Product Description

'100 Must Read Science Fiction Novels' contains reviews of 100
of the finest and most important SF novels ever published, 500 further
reading suggestions, an introductory essay on the history and background of
SF, award listings, thematic reading trails and a glossary.
The forward to the book is by Christopher Priest, author of 'The Prestige'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #53830 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-29
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Synopsis
"A reliable guide to what science fiction is" Christopher Priest, award-winning science fiction author "A really good introduction to the genre" SFX Magazine "Perceptive and glorious" Ian Watson, author of the screenplay for Steve Spielberg's A.I. Want to become a science fiction buff? Want to expand your reading in your favourite genre? This is a good place to start! From the publishers of the popular Good Reading Guide comes a rich selection of some of the finest SF novels ever published. With 100 of the best titles fully reviewed and a further 500 recommended, you'll quickly become an expert in the world of science fiction. The book is arranged by author and includes some thematic entries and special categories such as SF film adaptations, SF in rock music and Philip K. Dick in the mass media . It also includes a history of SF and a new definition of the genre, plus lists of award winners and book club recommendations. Foreword by Christopher Priest, the multiple award-winning SF author.

From the Author
Because of our extensive experience as Booksellers and
bibliophiles, Nick Rennison and
I have encountered thousands of readers and enjoyed numerous books in all
genres over
the decades. Consequently we utilised our long familiarity with the culture
of reading to
help us reach decisions on which books to include in 100 Must-Read Science
Fiction Novels.

Our book is not intended to be a `Best of' as we decided it would be
impossible to
produce a definitive list of the greatest SF novels while limiting
ourselves to only 100
titles without making unacceptably subjective choices. Given the fecundity
of the genre
in the last century alone, too many major books would have to be excluded
for lack of
space. We therefore decided that our title should steer us: we have
selected instead 100
books that we feel one should read to gain an overview of SF writing in
general.

More information about the book can be found at my website
stepheneandrews.info

About the Author
Stephen E. Andrews is a bookseller, writer and lecturer. He has
written for, edited and contributed to books and magazines about SF, crime
and general literature.

Nick Rennison is a former bookseller and one of Britain's leading
non-fiction writers. He is author of a dozen books including 'The
Bloomsbury Good Reading Guide' and 'Sherlock Holmes: The Unauthorised
Biography'

Customer Reviews

Packed with great content
Having read both the book and S.Gunduz's review I have to disagree with his/her conclusions. The book is indeed populist as it sets out to be a good basic SF reference with recommendations for further reading (the authors suggest that readers consult 'The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction' for greater detail so there was never any intention of providing exhaustive coverage). It is not however 'throw-away' despite its compact size, as it is jammed full with factually accurate and fascinating information on the selected titles and the genre itself. Whilst many of these facts could be found online (as of course most information can these days) those unfamiliar with SF often need a good, concise reference as a starting point. It is also worth pointing out that many SF websites contain information that is far from reliable and/or ill-informed. The book reviews are relatively brief in order to avoid spoilers but they succeed in enticing new readers whilst also putting the works in their cultural context. Gunduz is concerned that not all of the titles fit into his/her notion of what is a classic, yet at no point do the authors claim that they are compiling a list of classic SF. The list is subjective, and writer Christopher Priest is given space for disagreement in the Foreword in the same way that readers are bound to differ according to their own tastes and experiences. It is not a 'best of' but rather an overview of the thematic breadth of science fiction writing. Having read a fair number of the novels included, I feel that the authors have succeeded in their aim - a notable feat given the immense amount of material to chose from. S Gunduz appears to be looking for a different book, one which he/she may find somewhere but not one which bears any relation to what the authors of this one set out to do. I see that 100 Must Read SF Novels has had three print runs so far. It 'does what it says on the tin' and it does so extremely well.

so little time..
This book is a huge help to SF novice readers who are otherwise well read. Mr Andrews' introduction is wise and whip smart and links the reviewed books to their historical and literary contexts as well their cultural cousins in music and film. I've been encouraged to explore books I would not have known about,or known where to start with, many thanks for that. I cannot comment on how Sf purists recieve this book but I strongly recommend it to the general reader.

Terrific guide for the beginner
Few in the UK know more about classic sci-fi literature than Steve Andrews, and few know more about literature in general than Nick Rennison.
This is a superb guide for a sci fi fan who wants to improve their knowledge of the history of the genre, or indeed for a complete beginner who wants to know where to start. A good job well done.