In celebration Science Fiction Day on January 2, we have compiled a list of classic science fiction books from pioneers of the science fiction genre. This list of six books is just a few pieces of classic and well-known novels written by the founders of science fiction.
1. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury is the author of numerous highly regarded pieces of science fiction literature, most famously Fahrenheit 451. In his 1984 novel The Martian Chronicles, Bradbury tells the compelling story of a man who spends his life on Mars. The collection of stories speaks on colonization and the adaptation of the Martians to the visitors from earth.
2. Kindred by Octavia Butler
Kindred is Octavia Butler’s first sci-fi novel. It is well known as the first sci-fi novel to be written by a woman of color and it’s a masterpiece in African American literature. The novel follows the story of a black woman named Dana who time travels backwards from her modern-day life in California to the time of slavery.
3. The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy tells the story of Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect as they take a journey through both time and space following the guide to the galaxy. The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a collection of five of the Hitchhiker novels written by Douglas Adams.
4. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Slaughterhouse-Five is a widely acclaimed novel, known for being anti-war literature as well as science fiction. The novel follows the life of Billy Pilgrim as he grows up and eventually joins the army, which takes him into World War II. The book was selected as one of the best novels of all time by the Modern Library, as mentioned in the link from GoodReads.
5. 1984 by George Orwell
1984 is more so a social science fiction novel, but is highly acclaimed for its take on a dystopian society that is based in the future. The book focuses on a society where everyone lacks individuality and it predicts the outcome of modern life.
6. The Stars, Like Dust by Isaac Asimov
The Stars, Like Dust is the first novel in Isaac Asimov’s Galactic Empire trilogy. This novel follows the journey of Biron Farrell as he travels through many light-years after discovering his father has been murdered. This novel is one of many of Isaac Asimov’s pivotal science fiction pieces.
Interested in more great content? Follow UNG Press on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and find our complete catalog on our homepage.
