451° Fahrenheit. Ray Bradbury
451° Fahrenheit is the temperature at which paper ignites and burns. Bradbury's philosophical dystopia paints a picture of the development of a post-industrial society: this is a future world in which all written publications are destroyed by a special detachment of firefighters, and the possession of books is prosecuted by law, interactive television successfully serves to fool everyone, punitive psychiatry deals with dissidents.
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Cloud Atlas. David Mitchell
“Cloud Atlas” is like a mirror labyrinth in which six voices echo and overlap: a mid-nineteenth-century notary returning to the United States from Australia; a young composer forced to trade body and soul in Europe between the world wars; a journalist in 1970s California uncovering a corporate conspiracy; a small publisher - our contemporary, who managed to break the bank on the gangster autobiography “Blast with Brass Knuckles”.
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Roadside Picnic. Boris and Arkady Strugatsky
This volume includes one of the most famous works of the Strugatsky brothers - the novel “Roadside Picnic”, a fascinating story of stalkers - desperately brave people who, at their own peril and risk, go again and again to the alien landing site - an anomalous Zone full of dangers and deadly traps.
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Game of Thrones. Martin George R.R.
This is the majestic six books of “The Song of Ice and Fire”. An epic, haunting saga about the world of the Seven Kingdoms. About the world of harsh lands of eternal cold and joyful lands of eternal summer. A world of lords and heroes, warriors and magicians, warlocks and assassins - everyone brought together by Fate in fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. About the world of dangerous adventures, great deeds and subtle political intrigues.
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Lord of the Rings. Tolkien John Ronald Ruel
The trilogy undoubtedly tops the list of “cult” books of the 20th century. Its author, J.R.R. Tolkien, a professor at Oxford University, a specialist in ancient and medieval English, created an amazing world - Middle-earth, which has irresistibly attracted millions of readers for almost fifty years. The film trilogy increased the ranks of fans of both Tolkien and the heroic fantasy genre itself.
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It's hard to be a god. Boris and Arkady Strugatsky
The daring and rich imagination of the authors looks through the centuries and creates a fantastic world. Who is he, the noble Don Rumata of Estor? How does the soul of Anton, a boy from a distant Earth, an envoy-enthusiast from the Institute of Experimental History, live in him? Together with Rumata Estorski, we are tormented by doubts: how to live in the face of human grief, in the face of death? How to remain God - the supreme being who knows the laws of history and therefore does not draw a sword?
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Dune. Frank Herbert
In Dune, Frank Herbert managed to accomplish the impossible - to create a kind of “chronicle of the distant future.” And in the entire history of world science fiction there has not been a more vivid, more visible, more powerful and original picture of the future. The “Dune” cycle was and remains a unique phenomenon - the most grandiose, most daring, most ambitious creation in the entire history of world science fiction.
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Restaurant “At the End of the Universe” " Douglas Adams
Do you want to know how to make the Pan-Galactic Gnawder cocktail? Do you want to understand how to survive on a measly thirty Altair dollars a day? Do you want to playfully ruin an interplanetary super corporation? Oh no? So, maybe you are wondering WHAT God bequeathed to the world He created?! Read Douglas Adams' MASTERPIECE - and you will learn not only THIS, but SOMETHING ELSE!
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Invisible Man. H.G. Wells
“The Invisible Man” by H.G. Wells is one of the most filmed and most modern, both in plot and philosophical terms, novels by the English science fiction writer, in which the adventures of the main character - a crazy and brilliant young physicist, who naively dreamed of supreme power over the world, but was persecuted and crushed by society is just a frame for Wells’s thought - the thought of a scientist’s responsibility for his discoveries, which can bring both good and bad to the world.
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Professor Dowell's Head. Alexander Belyaev
One of the most fascinating novels by Alexander Belyaev. The tragic story of a brilliant professor who became the victim of an extraordinary biological experiment still sounds surprisingly relevant and modern today.
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Aelita. Alexey Tolstoy
Alexei Tolstoy’s fascinating fantasy novel “Aelita” tells about an extraordinary space flight, about the exciting adventures of travelers on Mars, which turned out to be inhabited by the inhabitants of the lost Atlantis, about the meeting of earthlings with the beautiful Aelita and other inhabitants of the red planet.
