Top 20 Science Fiction Books of All Time

Summary

This video script details a comprehensive list of the top 20 sci-fi books of all time, compiled by analyzing 16 different rankings and assigning points based on each book's position. The list includes both classics like '1984' by George Orwell and 'Dune' by Frank Herbert, as well as modern hits such as 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. The video also features honorable mentions and discusses the influence of each book on the sci-fi genre, ending with 'Dune' taking the top spot with a significant lead in points.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video discusses a compilation of the top 20 sci-fi books of all time, based on points allocated from 16 different lists.
• 🏆 'Dune' by Frank Herbert is ranked as the number one sci-fi book with a significant lead in points.
• 🎖️ Books like '1984' by George Orwell and 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card are also highly ranked, reflecting their influence on the genre.
• 🌐 The ranking system awards 10 points for a book ranked as number one on a list and one point for being ranked number ten.
• 🔍 The script mentions some surprises in the rankings, such as 'Snow Crash', 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', and 'The Three-Body Problem' not making it into the top 20.
• 🎉 The video features a special edition of 'The Sword of Kaken' by M.L. Wong, sponsored by 'Raid Mark', which includes high-quality printing and exclusive artwork.
• 📈 'Leviathan Wakes' by James S.A. Corey and 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov are noted for their high sales and adaptations, contributing to their rankings.
• 📚 The list includes a mix of classic and modern novels, showing the enduring popularity of certain works and the impact of newer ones.
• 🤔 The video script invites viewers to consider whether certain books deserve their spots on the list and encourages discussion among the audience.
• 📝 The full list of 83 mentioned books is available on the creator's Patreon, offering a comprehensive resource for sci-fi enthusiasts.
• 🎁 The video concludes with a call to action for viewers interested in the special edition of 'The Sword of Kaken', providing a link for them to order it before the offer ends.

Q & A

How many lists were analyzed to create the ultimate top 20 sci-fi books list?

The ultimate top 20 sci-fi books list was created by analyzing 16 different lists that ranked the best sci-fi books of all time.

What was the scoring system used to rank the books?

The books were scored based on their ranking on the lists, with the number one book receiving 10 points and the number ten book receiving one point.

How many books were mentioned in total across the 16 lists?

A total of 83 books were mentioned across the 16 lists.

What are the three books that were mentioned as honorable mentions but did not make it into the top 20?

The three books mentioned as honorable mentions are 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson, 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', and 'The Three-Body Problem'.

What book by Blake Crouch was mentioned along with 'Dark Matter' in the script?

'Recursion' by Blake Crouch was mentioned along with 'Dark Matter' in the script.

Which book by Isaac Asimov was expected to be in the top 20 but ranked at number 30?

'I, Robot' by Isaac Asimov was expected to be in the top 20 but ranked at number 30.

What special edition of 'The Sword of Kaken' is being promoted in the script?

A special edition of 'The Sword of Kaken' with high-quality offset printing, cloth wrapped hardcover, a foil stamp case, embossed dust jacket, custom illustrations, a full-color map, silver foil page edges, and a custom interior design is being promoted.

What is the ranking of 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov in the top 20 list?

'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov is ranked at the 17th spot in the top 20 list.

Which book by Ray Bradbury is ranked at number 15 on the list?

'The Martian Chronicles' by Ray Bradbury is ranked at number 15 on the list.

What is the ranking of '1984' by George Orwell in the top 20 list?

'1984' by George Orwell is ranked at number 2 on the top 20 list.

Which book received the highest points and is ranked number 1 on the top 20 list?

'Dune' by Frank Herbert received the highest points and is ranked number 1 on the top 20 list.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Ranking the Top Sci-Fi Books of All Time

The narrator compiled a definitive list of the top 20 sci-fi books by analyzing 16 different lists, assigning points based on ranking positions. Books like 'Snow Crash', 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', and 'The Three-Body Problem' were notable honorable mentions. The video also highlights a special edition of 'The Sword of Kaen' by M.L. Wong, sponsored by 'Raid: Shadow Legends', featuring high-quality printing and exclusive illustrations.

