SF Reviews background image SF Reviews logo image

Biased and superficial Science Fiction reviews

Contact SF Reviews   |   Get the Newsletter 
Home   News   Search   Recent   The Best   The Worst   By Title   By Author   Book Chronology   Newsletters  
 

The Best SF

Here are the top twenty of the books reviewed at SF Reviews. In fact, here are all of the books reviewed, in order of ranking, with the top twenty first.

It's not yet my definitive list: I have still have hundreds of reviews to upload, including reviews of some of my favorite books.

  1. "Lord Of Light" - Roger Zelazny
  2. "Michaelmas" - Algis J. Budrys
  3. "Time Enough For Love" - Robert A. Heinlein
  4. "Footfall" - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
  5. "Ringworld" - Larry Niven
  6. "Sea Of Glass" - Barry B. Longyear
  7. "Lucifer's Hammer" - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
  8. "Free Live Free" - Gene Wolfe
  9. "The Forever War" - Joe Haldeman
  10. "Stand On Zanzibar" - John Brunner
  11. "The Man In The High Castle" - Philip K. Dick
  12. "Marrow" - Robert Reed
  13. "Stars In My Pocket Like Grains Of Sand" - Samuel R. Delaney
  14. "The Lathe of Heaven" - Ursula K. Le Guin
  15. "Pavane" - Keith Roberts
  16. "The Ophiuchi Hotline" - John Varley
  17. "The Mote in God's Eye" - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
  18. "The Ringworld Engineers" - Larry Niven
  19. "Bug Jack Barron" - Norman Spinrad
  20. "Fourth Mansions" - R. A. Lafferty

OK, that's the top twenty best books, now here's the rest, continuing best to worst.

  1. "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" - Robert A. Heinlein
  2. "The Exile Waiting" - Vonda N. McIntyre
  3. "Mona Lisa Overdrive" - William Gibson
  4. "Virtual Light" - William Gibson
  5. "The Big Time" - Fritz Leiber
  6. "Slant" - Greg Bear
  7. "The Gripping Hand" - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
  8. "Snow Crash" - Neal Stephenson
  9. "Farnham's Freehold" - Robert A. Heinlein
  10. "Neuromancer" - William Gibson
  11. "Count Zero" - William Gibson
  12. "The Sparrow" - Mary Doria Russell
  13. "Wizard" - John Varley
  14. "Children Of God" - Mary Doria Russell
  15. "This Immortal" - Roger Zelazny
  16. "The Demolished Man" - Alfred Bester
  17. "Gateway" - Frederik Pohl
  18. "I Will Fear No Evil" - Robert A. Heinlein
  19. "Marooned In Realtime" - Vernor Vinge
  20. "Synners" - Pat Cadigan
  21. "Today We Choose Faces" - Roger Zelazny
  22. "Doomsday Book" - Connie Willis
  23. "The Jagged Orbit" - John Brunner
  24. "Firestar" - Michael Flynn
  25. "Lodestar" - Michael Flynn
  26. "Black Easter" - James Blish
  27. "Where Late The Sweet Birds Sang" - Kate Wilhelm
  28. "Ringworld's Children" - Larry Niven
  29. "Rogue Star" - Michael Flynn
  30. "Falling Stars" - Michael Flynn
  31. "The Postman" - David Brin
  32. "The Drowned World" - J. G. Ballard
  33. "Light" - M. John Harrison
  34. "The Jesus Incident" - Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom
  35. "Eon" - Greg Bear
  36. "Foundation" - Isaac Asimov
  37. "Days Of Cain" - J. R. Dunn
  38. "Deepsix" - Jack McDevitt
  39. "Mindbridge" - Joe Haldeman
  40. "ORACLE" - Kevin O'Donnell Jr.