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Under the dome. Stephen King
The story is about a small town that is overtaken by BIG TROUBLE. One day, he, along with all the inhabitants, was covered with a mysterious invisible dome, preventing him from leaving the city or getting there from the outside. What will happen in the town now? What will happen to its inhabitants? After all, when a person is not dominated by either the law or the fear of punishment, too thin a line separates him from turning into a cruel beast. Who will cross this line and who will not?
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Martian Chronicles. Ray Bradbury
Do you want to conquer Mars, this strange, changeable world inhabited by mysterious, elusive inhabitants and not so kind to humans? Go for it. But just get ready to fully drink the cup of regrets and longing - longing for the green planet Earth, where your heart will forever remain. The series of amazing Martian stories by Ray Bradbury is a classic work that is included in the golden fund of world literature.
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Solaris. Stanislav Lem
“Solaris” is a popular science fiction work by the famous Polish writer, which touches on important philosophical, social and moral problems that arise in the process of human penetration into the boundless ocean of space.
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Strangers live in your apartment...
Your place at work is taken by someone else...
Neither your friends nor your girlfriend will recognize you...
You are being erased from this world.
Who?
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The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. Tolkien John Ronald Ruel
“There was a hole in the ground, and in the hole lived a hobbit.” These words were written by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien on the back of a school exam paper he was marking one hot summer day. And who would have thought that it was from them, like from a magic seed, that one of the most famous works of world literature would grow. This is a fairy tale that has captivated both children and adults, taking the reader on an incredible journey, giving an unforgettable feeling of pristine childish delight and goodness.
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Ender `s game. Orson Card
"Ender's Game" is an absolute masterpiece of modern science fiction and a rare case in the history of the genre when a novel wins two of the highest science fiction awards in the same year - the Hugo and Nebula awards. That is, it receives both reader and writer recognition at the same time.
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Simple magical things. Max Fry
When life becomes like a cauldron with a wonderful potion, where the mistress fate throws more and more new seasonings: magical talismans and beautiful poems, beautiful girls and powerful sorcerers, carefree laughter and causeless sadness, you should probably assume that it was a success. And hurry to say thank you, even if you don’t know who. Especially if you don't know.
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Walking castle. Diana Jones
Sophie lives in a fairyland where witches and mermaids, seven-league boots and talking dogs are commonplace. Therefore, when the terrible curse of the insidious Swamp Witch falls on her, Sophie has no choice but to turn to the mysterious sorcerer Howl, who lives in a moving castle, for help. However, in order to free herself from the spell, Sophie will have to solve many mysteries and live in Howl's castle much longer than she expected.
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Lurking in the shadows. Alexey Pekhov
Are thief and hero incompatible concepts? No matter how it is! When faced with a choice between the executioner's ax and the Order for a short walk into the dark burial grounds of the elven forests, sober people choose the executioner's ax, and the heroes decide to roll the dice and, hoping that sixes come up, take a chance.After all, all you need to do is get into the abandoned tower of the Order, fool a couple of demons, get rid of hired killers, frame the thieves’ guild, and get out of a dozen bloody skirmishes.
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Baptism by fire . Andrzej Sapkowski
Andrzej Sapkowski is a writer with a talent for creating completely original fantasy, completely free from outside influence, but connected to the classical mythological tradition.Sapkowski's books are not only brilliant in their literary form and depth of content. They present a picture of the world - the world of “sword and magic”, which not only captures the reader’s attention, but also touches his soul.
Buy a paper book atLabirint.ru >> City of bones. Cassandra Clare
In the Mortal Instruments trilogy, Claire created a fascinating Twilight world in which the struggle between good and evil takes place. 15-year-old Clary Fray had no idea that she would witness a murder. The killers turned out to be strange people covered with tattoos, and the body of the murdered man disappeared! From that moment on, Clary's life was filled with mysterious events. Her mother was kidnapped, and the girl herself was attacked by demons.
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Dark side. Max Fry
The “dark side” is not a metaphor, but a very specific place, the wrong side of reality. Every city, village, forest and even the sea has a dark side. The sages, however, claim that the “Dark Side” is a state of consciousness that allows a person to see the inside of things and interact with it. And even get an absolutely visible, material result on the “front side of reality”, or “in reality” - in general, in the so-called “real life”.
