Top 20 Geek novels

[Sabre]

Full article here

By Jack Schofield / Media 06:14am

So far, 132 people have voted for the best geek novels written in English since 1932, in spite of Survey Monkey's rubric saying free polls were limited to 100 responses. The top 20 is therefore as follows, with the numbers in brackets showing the number of votes.

1. The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Douglas Adams 85% (102)
2. Nineteen Eighty-Four -- George Orwell 79% (92)
3. Brave New World -- Aldous Huxley 69% (77)
4. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? -- Philip Dick 64% (67)
5. Neuromancer -- William Gibson 59% (66)
6. Dune -- Frank Herbert 53% (54)
7. I, Robot -- Isaac Asimov 52% (54)
8. Foundation -- Isaac Asimov 47% (47)
9. The Colour of Magic -- Terry Pratchett 46% (46)
10. Microserfs -- Douglas Coupland 43% (44)
11. Snow Crash -- Neal Stephenson 37% (37)
12. Watchmen -- Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons 38% (37)
13. Cryptonomicon -- Neal Stephenson 36% (36)
14. Consider Phlebas -- Iain M Banks 34% (35)
15. Stranger in a Strange Land -- Robert Heinlein 33% (33)
16. The Man in the High Castle -- Philip K Dick 34% (32)
17. American Gods -- Neil Gaiman 31% (29)
18. The Diamond Age -- Neal Stephenson 27% (27)
19. The Illuminatus! Trilogy -- Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson 23% (21)
20. Trouble with Lichen - John Wyndham 21% (19)

There are two surprises for me. First, I'm amazed Neal Stephenson didn't do better: he is probably the ultimate geek novelist, being a bit of a geek himself. Second, I'm very impressed by the support for Watchmen, the graphic novel. And while I'm not surprised The Illuminatus! Trilogy didn't do better, I think more of you should read it -- or at least the first book, The Eye in the Pyramid!

The following five books attracted the most votes against.

Dune -- Frank Herbert 17% (17)
Neuromancer -- William Gibson 13% (15)
I, Robot -- Isaac Asimov 12% (13)
Foundation -- Isaac Asimov 13% (13)
The Colour of Magic -- Terry Pratchett 12% (12)

Finally, the saddest statistics for me were the ones for John Brunner's books, which recorded high scores in the Not read it/Don't care category, as follows.

Stand on Zanzibar -- John Brunner 85% (77)
The Shockwave Rider -- John Brunner 88% (80)

I really enjoyed these books when I read them, though that was a long time ago. The sadness comes from the fact that Brunner was a British novellist, a good bloke, and used to drop me the occasional note (usually askng for advice about computing) in the days when I edited Computer Guardian. He died of a stroke during the World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow in 1995.

Footnote: The short-list was drawn up based on comments to What are the top 20 geek novels on October 26, with voting at Survey Monkey.

[Mr Kleen]

a lot of good books on that list. I need to read Watchmen and Snow Crash. I'm not really enthused by Dune but wow does that book(s) inspire a cult audience... anybody see I, Robot? I refused after seeing the commercials. I loved the book and it appears that the movie had exactly dick to do with the book. thanks a lot Mr. Smith.

[Katya4me]

Full article here

By Jack Schofield / Media 06:14am

So far, 132 people have voted for the best geek novels written in English since 1932, in spite of Survey Monkey's rubric saying free polls were limited to 100 responses. The top 20 is therefore as follows, with the numbers in brackets showing the number of votes.

1. The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Douglas Adams 85% (102)
2. Nineteen Eighty-Four -- George Orwell 79% (92)
3. Brave New World -- Aldous Huxley 69% (77)
4. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? -- Philip Dick 64% (67)
5. Neuromancer -- William Gibson 59% (66)
6. Dune -- Frank Herbert 53% (54)
7. I, Robot -- Isaac Asimov 52% (54)
8. Foundation -- Isaac Asimov 47% (47)
9. The Colour of Magic -- Terry Pratchett 46% (46)
10. Microserfs -- Douglas Coupland 43% (44)
11. Snow Crash -- Neal Stephenson 37% (37)
12. Watchmen -- Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons 38% (37)
13. Cryptonomicon -- Neal Stephenson 36% (36)
14. Consider Phlebas -- Iain M Banks 34% (35)
15. Stranger in a Strange Land -- Robert Heinlein 33% (33)
16. The Man in the High Castle -- Philip K Dick 34% (32)
17. American Gods -- Neil Gaiman 31% (29)
18. The Diamond Age -- Neal Stephenson 27% (27)
19. The Illuminatus! Trilogy -- Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson 23% (21)
20. Trouble with Lichen - John Wyndham 21% (19)

There are two surprises for me. First, I'm amazed Neal Stephenson didn't do better: he is probably the ultimate geek novelist, being a bit of a geek himself. Second, I'm very impressed by the support for Watchmen, the graphic novel. And while I'm not surprised The Illuminatus! Trilogy didn't do better, I think more of you should read it -- or at least the first book, The Eye in the Pyramid!