  41. "Beowolf's Children" - Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Steven Barnes
  42. "The Dragons Of Heorot" - Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Steven Barnes
  43. "Five-Twelfths Of Heaven" - Melissa Scott
  44. "The Man Who Japed" - Philip K. Dick
  45. "Dead Girls" - Richard Calder
  46. "Accelerando" - Charles Stross
  47. "The Archivist" - Gill Alderman
  48. "The Engines Of God" - Jack McDevitt
  49. "Nova Swing" - M. John Harrison
  50. "Roadmarks" - Roger Zelazny
  51. "Across Real Time" - Vernor Vinge
  52. "Mother Of Storms" - John Barnes
  53. "Perdido Street Station" - China Mieville
  54. "Full Tide Of Night" - J. R. Dunn
  55. "Heavy Weather" - Bruce Sterling
  56. "Beggars In Spain" - Nancy Kress
  57. "THE SKINNER" - Neal Asher
  58. "I Am Legend" - Richard Matheson
  59. "Days Of Atonement" - Walter Jon Williams
  60. "Mortal Remains" - Christopher Evans
  61. "Tool Of The Trade" - Joe Haldeman
  62. "Old Man's War" - John Scalzi
  63. "Broken Time" - Maggy Thomas
  64. "GRIDLINKED" - Neal Asher
  65. "The Reality Dysfunction - Emergence" - Peter F. Hamilton
  66. "Stranger In A Strange Land" - Robert A. Heinlein
  67. "Dies The Fire" - S. M. Stirling
  68. "Fool's War" - Sarah Zettel
  69. "The Peace War" - Vernor Vinge
  70. "The Dispossessed" - Ursula K. Le Guin
  71. "Revelation Space" - Alastair Reynolds
  72. "The Reality Dysfunction - Expansion" - Peter F. Hamilton
  73. "The Neutronium Alchemist - Conflict" - Peter F. Hamilton
  74. "Hot Head" - Simon Ings
  75. "The Patterns Of Chaos" - Colin Kapp
  76. "The Fourth World" - Dennis Danvers
  77. "Speed Of Dark" - Elizabeth Moon
  78. "The Lazarus Effect" - Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom
  79. "Half Life" - Hal Clement
  80. "Homeworld" - Harry Harrison
  81. "The Coming" - Joe Haldeman
  82. "Finity" - John Barnes
  83. "Demon" - John Varley
  84. "The Day Of The Triffids" - John Wyndham
  85. "The Star Fraction" - Ken MacLeod
  86. "Alien Earth" - Megan Lindholm
  87. "Greenhouse Summer" - Norman Spinrad
  88. "The Neutronium Alchemist - Consolidation" - Peter F. Hamilton
  89. "Brain Wave" - Poul Anderson
  90. "Sister Alice" - Robert Reed
  91. "Hotwire" - Simon Ings
  92. "Glasshouse" - Charles Stross
  93. "Spin State" - Chris Moriaty
  94. "A Season For Slaughter" - David Gerrold
  95. "Hammered" - Elizabeth Bear
  96. "To Hold Infinity" - John Meaney
  97. "Steel Beach" - John Varley
  98. "Fire On The Border" - Kevin O'Donnell Jr.
  99. "Prador Moon" - Neal Asher
  100. "Spin" - Robert Charles Wilson
  101. "Capacity" - Tony Ballantyne
  102. "Between The Strokes Of Night" - Charles Sheffield
  103. "Bellwether" - Connie Willis
  104. "The Sky Road" - Ken MacLeod
  105. "Code Of Conduct" - Kristine Smith
  106. "The Naked God" - Peter F. Hamilton
  107. "Harm's Way" - Colin Greenland
  108. "A Matter For Men" - David Gerrold
  109. "Forever Free" - Joe Haldeman
  110. "Mercedes Nights" - Michael Weaver
  111. "Kiln People" - David Brin
  112. "A Day For Damnation" - David Gerrold
  113. "Cosmonaut Keep" - Ken MacLeod
  114. "Learning The World" - Ken MacLeod
  115. "Hominids" - Robert J. Sawyer
  116. "Nightside Of The Long Sun" - Gene Wolfe
  117. "Titan" - John Varley
  118. "The Inner Wheel" - Keith Roberts
  119. "End Of Days" - Dennis Danvers
  120. "Earthweb" - Mark Stiegler
