Sci-Fi must reads?

[javasaurus]

Asimov, Bradbury, Heinlein. These are some of the fathers of sci-fi (where Shelley, Verne, and Wells would be the grandparents). But there are others that are the uncles and aunts. Who do you recommend? James Blish? Poul Anderson? Robert Silverberg? Andre Norton? A.E. Van Vogt?

What authors/books of the 60s and 70s do you think a well-read sci-fi fan should read, but might have missed?

Comments

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

Sagan's Contact is worth the read, I think. It owes a lot to classic sci-fi (where human behaviour and bureaucracy more affect the outcome than the "science" does).

One thing is that there is Science Fiction, and then there is Space Fantasy, and the background one should read to know where modern writers are influenced is slightly different. You don't need Asimov to know Larry Niven, but knowing Asimov or Clarke really helps to know where Carl Sagan was coming from.

[javasaurus.livejournal.com]

Ack! How did I miss Sagan on my list?!? (I loved his (non-fiction) Cosmos when I was in college).

As for sci-fi vs. space fantasy, I agree that the difference can be important. I'm not sure I'd necessarily put Niven into the fantasy camp (and I'm not sure if that's what you were suggesting either) -- his style is more "fun" than Asimov or Clarke, but he has a lot more science in his work than many authors of the genre.

But how does one learn, 30 to 40 years after-the-fact, which authors influenced which? And it's also difficult to relate popular science of the time to the fiction being published then.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

But how does one learn, 30 to 40 years after-the-fact, which authors influenced which?

yeah, that's an issue. there's loads of history and commentary that still exists on influences in "textbook" literature, but most of the commentary on influences within the sci-fi/fantasy world tend to be in fan magazines long out of print. its all in existance somewhere, but not compiled in a way that will sell.

maybe wikipedia is one place where some people who have the original sources may be posting summaries. they've done it for other genres like movies and music...