What is the single best science fiction novel of all time?
- Thread starter Whizbang Dustyboots
- Start date
Clint_L
Legend
So, here's why the genre distinction matters to me, and I think is significant: fantasy is backwards looking and science fiction forwards looking. I actually think the two genre have very little in common except for (typically) exotic settings. Science fiction stems from the ideals of the Enlightenment, fantasy from the ideals of the Romantic period (ironically, its first great text was written by the spouse of one of the great Romantic poets, though there's a lot of nuance there).
I argue that Dune is essentially a fantasy novel because the core elements of the plot and themes - the things that are at the heart of the text - could all be transposed into a fantasy setting without any great difference. Just take out various science words, and you still have an essentially medieval story of great houses vying for power in an empire, witches and prophecies, sword fights, and even dragon riding (or at least worm/wyrm riding). The "orphaned Chosen One battles their way to the throne" plot is the quintessential fantasy plot. There's no way that George R.R. Martin wasn't heavily influenced by Dune - the similarities between it and Game of Thrones are immense.
George Lucas has himself declared that Star Wars is fantasy, not science fiction, and I think that one is hardly up for debate (I might argue that it is as much a western as it is a fantasy text, though). As for whether or not this debate matters - it doesn't, unless you are interested in these distinctions. Dune is still a great book, whatever genre it falls into. For me, this distinction is significant because I generally dislike reading fantasy and greatly prefer reading science fiction, so I am interested in understanding why the difference between the two is so stark, from my perspective.
Queer Venger
Dungeon Master is my Daddy
This is easy: Dune
Parmandur
Book-Friend, he/him
Yeah, I don't really buy most of that, or that there is a major distinction between Fantasy and Science-Fictiin. Insofar as there is an arguable difference, the spaceships are a good clue. Futuristic politics are not necessarily going to be different than any other period of history's politics, after all, these things go in circles historically and will do so in the future. So space emperors, space aristocracy...in time, probably will happen, as political fashions rise and fall. So space gentry and empire don't seem terribly fantastical to me, anymore than a space republic or something would be. Equally plausiigiven enough millenia.
Sure, and if you take all the meat out of a steak dinner it'll be vegetarian.
Y'all can spend as much time as you want arguing if a hot dog is a taco, and vise versa. The only lesson you'll teach me is not to go over to your house for a meal.
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Serious question: why tho?
I am pretty well read sci fi fan, as well as a writer with published works, and I DON'T GET IT.
Parmandur
Book-Friend, he/him
It's one of the best received novels period of the 20th century, by most measures I can find. It is a truly excellent piece of literature, full stop.
It also happens to be a science fiction novel, and among thst class it is the best.
payn
Glory to Marik
I really, really, do not get the love of Hyperion. There are a couple of great short stories told in this novel, followed by some really badly clichéd ones. Ultimately, it felt like an unfinished first draft to me.
I understand that. I was asking from a more personal perspective. I did not really feel a connection to Dune. It's characters are largely stock and its plot is pretty obviously drawn from non-genre works. It is certainly an influential book, but is it good?
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