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Never. Neil Gaiman
Beneath the streets of London there is a world that most people are unaware of. In him, the word becomes real power. You can only get there by opening the Door. This world is full of dangers, inhabited by saints and monsters, murderers and angels
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Children of Hurin: Narn and Hin Hurin. Tolkien John Ronald Ruel
The last work of the great John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. The story of King Hurin and his son, the cursed hero of Turin Turambar, whose lot was to bring destruction to all he loved. The story of the dark days of the elven kingdoms of Middle-earth, one after another falling under the onslaught of the forces of the Dark Lord Morgoth... The story of Turin's best friend - the elven warrior Beleg Cutalion - and his sister Nienor
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In general, I am a big fan of science fiction and science fiction as well. At one time I read a lot, now much less due to the invention of the Internet and lack of time. While preparing my next post, I came across this rating. Well, I think I’ll go for a run now, I probably know everything here! Yeah! No matter how it is. I haven’t read half the books, but that’s okay. I’m hearing some authors almost for the first time! Look what it's like! And they are CULT! How are you doing with this list?
Check...
1. Time machine
A novel by H.G. Wells, his first major work of science fiction. Adapted from the 1888 story "The Argonauts of Time" and published in 1895. “The Time Machine” introduced into science fiction the idea of time travel and the time machine used for this, which were later used by many writers and created the direction of chrono-fiction. Moreover, as noted by Yu. I. Kagarlitsky, both in scientific and general worldview terms, Wells “... in a certain sense anticipated Einstein,” who formulated the special theory of relativity ten years after the novel’s release
The book describes the journey of the inventor of a time machine into the future. The basis of the plot is the fascinating adventures of the main character in a world located 800 thousand years later, in describing which the author proceeded from the negative trends in the development of his contemporary capitalist society, which allowed many critics to call the book a warning novel. In addition, the novel describes for the first time many ideas related to time travel, which will not lose their attractiveness for readers and authors of new works for a long time.
2. Stranger in a strange land
A fantastic philosophical novel by Robert Heinlein, awarded the Hugo Award in 1962. It has a “cult” status in the West, being considered the most famous science fiction novel ever written. One of the few works of science fiction included by the Library of Congress in its list of books that shaped America.
The first expedition to Mars disappeared without a trace. The Third World War postponed the second, successful expedition for a long twenty-five years. New researchers established contact with the original Martians and found out that not all of the first expedition perished. And the “Mowgli of the space age” is brought to earth - Michael Valentine Smith, raised by local intelligent creatures. A man by birth and a Martian by upbringing, Michael bursts like a bright star into the familiar everyday life of the Earth. Endowed with the knowledge and skills of an ancient civilization, Smith becomes the messiah, the founder of a new religion and the first martyr for his faith...
3. Lensman Saga
The Lensman saga is the story of a million-year confrontation between two ancient and powerful races: the evil and cruel Eddorians, who are trying to create a giant empire in space, and the inhabitants of Arrisia, the wise patrons of young civilizations emerging in the galaxy. Over time, the Earth with its mighty space fleet and the Galactic Lensman Patrol will also enter this battle.
The novel instantly became incredibly popular among science fiction fans - it was one of the first major works whose authors dared to take the action beyond the Solar System, and since then Smith, along with Edmond Hamilton, has been considered the founder of the “space opera” genre.
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey
“2001: A Space Odyssey” is a literary script for the film of the same name (which, in turn, is based on Clark’s early story “The Sentinel”), which has become a classic of science fiction and is dedicated to the contact of mankind with an extraterrestrial civilization.
2001: A Space Odyssey is regularly included in lists of the "greatest films in cinematic history." It and its sequel, 2010: Odyssey Two, won Hugo Awards in 1969 and 1985 for best science fiction films.
The influence of the film and book on modern culture is enormous, as is the number of their fans. And although 2001 has already arrived, A Space Odyssey is unlikely to be forgotten. She continues to be our future.
5. 451 degrees Fahrenheit
The dystopian novel by the famous American science fiction writer Ray Bradbury “Fahrenheit 451” has become, in a sense, an icon and guiding star of the genre. It was created on a typewriter, which the writer rented from a public library, and was first printed in parts in the first issues of Playboy magazine.
