One story with impactful themes is 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy. While it's more post - apocalyptic than traditional science fiction, it shows themes of survival and the lengths a father will go to protect his son in a desolate world. 'Children of Men' by P.D. James also has important themes. It's about a world where humans can no longer reproduce and the resulting chaos and hope. 'Annihilation' by Jeff VanderMeer has themes of self - destruction and the unknown in the face of a strange and changing environment.
Definitely '1984'. Its themes of government surveillance and loss of freedom are extremely relevant even today. 'Fahrenheit 451' with its theme of censorship and the power of knowledge is also very impactful. Another is 'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood. Although it's often considered more as dystopian literature, it has strong science - fiction elements and themes of women's oppression in a future society.
I think 'Brave New World' has very impactful themes. It makes you question the value of happiness when it's artificially created and the cost of a highly - engineered society. 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' also has a great theme about empathy and what it means to be alive. And 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson has themes about the impact of technology on society, like the role of virtual reality and how it can both empower and isolate people.
I think 'To Kill a Mockingbird' has one of the most impactful messages. It shows the importance of standing up for justice and equality in the face of prejudice and racism. The character of Atticus Finch is a great example of moral integrity. Another one is 'The Giver'. It makes you think about the cost of a so - called perfect society and how important it is to have memories, both good and bad.
Well, 'The War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells is a great one. It was one of the first to depict an alien invasion, and it created a sense of panic and wonder. 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card is also a classic. It shows a young boy's journey in a military - like space training program, and it explores themes of leadership, morality, and the nature of war. And don't forget 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. With its complex world - building, political intrigue, and exploration of human potential, it has been highly influential in the science fiction genre.
The story 'The Incredible Hulk #181' is extremely impactful. As I said before, it introduced Wolverine. This one - page appearance led to Wolverine becoming one of the most popular X - Men characters and also started the long - standing relationship between the X - Men and the Hulk. Also, 'Hulk: Gray' was impactful in terms of character study. It made readers understand Bruce Banner's internal struggle more deeply.
One must - read is 'The Cold Equations' by Tom Godwin. It's a classic that shows the harsh reality of space travel. Another great one is 'Flowers for Algernon' by Daniel Keyes. It tells a poignant story of a man's intelligence being artificially enhanced. And 'A Sound of Thunder' by Ray Bradbury is also a must. It's about the consequences of time travel and how a small change can have a huge impact.
In 'The Road', the characters of the father and son are extremely compelling. Their relationship and the father's unwavering determination to protect his son in such a harsh world are heart - wrenching. Another one is 'The Stand' where characters like Stu Redman and Randall Flagg are really well - developed. Stu is the everyman hero, while Flagg is the embodiment of evil. They drive the story forward with their actions and decisions.
The 'Adelove Stories' about friendship are often very captivating. For example, those that show how friends support each other through tough times. The loyalty and the bond between the characters in such stories can be really inspiring.
In 'The Maze Runner' by James Dashner, the characters are really interesting. Thomas, the main character, wakes up in a strange place called the Glade with no memories and has to figure out how to escape the maze. The group of boys there all have different personalities and backstories. Another is 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' by Ransom Riggs. The peculiar children with their unique abilities, like the girl who can float and the boy with super strength, are fascinating.
A good beginner - friendly 2019 science fiction book is 'The Future of Another Timeline' by Annalee Newitz. It has an exciting concept about time travel and different timelines that is easy to grasp. The writing style is engaging and it doesn't require a lot of prior knowledge of science fiction. Another option is 'Gideon the Ninth' by Tamsyn Muir. Although it has some unique elements, the story is told in a way that is accessible to new readers, with a strong main character and an interesting mystery to solve.
For beginners, 'The Martian' by Andy Weir is a great start. It has a simple and engaging story of an astronaut stranded on Mars and his fight for survival. The science is also explained in an accessible way.
One of the must - read books is 'Genesis'. It tells the creation story, the fall of man, and the beginnings of the Israelite nation. It's fundamental as it sets the stage for many of the key themes in the Bible.