What are some good sci-fi and dystopian novels?

Question

I've read books like Oryx and Crake, 1984, Glasshouse, The Handmaids Tale.
I'm also interested in books that sort of surround Transhuman plots or ideas...
Also one last question...Are Alastair Reynolds books hard to read?

Answer 1

"We" is as good as nay place to start for delving into the early forays into dystopian fiction although it is not, as another poster claimed, "... it is the book that started all these dytopian future novels"



The first proper dystopian novel is Jack London's excellent "Iron Heel" which predates Zamyatin's by nearly 15 years. Sadly today the world "dystopian" is so abused and misused that it is difficult to list a truly dystopian novel. "Oryx and Crake" while an excellent novel is not dystopian (I am not implying that you think it is) The Hunger Games trilogy while an excellent series for children is also not dystopian but that is another subject for another time.



Reynold's work is not difficult at all, if "Glasshouse" presented no troubles then Reynold's will be a piece of cake. Reynold's biggest failing is that he is not world's greatest developer of character. He is far better at creating epic and sprawling ideas that are very exciting as long as they deal with the science of his universe. That may be due to his training as an scientist. His flaws however small or great (depending on what you are looking for in a science fiction novel) are easily compensated for the world's he creates.



Speaking to transhuman I would suggest:



"Vurt" by Jeff Noon



"Perdido Street Station"

"Scar"

"Iron Council"



All by China China Miéville and I would read them in that order although they are not a series they all take place in the same world.



A must read is Grant Morrison's "The Invisibles" and "The Filth" both are comic books collected into graphic novel format.

Answer 2

If you liked 1984, then We, by Yevgeny Zamyatin is right up your alley, because it is the book that started all these dytopian future novels like 1984 and Ayn Rand's Anthem. Additionally, I think you can find free copies floating around in .pdf format. I have one in English and one in Russian. I can't think of too many others, and I'm sorry to admit lack of familiarity with Alastair Reynolds.



Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a MUST for anyone interested in dystopian literature. Huxley did it amazingly well.



The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut combines sci-fi with a dystopian world. (In fact, read everything by Vonnegut. Can't go wrong with him. Start with Slaughterhouse-Five and just keep going from there. He covers transhuman plots in new and interesting ways...I guarantee Trafalmadorians will blow your mind.)

Answer 4

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I am number 4 by Pittacus Lore

Answer 5

Farenheit 451?