"Best Science-Fiction Novel Ever Written (Round 1B)" Topic

I have only read 4 of the candidates. But I refused to vote for Dune.
I hope Earth Abides makes it to the finals.

The 'Dragon's Egg' by Robert L. Forward is missing I am not ticking other as I am close to 'All of the above' for these. I do think that it is one of the best HARD SF about.

x42

Was it nominated in the pre-poll discussion?

Those who haven't read The Demon Breed are missing a great adventure story.

OFM, my technique is similar--only vote for things I've read, and not all of them. I'm with you on Dune, but I bet it makes it to the finals, largely propelled by people who haven't read it but saw a movie.

Dune, the movie (first one):
"Hi. I'm the Shadout Mapes! This is the gom jabbar. Stick your hand in it. Hertz, doughnut? Okay. You're human. See you later. Peace out."
When I paid good money to see it, the ushers were handing out mimeographed pages, very long pages, of the dramatis personae. Unless you had read the book, it didn't help. Even if you had…
"We awe, duh foytuhs!" Holding up a switchblade. Damn good coffee.
Hey! That's Sting!

I like the original "Ender's Game" when it was published as a novella (in Analog magazine, I think). But years later when I read the expanded novel, I did not like it nearly as much.

With you on that, ScottWashburn. On an SF short story poll, I'd have nominated it, but not for novel, and by series, I don't think anyone would.

OFM, I read Dune in the old Analog serial, and if anyone thinks we're being mean to it, that person should read some of the letters to the editor.

The "hard science fiction" aspect that humorized me most about Dune was "Yeah. We got all this water hidden in caves underground, just waiting for the opportunity to make this planet lush and green!"

One of the silliest serious books.

Back to the movie. I had flashbacks to The Ten Commandments when the slaves were towing the tanks with the Spice Guild through the Art Deco lobby of the Empire State Building, dressed like extras from the Prisoner of Zenda.

In case you can't guess, I thought the book was dumb, and the sequels were dumber. Yeah, back then I felt obliged to read everything. 🤷

And each remake of the original movie did nothing to change my opinion of the silly movie.

There are of course those who would disagree with me. They are of course wrong.

Damn good coffee.

Read DUNE the book, loved it. HATED the Lynch travesty movie— utter carp. The recent 2 part movie was much better, but lacking for me as the second part felt rushed and left out significant elements. So my vote is based solely on my appreciation of the novel, which is superb. Best? Possibly not, but deservedly in the running. And I suspect the votes placed by TMP members are indeed resulting from having read the novel. This is not a nest of social media teenage nitwits.