My Top Ten – Part 2
October Editorial
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So, here’s the top ten according to me. Keep in mind that this list is just my opinion and I am sure that so many works of art that belong on this list are not. Think of this as more of a must-read list of the scifi genre. Also, this list is not in any particular order. That is, it is not by order of best, most influential or the like. It is just a list randomly thrown on the page. So “Let us about it.” as The Bard would say.

“Dune” is one of the most well known scifi classics, as of recently, thanks to the beautiful film just released. I remember reading the book for the first time and loving it. I was blown away by the storytelling, worldbuilding and complexity and intrigues of the story. This is a book where the characters were not necessarily good or evil. It was not so clearcut but I would call all the main characters very dangerous. The universe of Dune is a hornet’s nest of ambitious people, dangerous people with plans and machinations. The rejection of machines created disciplines where people honed peculiar talents and abilities. And of course, people cluster together in groups they call families, guilds, armies and what have you. This is a classic that has grown to a series with an entire universe where the fate of the whole human race is being directed down a course to avoid annihilation. This definitely is a classic for a very good reason.

“The Time Machine” is another classic scifi novel if for nothing else than its influence on literature, as a whole, society and science. Yes. The impact of this novel is just that big. This is one of H.G. Wells’ best loved works and if you consider when it was written it really was ahead of its time. This story is also a commentary on the society of the time and the class injustices of the time the author lived in. There are differences from the book and many of the film versions that have come out, like the fact that the Eloi were too childlike for the main character to really, effectively deal with. It’s also a cautionary tale for a society that refuses to deal with class injustices and ignores the plight of the poor.

“War of The Worlds” is another classic worth reading. This is another work from H.G. Wells and it is fantastic. It might well be his finest work, in my opinion. The story is of an alien invasion by ghoulish looking creatures with no digestive systems and advanced technology. I really felt for the main character. His terror and disorientation at his situation is very relatable especially if you consider that he lives in Victorian England where the most advanced army of the day tries to fend off the invasion with cannons guns. What a classic and a great commentary on our society.

“The Island Of Dr. Moreau” is another classic from H.G. Wells himself. It has a much more sinister flavor and deals with what was the ultimate taboo subject the old days in Europe. That taboo is the fiddling, tinkering with life using science. Using science to play good and convert humans to animals and vice versa was one, if not the most, reviled and feared taboo of the old days and this classic goes there. Just think of Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest” and the reason why Prospero was exiled. It is such a taboo subject that it was not mentioned but everybody who reads between the lines understands that was what went on. This story seems to confirm that playing with life in that way is a horrendous crime if for no other reason than the fact that those that create life have a responsibility to nurture it correctly and not treat it as an abomination. Anyway, this is a great read. You should enjoy it if you have not already.

“Paris in The XXth Century” is a classic I feel people should because although it’s not known by most fans of the author it is very good. That author being none other than Jules Verne himself. He has been called the father of scifi but in this day and age I’d like to think more broadly that the parents of scifi are Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and Mary Shelley. Anyway, if there ever was a novel that was ahead of its time than this one is it. The story talks about fax machines and all other kinds of modern devices that were not even close to being imagined in the city of Paris at that time.

“20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” is another Jules Verne classic. It’s a tale of adventure and environmental issues. This is probably the first classic novel that unites the environmental issues and scifi worth its salt. The idea of the Nautilus and a Captain Nemo has been influencing stories until today and will continue far into the future. What’s amazing about this story is that it was written in 1872. Not today but 1872. Of all the scifi greats I think that Jules Verne had the best grasp and thought the most about things to come. What the future would look like and the problems we, the individual, would face, and I love this story for that.

“Around The World In 80 days” is a fun scifi classic written by Jules Verne and is a much happier story than “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. It is a complete change from the undersea adventure with a very likeable protagonist. It’s the story of a wager by a gentleman called Phileas Fogg who bets he can circle the globe in 80n days with the transportation of the day. This is no easy endeavor and only achievable by someone who is well travelled and knows how to pull off such an adventure. The ending is really unexpected and this is just such a fun read.

So, here is the first part of my list of what I think are the best scifi I’ve come across. The novels I’ve read and authors I know. This list is longer than these fine works though.

Stay tuned for Part 3.

John Ink2Quill

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