Science Fiction

Bernardo de La Paz

(59,815 posts)

2. Put Ellison on your list. Heinlein predicted the world you are living in better than anyone alive or dead.

Mon Oct 13, 2025, 06:10 PM

Oct 13

Decades ago Heinlein predicted skin-tight fashions, widespread photovoltaic power, self-driving cars, evangelical dictator president of the US, common-place acceptance of homosexualism and transgenderism (which exists today despite backward looking maga revisionism), and commercial space travel. However, like all futurists, he has more failed predictions than successful.

All laid out with compelling yarn spinning. He has his flaws as a writer (multiple) but Heinlein is the most influential science fiction writer of all time.

Orwell's reputation rests on one spectacular book of science fiction and one iconic animal fable. He does have many top shelf essays but they are not widely read.

Bradbury is very lyrical, poetry disguised as prose. Le Guin has sociological insights nobody has come close to.

If you like Dick, you need to get deep into Harlan Ellison.

The Year's Best Science Fiction series edited by Gardner Dozois is well worth reading, all 35 years up to 2018, for modern cutting edge short stories and longer form short fiction.

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6 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

hedda_foil JT99 byronius rsdsharp werdna Pluvious

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Highlight:

Philip K. Dick [View all] OrwellwasRight Oct 13 OP

He was a major player in the Sci Fi expansion of the 50's through the 70's patphil Oct 13 #1

There are so many Dick books. OrwellwasRight Oct 15 #11

Put Ellison on your list. Heinlein predicted the world you are living in better than anyone alive or dead. Bernardo de La Paz Oct 13 #2

I recall Heinlein's Moon Is A Harsh Mistress... Pluvious Oct 14 #6

Yes. 1966, a time when computers were rooms you walked into. Bernardo de La Paz Oct 14 #7

Ah right, only a decade off lol Pluvious Oct 14 #9

The Heinlein I read was Stranger in a Strange Land OrwellwasRight Oct 15 #13

Thanks for the recommendation! OrwellwasRight Oct 15 #10

Dangerous Visions is a collection that he edited which has one of his Bernardo de La Paz Oct 15 #12

Thanks! Nt OrwellwasRight Oct 15 #14

Your "Blech" author helped Dick -- a stranger -- when he was ill, and even loaned him money. rsdsharp Oct 13 #3

Proof that people can be great humans OrwellwasRight Oct 15 #15

PK Dick and Ellison have been my staples since high school. byronius Oct 13 #4

Thanks! Nt OrwellwasRight Oct 15 #16

If you use kindle, there's a great collection of 20 of his stories EverHopeful Oct 13 #5

I don't use kindle, but thanks. OrwellwasRight Oct 15 #17

If you can, watch the series... Pluvious Oct 14 #8

Thanks!! OrwellwasRight Oct 15 #18

I just remembered... Pluvious Oct 15 #19

Thx. Robert Downey Jr, right? OrwellwasRight Saturday #20

Yes, and Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Woody Harelson... Pluvious Sunday #21