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under the Sea' (1870) and The Mysterious Island' (1874) are all science fiction classics. Verne is perhaps done less well than Wells in the modern popular media, although many of his books were turned into films in the 1950's and 1960's there has been less Hollywood interest in recent years.

Within modern science fiction writing, Isaac Asimov is considered to be one of the big three'. The Russian born, American science fiction writer is acknowledged as one of the best, and one of the most prolific writing more than 450 books and some 90,000 letters, short-stories and postcards. Asimov was not just a fiction writer though and in his own right was a well known writer of non-fiction science and history books.

Within the genre of science fiction, Asimov is best known for his series, Foundation', Galactic Empire' and Robot'. The last of which was recently made into a film I,Robot' with Will Smith. In writing his fiction work, Asimov claimed every major science fiction award going. In addition to his accuracy in terms of science, Asimov is best known for his Three Laws of Robotics';
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Sir Arthur C (Charles) Clarke is the best known living science fiction writer. The British writer has written over 75 books as well as hundreds of short stories, and is perhaps most well known for Odyssey series. 2001: A Space Odyssey' (1951) has been acclaimed as one of the best science fiction novels and films ever, although the sequels; 2010: Odyssey Two' (1982), 2061: Odyssey Three' (1988), 3001: The Final Odyssey' (1997), are less well known. Childhood's End' (1953), another of his early works, has been acclaimed as one of the premier pieces of science fiction ever written.

Clarke is another member of the Big Three', and is often credited with the inception of geostationary communications satellites, although I prefer to think of him as one of the contributors to Eagle and Dan Dare'

The Last of the Big Three', Robert A (Anson) Heinlein, the American writer, was the best selling of his generation. Heinlein is credited with setting the standards of plausibility thus raising the level of science fiction writing. In individual terms, his novels are not as well known as his rivals, although Starship Trooper' (1959) was turned into a 1990's movie. Though not as well known, they are of critical acclaim and in the 1950's and 1960's Heinlein won four Hugo Awards for best science fiction novels.

In improving the standards of science fiction, with science and engineering being within the realms of possibility, Heinlein managed to break modern science fiction into mainstream literature.

There is any number of writers that could be added to this list, and some of my favourites are outside of those previously listed. Russell T Davies is one of my favourites due to his success with Doctor Who, work that includes novels although he was not the Doctor's original creator. Douglas Adams, with his Trilogy of Five, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' brings a lighter side to the world of science fiction. Finally Frank Herbert brings one of the best series of works in his Dune' novels. I am sure every fan of science fiction could make their own list of famous writers, and within the list I am sure there would be many of my favourite.

Learn more about this author, Tim Harry.
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