Chicks On Lit discussion

On FB today, I saw an article from National Public Radio about the The top 100 sci-fi/fantasy novels of all time

Are there any other sci-fi/fantasy addicts out there? What do you think of the list? (Personally, I love it. A lot of my favorites are on it.)

That's a good list. There are some things I'd include that aren't on there in place of some of the others, but that is a better list than most.

@Michelle...this is a FASCINATING theme. It made me think. I have never considered myself a sci-fi/fantasy reader BUT...just now I started making a list. Good grief! Here are books and authors I have loved, they changed my way of thinking forever, and helped me do untried things in my novels, like turning a woman into a shark. ("Shark Dialogues.") And they're all on the top 100 list!

Ray Bradbury (a genius)...Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way comes. Isaac Asimvo...I, Robot. Kurt Vonnegut...Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse 5. Stephen King (genius)...The Green Mile, Shaw-shank Redemption. Anthony Burgess...Clockwork Orange. 2001. Terry Prachett...Going Postal. (You will never look at your P.O. the same again.)

I recommend each and everyone of these books. Some are downright scary becoz they predicted a future which is now here.
Thanx, Michelle, for the great theme! I'm going to reread some of them. Happy Reading! Aloha from Hawaii...Kiana Davenport

helped me do untried things in my novels, like turning a woman into a shark

Ooh, Kiana! I love this idea!! Very cool :)

I liked the list overall, too. I'd add a few titles like Riddley Walker which I think is the best post-apocalyptic novel I've ever read.

I can't believe it. I was just about to add...RIDDLEY WALKER!!!!
Brilliant work, tho I've never completely understood it.

Thanks again for reminder of this list, Michelle I'm going to reread some of these writers again! Kiana

Yeah, I never got Riddley Walker 100%, either. I'm so glad that someone else has heard of the book, lol!

Just started reading In the Blood by Robert Sullivan. This is a First Read that I won a short while ago, but life intervened and didn't have a chance to get to it until now. Now I'm not sure why I entered for it, except that it is a mystery and a mystery in a science fiction setting. I'm not sure how it's going to go just yet. It's...interesting....

I thought it was an interesting list. It's hard to define sci-fi/fantasy, though. Some of the time-traveling romance titles on the list didn't seem very sci-fi or fantasy to me despite the time-traveling, and I thought it was unfortunate that they excluded the entire YA category.

Some of the time-traveling romance titles on the list didn't seem very sci-fi or fantasy to me

I felt that way about The Time Traveler's Wife. I loved the book, but it seemed less about time travel than about meeting someone at the wrong time in your life. I guess I would still consider it fantasy, though. Or perhaps magical realism?

Viola wrote: "I thought it was an interesting list. It's hard to define sci-fi/fantasy, though. Some of the time-traveling romance titles on the list didn't seem very sci-fi or fantasy to me despite the time-tra..."

Viola, that is EXACTLY what I was thinking...for instance, I think an excellent work of fantasy is The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set in the way of creating a new world, the handling of different dimensions and even the handling of time. Common themes in much of fantasy and sci-fi. There are some good books on there, but I think there should be others too. But then again, as there is soooooooooo much scifi/fantasy being done in YA/Children that they just didn't want to open that can of worms(ie: heated discussion over HP).

I can honestly say that some of my favourite books are in there and that I have read a huge portion of the authors.

I FLOVE fantasy (not so much sci-fi to *read,* although I really enjoy *watching* sci-fi). Actually, I'd say that my love for fantasy, and writing it, is similar to what draws me to Regency romances: the otherworldiness of it.

On that list Ender's Game (although I first read the novella which in some ways I like better), The Princess Bride, The Last Unicorn, and anything by Terry Pratchett are my favorites.

(I'm a little surprised Robert Jordan is so high on the list...he's SO derivative of Tolkein, I personally find his work blah. While C.S. Lewis is at the bottom with his, granted, brilliant Space Trilogy...but no NARNIA?!?!?!?!?! What the Quoi??!!?!?!)

