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Science Fiction

DanBaron

(105 posts) Mon Jul 7, 2025, 11:08 AM Jul 7

Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror

This is a repost from last night. I am reposting it so that we can get some morning people instead of night people.

"We need an ongoing discussion about Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Gothic Horror. A break from politics as usual. Here is an opening question-- What are your top three books in these genres? Mine are- Dune, Lucifer's Hammer, and The Chronicles of Amber. Honorable Mention-- Stephen King 's The Stand and Moorcock's Eternal Champion books. What are your favorites?"

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror (Original Post) DanBaron Jul 7 OP

I don't like horror AT ALL Jilly_in_VA Jul 7 #1

Likewise, I abhor horror and love science fiction. Bernardo de La Paz Jul 7 #2

Horror DanBaron Jul 7 #3

Scary Stuff For Spooky Season DanBaron Jul 7 #4

Come October... Dr. Strange Tuesday #6

I do like horror, as well as SF and fantasy. bluescribbler Tuesday #5

Choosing only three from each category is difficult, but here goes: Incanus Wednesday #7

Jilly_in_VA

(12,756 posts)

1. I don't like horror AT ALL

Reply to DanBaron (Original post)

Mon Jul 7, 2025, 11:19 AM

Jul 7

It doesn't even need to be included with the other two.

That said, my favorite sci-fi books are all over the map:
Rite of Passage, by Alexei Panshin
Ingathering, by Zenna Henderson
and, so far, the whole Shantivira series, by Fay Abernethy, beginning with the Cleaner, the Cat, and the Space Station

Fantasy is a whole other thing and is a mixed bag
Lord of the Rings, of course
The whole Dragonriders of Pern series, by Anne McCaffrey

Bernardo de La Paz

(57,672 posts)

2. Likewise, I abhor horror and love science fiction.

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Reply #1)

Mon Jul 7, 2025, 11:30 AM

Jul 7

My best SF read in recent years has been the annual compendiums edited by Gardner Dozois for over 30 years.

If I feel the need for horror (never), I read/listen/watch the news.

DanBaron

(105 posts)

3. Horror

Reply to DanBaron (Original post)

Mon Jul 7, 2025, 11:30 AM

Jul 7

Yeah, I am not a Horror Fan myself. I included it for profiling purposes (joking). I do like Gothic Stuff like Ann Rice though. I have not read McCaffery. I grew up on Lord of the Rings. I like Arthuriana. Mists of Avalon is a great book despite the problems with the Author. I like Science Fiction also. I think that Dune is the greatest SF Novel of All Time. Anyway, thanks for the good comment.

[Please excuse my unusual capitalization. It is a quirk from my University Days when I studied Philosophy as a Minor not a Major.]

DanBaron

(105 posts)

4. Scary Stuff For Spooky Season

Reply to DanBaron (Original post)

Mon Jul 7, 2025, 11:34 AM

Jul 7

If you are not into Horror and want a Good Book for the Fall and Spooky Season, try Stephen King's "The Stand". It is a very good read. More Halloween Stuff is on It's Way. Hopefully we will Survive this Summer.

Dr. Strange

(26,045 posts)

6. Come October...

Reply to DanBaron (Reply #4)

Tue Aug 19, 2025, 03:33 PM

Tuesday

I think I'm going to read A Short Stay In Hell. I've heard good things about it.

bluescribbler

(2,377 posts)

5. I do like horror, as well as SF and fantasy.

Reply to DanBaron (Original post)

Tue Aug 19, 2025, 02:38 PM

Tuesday

The Stand is Stephen King's absolute masterpiece. For hard SF, I go with Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clark. For Fantasy, I love Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds so much that I had to buy 5 copies because every time I lent it to a friend, I never saw it again. If we're allowed to include short Story collections, then I have to include Deathbird Stories by Harlan Ellison.

Incanus

(126 posts)

7. Choosing only three from each category is difficult, but here goes:

Reply to DanBaron (Original post)

Wed Aug 20, 2025, 02:41 PM

Wednesday

Science fiction:
The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu
I Robot by Isaac Asimov
The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey

Fantasy:
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Gothic horror:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Terror by Dan Simmons
'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Books that I loved and defy genre:

Boy's Life by Robert McCammon
Any of Clive Barker's early work
Anything by Neil Gaiman
The Stand by Stephen King
Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon

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