2026-05-06 21:29 UTC
Replies (4)
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@penwing@wandering.shop 2026-05-06 21:37
So,I think a list like this needs a "classic". But this is for "beginners" (is that new to the genre? New to reading at all? New to adult books?). Classics can be good but can leave a bad taste if the racism or sexism fairy has visited too much Much as I'd love to say Frankenstein for the classic, I think we probably need to consider something more modern style (but still "classic" It means I'm probably torn between Wyndham's The Chrysalids and Butler's Parable of the Sower >>>
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@Canageek@wandering.shop 2026-05-06 21:50
@penwing@wandering.shop TWO Andy Weir books? On an introduction list? And the only classic is DUNE‽ The famously dense and incomprehensible book‽ No Andre Norton or CJ Cherryh or Asimov? I know it is over recommend but A Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet would be a perfect choice for this list!
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@Violinknitter@wandering.shop 2026-05-06 23:00
@penwing@wandering.shop And calling Dune “easy to follow” shows a deep misunderstanding of how people often experience sff worldbuilding when it’s their first (or nearly first) time with speculative fiction
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@floppyplopper@todon.nl 2026-05-06 23:26
@penwing@wandering.shop is this slop? i'd feel deeply shameful for humans if a human wrote this. absolutely none of this should be on a sf starter list. My time one Gregory Benford's Timescape. yes to Leckie, yes to Butler, My post apocalypse, Z For Zachariah by Robert C O'Brien Haven't read Becky Chambers, perfectly happy to trust your taste My "the list has to have some Le Guin" Lathe Of Heaven And my wildcard: We Who Are About To... by Joanna Russ no room for Blue Light unfortunately.