05:02

🌌 Exploring Diverse Sci-Fi Classics and Modern Hits

The summary delves into the top 20 list, starting with shared rankings at the 19th spot, including works by Alistair Reynolds, Jules Verne, Philip K. Dick, and Gene Wolfe. It mentions the influence of 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov and 'Leviathan Wakes' by James S.A. Corey. The narrator also discusses the significance of 'Spin' by Robert Charles Wilson, classic works by Ray Bradbury, and 'War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells. 'Red Rising' by Pierce Brown is noted for making sci-fi more accessible, and the video acknowledges Patreon support before revealing more top-ranking books.

10:04

🏆 Celebrating the Pinnacle of Sci-Fi Literature

This section of the script reveals the upper echelons of the top 20 list, starting with 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson and 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley, known for their dystopian themes. It continues with 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells, 'The Left Hand of Darkness' by Ursula K. Le Guin for its exploration of gender, and 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card for its military themes. The list culminates with 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley, '1984' by George Orwell, and 'Dune' by Frank Herbert, which received the highest points and is considered a visionary work in the genre.

Keywords

💡Sci-Fi Books

Sci-Fi Books, short for science fiction books, are a genre of literature that typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts, advanced technology, space exploration, time travel, and extraterrestrial life. In the video, the main theme revolves around the ranking of the top 20 sci-fi books of all time, highlighting their significance and influence within the genre.

💡Ranking System

The ranking system mentioned in the script refers to the method used to compile the top 20 sci-fi books list. It involves assigning points to books based on their ranking in 16 different lists, with the first place receiving 10 points and so on. This system is central to the video's narrative as it determines the final list of books presented.

💡Honorable Mentions

Honorable mentions are books that, while not making it into the top 20, are still recognized for their merit. In the script, books such as 'Snow Crash', 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', and 'The Three-Body Problem' are given this distinction, indicating their acclaim and the presenter's expectation for them to rank higher.

💡Influential Sci-Fi Series

An influential sci-fi series refers to a collection of books that have had a significant impact on the development and perception of the science fiction genre. 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov is cited in the script as an example, being one of the most influential due to its exploration of socio-political themes and its status as a pioneering work in the genre.

💡Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction that features advanced technological and scientific achievements, juxtaposed with a degree of breakdown or radical change in the social order. 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson is highlighted in the script as arguably the most well-known and one of the earliest cyberpunk stories, emphasizing its importance in the genre.

💡Dystopian Novels

Dystopian novels are a genre of literature that describes a society that is undesirable or frightening. The script mentions '1984' by George Orwell and 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley as iconic examples, both exploring totalitarianism and societal control in extreme forms.

💡Feminist Science Fiction

Feminist science fiction is a subgenre that integrates feminist themes with science fiction elements. 'The Left Hand of Darkness' by Ursula K. Le Guin is noted in the script for being influential in this subgenre, exploring themes of gender and its impact on society within a sci-fi setting.

💡Space Opera

Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, melodramatic adventure, interplanetary battles, and chivalric romance. 'A Fire Upon the Deep' by Vernor Vinge is mentioned in the script as an example of a space opera, noted for its epic scale and inclusion of superhuman intelligence and aliens.

💡Character-Driven

Character-driven stories focus on the development and experiences of characters rather than the plot itself. The script suggests that 'Hyperion' and 'The Martian' are recommended to the presenter as character-driven novels, making them more accessible for readers who may find concept-driven sci-fi challenging.

💡Kickstarter

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform where creators can raise funds for their projects from the public. In the script, it is mentioned in relation to a special edition of 'The Sword of Kaken' by M.L. Wong, which generated significant hype and had more than 2,500 people sign up before its launch.

💡Adaptation

In the context of the script, adaptation refers to the process of turning a book into a different form of media, such as a film or TV series. 'Leviathan Wakes' by James S.A. Corey is mentioned as an example of a novel that has gained recognition and made it into the top 20 partly due to its adaptation.

