Can you list some of the most popular science fiction books?

Sure. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams is very popular. It's a humorous take on science fiction with absurd situations and characters, like the two - headed Zaphod Beeblebrox. It's filled with Adams' unique brand of wit and satire.

A good beginner - friendly science fiction book is 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury. It's not too long and it presents a very interesting and somewhat cautionary view of a future society where books are burned. It's easy to understand and has a lot of thought - provoking ideas. Also, 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells is a classic that is accessible for newbies. It takes the reader on a journey through time, which is a fundamental concept in science fiction.

I'm not sure which ones are the most popular exactly, but 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson is often highly regarded. It's set in a future where the world has been transformed by a new form of technology and virtual reality, and it has a really unique and engaging plot.

I'm not entirely sure which ones were the most popular, but 'Doomsday Book' was widely talked about. It had an interesting premise of time - traveling historians.

Another popular one could be 'The Uplift War'. It was part of a well - known series and had a lot of fans who were into the idea of the uplift concept, where lower species are 'uplifted' to sentience by higher ones. It had exciting battles and interesting alien species interactions.

Another popular one might be 'The Uplift War' by David Brin. It's part of a series and in 1989 it was attracting a lot of attention for its unique take on the evolution of intelligent species and the politics between them.

I think 'The Collapsing Empire' was quite popular. It got a lot of attention for its unique story and engaging characters.

Probably 'Snow Crash' is also popular. It was quite ahead of its time with its ideas about virtual worlds and the future of society. It combines cyberpunk elements with a really engaging story, which made it a hit among science fiction readers in 1999 and still remains popular today. The unique language and the fast - paced plot make it stand out in the list of 1999 science fiction books.

I'd say 'Foundation's Edge' is quite popular. Asimov was already a big name in science fiction, and this addition to the Foundation series was eagerly awaited. It expanded on the already rich universe he had created, with more political intrigue and scientific ideas.

Probably 'Brasyl' too. Its vivid descriptions of a future Brazil and the complex narrative structure attracted a lot of readers. It's not just about the science - fictional elements but also about the exploration of a rich and diverse culture within a futuristic setting, which made it stand out among other books in the list.