Monday, December 13, 2010

A Geek's life list - Part 1 Books

I've been thinking for a while now about what I would put together into the ultimate GEEK GOSPEL. I'm developing this list and will put them in order of what I feel to be importance to our culture with their historical, philisophical, and scientific worth. I have to start with the following:

The Older Testament
  1. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
  2. From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne
  3. Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne
  4. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
  5. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
  6. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
  7. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
  8. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
  9. The Oz cycle by L. Frank Baum
The Newer Testament
  1. Dune, Dune Messiah, and Children of Dune by Frank Herbert; Science Fiction, most influential novel since 1950 by a long shot. Original. Highly philosophical.
  2. Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit by John Ronald Reul Tolkien; Fantasy, Old myths put into a magical setting. (See Star Wars)
  3. 2001, 2010, 2061, and 3001 by Arthur C. Clarke; Hard Science Fiction, referenced by all, almost only known by geeks.
  4. Rendezvous with Rama, Rama II, Rama Revealed by Arthur C. Clarke; Hard Science Fiction, original
  5. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov; Warning of AI, Potential looming threat
  6. Ringworld by Larry Niven; Hard Science Fiction, Exploration
  7. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams; The best of Science Fiction-Comedy
  8. 1984 by George Orwell; Dystopia. Historical yet modern.
  9. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis; Fantasy, one of the best examples of a developing genre in its early stages.
  10. A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Water, An Acceptable Time by Madeline L'Engle.; Fantasy, Close to Home and original
  11. Animal Farm by George Orwell; Dystopia, Fantasy
  12. Star Wars by George Lucas; Space Opera, Mythological themes in a futuristic setting.
I understand that a lot of this has to do with preference and that I am forgetting a LOT. It is only supposed to be examples of the best of the different types of Science Fiction. I am certain the first seven of the New Testament won't be moved much and can be agreed upon by all geeks.