funny, I though it was being used as a training manual.
    • tehbored, on 02/29/2008, -2/+1I think it's generally not considered science fiction, just fiction... and in some places, fact.
    • jiveturkeyblues, on 03/01/2008, -2/+1everyone's read that *****, no one needs that on a list.
    • YojimboJango, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1This list is for books that will change your life, not for books that show what's happening already.
  • kakihara0513, on 02/29/2008, -1/+13I think Hyperion can be up there.

    Ender's Game...?
    • Probatus, on 02/29/2008, -1/+0Yeah Ender's Game...
    • zeejay, on 02/29/2008, -1/+2Every sci-fi list that doesn't include Ender's Game always gets 100 comments saying it should be included. Ender's Game was a great story with a great twist ending, but it's not hard or edgy or mind-expanding sci-fi, by any stretch. It's just a great story. Not that that is a bad thing.
  • twitchr, on 02/29/2008, -1/+23hmph. No Enders Game or Dune?
    • thefloss, on 02/29/2008, -0/+3I don't get how people can even compare these two books, or lump them together all the time(granted they are both sci-fi).

      I started Dune, and read Ender's Game in between because I picked it up cheap and it was short. Also I read here on Digg that a film might be made. Nice idea, very basic writing, and a fairly obvious twist in the end.

      Went back to Dune... *aaah* reading for the over 14's... :)
      • twitchr, on 02/29/2008, -0/+2i actually agree with you, but when i was a kid, enders game was the book that was responsible for getting me into reading sci-fi! i never would nave read Dune if i hadn't first read enders game.
        • thefloss, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Agreed back at ya:)
          • twitchr, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2idk if you ever read the rest of the ender series, but the whole tone changes and becomes much more mature. worth checkin out!
  • sjmulder, on 02/29/2008, -2/+2I'm too lazy to search: any of these (or other great ones) legally available as online HTML or PDF? I've been reading some short stories lately, and I'm in for a bigger one now.
    • RobotBuddha, on 03/01/2008, -0/+3All of Cory Doctorow's books are available for free on his website. He's mentioned for down and out in the magic kingdom, but almost any of his stuff is great.
      • sjmulder, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Wow that's awesome! Thanks big time.
  • disabled4diggin, on 02/29/2008, -4/+7"You ever read a book that changed your life? Me neither." - Jim Gaffigan
    • Gryffydd, on 02/29/2008, -1/+5"You ever eat so much you feel sick? Isn't it great?" - Jim Gaffigan
  • greensky, on 02/29/2008, -0/+26Dugg for all the comments about books left out of the list.
  • esentman, on 02/29/2008, -4/+5Some good choices, but the lack of Heinlein is inexcusable. Not only is it great sci-fi, but it's as politically aware as anything else I've ever read. I just don't grok his absence from this list.
    • xxxToadxxx, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1While I do love Heinlein, he isn't exactly the best story teller and I wouldn't say that his books changed my life. "Puppet Masters" didn't make me think that the Soviets were being ruled by aliens, "I Will Fear No Evil" didn't fundamentally change my view of gender, and "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" (my favorite) didn't make me want to have several wives and live in a commune.
      • esentman, on 02/29/2008, -0/+2Point taken, but "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" really is a great example of libertarian philosophy. And, also, none of the books on this list are really "life changing". Most books aren't for that matter.
      • loki49152, on 03/01/2008, -0/+0If "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" did make you want to live in a commune, that would be a damning indictment of your reading comprehension skills.
  • Ell3, on 02/29/2008, -10/+12Atlas Shrugged
    • AndrewDB, on 02/29/2008, -2/+1Atlas Shrugged is a fantastic, albeit, extremely hard to get through, read.
    • stillasleep00, on 02/29/2008, -0/+6...what? Seriously?
    • Nickooo, on 02/29/2008, -0/+4...And So Did I.
    • RobotBuddha, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4Valid point. I thought it was a horribly written book with an overly simplistic message that wouldn't work outside its paint by number universe, but it's changed a lot of peoples lives. Where most of the books listed in the article were very enjoyable and well written, but not likely to actually shift a person's path in life.
    • emmeron, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Atlas Shrugged is NOT sci-fi just because of one energy source invention. It is many things, love it or hate it, but Sci-fi is a bad way to describe it.
      • tony23, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1I'm guessing you never finished it, then.
  • AndrewDB, on 02/29/2008, -1/+5Dugg for all the books that will be mentioned. :)

