The books in this list may also show the anxieties of the era. With the Cold War going on, there could be themes related to the fear of nuclear war or the power struggles between different superpowers. At the same time, they might be exploring new ideas in biology and medicine as science was advancing in those fields at that time. For instance, some books could be speculating about genetic engineering or new ways of treating diseases in a science - fiction context.
Some well - known books from 2015 science fiction lists might include 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. It's a great story about an astronaut stranded on Mars and his struggle to survive. Another could be 'Ancillary Justice' by Ann Leckie, which features a complex universe and unique characters.
The 'Foundation' series by Isaac Asimov is among the best. It's about a mathematician who predicts the fall of a galactic empire and tries to shorten the dark age that will follow. 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card is also excellent. It follows a young boy, Ender, who is trained to fight in a future inter - species war. And 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson is a great cyberpunk novel that combines elements of virtual reality, linguistics, and corporate power.
Some great science fiction books are 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It's set in a far - future universe with complex politics and a desert planet. Another is '1984' by George Orwell. Although it's more of a dystopian novel, it has strong sci - fi elements. And 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley also challenges the way we think about society in a science - fictional context.
I'm not sure which ones are the most popular exactly, but 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson is often highly regarded. It's set in a future where the world has been transformed by a new form of technology and virtual reality, and it has a really unique and engaging plot.
I'm not entirely sure which ones were the most popular, but 'Doomsday Book' was widely talked about. It had an interesting premise of time - traveling historians.
The 'The Handmaid's Tale' is influential in a different way. It has made people think more deeply about social and political issues in the context of a possible future. It has also influenced the way we view dystopian literature and how it can be used as a warning about the direction our society could take if certain trends continue.
Another popular one could be 'The Uplift War'. It was part of a well - known series and had a lot of fans who were into the idea of the uplift concept, where lower species are 'uplifted' to sentience by higher ones. It had exciting battles and interesting alien species interactions.
Another popular one might be 'The Uplift War' by David Brin. It's part of a series and in 1989 it was attracting a lot of attention for its unique take on the evolution of intelligent species and the politics between them.
In my opinion, 'Stranger in a Strange Land' was very influential. Its ideas about different cultures and social norms challenged the readers' thinking at that time and had a long - lasting impact on the science - fiction genre.