Well, 'Contact' by Carl Sagan was made into a movie but was originally a 90s sci fi novel. It's about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. 'A Fire upon the Deep' by Vernor Vinge is also great. It has a vast and imaginative universe with different levels of sentience. Then there's 'Red Mars' by Kim Stanley Robinson, which details the colonization of Mars in a very scientific and thought - provoking way.
One popular 1950s sci - fi novel is 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury. It depicts a future society where books are banned and burned. Another is 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' which tells the story of an alien's visit to Earth with a warning for humanity. 'I, Robot' by Isaac Asimov is also well - known. It introduced the Three Laws of Robotics which had a huge impact on the sci - fi genre.
Well, 'Stranger in a Strange Land' by Robert A. Heinlein is a significant 1970's sci fi novel. It tells the story of a human raised on Mars who comes back to Earth and has a very different view of human society. Then there's 'Gateway' by Frederik Pohl. It's about a space station near an alien artifact where people can take risky trips through wormholes for potential rewards. Also, 'The Mote in God's Eye' by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle is a great read. It involves first contact with an alien species.
Well, 'The Man in the High Castle' by Philip K. Dick is a great 1960s sci fi novel. It presents an alternate history where the Axis powers won World War II. It makes you think about how different the world could be based on the outcome of historical events. Then there's 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury. It's set in a future society where books are banned and burned, and it's a cautionary tale about the importance of knowledge and free thinking in a technological age.
One popular 2010s sci - fi novel is 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. It tells the story of an astronaut stranded on Mars and his struggle to survive. Another is 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline. It's set in a dystopian future where people escape into a virtual reality world. 'Ancillary Justice' by Ann Leckie is also well - known, with its unique take on artificial intelligence and galactic empires.
A great 60s sci fi novel is 'The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch' by Philip K. Dick. It's a mind - bending story set in a future where people use drugs to escape their reality and interact with a strange figure named Palmer Eldritch. 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' by Walter M. Miller Jr. is also notable. It spans a long period of time, from a post - apocalyptic world to a future where humanity has regained some of its former glory. And 'The Andromeda Strain' by Michael Crichton, which is about a deadly extraterrestrial microorganism that threatens Earth.
One popular 80s sci fi novel is 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card. It tells the story of a young boy, Ender, who is trained in a military academy in space to fight an alien race. Another is 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson. It's a cyberpunk classic that explores a future world of high - tech and low - life. And 'Dune' by Frank Herbert, which was first published in the 60s but had a major impact in the 80s as well, with its complex world - building and political intrigue in a desert planet setting.
One popular 2016 sci fi novel is 'Ninefox Gambit' by Yoon Ha Lee. It has a complex and unique world - building with a military - space opera setting. Another is 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead, which, while also having historical elements, uses a sci - fi concept of a literal underground railroad. And 'All the Birds in the Sky' by Charlie Jane Anders combines magic and science in an interesting urban fantasy - sci fi blend.
One popular sci fi novel is 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It has a complex and immersive universe with political intrigue, unique ecosystems, and a messianic storyline. Another is '1984' by George Orwell, which, while often considered dystopian, also has strong sci - fi elements in its vision of a totalitarian future. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams is also very popular. It's a hilarious and absurd adventure through space with memorable characters like Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent.
One popular 2017 sci - fi novel is 'The Collapsing Empire' by John Scalzi. It's set in a future galactic empire that is starting to face some serious infrastructure problems. Another is 'Artemis' by Andy Weir. It takes place on a lunar colony and follows the adventures of a smuggler. And 'Autonomous' by Annalee Newitz, which delves into issues of intellectual property and artificial intelligence in a very engaging way.
Some popular sci fi novels include 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It has a complex world with political intrigue and unique ecosystems. Another is '1984' by George Orwell, which, although more of a dystopian novel, has strong sci fi elements like a totalitarian regime with advanced surveillance. Also, 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams is very popular. It's a humorous take on space travel and the universe, with crazy characters like Ford Prefect and Marvin the Paranoid Android.