Highlights

A method of ranking the best sci-fi books of all time was used by analyzing 16 different lists.

Books were scored based on their ranking on various lists, with the top-ranked book receiving 10 points and the 10th ranked receiving one point.

A total of 83 books were mentioned across the lists, highlighting the breadth of the analysis.

Honorable mentions include 'Snow Crash', 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', and 'The Three-Body Problem', which did not make the top 20.

The book 'Skyward' by Brandon Sanderson was a surprise entry, ranking at 35 with seven points due to high praise from a single booktuber.

Isaac Asimov's 'I, Robot' was notably absent from the top 20, ranking at 30 with eight points.

A special edition of 'The Sword of Kaken' by M.L. Wong is being released, featuring high-quality printing and unique design elements.

The top 20 list includes a mix of classic and modern sci-fi novels, showcasing the genre's evolution.

Books by Jules Verne and Philip K. Dick made the list, reflecting the enduring appeal of their work.

'The Book of the New Sun' by Gene Wolfe was recognized for its influence and high praise among readers.

'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov and 'Leviathan Wakes' by James S.A. Corey were ranked for their impact and popularity.

'Spin' by Robert Charles Wilson won the 2006 Hugo Award and explores a unique concept of time within an 'apple bowl'.

Ray Bradbury's 'The Martian Chronicles' and 'Fahrenheit 451' were recognized as American classics.

'War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells was included for its iconic status and exploration of an alien invasion.

'Red Rising' by Pierce Brown was noted for making the sci-fi genre more accessible to a wider audience.

'Neuromancer' by William Gibson is considered a foundational work in the cyberpunk genre.

'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley was highlighted as an iconic dystopian novel exploring government control.

'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells was recognized for its groundbreaking ideas and historical significance.

'The Left Hand of Darkness' by Ursula K. Le Guin was noted for its influential exploration of gender and society.

'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card was praised for its thrilling military sci-fi narrative and exploration of morality.

'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley was acknowledged as arguably the first sci-fi novel ever written.

'1984' by George Orwell was recognized as the most iconic dystopian novel, exploring totalitarianism.

'Dune' by Frank Herbert topped the list with its iconic status and influence on the sci-fi genre.

Transcripts

I went through a total of 16 lists which

ranked the best sci-fi books of all time

and I now have the ultimate top 20

sci-fi books of all time lists so how

did I do it as mentioned I went through

16 lists that highlighted the best

sci-fi books of all time if the list

react a book as number one then I gave

that book 10 points if the list ranked a

book as number 10 then I gave that book

one point I then added all the points

together to see which sci-fi books are

the most popular according to both

booktube and a range of websites and a

total of 83 books were mentioned now if

you want to access the full list I will

add it to my patreon alright let's

answer the question which are the top 20

best sci-fi books of all time first up

some honorable mentions that didn't make

it into the top 20. firstly a spot

number 52 with a total of 5 Points we

have three surprises we have snow crash

by Neil Stephenson The Hitchhiker's

Guide to the Galaxy and the three body

problem these are three we highly

praised sci-fi novel so I definitely

expected to see these books a bit higher

and on number 44 with a total of six

points we have helmet's tale dark matter

and recursion by Blake Crouch three

incredibly popular books as well but

these were almost never mentioned in any

top sci-fi list but probably the biggest

surprise is that Skyward by Brenda

Sanderson was ranked number 35 with

seven points but that is only because

one booktuber rank this book really

highly the last big surprise is that

iRobot by Isaac Asimov was not able to

break into the top 20 being ranked

number 30 with a total of 8 points I

definitely expected to see iRobot in the

top 20. okay before we get into the top

20 list I need to tell you about one of

my all-time favorite books and that is

the sword of kaken by ml Wong one of my

all-time favorite books that won the SP

FBO in 2020 and has some of the best

character work I have ever come across

and the reason why I'm talking about

this book is because today's sponsor

raid marked are doing an incredible

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will be having high quality offset

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custom full collar front and cheat

illustrated by Felix Ortiz a custom full

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cheat by Cherry sloke silver foil page

