I have had a lifelong love of books. Books, both fiction and nonfiction, have had a tremendous influence on how I see the world. Below are short descriptions of those science fiction novels that I have found the most interesting and compelling. Many of these books, and others by the same authors, have influenced my spaceship art and the fictional backgrounds that I set them in. The article Suggested Reading for Inquisitive Minds briefly reviews those nonfiction books that have had the most impact on my perception of the world.

1. CHILDHOOD'S END by Arthur C. Clarke (c) 1953 published by Del Rey - This novel is a different sort of "end of the world" story. Clarke challenges our preconceptions of what an encounter with a vastly superior alien race would be like as well as how humanity would change as a result. He presents a concept of collective human adulthood that thwarts our expectations, even our understanding. As always, Clarke depicts the majesty of the cosmos and our smallness as a sentient species in the face of it.

2. CHINA MOUNTAIN ZHANG by Maureen F. McHugh (c) 1992 published by Tor - This novel tells the story of a future where the Chinese culture has taken over the world. The main character of the novel is an American genetically altered to appear Chinese. We follow the development of his career from construction worker to high-tech architect. The novel describes the main character's education in some detail and there are some intriguing descriptions of how architectural design is done a few centuries from now. The world he inhabits is not perfect of course, but it is not as depressing as a westerner might first assume.

3. THE COSMIC COMPUTER by H. Beam Piper (c) 1963 published by Ace - This novel takes place in Piper's Terran Federation universe that has much in common with the "Star Trek" universe. In the Terran Federation universe, humans are the controlling race of an interstellar realm eventually spanning more than a thousand inhabited worlds with about fifteen sentient races. Piper emphasizes the military aspect of his fictional universe but since there are no other races to challenge humanity in it, most of the struggles are among various human groups. The star-faring technology of the Terran Federation environment is less developed than that of "Star Trek." The Cosmic Computer contains a wonderful description of a starship construction yard and the type of vessels it builds. The story line of this novel revolves around the search for a powerful military computer used in a recent human interstellar civil war and how one group of people are trying to recover from that conflict.

4. DIASPORAH by W. R. Yates (c) 1985 published by Baen - This novel is a political thriller story set on an orbital space habitat populated by Israelis in the late 21st century. The main character is a secular Jew who comes to a new understanding of his religious roots as he helps defend the space habitat from those intent upon its destruction. As with many science fiction stories that I admire, this one presents a non-Christian culture in a sympathetic light. The novel also offers a few surprises in the way it depicts the political situation a century from now.

5. THE DISPOSSESSED by Ursula K. LeGuin (c) 1974 published by Avon - This novel depicts the societies on two earth-like planets in orbit of each other. The population of Urras is divided into contending nation states much like the situation on our planet during the Cold War. Unlike our recent past, the chief capitalist nation on Urras takes serious steps to preserve the environment. The other planet, Anares, has a much harsher climate and is inhabited solely by refugees from Urras. These emigrants have set up an idealistic collectivist society that challenges the reader to think about the values of our currently dominant materialistic culture. LeGuin makes most of her cultural observations in this novel through the main character, a male scientist from Anares who is invited to visit Urras by representatives of the main capitalist government. The author's remarks not only bring to light the foibles of the capitalist culture on Urras, but those of its Soviet-style counterpart as well. Even the decidedly utopian culture of Anares is shown to be in need of change if is is to truly serve the needs of its citizens.

6. EARTH by David Brin (c) 1990 published by Bantum Spectra - This novel is a compelling ecological disaster story combined with interesting speculations on where Internet culture and artificial intelligence will be in the mid 21st century. There is an admirable mix of characters from both genders and from a variety of cultures. A bit of super science is thrown in; but in a way that sounds plausible and gives the novel an extra bit of "gee wiz!"

7. FEDERATION WORLD by James White (c) 1988 published by Del Rey - This stand-alone novel is set in a different science fiction background than that of his more famous "Sector General" series. In Federation World, the Federation of Galactic Sentients occupies one huge Dyson sphere-like habitat rather than a large number of star systems. Its primary purpose is not galactic governance or surveying, but rather the discovery of sentient races to settle on its titanic Federation World. In the "Federation of Galactic Sentients" universe, star systems are portrayed as dangerous habitats for sentient life in the long term, hence the construction of the artificial world to serve as a refuge for sentient life as well as the nexus of galactic culture. The star-faring technology of the "Federation of Galactic Sentients" equals if not surpasses that of the "Star Trek" environment with its gigantic starships controlled by fully sentient computers. Federation World also contains wonderful descriptions of the awesome space habitat itself along with the advanced technology it wields. As with his "Sector General" series, White describes a number of fascinating sentient races encountered by the human main characters of the novel.