  121. "Happy Policeman" - Patricia Anthony
  122. "Reclamation" - Sarah Zettel
  123. "A Fire Upon The Deep" - Vernor Vinge
  124. "Jumping Off The Planet" - David Gerrold
  125. "Bouncing Off The Moon" - David Gerrold
  126. "Eater" - Gregory Benford
  127. "Heathern" - Jack Womack
  128. "The Burning City" - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
  129. "Fools" - Pat Cadigan
  130. "Greenwar" - Steven Gould and Laura J. Mixon
  131. "Imperial Earth" - Arthur C. Clarke
  132. "The Sky So Big And Black" - John Barnes
  133. "The Seeds Of Time" - Kay Kenyon
  134. "American Gods" - Neil Gaiman
  135. "Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said" - Philip K. Dick
  136. "The Well Of Stars" - Robert Reed
  137. "A Deepness In The Sky" - Vernor Vinge
  138. "City On Fire" - Walter Jon Williams
  139. "The Collapsium" - Wil McCarthy
  140. "Redemption Ark" - Alastair Reynolds
  141. "This Alien Shore" - C. S. Friedman
  142. "Iron Sunrise" - Charles Stross
  143. "Mars Crossing" - Geoffrey A. Landis
  144. "Bold As Love" - Gwyneth Jones
  145. "Foundation And Empire" - Isaac Asimov
  146. "Vigilant" - James Alan Gardner
  147. "Forever Peace" - Joe Haldeman
  148. "Orbital Resonance" - John Barnes
  149. "Twistor" - John Cramer
  150. "The Stone Canal" - Ken MacLeod
  151. "The Nano Flower" - Peter F. Hamilton
  152. "The Penultimate Truth" - Philip K. Dick
  153. "Shield" - Poul Anderson
  154. "Playing God" - Sarah Zettel
  155. "The Risen Empire" - Scott Westerfield
  156. "Singer From The Sea" - Sherri S. Tepper
  157. "Prisoner Of Conscience" - Susan R. Matthews
  158. "Maul" - Tricia Sullivan
  159. "Mars Underground" - William K. Hartmann
  160. "Rim" - Alexander Besher
  161. "A Rage For Revenge" - David Gerrold
  162. "Remnant Population" - Elizabeth Moon
  163. "Hegira" - Greg Bear
  164. "Quarantine" - Greg Egan
  165. "Great Sky River" - Gregory Benford
  166. "The End Of Eternity" - Isaac Asimov
  167. "Stamping Butterflies" - Jon Courtney Grimwood
  168. "Tropic Of Creation" - Kay Kenyon
  169. "Monument" - Lloyd Biggle Jr.
  170. "Unto Leviathan" - Richard Paul Russo
  171. "Orphanage" - Robert Buettner
  172. "Passage" - Connie Willis
  173. "Carnival" - Elizabeth Bear
  174. "Darwin's Radio" - Greg Bear
  175. "The Cassini Division" - Ken MacLeod
  176. "Dark Light" - Ken MacLeod
  177. "Shadow Of The Hegemon" - Orson Scott Card
  178. "Speaking Dreams" - Severna Park
  179. "Wheelers" - Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen
  180. "Random Acts Of Senseless Violence" - Jack Womack
  181. "City Of Pearl" - Karen Traviss
  182. "Polar City Blues" - Katharine Kerr
  183. "Proxies" - Laura J. Mixon
  184. "Thunder Rift" - Matthew Farrell
  185. "Downbelow Station" - C. J. Cherryh
  186. "Shiva Descending" - Gregory Benford and William Rotsler
  187. "Mappa Mundi" - Justina Robson
  188. "Freeze Frames" - Katherine Kerr
  189. "Angel Stations" - Gary Gibson
  190. "Overshoot" - Mona Clee
  191. "Mindplayers" - Pat Cadigan
  192. "The Puppet Masters" - Robert A. Heinlein
  193. "Technogensis" - Syne Mitchell
  194. "Metaplanetary" - Tony Daniel
  195. "Dawn" - Octavia Butler
  196. "Clip Joint" - Wilhelmina Baird
  197. "Oracle" - Ian Watson
  198. "Blank Slate" - Mark J. McGarry
  199. "Parable Of The Talents" - Octavia Butler
  200. "Night Of Light" - Philip Jose Farmer
  201. "Diaspora" - Greg Egan
