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Best Science Fiction Series



DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY "SPACE-THEMED SF" SERIES!
Space SF Series have their own list:
BEST SPACE SF SERIES

This list rates only the impact something had on me as an individual reader, not necessarily reflecting the impact on SF field in general, critical acceptance, etc. Plus I only put series here if I read all of it COMPLETELY, so many of series would be absent.

_____________________________________________________
FIRST PLACE Best SF Series

Alastair Reynolds "Revelation Space series"

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SECOND PLACE Best SF Series

Ray Bradbury "The Martian Chronicles"
Henry Kuttner "Hogbens series"
Henry Kuttner "Prof. Gallagher series"
Lucius Shepard "Life During Wartime series"

_____________________________________________________
THIRD PLACE Best SF Series

Isaac Asimov "Robot Series"
J. G. Ballard "Vermillion Sands"
Paul Di Filippo "RiboFunk series"
Jack Williamson "Humanoids series"

_____________________________________________________
FOURTH PLACE Best SF Series

Poul Anderson "Time Patrol series"
Isaac Asimov "Foundation series"
Felix Gotschalk "Dome series"
C. J. Cherryh "Sunfall series"
Michael Moorcock "The Dancers at the End of Time"
Andre Norton "Time Traders series"
Frederick Pohl & C. M. Kornbluth "Clair & Gaynor series"
Clifford Simak "City series"
Charles Stross "Lobsters series"
Jack Williamson "Black Lantern series"

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BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL:
Best SF Novel (General Themes)
Best Space SF Novel
Best Time SF Novel
Best Apocalyptic SF Novel

BEST SCIENCE FICTION COLLECTIONS

BEST SCIENCE FICTION SERIES:
Best SF Series (general themes)
Best Space SF Series

BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVELLA:
Best SF Novella 1920-1960 (general themes)
Best SF Novella 1961-now (general themes)
Best Space SF Novella 1920-1960
Best Space SF Novella 1961-now
Best Time SF Novella
Best Apocalyptic SF Novella

BEST SCIENCE FICTION STORY:
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Best SF Story 1961-now (general themes)
Best Space SF Story 1920-1960
Best Space SF Story 1961-now
Best Time SF Story
Best Apocalyptic SF Story

BEST FANTASY NOVEL

BEST FANTASY COLLECTION

BEST FANTASY SERIES

BEST FANTASY NOVELLA

BEST FANTASY STORY:
Best Fantasy Story 1920-1960
Best Fantasy Story 1961-now

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COMMENTS:

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

In browsing through your lists I am struck by how much I agree with the titles you have chosen although not necessarily with the rankings within each list. Best SF Series in particular bothered me because of the choice of Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space in first place. It's good, even very good, but not good enough to be "best". In particular it's too recent to be so highly rated. It's unclear as to how well it will stand the test of time.

I would have chosen several items instead in that top place. In particular Asimov's Robot or Foundation series had an enormous impact on the SF field when they appeared and contuinue to have to this day (the Robots in particular). They are far more deserving of top spot than the Reynolds series, which, enjoyable and popular as it is is not really ground breaking in any way. Similarly Simak's City and Bradbury's Martian Chronicles might also better deserve top billing than Reynolds.

9:55 AM  
Blogger Avi Abrams said...

Thank you for your comment!

I put a little disclaimer on top of list, just to emphasize, that all this "best rating" is according to the impact on me personally as a reader, not necessarily SF field in general...

As such, Reynolds is my choice, as I lean toward pulp space adventure in my likings, and prefer good "color" to "politics and science" - as my rating of Asimov's Foundation clearly testifies :)

There is also the fact that I am still only starting to read Reynolds, hoping the rest of novels will stand up to my expectation, so this rating is partly "in advance". Simak's City I have not even read yet (!) in entirety, so I fully expect this series to climb up. As for Bradbury, his STYLE rules, but not enough "sense-of-wonder" action for my likings. I would also point to every "individual writer" entries in this blog, they have lots more info on each individual story.

Again, that was great to hear from you!
Cheers

8:27 AM  
Blogger moosj said...

I would have to vote for the Foundation series, which blew me away when I first read it many years ago. I'm speaking of the first three novels, which were "fix-ups" made up of stories that appeared in Astounding Science Fiction in the 1940s.

Another great series, IMHO, is Anderson's Time Patrol. I think I have read and everything in that series and it is fascinating.

I'm surprised that you didn't mention Burroughs' Mars series, the granddaddy of planetary adventure and one of the foundations of the SF genre. And if you haven't read Simak's City stories you really should. It is a fairly short fix-up, but it has stories that have had me thinking for a long time.

10:07 AM  
Blogger Avi Abrams said...

moosj, thanks for tips...

Simak stories are my favorites... I just have not finished complete series yet.

Burroughs is not there simply because I have not read him, but am certainly aware of him. Will see till he comes out on a big screen :)

10:00 PM  

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"SF&F Reading Experience" is part of "Dark Roasted Blend / Thrilling Wonder" family of sites. We try to highlight the most entertaining and rewarding science fiction and fantasy, with emphasis on memorable reader experience, not necessarily general acceptance by the critics. Have fun, and delve into our extensive ratings and reviews!

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