Many of them are likely to have diverse themes. For example, some may focus on post - apocalyptic worlds, where the remnants of humanity struggle to survive. Others could be about far - flung space exploration, like traveling to distant galaxies and encountering strange new life forms.
One of the great books from that list could be 'The Big Book of Science Fiction'. It contains a wide range of science fiction stories from different eras and authors, which gives a comprehensive view of the genre's development.
The books in this list may also show the anxieties of the era. With the Cold War going on, there could be themes related to the fear of nuclear war or the power struggles between different superpowers. At the same time, they might be exploring new ideas in biology and medicine as science was advancing in those fields at that time. For instance, some books could be speculating about genetic engineering or new ways of treating diseases in a science - fiction context.
Some well - known books from 2015 science fiction lists might include 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. It's a great story about an astronaut stranded on Mars and his struggle to survive. Another could be 'Ancillary Justice' by Ann Leckie, which features a complex universe and unique characters.
Some great science fiction books are 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It's set in a far - future universe with complex politics and a desert planet. Another is '1984' by George Orwell. Although it's more of a dystopian novel, it has strong sci - fi elements. And 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley also challenges the way we think about society in a science - fictional context.
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.
In my opinion, 'Stranger in a Strange Land' was very influential. Its ideas about different cultures and social norms challenged the readers' thinking at that time and had a long - lasting impact on the science - fiction genre.
One of the most popular was 'Hyperion'. It has a very unique narrative structure, which attracted a lot of readers. The world - building is also extremely detailed.
Among the popular ones is 'The Forever War'. It won several awards and has been highly regarded for its realistic take on the horrors of war in a science - fiction context. The way it deals with time differences due to space travel is also very interesting.