Cult / Sci-Fi books and movies

Mike Healey

nmcgann wrote:

See how many you score on this list:

http://scifilists.sffjazz.com/lists_books_rank1.html

I managed 74

90 definitely, but I'm not sure about some of the remaining 10. But then, I do have about 5,500 sf and fantasy paperbacks and a couple of hundred hardbacks, plus about 10/12 years back issues of Analog

alanp23

I missed this thread first time round...

but I would like to echo all the Neal Stephenson praise but in particular Quicksilver which is a huge book but once you get into the pacing, utterly compelling.

It is fact, so subtle as a piece of Sci-Fi/Fantasy, that it is classified as Historical Fiction in my local library.

gmb

I have just watched Inception for the first time. Fantastic - absolutely fantastic.

tremayne

After thirty odd years of reading sci-fi;

Nights Dawn trilogy - cracking read. Absolutely storming. However, sequels are dissapointing and the plot weakens book by book. Hamilton has quite a catalouge now, and most of it is pretty good. 'Reality Dysfunction' stands out as perhaps the best.

Rim / Mir - original / intruiging / utterly unique. A must read.

Dune - hard work at times but so worth the effort. Unlike above - each further book continues to impress and amaze.

Foundation series - worth a look, but a bit dated now and probably not the best sci-fi out there on the shelves. This coming from an Azi fan who has read most of his works. Feel that anything robot or Calvin connected is probably the ones to look for.

Alastair Reynolds - The Revelation Space series makes some fantastic reading. Well worth looking out for. Big ideas and totally engrossing.

Arthur C C - have read most of it - and was in truth nothing much other than dissapointed - esp Rama series. Too much long drawn out technical descriptions and ramblings - not enough plot and real storyline. Sorry - but boring!

Dhalgren - utter tripe. I genuinely burned this book on my woodburner. Not out of disgust - just from a real importance that no one else have the misfortune to read that particular copy. I urge anyone else to do likewise. If I see any copies in charity shops - I will by and burn. Sorry - but many long and confused evenings of my life were wasted on this drivel. Please resist any temptation to be intrigued enough to read this crap.

Best till last - Mr Iain M Banks. Anything from him is a true winner. Esp liked 'consider phelbas'.