The epigraph of the novel states that the ignition temperature of paper is 451 °F. The novel describes a society that relies on mass culture and consumer thinking, in which all books that make you think about life are subject to burning; possession of books is a crime; and people who are capable of critical thinking find themselves outside the law. The novel's protagonist, Guy Montag, works as a "fireman" (which in the book implies burning books), confident that he is doing his job "for the benefit of mankind." But soon he becomes disillusioned with the ideals of the society of which he is a part, becomes an outcast and joins a small underground group of marginalized people, whose supporters memorize the texts of books in order to save them for posterity.
6. “Foundation” (other names - Academy, Foundation, Foundation, Foundation)
A science fiction classic, it tells the story of the collapse of a great galactic empire and its revival through the Seldon Plan.
In his later novels, Asimov connected the world of Foundation with his other series of works about the Empire and about positronic robots. The combined series, which is also called "Foundation", covers the history of mankind for more than 20,000 years and includes 14 novels and several dozen short stories.
According to rumors, Asimov's novel made a huge impression on Osama bin Laden and even influenced his decision to create the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. Bin Laden likened himself to Gary Seldon, who controls the future society through pre-planned crises. Moreover, the title of the novel when translated into Arabic sounds like Al Qaida and, thus, could be the reason for the name of bin Laden's organization.
7. Slaughterhouse-Five, or the Children's Crusade (1969)
Autobiographical novel by Kurt Vonnegut about the bombing of Dresden during World War II.
The novel was dedicated to Mary O'Hair (and Dresden taxi driver Gerhard Müller) and was written in a “telegraphic-schizophrenic style,” as Vonnegut himself puts it. The book closely intertwines realism, grotesque, fantasy, elements of madness, cruel satire and bitter irony.
The main character is the American soldier Billy Pilgrim, an absurd, timid, apathetic man. The book describes his adventures in the war and the bombing of Dresden, which left an indelible imprint on Pilgrim’s mental state, which had not been very stable since childhood. Vonnegut introduced a fantastic element into the story: the events of the protagonist's life are viewed through the prism of post-traumatic stress disorder - a syndrome characteristic of war veterans, which crippled the hero's perception of reality. As a result, the comical “story about aliens” grows into some harmonious philosophical system.
Aliens from the planet Tralfamadore take Billy Pilgrim to their planet and tell him that time does not actually “flow”, there is no gradual random transition from one event to another - the world and time are given once and for all, everything that has happened and will happen is known . About the death of someone, the Trafalmadorians simply say: “That’s how it is.” It was impossible to say why or why anything happened - that was the “structure of the moment.”
8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Guide to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The legendary ironic science fiction saga of Douglas Adams.
The novel tells the story of the adventures of the unlucky Englishman Arthur Dent, who, with his friend Ford Prefect (a native of a small planet somewhere near Betelgeuse, who works in the editorial office of the Hitchhiker's Guide) avoids death when the Earth is destroyed by a race of Vogon bureaucrats. Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ford's relative and President of the Galaxy, accidentally saves Dent and Ford from death in outer space. Also on board Zaphod's improbability-powered ship, the Heart of Gold, are the depressed robot Marvin and Trillian, aka Trisha McMillan, whom Arthur once met at a party. She, as Arthur soon realizes, is the only surviving Earthling besides himself. The heroes are looking for the legendary planet Magrathea and trying to find a question that matches the Final Answer.
9. Dune (1965)
Frank Herbert's first novel in the Dune Chronicles saga about the sand planet Arrakis. It was this book that made him famous. Dune won the Hugo and Nebula Awards. Dune is one of the most famous science fiction novels of the 20th century.
This book raises many political, environmental and other important issues. The writer managed to create a full-fledged fantasy world and cross it with a philosophical novel. In this world, the most important substance is spice, which is needed for interstellar travel and on which the existence of civilization depends. This substance is found only on one planet called Arrakis. Arrakis is a desert inhabited by huge sandworms. On this planet live the Fremen tribes, in whose life the main and unconditional value is water.
10. Neuromancer (1984)
A novel by William Gibson, a canonical piece of cyberpunk that won the Nebula Award (1984), the Hugo Award (1985), and the Philip K. K. Prize. This is Gibson's first novel and opens the Cyberspace trilogy. Published in 1984.
