Almost all the top authors in the genre have published great series of science fiction eBooks. Trying to find five of the best meant making some harsh decisions on ones to leave out. Much was written in the mid 20th Century when space exploration was first being realized.
No SF collection is complete without something from Arthur C Clarke. 2001: A Space Odyssey is most famous for Stanley Kubrick's adaption however the series of four books adds a lot most detail and depth that was never transposed to the big screen. The vision of history being defined by alien obelisks is explored in muck greater depth and over a longer period of time.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld is another great series. Going Postal is probably the easiest to read book to ease into the series albeit the 33rd in the huge series. It's focused around the likable rogue character Moist von Lipwig who is saved from the death penalty if he can revive the postal service despite aggressive opposition from the rival clacks telegraph system. The story explores von Lipwig's character development from conman to hero and is very difficult to put down.
The Tripods by John Christopher is the easy reading choice. The first book, The White Mountains, is a classic adventure story targeted at young adults. Set in a post-apocalyptic England a boy facing a mind controlling cap decides to escape to a rebellion fortress in the white mountains in France. The caps are fitted on the 14th birthday and interface teenagers and adults to a hive mind controlled by 'masters' in giant three legged tripods. It was originally published as a trilogy although the author later added a prequel.
Isaac Asimov was one of the most prolific authors of all time. Although he wrote on many factual subjects his fictional work is what made him famous. One of his earlier novels, The Caves of Steel, is famous for setting up his universe, an Earth where environmental damage has forced everyone into underground cities.
It was originally written after a challenge to write a mystery book set in the future. The underground city concept forms the basis of Asimov's three famous series, the robot, empire, and foundation novels and their spin offs. The laws of robotics first mentioned in his early short stories is also visited and expanded.
Finally the comedy selection has to be The Hitchhikers' Guide To The Galaxy. A true comedy classic starting in modern England with the assumption that the rest of the galaxy is already scientifically developed and that most laws of physics are totally wrong. Aspects of the book are often quoted and are frequently mentioned by tribute in other writings and in screenplays. Published as a trilogy of seven books and commonly known as 'the guide' it heavily influenced later inventions including Wikipedia, Babelfish, Google Translate, and the iPad.
Some authors that didn't make the list were largely because they could be classified elsewhere or were great authors without a strong series such as Ray Bradbury, JRR Tolkien, and Stephen King. Frank Herbert's Dune series was probably the harshest cut. This is only a starting for for many other great science fiction eBooks.
No SF collection is complete without something from Arthur C Clarke. 2001: A Space Odyssey is most famous for Stanley Kubrick's adaption however the series of four books adds a lot most detail and depth that was never transposed to the big screen. The vision of history being defined by alien obelisks is explored in muck greater depth and over a longer period of time.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld is another great series. Going Postal is probably the easiest to read book to ease into the series albeit the 33rd in the huge series. It's focused around the likable rogue character Moist von Lipwig who is saved from the death penalty if he can revive the postal service despite aggressive opposition from the rival clacks telegraph system. The story explores von Lipwig's character development from conman to hero and is very difficult to put down.
The Tripods by John Christopher is the easy reading choice. The first book, The White Mountains, is a classic adventure story targeted at young adults. Set in a post-apocalyptic England a boy facing a mind controlling cap decides to escape to a rebellion fortress in the white mountains in France. The caps are fitted on the 14th birthday and interface teenagers and adults to a hive mind controlled by 'masters' in giant three legged tripods. It was originally published as a trilogy although the author later added a prequel.
Isaac Asimov was one of the most prolific authors of all time. Although he wrote on many factual subjects his fictional work is what made him famous. One of his earlier novels, The Caves of Steel, is famous for setting up his universe, an Earth where environmental damage has forced everyone into underground cities.
It was originally written after a challenge to write a mystery book set in the future. The underground city concept forms the basis of Asimov's three famous series, the robot, empire, and foundation novels and their spin offs. The laws of robotics first mentioned in his early short stories is also visited and expanded.
Finally the comedy selection has to be The Hitchhikers' Guide To The Galaxy. A true comedy classic starting in modern England with the assumption that the rest of the galaxy is already scientifically developed and that most laws of physics are totally wrong. Aspects of the book are often quoted and are frequently mentioned by tribute in other writings and in screenplays. Published as a trilogy of seven books and commonly known as 'the guide' it heavily influenced later inventions including Wikipedia, Babelfish, Google Translate, and the iPad.
Some authors that didn't make the list were largely because they could be classified elsewhere or were great authors without a strong series such as Ray Bradbury, JRR Tolkien, and Stephen King. Frank Herbert's Dune series was probably the harshest cut. This is only a starting for for many other great science fiction eBooks.
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