What is the single best science fiction novel of all time?

[Twiggly the Gnome]

The two big science-fictional presuppositions of the Dune series are faster than light travel and genetic memories, the rest is pretty grounded.

My takes: Dune is the best science fiction novel, yes there are sequels (none published after 1985), and God Emperor of Dune was a wonderful read.

 

[Ulfgeir]

For me it is Neuromancer by William Gibson.

 

[Deset Gled]

The two big science-fictional presuppositions of the Dune series are faster than light travel and genetic memories, the rest is pretty grounded.

Sorry, but I have to disagree on this "grounded" bit. Ornithopters, shields, weirding, heart plugs, hunter-seekers, mentats, guildsmen, stilsuits. The list goes on, and gets much longer as soon as you bring in things from Ix. Even the books in Dune are sci-fi, with both filmbooks and microfilament printing.

 

[Parmandur]

Sorry, but I have to disagree on this "grounded" bit. Ornithopters, shields, weirding, heart plugs, hunter-seekers, mentats, guildsmen, stilsuits. The list goes on, and gets much longer as soon as you bring in things from Ix. Even the books in Dune are sci-fi, with both filmbooks and microfilament printing.

Several of those things are not in the books

 

[Deset Gled]

Several of those things are not in the books

Upon double checking myself, the only one of these not in the books is the heart plugs.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

Sorry, but I have to disagree on this "grounded" bit. Ornithopters, shields, weirding, heart plugs, hunter-seekers, mentats, guildsmen, stilsuits. The list goes on, and gets much longer as soon as you bring in things from Ix. Even the books in Dune are sci-fi, with both filmbooks and microfilament printing.

I do think I missed one other science-fictional presupposition in Dune. Machines in the image of a human mind and human minds in the image of machines.

 

[Parmandur]

Upon double checking myself, the only one of these not in the books is the heart plugs.

I mean, if you include a movie element I presume you are referring to the movie version of other elements, such as "the weirding" (which is not what it is in the film in the novel).

 

[Atomoctba]

A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter Miller Jr.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Frankenstein.

Followed fairly closely by Dune, with all else racing for third.

But Frankenstein is the greatest science fiction novel in (Western) literary history.

 

[soviet]

Dune for me, but Neuromancer is a close second