    I've got to mention Robert Heinlein, pretty much anything written by him is a promised awesome read.
    • strobe32, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2Ugh, i've already added at least ten books from this thread to my amazon list, to the fifty billion that were in it before, and the 15 still waiting to be read on my dresser.
  • italics, on 02/29/2008, -1/+38No Philip K Dick?!
  • JoshuaLowe, on 02/29/2008, -1/+9How is Dune not on that list? Dune (and Dune Messiah, and Children of Dune, and God Emperor of Dune) practically reads like a summary of current events.
  • albybum, on 02/29/2008, -0/+3dugg for The Dispossessed
  • Yage2006, on 02/29/2008, -0/+12Also surprised not one Philip K Dick novel, If you want a book that will change your outlook on life you have to try to get through VALIS by P K D.
    • supertom2, on 02/29/2008, -0/+3The most challenging book I have ever read, and all the better because of it. PKD should have several books in this list, even his short stories are a joy to read (second variety and war game being personal favorites).
    • EggSaladKing, on 02/29/2008, -0/+3If you thought Valis was bad you haven't tried reading Ubik. I'm a really big PKD fan and highly recommend all his books (with perhaps Voices from the Street which isn't as good as his other works imho).
      • johnnyzero, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1Having read all of PKD's material, I have to agree, Ubik is a wonderful *****.
    • lostarchitect, on 02/29/2008, -0/+2VALIS is my favorite book. The first time i read it i sat down on the couch and didn't get up except to pee until i was done with it. it totally changed my view of the world.
    • polonium101, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1I read a lot of science fiction when I was in college and then abruptly gave up the genre. But I do still think about those Philip K Dick novels - Valis and Ubik, as mentioned here, and many others -- The Man in the High Castle and Clans of the Alphane Moons are two that come to mind. Not sure who would come up with a list of science fiction books that will change your life and not include at least one of these.
    • RobotBuddha, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2Strongly agreed on valis. It's even more amazing when later hearing about his actual mental problems and how they mirror the plotline. Really annoying that In Pursuit of Valis continues to stay out of print. It makes a really nice companion piece.
  • cyclades, on 02/29/2008, -10/+23Buried for being the crappiest list I've ever read.
  • JoshuaLowe, on 02/29/2008, -7/+14Also, no Starship Troopers?
    • ace429k, on 02/29/2008, -0/+3that was kick ass. too bad the movie ruined it
      • johnnyzero, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1I disagree, I love the book and I think the movie did fantastic on its own.
    • mikesbaker, on 03/01/2008, -0/+3star ship troopers was trash sci fi and you know it - thats why we loved it
      • JoshuaLowe, on 03/01/2008, -0/+3Are you talking about the book or the film? Because they're very different. I wouldn't call the book "trash" at all. The movie was definitely trashy parody.
    • emmeron, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Honestly, there are a lot of better books by Heinlein. How can Job: a Comedy of Justice (aside from being more fantasy, really) not come up? Or Time Enough for Love? Classic. The Number of the Beast. He wrote quite a few good books, some somewhat good books... and a few classics. Stranger is what he's known for, but I don't think it was his best.
      • johnnyzero, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1Agreed, I actually disliked Stranger, in a big way. I prefer The Door into Summer. One of the best uses of both time travel and cryo-sleep in a single novel!
  • noseeme, on 02/29/2008, -0/+12Thank you to the author for not including Dianetics or anything by Hubbard. :)
    • strobe32, on 03/01/2008, -0/+3Dude forget the scientology stuff--if you still haven't read Battlefield Earth, it's an amazing book.
  • Portezbie, on 02/29/2008, -0/+3childhood's end, maze of death,
  • K0NY, on 02/29/2008, -0/+15What? No L. Ron Hubbard? Dianetics will change your life, man! (for the worse, of course)
    • mithrasinvictus, on 03/01/2008, -0/+3that should turn up on the "20 biggest scams" list
  • TnTBass, on 02/29/2008, -5/+3Dieanetics?
    Seriously... isn't that book supposed to completely ***** up your life, aka, rearrange how you think?
    • Enasni1212, on 02/29/2008, -1/+5Well, it's a book that will change your life, isn't it?
      • TnTBass, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2That's my point. And it's science fiction.
        I think diggers must like Scientology or something for digging me down.
  • aaapples, on 02/29/2008, -5/+3These all sound awful.

    Beter ones off the top of my head; Man who fell to Earth and Lord of Light.
    • razorsedge555, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Yes I'm also disappointed to see nothing by Zelazny or Fred Saberhagen. No Ogre books???? Outrageous. And the pick for William Gibson was weak as well.
  • smotpoker, on 02/29/2008, -0/+6Dugg for Isaac Asimov. Every book in there should have been by him. RIP :(
  • kmlixey87, on 02/29/2008, -2/+7*enter the 50th person to say this*
    Enders Game????
    for mere lack of mention, this list fails
    • melonhedd, on 03/01/2008, -1/+0They don't call it Ender's Lame for nothing.
    • tony23, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1How, exactly, did Ender's Game change your life?
  • cyranthus, on 02/29/2008, -0/+10im gonna dig this for the Lovecraft story... but SHAME on you for not including 1984 (changed my life!) and Fahrenheit 451! Shame... shame shame!
  • gdgi, on 02/29/2008, -2/+18no snow crash, no neuromancer, no enders game. worst list EVAR
  • lukifer, on 02/29/2008, -1/+8The Illuminatus! Trilogy, by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea. (Don't see the fnords.)