8. FOLK ON THE FRINGE by Orson Scott Card (c) 1989 published by Tor - This is a near future nuclear war aftermath novel told from a Mormon perspective. The author uses this viewpoint to comment on prejudice as well as show how a fringe culture could play a major role in helping pick up the pieces in a devastated United States. The author manages to encourage the reader to be sympathetic to Mormon reactions to such a catastrophic situation without preaching.

9. FORWARD THE FOUNDATION by Isaac Asimov (c) 1993 published by Doubleday - This is the last, and in my opinion, one of the best novels written by the author. It tells the life story of the pivotal character of Asimov's "Foundation" series, Hari Seldon, who lives at the heart of a galactic empire about to enter into a period of great decline. Asimov presents this character in such a strong and compelling way; in part because of his lifetime of writing experience, but also because in many ways Seldon is his alter ego. I felt a lot of emotion as I read this final novel by a master of science fiction. I see this book as a wonderful form of self-eulogy by an author beloved by generations of science fiction fans.

10. THE GOLDEN AGE: THY KINGDOM COME by RK Ralya, (c) 2005 published by PublishAmerica - This novel tells the story of a modern American soldier who finds himself transported to a place that is much like how the Bahá’ís hope our world will be become in the centuries to come.  There the soldier is trained to be a spiritual warrior and is given a very different kind of rescue mission.  Unlike many utopian science-fiction novels, this one focuses more on how interpersonal relationships are different in a society much more spiritually advanced than our own rather than technological changes. In this way it is similar to The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You reveiwed below. The Golden Age: Thy Kingdom Come is a very warm and human story that I believe many readers will find both exciting and comforting. 

11. ISLAND OF THE SAME NAME by Joseph Sheppherd, (c) 1997 published by Manifest Books - This is the first novel-length Baha'i science fiction book I have encountered. It is a very intriguing book to me; the kind of Baha'i book I have been waiting for ever since I declared my belief in Baha'u'llah in 1981. While placed by its author in the category of social fiction rather than science fiction, I see it as an example of the kind of new science fiction the world needs so much at this time of ever quickening social and technological change.

The book centers on anthropology and takes place in four different time periods: humanity's distant past, near past, near future, and far future. The author comments on anthropology and modern culture and suggests short-term and long-term changes in part inspired by the teachings of the Baha'i Faith. The short-term future presented by the author focuses on the beginning of the end of Western world's stranglehold upon the world economy and global culture. For me, the most fascinating part of The Island of the Same Name was the description of events taking place hundreds of years in the future after which a world culture inspired in part by the Baha'i perspective has taken hold. Such an uplifting view of the future is exactly the kind of thing I read science fiction for.

I especially liked the mention of humans venturing into the solar system and found the mention of forms of life that we can not yet detect intriguing. I was heartened to see that even though the regeneration of the ecosystem and humanity was the primary concern of this future culture, it still saw a place for space exploration. Few books, whether labeled science fiction, social fiction, or future studies, present such a balanced view of future human priorities. Finally, I appreciated the inclusion in this book of elements of true spirituality, apart from mere superstition cloaked as religion. The use of a vivid dream life to stimulate psychological change and grapple with deep spiritual issues reflected by own experience. This book in my perspective is a delicious blend of future social speculation and a recognition that real change takes place on other planes of human existence in addition to our physical one.

12. THE KIN OF ATA ARE WAITING FOR YOU by Dorothy Bryant (c) 1971 published by Moon Books/Random House - This very unusual novel describes a utopian culture far removed from our modern competitive and materialist civilization. In this story, the main character seems to be the very model of the personality who succeeds the most in our current society: aggressive, self-centered, arrogant, and dismissing of the true humanity of those whose lives he wields power over. Yet as this character find himself transported to the utopian island of Ata, he finds he has much spiritual growth to make to become civilized from the view of the inhabitants of that almost mythical seeming place. The society on Ata is based on reciprocity and mutual aid rather than competition with and domination of others. The story line of the book follows the personal transformation of the main character as he discovers what is really important in life and how selfish desire must at times be sacrificed for the good of society as a whole.