This work examines concepts such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, genetic engineering, transnational corporations, cyberspace (computer network, matrix) long before these concepts became popular in popular culture.
11. Do androids dream of electric sheep? (1968)
Science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick, written in 1968. Tells the story of "bounty hunter" Rick Deckard, who pursues androids - creatures almost indistinguishable from humans that have been outlawed on Earth. The action takes place in a radiation poisoned and partially abandoned future San Francisco.
Along with The Man in the High Castle, this novel is Dick's most famous work. This is one of the classic science fiction works that explores the ethical issues of creating androids - artificial people.
In 1982, based on the novel, Ridley Scott made the film Blade Runner with Harrison Ford in the title role. The script, which was created by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is quite different from the book.
12. Gate (1977)
A science fiction novel by American writer Frederik Pohl, published in 1977 and received all three major American awards of the genre - Nebula (1977), Hugo (1978) and Locus (1978). The novel opens the Khichi series.
Near Venus, people found an artificial asteroid built by an alien race called the Heechee. Spaceships were discovered on the asteroid. People figured out how to control ships, but they couldn't change their destination. Many volunteers have tested them. Some returned with discoveries that made them rich. But most returned with nothing. And some did not return at all. Flying on a ship was like Russian roulette - you could get lucky, but you could also die.
The main character is a researcher who got lucky. He is tormented by remorse - from the crew that was lucky, he was the only one who returned. And he tries to figure out his life by confessing to a robot psychoanalyst.
13. Ender's Game (1985)
Ender's Game won the Nebula and Hugo Awards for best novel in 1985 and 1986, some of the most prestigious literary awards in science fiction.
The novel takes place in 2135. Humanity has survived two invasions by the alien race of buggers, only miraculously surviving, and is preparing for the next invasion. To search for pilots and military leaders capable of bringing victory to Earth, a military school is created, to which the most talented children are sent from an early age. Among these children is the title character of the book - Andrew (Ender) Wiggin, the future commander of the International Earth Fleet and humanity's only hope for salvation.
14. 1984 (1949)
In 2009, The Times included 1984 in its list of the 60 best books published in the last 60 years, and Newsweek magazine ranked the novel second on its list of the 100 best books of all time.
The title of the novel, its terminology, and even the name of the author subsequently became common nouns and are used to denote a social structure reminiscent of the totalitarian regime described in “1984.” He repeatedly became both a victim of censorship in socialist countries and an object of criticism from left-wing circles in the West.
George Orwell's science fiction novel 1984 tells the story of Winston Smith as he rewrites history to suit partisan interests during the reign of a totalitarian junta. Smith's rebellion leads to dire consequences. As the author predicts, nothing can be more terrible than total lack of freedom...
This work, which was banned in our country until 1991, is called a dystopia of the twentieth century. (hatred, fears, hunger and blood), a warning about totalitarianism. The novel was boycotted in the West due to the similarity between the ruler of the country, Big Brother, and the real heads of state.
15. Brave New World (1932)
One of the most famous dystopian novels. A kind of antipode to Orwell's 1984. No torture chambers - everyone is happy and satisfied. The pages of the novel describe a world of the distant future (the action takes place in London), in which people are grown in special embryonic factories and are divided in advance (by influencing the embryo at various stages of development) into five castes of different mental and physical abilities, which perform different jobs. From “alphas” - strong and beautiful mental workers to “epsilons” - semi-cretins who can only do the simplest physical work. Depending on the caste, babies are raised differently. Thus, with the help of hypnopaedia, each caste develops reverence for the higher caste and contempt for the lower castes. Each caste has a specific color of costume. For example, alphas wear gray, gammas wear green, deltas wear khaki, and epsilons wear black.
In this society there is no place for feelings, and it is considered indecent not to have regular sexual intercourse with different partners (the main slogan is “everyone belongs to everyone else”), but pregnancy is considered a terrible shame. People in this “World State” do not age, although the average life expectancy is 60 years. Regularly, in order to always have a good mood, they use the drug “soma”, which has no negative effects (“soma gram – and no dramas”). God in this world is Henry Ford, they call him “Our Lord Ford,” and the chronology starts from the creation of the Ford T car, that is, from 1908 AD. e. (in the novel the action takes place in 632 of the “era of stability”, that is, in 2540 AD).
