I think the Hyperion series by Simmons has everything – epic sweep, interesting philosophic questions, strong characters, good writing. Ender’s Game by Card is wildly popular and its popularity seems to be lasting decades after publication. And the Vorkosigan series by Bujold I think is a classic – it has humor, adventure, romance, great characters, and it evolves much more than most long series do.
Frank Herbert- Dune
This book, definitely. Some people say that this book predicted the entire Persian Gulf conflict, 30 years in advance. And, he also dealt with issues such as drug use, religion, and economics…just amazing.
Phillip K. Dick- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
The novel on which “Bladerunner” was based on, this novel was a precursor to contemporary sci fi and cyberpunk. It started looking at what it meant to be human, how fine a line is drawn between man and machine.
William Gibson- Neuromancer
This book is a win. This was the novel that established cyberpunk and set the tone for works in this sub-genre, from establishing a cyberpunk “aesthetic” to it’s philosophical questions. (The “Matrix” Trilogy borrows heavily from this book.) This novel, among others (such as the prior novel), shifted the scope of science fiction from focusing what was “out there” such as space and aliens, to what was “inside” such as the human mind and how what makes humans what they are.
Octavia Butler- Lilith’s Brood series
In these three novels, Butler brought forth how race, gender, and sexuality figure into sci fi. Well written, and definitely a trip (third-gender aliens involved in sexual intercourse), these novels pay homage to the old guard of science fiction (such as Arthur C. Clarke), while re-telling the stories anew, through different perspectives.
Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game – I saw it on my daughter’s reading list. I liked the book when I read it years ago and am delighted to see it on a high school reading list.
Kevin J. Anderson – pretty much anything he writes is golden. I think he is a wonderful story teller. He has done Dune, Star Wars, and even his own Saga of the Seven Suns.
Frank Herbert’s Dune – Just as Helen of Troy had the face that launched a thousand ships, Dune likely launched a thousand careers in sci-fi. His work is in my opinion one of the hallmarks of Sci-Fi.
Larry Niven – He is another writer with the golden touch. I always learn things from reading his books. Some of his best are Ringworld and Footfall.
Timothy Zahn is another making a great mark. I have enjoyed his contributions to the star wars saga and am now getting a new view of the Terminator franchise with his contributions there. I just read From the Ashes. It is a ramp up to the story told in the newest Terminator movie Terminator Salvation.
Only time will tell which of these writers will become immortalized.
Gregory
My current favorite is The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis — it says a lot about humanity, and about what the true lessons of history are.
Bernice
I think the Hyperion series by Simmons has everything – epic sweep, interesting philosophic questions, strong characters, good writing. Ender’s Game by Card is wildly popular and its popularity seems to be lasting decades after publication. And the Vorkosigan series by Bujold I think is a classic – it has humor, adventure, romance, great characters, and it evolves much more than most long series do.
Edna
Frank Herbert- Dune
This book, definitely. Some people say that this book predicted the entire Persian Gulf conflict, 30 years in advance. And, he also dealt with issues such as drug use, religion, and economics…just amazing.
Phillip K. Dick- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
The novel on which “Bladerunner” was based on, this novel was a precursor to contemporary sci fi and cyberpunk. It started looking at what it meant to be human, how fine a line is drawn between man and machine.
William Gibson- Neuromancer
This book is a win. This was the novel that established cyberpunk and set the tone for works in this sub-genre, from establishing a cyberpunk “aesthetic” to it’s philosophical questions. (The “Matrix” Trilogy borrows heavily from this book.) This novel, among others (such as the prior novel), shifted the scope of science fiction from focusing what was “out there” such as space and aliens, to what was “inside” such as the human mind and how what makes humans what they are.
Octavia Butler- Lilith’s Brood series
In these three novels, Butler brought forth how race, gender, and sexuality figure into sci fi. Well written, and definitely a trip (third-gender aliens involved in sexual intercourse), these novels pay homage to the old guard of science fiction (such as Arthur C. Clarke), while re-telling the stories anew, through different perspectives.
Melissa
Ray Bradbury is KING!
Marilyn
I would have to give my nods to the following:
Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game – I saw it on my daughter’s reading list. I liked the book when I read it years ago and am delighted to see it on a high school reading list.
Kevin J. Anderson – pretty much anything he writes is golden. I think he is a wonderful story teller. He has done Dune, Star Wars, and even his own Saga of the Seven Suns.
Frank Herbert’s Dune – Just as Helen of Troy had the face that launched a thousand ships, Dune likely launched a thousand careers in sci-fi. His work is in my opinion one of the hallmarks of Sci-Fi.
Larry Niven – He is another writer with the golden touch. I always learn things from reading his books. Some of his best are Ringworld and Footfall.
Timothy Zahn is another making a great mark. I have enjoyed his contributions to the star wars saga and am now getting a new view of the Terminator franchise with his contributions there. I just read From the Ashes. It is a ramp up to the story told in the newest Terminator movie Terminator Salvation.
Only time will tell which of these writers will become immortalized.
Cory
Dune is the biggest seller.
Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game is most likely to be immortalized.
The Foundation Series came to an end with Foundation and Earth by Asimov in 1986.
David Brin’s Postman was a great book but a less than stellar movie.