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and to top it all off then the story

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absolutely can't wait to get my hands on

this book and I'm so glad to see this

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so yeah if you're interested in getting

this one then I'll leave a link down in

the description down below where you can

access the kick order and there's not

that much time left so I recommend doing

it before it's too late thank you so

much ratemart for sponsoring this video

now let's get back to the video alright

let's get into the top 20. we'll start

with spot number 19 since we had four

books ranked together at the 23rd spot

so on a joined 19 spot with a total of

11 points we have four novels and those

are House of sons by Alistair Reynolds

Journey to the Center of the Earth by

Jules Verne the man in the High Castle

by Philip K dick and lastly the book of

the new song by Gene wolf so we already

have a bit of a blend in this list with

two classics by Jules Verne and Philip K

dick making it to the list but what

stood out to me is the book of the new

song was right in the top 20. I have

heard a lot of people talking about how

this is such an underrated series and I

know that Christopher roccio absolutely

adores this book and Series so it's

really great to see it get some

recognition moving on on the 17th spot

with a total of 13 points we have two

novels we have Foundation by Isaac

Asimov and Leviathan Wakes by James S.A

Corey now Foundation definitely deserves

to be here when considering its impact

on the genre it is without a doubt one

of the most influential Sci-Fi series

ever however I know some readers will be

quite surprised and maybe even annoyed

to see a such a recent novel such as

Leviathan vaigs in the 17th spot however

considering how many copies it sold and

the fact that it expands has received an

adaptation is not really a huge surprise

to see this novel break into top 20. let

me know your thoughts if you think that

Leviathan Wakes belongs in this list or

not at number 16 with a total of 14

points we have spin by Robert Charles

Wilson now this is also a relatively new

novel having been published in 2005 and

won the 2006 Hugo awards for being the

best novel if I'm not mistaken then this

novel does not take place in the future

but in their present age which is really

rare for the Sci-Fi genre the story

takes place in a reality where the Earth

is encased in an apple bowl that slows

time to a crawl inside while outside the

bubble the time passes exponentially

faster it is a very fascinating concept

and definitely one I need to check out

at spot number 15 and 14 with a total of

15 and 16 points we have two novels by

the legend Ray Bradbury at number 15 we

have the Martian Chronicles and on

number 14 we have Fahrenheit 451 these

two novels are American Classics and

have sold millions of copies now I have

read Fahrenheit 451 which I absolutely

loved it's a dystopian where reading

books is basically banned while the

Martian Chronicles is a Sci-Fi Classics

about humans repeated attempts to

colonize Mars at number 13 with a total

of 17 points we have another classic

which is War of the Worlds by H.G Wells

obviously a HD Wells had to be in this

list and War of the Worlds is definitely

one of the most well-known novels of his

The War of the Worlds tells the story of

Earth being invaded and colonized

despite martians and also tells the

story of how humans react and respond to

this existential crisis now this book

was published in 1897 which is mad

considering the ideas that are explored

in this novel at number 12 with a total

of 18 points we have a modern book which

is Red Rising by Pierce Brown now some

of you will be incredibly excited to see

this one this high as some of you will

be furious but it must be acknowledged

that red racing has been incredibly

influential in both getting fantasy

readers read more sci-fi but also made

the Sci-Fi genre a bit more accessible

as a whole now I have struggled a lot

with this sci-fi genre since I often

struggled with books that are very

concept and ideas driven and people have

time and a time again recommended

checking out the Red Rising as a really

good stepping stone into the Sci-Fi

genre unfortunately I haven't picked it

up yet but it will definitely happen now

we're jumping from rank number 12 all

the way to the ninth spot since we have

three books on this tracking with a

total of 19 points but before I reveal

those three books I just want to say a

special thanks to my patreon to support

what I do here I really appreciate it

now on number nine we have a fire upon

the Deep by Werner winch Hyperion by Dan

Simmons and the Martian by Andy Weir now

I know that I know way too little about

sci-fi since I actually hadn't even

heard about a fire upon the Deep before

I made this list but if fire upon the

deep is a Space Opera involving