If you like alternate Englands, do check out (as listed) Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, as well as Mairelon the Magician and its sequel Magician's Ward; the book that began the latter two Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (though I don't particularly recommend the sequels).

The best, though are the hard-to-find, but OH SO WORTH IT(!!!) Goblin Moon and its sequel The Gnome's Engine, both by Teresa Edgerton, who also wrote the highly recommended, The Queen's Necklace.

And even more brilliant than Edgerton (whom I greatly admire), is Paula Volsky. Begin with her masterpiece Illusion, move on to it's sort-of-sequel, the easier to find The Grand Ellipse, and then track down her other novels: The Wolf of Winter, The Gates of Twilight and The White Tribunal.

(I'm a little surprised Robert Jordan is so high on the list...he's SO derivative of Tolkein, I personally find his work blah. While C.S. Lewis is at the bottom with his, granted, brilliant Space Trilogy...but no NARNIA?!?!?!?!?! What the Quoi??!!?!?!)

I know, right??

Emily, I *love* your suggestions. I am a huge fan of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Have you ever read The Magicians and Mrs. Quent? That is another favorite of mine.

Michelle L. wrote: "Some of the time-traveling romance titles on the list didn't seem very sci-fi or fantasy to me

I felt that way about The Time Traveler's Wife. I loved the book, but it seemed less ..."

I would not categorize that book as science fiction either. I also felt that way about The Doomsday Book. I LOVED that book, but it did not feel like or read like science fiction to me at all.

I know this opinion goes against the norm, but I absolutely hated Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I know it is on every list of books you have to read always, but I thought it was one of the worst books I have ever read. I found it trite and ridiculous and thought it was a waste of my time.

I think I remember stumbling across this list last year (NPR I remember also made this awesome flowchart of what you should read, which was pretty fun). I think in terms of popularity/what everyone knows, it's a pretty decent list. Not to mention I'm glad all of my favourites made it on the list and many of whom I feel should get more attention (like Brandon Sanderson). I'm glad that I'm slowly getting through most of them, though it's clear that there's still a lot of books I need to read in the two genres (oh, did I mention that I love sci-fi and fantasy?) =P

I will say from a quick scan of the list that I did not enjoy China Mieville's Perdido Street Station. I heard wonderful things about the author but the plot and the characters were both flimsy at best; I was bored one third in =(

Well I can say this about the books on the list. The books I have read I either loved or completely hated. No middle ground what so ever. I do have to admit that they are all technically good book and they did elicit strong emotional responses but my hating the book did kind of hamper my enjoyment of the process.

Li wrote: "I think I remember stumbling across this list last year (NPR I remember also made this awesome flowchart of what you should read, which was pretty fun). I think in terms of popularity/what everyone..."

I also had a hard time with Perdido Street Station at the beginning (flat characters and wasn't sure where the story was going) but I was fascinated by the world Mieville created and by his writing style; his language was teaming with strange, over-the-top descriptive language that blew me away, so I kept reading. The plot got much more engaging about half-way through the book and there's just something about the way this guy writes that is so obsessive, rich, and complex--I found it fascinating and had to keep reading.

That's a great list. I'm glad to see that my favourite sagas (The kingkiller chronicles, The Mists of Avalon and The Belgariad Boxed Set) are there!

Plus, Jules Verne also wrote amazing sci-fi, he was a visionary.

I am pleased that Ender's game is #3. I really want to read The Hitchhiker's Guide To the Galaxy so no disappointment there..But serious, LOTR as the number 1? No way. The Hobbit is best, but not the LOTR series. 1984 is good. Ich, Wheel of Time at #12? Personally the only good book out of that series that I read was the first one...Series lost my interest by book 4, enough said. This list has a lot of books on it that I'm dying to read. I'm a little sad that Stardust is at 52, cus I think it's an awesome book. Worse than that, Sword of Truth is at 62, and that's currently my favorite fantasy series. Drizzt series is only at 73? C'mon now...Who made this list? I demand a recount. lol Drizzt Series is one of my favorites. Also, this list needs some Cleric Quintet by R.A. Salvatore in it also.