The following five books attracted the most votes against.

Dune -- Frank Herbert 17% (17)
Neuromancer -- William Gibson 13% (15)
I, Robot -- Isaac Asimov 12% (13)
Foundation -- Isaac Asimov 13% (13)
The Colour of Magic -- Terry Pratchett 12% (12)

Read all of the following:

1. The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Douglas Adams 85% (102)
2. Nineteen Eighty-Four -- George Orwell 79% (92)
4. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? -- Philip Dick 64% (67)
5. Neuromancer -- William Gibson 59% (66)
6. Dune -- Frank Herbert 53% (54)
8. Foundation -- Isaac Asimov 47% (47)
9. The Colour of Magic -- Terry Pratchett 46% (46)
11. Snow Crash -- Neal Stephenson 37% (37) I own this if anyone wants to borrow it
13. Cryptonomicon -- Neal Stephenson 36% (36)
15. Stranger in a Strange Land -- Robert Heinlein 33% (33)
18. The Diamond Age -- Neal Stephenson 27% (27)
19. The Illuminatus! Trilogy -- Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson 23% (21) I own this if anyone wants to borrow it

Brave New Worlds and American Gods are on my list of books to read.

I love Neal Stephenson and have read all of his except the 2 newest books in his latest trilogy. He was the first author to pop in my head when I saw the thread title. I never got into the Dune series, but Shawn loves it. Douglas Adams rocks though, he died way too young. I love all of his writings too. I like Arthur C. Clarke too, even though he didn't make the list, so many things he has written about have become a reality or could be, given enough funding.

[ElZorro]

Yea, I have the list pretty well covered as well. Happy to loan Hitchhikers, Dune, Farenhiet 411 (1984-ish).

[complacent]

Teh Illuminatus! Trilogy got me started on Robert Anton Wilson (cosmic trigger, etc) great, great reads.

I've got most of the list covered as well. Phillip K. Dick was a genius. I would highly recommend "Valis" as a starting point.

i could go on and on.... but i won't

[Sabre]

I have to throw my favorite author in here Orson Scott Card, who wrote "Ender's Game". I've read all of the books in this series and loved them all, although the first still has a place in my heart more than the others. I'm happy to say that I read him LONG before he became famous Sounds like there is an Enders Game movie coming out and he has done everything in his power to make sure it is true to the book

Gabe: I have I, Robot, so feel free to borrow it sometime!

[ElZorro]

I have to throw my favorite author in here Orson Scott Card, who wrote "Ender's Game". I've read all of the books in this series and loved them all, although the first still has a place in my heart more than the others. I'm happy to say that I read him LONG before he became famous Sounds like there is an Enders Game movie coming out and he has done everything in his power to make sure it is true to the book

Gabe: I have I, Robot, so feel free to borrow it sometime!

I second that. I read Ender's Game around 1990, loved it. The movie should be coming out in 2007.

[WRXWagon2112]

My first thought when I saw this thread title was Ender's Game! Sorry to see that at least the trilogy isn't on the list. I also loved The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner. I have it if anyone would like to borrow it.

As for the rest ... I've got a lot of reading to do. Though I have read the Foundation Trilogy and I, Robot (Gabe, I totally agree with you about the movie previews - not anything like the book(s)).

Does watching the director's cut of Blade Runner count as "reading" Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? ?

--Alan

[Mr Kleen]

OT: latest word is that the Bladerunner SE won't include the Harrison Ford narration voiceover. what a bummer... I want the director's cut but I also want the narration along with a new transfer.

[sirwilliam]

Where's "Sweet Valley High"...that is the real read right there...especially the special edition "choose your own adventure" series...

...almost forgot my second favorite read that was supposed to be turned into a high budget movie: "Anne of Green Gables VS. Predator"

[Mr Kleen]

"Anne of Green Gables VS. Predator"

I nearly shot milk out my nose. and I haven't had any milk to drink.

[sirwilliam]

I nearly shot milk out my nose. and I haven't had any milk to drink.

that sounds serious.....

[Sabre]

"Anne of Green Gables VS. Predator"

I nearly shot milk out my nose. and I haven't had any milk to drink.

You know, if I wasn't being nice, I'm sure I could come up with a rather crude living with a dude joke, but seeing as how now I live with one, I'll be quiet... really I will....

[sirwilliam]

"Anne of Green Gables VS. Predator"

I nearly shot milk out my nose. and I haven't had any milk to drink.

You know, if I wasn't being nice, I'm sure I could come up with a rather crude living with a dude joke, but seeing as how now I live with one, I'll be quiet... really I will....

Come on guys...PG13 please...save the children actually PG13 movies nowadays are more like R movies when I was a kid.

...oh, and to get back on topic, I read 4 of the novels above...can you guess which ones

[Katya4me]

Does a trilogy consisting of 4(5?) books and listed under 1 name count?

[sirwilliam]

Does a trilogy consisting of 4(5?) books and listed under 1 name count?

Depends....