  202. "Virtual Death" - Shale Aaron
  203. "White Mars" - Brian Aldiss and Roger Penrose
  204. "The Madness Season" - C. S. Friedman
  205. "Mars Plus" - Frederik Pohl and Thomas T. Thomas
  206. "The Shift" - George Foy
  207. "Northwind" - Gwyneth Jones
  208. "Second Foundation" - Isaac Asimov
  209. "Eternity Road" - Jack McDevitt
  210. "Crescent City Rhapsody" - Kathleen Ann Goonan
  211. "The Braided World" - Kay Kenyon
  212. "Fifty Degrees Below" - Kim Stanley Robinson
  213. "Cyberweb" - Lisa Mason
  214. "Sewer, Gas & Electric" - Matt Ruff
  215. "Wild Seed" - Octavia E. Butler
  216. "The Secret Of Life" - Paul J. McAuley
  217. "Software" - Rudy Rucker
  218. "Kingdom Of Cages" - Sarah Zettel
  219. "Echoes Of Earth" - Sean Williams and Shane Dix
  220. "Gibbon's Decline And Fall" - Sheri S. Tepper
  221. "Anti-Ice" - Stephen Baxter
  222. "Titan" - Stephen Baxter
  223. "Dark Water's Embrace" - Stephen Leigh
  224. "Bloom" - Wil McCarthy
  225. "SUPER-STATE" - Brian Aldiss
  226. "Macrolife" - George Zebrowski
  227. "The Wreck Of The River Of Stars" - Michael Flynn
  228. "We All Died At Breakaway Station" - Richard C. Meredith
  229. "Down The Bright Way" - Robert Reed
  230. "Polymorph" - Scott Westerfield
  231. "Space" - Stephen Baxter
  232. "The Book Of Ptath" - A. E. Van Vogt
  233. "Redworld" - Charles L. Harness
  234. "The God Makers" - Frank Herbert
  235. "Schild's Ladder" - Greg Egan
  236. "Commitment" - James Alan Gardner
  237. "Earth Made Of Glass" - John Barnes
  238. "Time Future" - Maxine McArthur
  239. "After Doomsday" - Poul Anderson
  240. "Resurrection Man" - Sean Stewart
  241. "Absolution Gap" - Alastair Reynolds
  242. "Strength Of Stones" - Greg Bear
  243. "Conquistador" - S. M. Stirling
  244. "Lifehouse" - Spider Robinson
  245. "Nautilus" - Vonda N. McIntyre
  246. "The Rapture Effect" - Jeffrey A. Carver
  247. "Paradox" - John Meaney
  248. "The Ghost Brigades" - John Scalzi
  249. "Midnight Robber" - Nalo Hopkinson
  250. "Vulcan's Hammer" - Philip K. Dick
  251. "Blind Waves" - Steven Gould
  252. "Blue Limbo" - Terence M. Green
  253. "Crazy Time" - Kate Wilhelm
  254. "Let The Fire Fall" - Kate Wilheim
  255. "Mayflies" - Kevin O'Donnell Jr.
  256. "Century Rain" - Alistair Reynolds
  257. "Dark Universe" - Daniel F. Galouye
  258. "Heaven's Reach" - David Brin
  259. "The Heaven Makers" - Frank Herbert
  260. "Candle" - John Barnes
  261. "Calculating God" - Robert J. Sawyer
  262. "Someone To Watch Over Me" - Tricia Sullivan
  263. "The Wizard Of Linn" - A. E. Van Vogt
  264. "Salt" - Adam Roberts
  265. "Chasm City" - Alastair Reynolds
  266. "Orbitsville" - Bob Shaw
  267. "The Space Machine" - Christopher Priest
  268. "Hunting Party" - Elizabeth Moon
  269. "Sinister Barrier" - Eric Frank Russell
  270. "Wolfbane" - Frederik Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth
  271. "K-PAX" - Gene Brewer
  272. "Darwin's Children" - Greg Bear
  273. "Lightpaths" - Howard V. Hendrix
  274. "Open Prison" - James White
  275. "King David's Spaceship" - Jerry Pournelle
  276. "There Is No Darkness" - Joe Haldeman and Jack C. Haldeman II
  277. "The Shift Key" - John Brunner
  278. "Einstein's Bridge" - John Cramer
  279. "Crossing The Line" - Karen Traviss
  280. "The World Before" - Karen Traviss
  281. "Maximum Ice" - Kay Kenyon
  282. "The Fury Out Of Time" - Lloyd Biggle Jnr.