    Oh, and The Forever War, by Joe Haldemann.
    • OpaqueMurdock, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1Nice! Loved those.
      Ever read Robert Anton Wilson's non fiction? freaky... Not sure I recommend them... but they are very interesting.
      • lukifer, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Yup, Cosmic Trigger series and a bunch more. Brilliant man, changed my life. Once you realize that your reality-tunnel is only one among many (the map != the territory), you can never see the world the same way again. RIP, Bob.
        • OpaqueMurdock, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1My Copy of cosmic trigger has a bunch of my notes in the margins... I am almost afraid to go back ad read what I wrote all those years ago. heh.

          Also, The Forever War would make my list as well.
    • strobe32, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1The Forever War is incredible!
  • staceystamps, on 02/29/2008, -1/+7I hate to jump on the "I can't believe _______ wasn't on the list" bandwagon, but seriously, how can you have a list of sci-fi novels-or any genre for that matter, which supposedly "altered the course of science fiction writing", and not include Neal Stephenson's "Snowcrash"?
    While I admit to only having read 3 novels on that list, I can say without a doubt that if you want to talk about books that "provide an alien perspective on ordinary life", Snowcrash likely tops the other 17 as well as the 3 I have read.
    • wiggles, on 02/29/2008, -0/+4I'm with you here. How could this guy include Cryptonomicon instead of Snow Crash? It's like saying that ROTJ is the best of the Star Wars movies.
  • chewyrunt, on 02/29/2008, -0/+6'True Names' (also by Vinge) is the first cyberpunk novel (and better than most that followed it)

    Brave New World (someone mentioned above)

    A Canticle for Leibowitz
    • MrGordonLiu, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1I would argue that The Stars My Destination was actually the first "cyber-punk" novel, and I find it a little telling that the genres most brave, interesting, and punk-rock example was written three decades before the term was even coined.

      But Vinge is an often overlooked author, for sure.
      • chewyrunt, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Total agreement - thought of The Stars My Destination shortly after posting.

        As far as 'changing my life', I have to credit Heinlein and SIlverberg - not because of any one book in particular, but because of the impressionable age at which I read them.

        As someone once said, "the Golden Age of science fiction is whenever you were 12 years old".
    • robbiedo, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1I loved Canticle for Leibowitz. Awesome book! The book which made me realize how ***** up we are. No "Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Dune changed my life. No Otherland?
  • simg, on 02/29/2008, -3/+19Stranger in a strange land,
    Dune
    Brave New World
    Enders Game
    are all obvious classics.

    Some of my other favourites:
    Battlefield Earth and Invasion Earth (10 volumes) by L. Ron Hubbard
    Worth reading Invasion Earth if you want to get an insight into the mind of the inventor of scientology.
    The Amtrak Wars by Patrick Tilley
    Armour by John Steakley
    • MASTERPL, on 02/29/2008, -0/+3I really liked Battlefield Earth. To be honest. It is the only book I have read in the last 10 years. I couldn't put it down.
      ***** Scientology and all that, and I'm a sci-fi lit noob, but It made me read it cover to cover, and I have a pretty short attention span.
      I might give the others a try.
      • lukifer, on 03/01/2008, -0/+3The man was damn talented at writing fiction, be it in the form of a novel or a religion.
    • strobe32, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2I second Armour by John Steakley, in my top five military sci-fi books.
    • simg, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1I forgot to mention Red Mars, Green Mars and Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson.

      @MASTERPL - I would try Armour over the others if you have a short attention span :)
  • damndj, on 02/29/2008, -0/+8Snow Crash?
  • curtvdh, on 02/29/2008, -1/+3A pretty good list, for a change. Let me cast another vote for '1984' and add one more - "The City and the Stars" (Arthur C. Clarke, of course).
    • strobe32, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1I've read a few by Clarke but somehow missed that one, buying it right now! Thanks for the tip
  • Hojohto, on 02/29/2008, -5/+2No Stephenson?! What the ***** is this, considering he made me like math again I'd say he deserves to be on any life changing book list. There isn't any Heinlein either, this list sucks.
    • SlamShut, on 03/01/2008, -2/+5There's a Stephenson book on the list, *****-for-brains.
  • instantrobotwar, on 02/29/2008, -0/+19Dugg for my new reading list made from the comments.
    • DarkTrancer, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2Same here bud,trying to look up all the good ones i might of missed.
  • slahser, on 02/29/2008, -0/+4Being a very inexperienced young reader, I have been looking for a list of good books for a long time. Sci-fi makes it even better. Dugg.
    • radiopayola, on 03/01/2008, -0/+5The Man Who Never Missed, Snowcrash, Hyperion. Start with those three...in that order (increasingly difficult material). Toss in the unabridged version of Stranger In a Strange Land when you feel up to reading 1000 pages. It'll only feel like 400.
      • joshuabowers, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2Stranger might throw him off Heinlein though, which would be a pity. Although, if you can grok it, you will probably love anything he wrote.
        • johnnyzero, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1Agreed, stay away from Stranger until you are a die-hard, then when you hate it, you won't be that annoyed.
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