13. LAST AND FIRST MEN by Olaf Stapledon (c) 1931 and 14. STAR MAKER by Olaf Stapledon (c) 1937, both republished by Dover Publications in 1968 - I first read these two novels as a teenager. They are actually more like lengthy scholarly essays than modern character-focused fictional narratives. They set the standard of long-term vision and inclusion of issues pertaining to social and spiritual growth to which I have compared all the subsequent science fiction I have read. Last and First Men presents an historical overview of our current and future human races stretching eons into the future. This perspective challenges the reader to see beyond the economic fads and cultural fallacies of the present and take the long view about what is truly in the best interest of our sentient species. Star Maker involves a 20th century character making a mental journey that informs him about other non-human sentient species and the evolution in the far future of a universe spanning consciousness composed of such species working together to seek spiritual enlightenment. A pan-sentient, galaxy spanning "community of worlds" is depicted that enjoys a spiritual maturity far beyond the majority of galactic organizations delineated in modern science fiction. Last and First Men and Star Maker are truly breathtaking works, even more amazing since they were written in the 1930's. Another Stapledon book I recommend is Nebula Maker & Four Encounters published in 1976 by Dodd, Mead & Company.

15. THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS by Ursula K. LeGuin (c) 1969 published by The Berkley Publishing Group. This novel tells the story of a human envoy visiting a planet occupied by humanoids who are androgynous. The culture of these people, where strong preconceptions about sexual roles in society is absent, is described by the author in an anthropological manner. However, the most interesting part of this novel was not the delineation of an "alien" culture. Rather, it was the brief outline given by the main character of the Ecumen, an interstellar organization of humanoid races far different from the galactic federations and empires found throughout science fiction. The Ecumen is depicted as a nonpolitical cultural exchange group more concerned with gathering knowledge than acquiring interstellar territory. The Ecumen is one the primary models I used when creating my "Fellowship of Star-Faring Sentients" and "Galactic Sentience Network" universes.

16. LOOKING BACKWARD, FROM THE YEAR 2000 by Mack Reynolds (c) 1973 and
17. EQUALITY IN THE YEAR 2000 by Mack Reynolds (c) 1977, both republished by ACE - These two books offer a utopian version of America in 2000 written from a liberal perspective. As with The Kin of Ata are Waiting for You reviewed above, the main character is a rather conservative fellow thrust almost magically into the alternate world presented by the author. Unlike the spiritual and psychological tack used by author of that novel, Reynolds takes a much more political and economic approach in his books. The reader wonders how America could have possibly made the drastic political and economic changes depicted in just a few decades. There is also the almost humorous contradiction of a future utopia where smoking is harshly banned, yet most of the main characters are shown imbibing alcohol at every opportunity. Still, I admire the author for creating such an ambitious future world; he is obviously very concerned with social and economic justice issues.

18. MANIFEST DESTINY by Barry B. Longyear (c) 1980 published by Berkley Books - This book combines three novellas by the author with other material to form one unified novel. One of the novellas, Enemy Mine, was made into an admirable science fiction film in the 1980's. The novel documents the development of star-faring humanity from the mid 21st century to the early 22nd century. As the decades pass with increasing interaction with other sentient species, humans are shown moving from a belief that they are destined to rule the galaxy to the realization that their best interests are served by becoming responsible galactic citizens. The Enemy Mine material is recognizable by those who have seen the movie, but in the novel the author has a more angst-filled outcome for the main characters.

19. THE MEMORY OF WHITENESS by Kim Stanley Robinson (c) 1985 published by Tor - This novel takes place about twelve hundred years from the present. In that far future era, humanity has colonized the entire solar system and created a seemingly improbable but enthralling family of utopian societies. The main character of the story is a master musician and the plot follows a performance tour he makes of numerous human habitats and settlements. A key element in this novel is The Orchestra, a complex and mysterious musical instrument possessing powers far beyond that of normal instruments. This novel is a delightful exploration of the power of music as an universal language and an intriguing reminder of just how different the priorities of a future pan-human culture could be from the money and power obsessed present.