  283. "Stations Of The Tide" - Michael Swanwick
  284. "Bones Of The Earth" - Michael Swanwick
  285. "Ancients Of Days" - Paul J. McAuley
  286. "Pandora's Star" - Peter F. Hamilton
  287. "Virgin Planet" - Poul Anderson
  288. "Satan's World" - Poul Anderson
  289. "The Rebel Worlds" - Poul Anderson
  290. "The Byworlder" - Poul Anderson
  291. "Chains Of Light" - Quentin Thomas
  292. "Kuldesak" - Richard Cowper
  293. "Bios" - Robert Charles Wilson
  294. "The Difference Engine" - William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
  295. "Steel Helix" - Ann Tonsor Zeddies
  296. "Proteus In The Underworld" - Charles Sheffield
  297. "Scardown" - Elizabeth Bear
  298. "Cave Of Stars" - George Zebrowski
  299. "The Martian Race" - Gregory Benford
  300. "A Rose For Armageddon" - Hilbert Schenk
  301. "Seeker" - Jack McDevitt
  302. "Mammoth" - John Varley
  303. "Matriarch" - Karen Traviss
  304. "Rules Of Conflict" - Kristine Smith
  305. "Treason" - Orson Scott Card
  306. "Flashforward" - Robert J. Sawyer
  307. "The Dark Wing" - Walter M. Hunt
  308. "Futureland" - Walter Mosley
  309. "Navohar" - Hilari Bell
  310. "Mortal Gods" - Jonathan Fast
  311. "The Long Twilight" - Keith Laumer
  312. "Falling Free" - Lois McMaster Bujold
  313. "Life During Wartime" - Lucius Shepard
  314. "Wyrms" - Orson Scott Card
  315. "Tea From An Empty Cup" - Pat Cadigan
  316. "Evolution's Darling" - Scott Westerfield
  317. "Ground-ties" - Jane Fancher
  318. "Armed Memory" - Jim Young
  319. "The Crucible Of Time" - John Brunner
  320. "Ally" - Karen Traviss
  321. "Rift" - Kay Kenyon
  322. "The Kindly Ones" - Melissa Scott
  323. "Destroying Angel" - Richard Paul Russo
  324. "The Dream Master" - Roger Zelazny
  325. "The Fountains Of Paradise" - Arthur C. Clarke
  326. "Wave Without A Shore" - C. J. Cherryh
  327. "The Practice Effect" - David Brin
  328. "Hard Drive" - David Pogue
  329. "Direct Descent" - Frank Herbert
  330. "The Second Experiment" - J. O. Jeppson
  331. "Hunted" - James Alan Gardner
  332. "Saturn's Race" - Larry Niven and Steven Barnes
  333. "The Winter Of The World" - Poul Anderson
  334. "Airship Nine" - Thomas Block
  335. "Light Raid" - Connie Willis and Cynthia Felice
  336. "Heads" - Greg Bear
  337. "Orphans Of Earth" - Sean Williams and Shane Dix
  338. "Sound Mind" - Tricia Sullivan
  339. "Project Maldon" - Chris Atack
  340. "Glory Season" - David Brin
  341. "Millennium" - Jack Anderson
  342. "A Trace Of Memory" - Keith Laumer
  343. "A Plague Of Demons" - Keith Laumer
  344. "The Infinite Cage" - Keith Laumer
  345. "River Of Dust" - Alexander Jablokov
  346. "Invasion Earth" - Harry Harrison
  347. "Red Thunder" - John Varley
  348. "Fallen Angels" - Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Michael Flynn
  349. "Judas Unchained" - Peter F. Hamilton
  350. "Engineman" - Eric Brown
  351. "The Outcasts Of Heaven Belt" - Joan D. Vinge
  352. "The Shadow Of Heaven" - Bob Shaw
  353. "VANESSA" - David L. Howells
  354. "Beyond Infinity" - Gregory Benford
  355. "Earthman Come Home" - James Blish
  356. "Double Contact" - James White
  357. "The Parafaith War" - L. E. Modesitt Jr.
