Link to our Facebook Page
Link to our Instagram Page
Link to our X Page
Link to our Youtube Page

The Essentials of Classic Science Fiction

EssentialsSFClassic

The following is a short list, featuring twenty of the most prominent and prolific authors of classic science fiction, whom you would commonly find on any list of this genre’s “classics” or “essentials.” A list of the “best” authors in any category has to be considered subjective under the best of circumstances. However, based on the criteria of which authors’ works have continued to stand the “test of time,” whose works have remained relevant to contemporary readers, and which authors contributing ground-breaking works to the science fiction field, the twenty authors listed here are a good place to start. Fans and/or students of Science Fiction are also encouraged to check in with any of our librarians for additional recommendations and thematic booklists!

classic. Among the best of a class, of the highest quality in a group…a work that endures.Harper Handbook to Literature

The author links in this booklist are to the complete listings of all materials in the Lincoln City Libraries’ collections by these authors. The links connect directly to our library catalog, so that you may check on the current availability of titles. Covers shown below are relative samples of some of these authors’ best-known works.

Poul Anderson

[1926-2001]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

 PoulAnderson

Isaac Asimov

[1920-1992]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

IsaacAsimov

Alfred Bester

[1913-1987]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

AlfredBester

Ray Bradbury

[1920-2012]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

RayBradbury

Edgar Rice Burroughs

[1875-1950]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

EdgarRiceBurroughs

Arthur C. Clarke

[1917-2008]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

ArthurCClarke

Hal Clement (a.k.a. Harry Stubbs)

[1922-2003]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

HalClement

Lester del Rey

[1915-1993]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

LesterDelRey

Philip K. Dick

[1928-1982]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

PhilipKDick

Harlan Ellison

[1934-    ]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

HarlanEllison

Robert A. Heinlein

[1907-1988]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

RobertHeinlein

Frank Herbert

[1920-1986]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

FrankHerbert

Andre Norton

[1912-2005]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

AndreNorton

Robert Silverberg

[1935-    ]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

RobertSilverberg

E.E. “Doc” Smith

[1890-1965]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

EESmith

Theodore Sturgeon

[1918-1985]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

TheodoreSturgeon

A. E. Van Vogt

[1912-2000]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

AEVanVogt

Jules Verne

[1828-1905]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

JulesVerne

H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

[1866-1946]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

HGWells

Jack Williamson

[1908-2006]  [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database entry for this author ]

JackWilliamson

Compiled Feb 2012 sdc | Adapted and expanded for the Web Feb 2012 sdc | Last updated August 2016 sdc