The writer shows the life of people in this world. The main characters are people who cannot fit into society - Bernard Marx (a representative of the upper class, alpha plus), his friend the successful dissident Helmholtz and the savage John from the Indian reservation, who all his life dreamed of getting into a wonderful world where everyone is happy.
source http://t0p-10.ru
And on the literary topic, let me remind you what I was and what I was like The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -
Of course, not only science fiction, but literature in general. He is distinguished by deep psychologism and poignancy.
Ray Bradbury is best known for his dark and philosophical series of stories “The Martian Chronicles”, as well as the post-apocalyptic story “Fahrenheit 451”.
Isaac Asimov
Clifford Simak
Clifford Simak is one of the founders of modern American science fiction. Author of such iconic works as “The City”, “A Ring Around the Sun”, “The Goblin Sanctuary”, “The Werewolf Principle”.
Stanislav Lem
Stanislaw Lem is a Polish science fiction writer, futurist and philosopher. Lemme's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. There are many film adaptations of his works, among which the most famous is the brilliant “Solaris” by Andrei Tarkovsky.
Robert Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein is the only writer to receive as many as five Hugo Awards and a multiple Nebula winner. Heinlein is the author of the cult “Stranger in a Stranger”, as well as the excellent “teenage series”, which set the standards for science fiction (“Star Beast”, “Martian Podkein”, “If there is a spacesuit, there will be travel” and others).
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
The brothers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are iconic Soviet brothers who worked mainly in tandem (although each of them also published independent stories), who became classics of modern science fiction not only in Russia, but throughout the world. However, the depth and philosophy of their best works (“Roadside Picnic”, “Snail on the Slope”, “Lame Fate”, “Doomed City” and others) go far beyond the scope of fantasy as a genre.
Kir Bulychev
Kir Bulychev is an author, known primarily as the author of a children's and teenage fantasy series about the adventures of a girl from the future, Alisa Selezneva ("One Hundred Years Ahead", "The Girl from the Earth" and others). However, Bulychev also has other works that are distinguished by their invariably easy language and excellent sense of humor - for example, the cycle of stories “The Martian Potion” about the inhabitants of the fictional city of the great Guslyar.
Sergei Lukyanenko
Lukyanenko’s best works include his early works - “Knights of the Forty Islands”, “The Boy and the Darkness”.
Sergei Lukyanenko is perhaps the most famous today
Science fiction is one of the genres of modern literature that “grew” out of romanticism. The forerunners of this direction are called Hoffman, Swift and even Gogol. We will talk about this amazing and magical type of literature in this article. We will also consider the most famous writers of the movement and their works.
Definition of genre
Fantasy is a term that has ancient Greek origins and literally translates as “the art of imagining.” In literature, it is usually called a direction based on a fantastic assumption in the description of the artistic world and heroes. This genre tells about universes and creatures that do not exist in reality. Often these images are borrowed from folklore and mythology.
Science fiction is not only a literary genre. This is a whole separate movement in art, the main difference of which is the unrealistic assumption underlying the plot. Usually another world is depicted, which exists in a time other than ours, living according to the laws of physics different from those on earth.
Subspecies
Science fiction books on bookshelves today can confuse any reader with their variety of themes and plots. Therefore, they have long been divided into types. There are many classifications, but we will try to reflect the most complete one here.
Books of this genre can be divided according to plot features:
- Science fiction, we’ll talk about it in more detail below.
- Dystopian - this includes “Fahrenheit 451” by R. Bradbury, “Immortality Corporation” by R. Sheckley, “The Doomed City” by the Strugatskys.
- Alternative: “The Transatlantic Tunnel” by G. Garrison, “Let the Darkness Never Fall” by L.S. de Campa, “Island of Crimea” by V. Aksenov.
- Fantasy is the most numerous subspecies. Writers working in the genre: J.R.R. Tolkien, A. Belyanin, A. Pekhov, O. Gromyko, R. Salvatore, etc.
- Thriller and horror: H. Lovecraft, S. King, E. Rice.
