Friday, August 12, 2011

Science fiction and fantasy

NPR has posted the results of its survey: "Your Picks: Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books":
More than 5,000 of you nominated. More than 60,000 of you voted. And now the results are in. The winners of NPR's Top 100 Science-Fiction and Fantasy survey are an intriguing mix of classic and contemporary titles. ....

A quick word about what's here, and what's not: Our panel of experts reviewed hundreds of the most popular nominations and tossed out those that didn't fit the survey's criteria (after — we assure you — much passionate, thoughtful, gleefully nerdy discussion). You'll notice there are no young adult or horror books on this list, but sit tight, dear reader, we're saving those genres for summers yet to come.

So, at last, here are your favorite science-fiction and fantasy novels.
I'm not a great reader of science fiction or fantasy and so was surprised to discover that I have read many of them, mostly in the top fifty and mostly a long time ago. Interestingly the first and last on the list are by Inklings:

1. The Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien's seminal three-volume epic chronicles the War of the Ring, in which Frodo the hobbit and his companions set out to destroy the evil Ring of Power and restore peace to Middle-earth. The beloved trilogy still casts a long shadow, having established some of the most familiar and enduring tropes in fantasy literature.
100. The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis

Philologist Edwin Ransom travels to Mars and Venus, and makes a series of dramatic discoveries about Earth's place in the solar system – and the nature of a threat it unwittingly faces.

Your Picks: Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books : NPR

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