Well, '2001: A Space Odyssey' by Arthur C. Clarke was very popular. It's about a mysterious monolith and the journey of discovery it sets in motion, both in space and in terms of human evolution.
Ray Bradbury's 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' is from the 1960s. It's a darker take on science fiction, with elements of the supernatural and the power of fear. It's set in a small town and shows how the arrival of a strange carnival can disrupt the lives of the townspeople in a very otherworldly way.
'Contact' by Carl Sagan was also very popular. It was a thought - provoking story about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. The movie adaptation also helped to boost its popularity. It delved into scientific concepts as well as human emotions when faced with the possibility of first contact.
Well, '2001: A Space Odyssey' was already quite well - known from the movie, but the book was also very popular among science fiction fans in the 1980s. Its exploration of human - machine interaction and the mystery of the monoliths was fascinating. 'The Uplift War' was also popular as it had a great mix of adventure, politics, and alien species with their own unique cultures and motives.
Some great 70's science fiction books include 'A Scanner Darkly' by Philip K. Dick. It has a very unique and somewhat psychedelic take on a future society with drug use and surveillance. 'The Forever War' by Joe Haldeman is another one. It's a military science fiction that also reflects on the nature of war and how it changes people. And then there's 'Tau Zero' by Poul Anderson which is about a spaceship that is unable to stop accelerating and the consequences that follow.
I think 'Dune' was very popular in the 1970s. Its detailed world - building and complex characters made it stand out. It has since become a huge franchise.
One popular 50s science fiction book is 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury. It presents a dystopian future where books are burned. Another is 'The Day of the Triffids' by John Wyndham, which features strange and dangerous plants. Also, 'I, Robot' by Isaac Asimov is well - known, exploring the relationship between humans and robots.
Some popular 1980s science fiction books include 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card. It tells the story of a young boy, Ender, trained in a military school for a future war against an alien race. Another is 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson. It's a cyberpunk classic that explores a world of high - tech and low - life in a future dominated by corporations.
Well, there's 'The Time Machine' by H. G. Wells, although it was first published in 1895, it had a significant influence on 1940s science fiction. In the 1940s, books like Robert A. Heinlein's works also became popular. For example, 'Rocket Ship Galileo' in 1947. It was about a group of boys who build a rocket ship to go to the moon. Heinlein's works often explored new frontiers in space and human relationships within those settings.
Arthur C. Clarke was a very popular author of 1960s science fiction. He is famous for '2001: A Space Odyssey'. His works often dealt with space exploration and the future of humanity. Robert A. Heinlein was also popular during this time. His book 'Stranger in a Strange Land' was widely read. Ursula K. Le Guin emerged as a significant voice with her works like 'The Left Hand of Darkness' which explored new ideas in science fiction.
One popular 80s science fiction book is 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card. It tells the story of a young boy, Ender, who is trained in military strategy in a future where Earth is preparing for an alien invasion. Another is 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson. It's a cyberpunk classic that explores the idea of a digital world and hacking. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams also became very popular in the 80s. It's a humorous take on space travel and the universe, with unique characters like Ford Prefect and the depressed robot, Marvin.
One popular 1940's science fiction book is 'Slan' by A.E. van Vogt. It features a race of super - intelligent beings called Slans.