- Steampunk, steampunk and cyberpunk: “War of the Worlds” by H. Wells, “The Golden Compass” by F. Pullman, “Mockingbird” by A. Pekhov, “Steampunk” by P.D. Filippo.
Genres often mix and new varieties of works appear. For example, love fantasy, detective, adventure, etc. Let us note that fantasy, as one of the most popular types of literature, continues to develop, more and more of its directions appear every year, and it is almost impossible to somehow systematize them.
Foreign books of the fantasy genre
The most popular and famous series of this subtype of literature is “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien. The work was written in the middle of the last century, but is still in great demand among fans of the genre. The story tells of the Great War against Evil, which lasted for centuries until the dark lord Sauron was defeated. Centuries of quiet life have passed, and the world is again in danger. Only the hobbit Frodo, who must destroy the One Ring, can save Middle-earth from a new war.
Another excellent example of fantasy is “A Song of Ice and Fire” by J. Martin. To date, the cycle includes 5 parts, but is considered unfinished. The action of the novels takes place in the Seven Kingdoms, where long summers give way to equal winters. Several families are fighting for power in the state, trying to seize the throne. The series is far from the usual magical worlds, where good always triumphs over evil, and knights are noble and fair. Intrigue, betrayal and death reign here.
The Hunger Games series by S. Collins is also worthy of mention. These books, which quickly became bestsellers, are classified as teenage fiction. The plot tells about the struggle for freedom and the price that the heroes have to pay to get it.
Science fiction is (in literature) a separate world that lives by its own laws. And it appeared not at the end of the 20th century, as many people think, but much earlier. It’s just that in those years such works were classified as other genres. For example, these are books by E. Hoffman (“The Sandman”), Jules Verne (“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, “Around the Moon”, etc.), H. Wells, etc.
Russian writers
Domestic science fiction authors have also written many books in recent years. Russian writers are not much inferior to their foreign colleagues. We list here the most famous of them:
- Sergei Lukyanenko. A very popular cycle is “Watches”. Now not only its creator, but also many others are writing about this series around the world. He is also the author of the following wonderful books and series: “The Boy and the Darkness”, “No Time for Dragons”, “Working on Mistakes”, “Deeptown”, “Sky Seekers”, etc.
- The Strugatsky brothers. They have novels of various types of fiction: “Ugly Swans”, “Monday Begins on Saturday”, “Roadside Picnic”, “It’s Hard to Be a God”, etc.
- Alexey Pekhov, whose books are popular today not only in his homeland, but also in Europe. Let us list the main cycles: “Chronicles of Siala”, “Spark and Wind”, “Kindrat”, “Guardian”.
- Pavel Kornev: “Borderland”, “All-Good Electricity”, “Autumn City”, “Radiant”.
Foreign writers
Famous foreign science fiction writers:
- Isaac Asimov is a famous American author who has written more than 500 books.
- Ray Bradbury is a recognized classic not only of science fiction, but also of world literature.
- Stanislaw Lem is a very famous Polish writer in our country.
- Clifford Simak is considered the founder of American science fiction.
- Robert Heinlein is an author of books for teenagers.
What is science fiction?
Science fiction is a movement in fantasy literature that takes as its plot the rational assumption that unusual things happen due to the incredible development of technical and scientific thought. One of the most popular genres today. But it is often difficult to separate it from related ones, since authors can combine several directions.
Science fiction is (in literature) a great opportunity to imagine what would happen to our civilization if technological progress accelerated or science chose a different path of development. Typically, such works do not violate the generally accepted laws of nature and physics.
The first books of this genre began to appear in the 18th century, when the formation of modern science took place. But science fiction emerged as an independent literary movement only in the 20th century. J. Verne is considered one of the first writers to work in this genre.
Science fiction: books
Let us list the most famous works of this direction:
- “Master of Torture” (J. Wolfe);
- "Rise from the Dust" (F.H. Farmer);
- "Ender's Game" (O.S. Card);
- “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy” (D. Adams);
- "Dune" (F. Herbert);
- “Sirens of Titan” (K. Vonnegut).
Science fiction is quite diverse. The books presented here are only the most famous and popular examples of it. It is almost impossible to list all the writers of this type of literature, since several hundred of them have appeared over the past decades.