by Elton Gahr

Created on: June 14, 2009

Science fiction is one of the most varied genres of literature there is, ranging from steam punk to the outer edges of space, it can happen on a world similar to ours or in a galaxy far, far away. Its authors are varied as well, from religious to atheist, there are college professors and retired soldiers. Yet they are all held together by a love of science and a desire to explore the unknown. It is because of this that lists of recommended science fiction books becomes so difficult. To believe that by reading five science fiction books you can understand the genre is absurd and yet any recommended list must give you a taste of the genre and as wide and understanding as possible.

First it is useful to start with a more modern book. Written in 1985 "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card tops many lists as the best science fiction novels of all time and it hits on several of the things that science fiction can do so well. Humanity in "Ender's Game" had a war with the Buggers a generation ago and barely won thanks to a great leader. They are now convinced that the only way to once again survive is to have another great leader. Ender Wiggins is the boy they believe can be that leader. Much of this world is similar to ours in politics and personality and because of that you can get a new perspective on the world, but it also shows us interesting science and technology and interesting ways to examine the character of Ender.

Next is Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Asimov is one of the most prolific authors in history and his most popular books are the foundation series. Introducing the concept of psychohistory, foundation is set in a universe that had a galactic empire. Harry Sheldon the founder of future history has discovered that the empire will collapse into 30,000 years of chaos but using his new science to predict events he has found a way to lower that to a thousand years by building two foundations. With great epic story telling Asimov touches on nearly everything you would expect in a far future science fiction epic.

Not his most known work, "Childhood's End" by Arthur C. Clarke covers an important part of science fiction. Dealing with aliens directly in this book this is about the end of humanity not because of some epic disaster but because of advancements that mean they are no longer human, they are growing up into something else. Arthur C. Clark is also one of the best writers of hard science fiction using far more real technology and science than many other writers.

"Neuromancer" is the most famous example of the cyberpunk subgenre of science fiction. Taking place in Japan it is a world that is likely closer to what ours will be like than any of the others, using the internet and virtual reality as its more central technology rather than spaceships and lasers.

Last, "The Time Machine" by H. G. Wells. Though this books wasn't written as such it touches on the historical science fiction genre simply by the time it was written. It is also an undeniable classic of the genre and time travel has been a major theme in many great works of science fiction.

Each of these is only a starting point. Covering many different styles and themes there are many other books that could be just as valid for someone who wants to understand the genre. From the paranoia of Philip K. Dicks books, to the humor of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and the numerous wars stories such as "Starship Troopers" science fiction can meet the needs of anyone who loves to explore no matter how they like to do it.

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