It's the kind of list an English professor might make, not necessarily a sci-fi fan. In particular, Dick's genius was recognized only after his death.
Even though sci-fi sometimes rises above other genre literature, it's not taken that seriously by literary types. Baudrillard talks a lot about Dick and Ballard and that's it. Stanislaw Lem (whose Cyberiad ought to be on that list instead of The Futurological Congress) himself said that Phillip K. Dick was on a whole other level than other sci-fi writers.
Notably the list subverts the category of "novel" by adding a lot of things (comic books, concept albums) that aren't really novels.
I think Fred Pohl is missing (say Gateway) and also Joe Halderman (Worlds!). I'd rather see any Frank Herbert book but Dune (say Whipping Star or The Santaroga Barrier.) For that matter I'd like to see something from Heinlein before he had the stroke like The Moon is a Harsh Mistress or Glory Road. I'd also want to see Niven's Neutron Star (a set of short stories that read like a novel) but despite some "new wave" sensibilities Niven comes across as reactionary today because the Tor Books revival (Forge of God and Enders Game) of sci-fi in the 1980s liked Heinlein and Niven and Doc Smith better than LeGunn, Dick, Ballard, Herbert, etc.
On the other hand, put a sci-fi fan in charge of making this list and it's no doubt they'll add a stick of books from some author who is a "no account" in literary circles like Piers Anthony -- still I would try to slip him in at his most psychedelic.
> Dick's genius was recognized only after his death
Yes and no. It should certainly be noted that he was very popular during his life, not a nearly unknown author. Book clubs selected multiple of his novels, as one of many examples of that.
His stuff became a huge fad when they made many movies based on his works, but that's not the same thing as him previously being an unsung genius.
PKD’s books didn’t generally sell all that well during his life. In those days the sfbc picked up everything. And most of his books were OP when he died. I can remember having to scrounge around for them.
Hmm. In light of that, maybe it would have been more accurate if I said he was famous rather than popular, and for all I know it was only the Science Fiction Book Club that gave him that degree of fame?
His stuff is weird, and therefore a niche/acquired taste.
> Dick's genius was recognized only after his death.
Which we should give credit for: I only found PKD due to Jonathan Lethem's advocacy. PKD fans are likely to enjoy Lethem's sci-fi, especially Gun, With Occasional Music.
The crew of writers responsible for elevating PKD from pulp to cult deserve some attention, especially from PKD fans (aka "Dick-heads", which is just the most perfect name for a fandom).
> I'd like to see something from Heinlein before he had the stroke like The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Plus one for The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. That's probably the best of Heinlein's work.
It's the kind of list an English professor might make, not necessarily a sci-fi fan. In particular, Dick's genius was recognized only after his death.
Even though sci-fi sometimes rises above other genre literature, it's not taken that seriously by literary types. Baudrillard talks a lot about Dick and Ballard and that's it. Stanislaw Lem (whose Cyberiad ought to be on that list instead of The Futurological Congress) himself said that Phillip K. Dick was on a whole other level than other sci-fi writers.
Notably the list subverts the category of "novel" by adding a lot of things (comic books, concept albums) that aren't really novels.
I think Fred Pohl is missing (say Gateway) and also Joe Halderman (Worlds!). I'd rather see any Frank Herbert book but Dune (say Whipping Star or The Santaroga Barrier.) For that matter I'd like to see something from Heinlein before he had the stroke like The Moon is a Harsh Mistress or Glory Road. I'd also want to see Niven's Neutron Star (a set of short stories that read like a novel) but despite some "new wave" sensibilities Niven comes across as reactionary today because the Tor Books revival (Forge of God and Enders Game) of sci-fi in the 1980s liked Heinlein and Niven and Doc Smith better than LeGunn, Dick, Ballard, Herbert, etc.
On the other hand, put a sci-fi fan in charge of making this list and it's no doubt they'll add a stick of books from some author who is a "no account" in literary circles like Piers Anthony -- still I would try to slip him in at his most psychedelic.