superhuman intelligence aliens Space

Battles and much more and it's the first

book in the sounds of thought series it

sounds incredibly epic in scale and I

feel like most people have heard about

the audited books at number nine spot

the Hyperion and the Martian which are

actually two novels that a lot of

readers have recommended to me

specifically since I've struggled with

the Sci-Fi genre I've been told that

these books are much more character

driven than a lot of other sci-fi books

did you expect to see Hyperion react

higher than number nine alright from now

on you will probably have heard about

all these novels at least if you're

semi-interested in the Sci-Fi genre on

spot number 8 with a total of 25 points

we have new romancer by William Gibson

Neuromancer was published in 1984 and is

arguably the most well-known and also

arguably the earliest cyberpunk story

ever written consequently it also won

the nebula award the film K dick award

and the huge Awards this is an absolute

classic and a must read for fans of the

steampunk genre on spot number 7 with a

total of 27 points is a book that I love

which is a Brave New World by Aldous

Huxley one of the most iconic dystopian

novels ever written this story takes

place in a world where everything has

become a product of the government and

almost everyone is totally brainwashed

everyone is conditioned to believe

certain things about how the world works

until Bernard Max the protagonist one

day recognizes that something is off if

you want to explore the dystopian genre

then this is a must read at number 6

with hold of 30 points we have another

HG Wells novels with the time machine

now I read this novel around five years

ago and I thought it was okay I

definitely think that this is such a

highly praised novel since HG Wells

explored some incredibly groundbreaking

ideas it is absolutely incredible that

this novel was written almost

130 years ago and it's also quite short

so you can read it in one setting if you

want definitely influential and

definitely deserves to be on this list

at spot number 5 with a total of 31

points we have a book by one of the most

influential sci-fi authors and that is

the left hand of darkness by Ursula Le

Guin now I knew that this was a much

loved novel but I was surprised to see

that this book was ranked this High the

left hand of darkness is known for being

one of the most influential feminist

science fiction books which explores

femininity and masculinity and the

effect of gender on society I haven't

read this book yet but having those

themes explored in a Sci-Fi setting

sells incredibly fascinating on the

fourth spot with a total of 37 points we

have another classic which is none other

than Ender's Game by Scott Orson card

this is an absolutely thrilling military

sci-fi novel which is set in a world

where the Earth has been fighting

against its an alien race for

hundreds of years now the government is

frantically trying to win this war and

therefore has started a program where

they train kids who are incredibly smart

to be ready to fight against the buggers

this novel explores morality and warfare

in a very fascinating way and I would

definitely recommend checking out this

one on spot number 3 with a total of 37

points we have arguably the first sci-fi

novel ever written Frankenstein by Mary

Shelley I don't feel like I need to say

much about this novel it's an absolute

classic from the year 1818. all I can

say is that Mary Shelley was a genius

and at spot number two with a total of

41 points is one of my old time favorite

books and that is no other than the

Hunger Games by Susanna Collins okay I'm

joking it is none other than 1984 by

George Orwell in my opinion the most

iconic dystopian novel ever written I

mean the term Big Brother literally

comes from this incredibly influential

novel this is a brilliant and scary

novel exploring totalitarianism in the

most extreme sense imagine a world where

everything is monitored and your

children will even turn on you for

having a critical thought this novel

will terrify you and also make you think

which is one of the reasons why I love

this book so much and at number one with

a total of 89 points which is more than

twice as many points as number two and

you know which book this is going to be

none other than Dune by Frank Herbert

many people call Dune the Lord of the

Rings of the Cyber genre and that is not

without reason when you think about

sci-fi books you will think about Dune

first and with the new Dune adaptation

Asian Dune has gained even more

popularity than ever before the planet

of arakis and the protagonist Paul are

so iconic and for good reason Prague

Herbert was truly a Visionary and has

inspired millions of readers with his

work so that is it are you surprised by

any of the books in this list which

books do you think are missing thank you

so much for watching see you next video

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