What are the most influential works in world science fiction?

Well, 'The War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells is very influential. It was one of the first to depict an alien invasion, setting a template for many later stories. Then there's 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov. His ideas about psychohistory and a galactic - scale civilization are really groundbreaking. Also, 'Blade Runner' in both its movie and novel forms has influenced how we think about artificial intelligence and what it means to be human in a science - fiction context.

One of the most influential works could be 'Dune'. It creates a complex and detailed universe with unique political, ecological and technological aspects that have inspired many other works in the science fiction genre.

Another highly influential work is 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley. It shows a future society where people are genetically engineered and conditioned for specific roles. It makes us think about the cost of a so - called 'perfect' society and the importance of individuality.

Well, in 1700 - ish time period, there were not many works that we would strictly call science fiction as we know it today. But if we look at early works that led to modern science fiction, 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift had elements of it. It had strange lands and odd creatures, kind of like science fiction's exploration of the strange. And then later, Edgar Allan Poe also wrote some stories that had elements of science - related ideas, like in 'The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar' which dealt with the idea of suspended animation, which is very much a science fiction concept.

Well, 'Star Wars' is extremely influential in science fiction. It has created a vast universe with unique species, technology, and the concept of the Force. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams is also very important. It has a very unique and humorous take on space travel and different civilizations. Then there's 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov. His ideas about psychohistory and the fall and rise of galactic empires are quite remarkable.

One of the most influential is '1984' by George Orwell. It warns about totalitarianism and the loss of privacy. Another is 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley, which explores a future society controlled by technology and genetic engineering. And 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley is also very important as it's often considered the first science fiction novel, dealing with themes like creation and the consequences of playing God.

One of the most influential works in a decade of science fiction could be 'The Martian'. It realistically portrays the challenges of survival on Mars, inspiring a new wave of interest in space exploration - related science fiction. Another would be 'Black Mirror' which, through its anthology format, explores the dark side of technology and its impact on society in various near - future scenarios.

Another is 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley. It explores a future where society is highly controlled through technology and genetic engineering. The ideas presented in it, like the use of drugs to keep the population docile, are thought - provoking.

In the realm of metaverse science fiction, 'Snow Crash' stands out. Its description of the metaverse was so detailed and creative that it has influenced many subsequent works. 'Ready Player One' is also a big one. It made the idea of a metaverse accessible to a wide audience. Additionally, works like 'Altered Carbon' have elements of a metaverse - like digital afterlife which adds to the overall influence in this genre.

One of the most influential works in Planet Science Fiction is 'Dune'. It creates a complex and detailed desert planet Arrakis, with its own unique ecology, politics, and cultures. The story's exploration of power, religion, and environmental issues has inspired many subsequent works.