  358. "In The Country Of The Blind" - Michael Flynn
  359. "Passion Play" - Sean Stewart
  360. "The Light Of Other Days" - Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter
  361. "Crown Of Empire" - Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
  362. "The Languages Of Pao" - Jack Vance
  363. "The Bridge" - Janine Ellen Young
  364. "Blade Runner 2 - The Edge Of Human" - K. W. Jeter
  365. "Prisoner Of Dreams" - Karen Ripley
  366. "Limit Of Vision" - Linda Nagata
  367. "Branch Point" - Mona Clee
  368. "Anvil" - Nicolas van Pallandt
  369. "Shadow Puppets" - Orson Scott Card
  370. "The Falling Woman" - Pat Murphy
  371. "A Hidden Place" - Robert Charles Wilson
  372. "Lord Demon" - Roger Zelazny and Jane Lindskold
  373. "Starmind" - Spider Robinson and Jeanne Robinson
  374. "Chaos Come Again" - Wilhelmina Baird
  375. "When We Were Real" - William Barton
  376. "The Undercover Aliens" - A. E. Van Vogt
  377. "Equator" - Brian Aldiss
  378. "Slow Freight" - F. M. Busby
  379. "Brute Orbits" - George Zebrowski
  380. "Quantico" - Greg Bear
  381. "Burning Tower" - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
  382. "Trouble And Her Friends" - Melissa Scott
  383. "In The Drift" - Michael Swanwick
  384. "Humans" - Robert J. Sawyer
  385. "Black Sun Rising" - C. S. Friedman
  386. "Earth" - David Brin
  387. "Infinity Beach" - Jack McDevitt
  388. "Second Contact" - Mike Resnick
  389. "Cloud's Rider" - C. J. Cherryh
  390. "Texas On The Rocks" - Daniel da Cruz
  391. "Vast" - Linda Nagata
  392. "Timeline" - Michael Crichton
  393. "Fallen Dragon" - Peter F. Hamilton
  394. "Privateers" - Ben Bova
  395. "Donnerjack" - Roger Zelazny and Jane Lindskold
  396. "Flesh and Silver" - Stephen L. Burns
  397. "The Prometheus Project" - Steve White
  398. "Black Snow Days" - Claudia O'Keefe
  399. "Eternity" - Mack Reynolds and Dean Ing
  400. "Halo" - Paul Cook
  401. "Gilpin's Space" - Reginald Bretnor
  402. "Heartlight" - T. A. Barron
  403. "Sunstorm" - Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter
  404. "To Fear The Light" - Ben Bova and A. J. Austin
  405. "Seasons Of Plenty" - Colin Greenland
  406. "Cradle Of Saturn" - James P. Hogan
  407. "Flare" - Roger Zelazny and Thomas T. Thomas
  408. "Virtual Destruction" - Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason
  409. "The Barsoom Project" - Larry Niven and Stephen Barnes
  410. "The Silk Code" - Paul Levinson
  411. "Reunion On Neverend" - John E. Stith
  412. "A Thousand Words For Stranger" - Julie E. Czerneda
  413. "Angel Of Destruction" - Susan R. Matthews
  414. "Ashes Of Victory" - David Weber
  415. "Against Gravity" - Gary Gibson
  416. "Timeshare" - Joshua Dann
  417. "Starfarers" - Poul Anderson
  418. "Inherit The Earth" - Brian Stapleford
  419. "Virus Clans" - Michael Kanaly
  420. "Murphy's Gambit" - Syne Mitchell
  421. "To Bathe In Lightning" - Anne Gay
  422. "A Miracle Of Rare Design" - Mike Resnick
  423. "The Stonehenge Gate" - Jack Williamson
  424. "The Z Sting" - Ian Wallace
  425. "Heirs Of Earth" - Sean Williams and Shane Dix
  426. "Saturn Rukh" - Robert L. Forward