From: andy@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Andrew Hackard)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: SF starter kit
Summary: NOT, I repeat, NOT a Top Ten List [tm]
Date: 7 Jan 93 02:33:33 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX

Well, I'll give the ten books I think would give a good overview, both of
SF as a genre and of the major SF writers.  In no particular order:

1)Before the Golden Age -- Isaac Asimov, ed.

This one may be considered a cheat, but I think anthologies are valid,
and this one gives an excellent (IMO) view of the pre-JWC state of
science fiction.  Plus, Dr. A's historical notes provide a decent
historical context to frame the stories.  And besides, I really liked
some of them.

2)The Caves of Steel -- Isaac Asimov

This book has most of the themes that made IA worth reading; his robots
(complete with the Three Laws), the Spacers, and the oppressed Earth.
Besides, it's a decent mystery novel to boot.  Foundation is a good
alternate choice, but I really don't think someone completely new to the
field would enjoy it as much; it's kind of dense.

3)Expanded Universe -- Robert Heinlein

Now this one is almost certainly a cheat, as it really doesn't have that
much fiction at all (in fact, it's pitched to the people who have read
RAH before).  However, as an introduction to Heinlein himself, it's
indispensible, and Heinlein the man is arguably more important than
Heinlein the author.  Alternate: Starship Troopers

4)Songs of Distant Earth -- Arthur C. Clarke

I really think this is one of Clarke's best novels, but it is pretty
light on Ideas.  Still, I liked it a lot, and I think someone with little
or no exposure to the field would have no trouble with this novel at all.
Alternate: Childhood's End

5)The Illustrated Man -- Ray Bradbury

Bradbury, for some reason, isn't nearly as well known as some other SF
authors, and I think that's a shame.  I picked TIM primarily because it's
somewhat better known, but really almost any of Bradbury's story
collections would go well here.

6)Approaching Oblivion -- Harlan Ellison

More than nearly any other HE collection I've read (except, of course,
The Essential Ellison -- but that's a bit intimidating), this collection
gives an insight into who Ellison IS.  It contains several of his most
powerful stories (especially "Knox") and a great foreword to boot.  You
can't really claim to understand modern SF until you read Ellison.
Alternate: Oh, I dunno, pick another collection.

7)Neuromancer -- William Gibson

I hate to ring the same bell as everyone else, but I haven't read
Mirrorshades and thus can't comment on it.  This book practically defines
cyberpunk.  Alternate: Mirrorshades anyway; so sue me

8)Future on Fire -- Orson Scott Card, ed.

Whatever you think about OSC as a person, he put together a stellar
collection of stories here.  It's a good slice of the authors who came to
the fore in the 80's, and has several of the most powerful stories from
last decade in it.  I'd list Future on Ice as an alternate (or a
co-choice) here if he'd *finished* it.  Grrr...

9)Speaker for the Dead -- Orson Scott Card

Ender's Game is a great book, and I was sorely tempted to put it here.
However, it's a little brash for me, somewhat hard to take, and frankly I
liked Speaker more.  Speaker does assume you've read Ender's Game, but I
think even standing alone it has substantial merit, and it has some ideas
that are just eye-popping.  Say what you will about OSC, you have to
admit he's one of the best writers currently active.  Alternate: Seventh
Son (probably the best alternate history fantasy I've read in the last
five years)

10)Hmm...

I've left many, many talented writers and their works off: some through
ignorance (I've read absolutely no de Camp, for instance) and some
because they just didn't make as big an impression on me (Silverberg has
many good stories, but they're scattered over several story collections).
I also left Anthony off, and you're usually pretty safe reading at least
the first book of any of his series.  So, I haven't filled in a tenth
book.  There's so much out there that by the time the first nine get
read, your victim^H^H^H^H^H^Hfriend should be clamoring for more.

--
--Andrew Hackard                                 If I spoke for UT, this post
  andy@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu                        would make even less sense.
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