20. NOR CRYSTAL TEARS by Alan Dean Foster (c) 1982 published by Del Rey - This novel is an engaging first contact story set some centuries from now and told from an alien's point of view. The alien here is a Thranx; the Thranx are a race of sentient beings reminiscent of giant praying mantises. While the alien's appearance is definitely non-human, his thoughts and feelings are quite akin to those expressed by humans. In the best tradition of first contact stories, this novel makes keen observations about humanity by comparing it to a sentient race equal in technology but differing in its social assumptions. The author continues his saga of the evolution of Human-Thranx relations in his "Founding of the Commonwealth" trilogy. The books in this series are Phylogenesis, Dirge, and Diurnity's Dawn, published by Del Rey in 1999, 2000 and 2002 respectively.

21. THE PHILOSOPHICAL CORPS by Everett B. Cole (c) 1961 published by Gnome Press - A novel length treatment of my favorite science fiction story of all time, "Fighting Philosopher" by Everett B. Cole (c) 1954 published in Isaac Asimov's Wonderful Worlds of Science Fiction #1: Intergalactic Empires, edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, and Charles G. Waugh, (c) 1983 published by Signet. This story describes an enlightened galactic federation that takes a different tact than "Star Trek" when interacting with cultures not yet capable of space travel. Education about cycles of history inspired by British historian Arnold Toynbee are employed in the story as the core of preparation for eventual galactic citizenship. An interstellar defense force called the Stellar Guard and a branch of that organization called the Philosophical Corps are mentioned. As an homage to this story and the ideals it inculcates, I chose the name Star Guard Network for the interstellar defense force present in my "Galactic Sentience Network" environment. A galactic federation similar to that of "Fighting Philosopher" is presented in the "Sector General" series by James White.

22. PROJECT POPE by Clifford D. Simak (c) 1981 published by Del Rey - This novel is set in the far future where sentient robots live an equals alongside their human creators. On an planet named End of Nothing near the edge of the galaxy, a joint human-robot society called Vatican-17 has striven for centuries to create an artificial intelligence with the knowledge, wisdom, and infallibility approaching that of a Deity. The story follows a human medical doctor arriving at End of Nothing to serve as Vatican-17's new physician. He encounters not only the computerized Pope, but also a woman journalist intent of sharing the news of Vatican-17's achievement with the rest of the civilized galaxy. While set in the science fiction genre, this book also reaches into the realms of religious philosophy and science fantasy. For me, the most interesting aspect of this novel is its description of a bizarre race of sentient beings who communicate via mathematical equations.

23. PSYCHOHISTORICAL CRISIS by Donald Kingsbury (c) 2001 published by Tor - This novel is based on the novella "Historical Crisis" (c) 1995 by the same author that appeared in the anthology Far Futures (c) 1995 edited by Gregory Benford and published by Tor. It is the compelling story set in a universe very similar to Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series. As a loving tribute to Asimov's best known science fiction work, the author has created a novel that reads like a Asimov "Foundation" novel while while still being up to date with the developments in science and technology since the "Foundation" novels were published. Kingsbury manages to comment upon and even challenge the assumptions of the "Foundation" universe while still remaining respectful of it. The reader could even see Psychological Crisis as part of the "Foundation" canon, a possibility no doubt assisted by the author setting his novel millennia after that of any of Asimov's books in the "Foundation" timeline. As such, Kingbury takes some surprising turns with the technology and sociology of the "Foundation" universe. Finally, the novel Psychological Crisis is every bit as readable and interesting as its very fine novella counterpart, "Historical Crisis."

24. RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA by Arthur C. Clarke (c) 1973 published by Del Rey and
25. RAMA REVEALED by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee (c) 1994, published by Bantam Spectra - Rendezvous with Rama is the first book in Clarke's "Rama" series and perhaps the most plausible science fiction novels of those presented here. In Clarke's science fictional setting, a number of advanced alien races have come together to study other sentient life. They conduct their investigations by placing sample sentient life forms inside gigantic sublight powered traveling space habitats and observing these life forms over many years. The first of such habitats to visit our home star system is given the name Rama by its human explorers.

Clarke's interstellar civilization is based at titanic deep space research stations called Nodes. Clarke's huge starships travel close to the speed of light for prolonged periods, and due to the relativistic effects engendered by transiting at such speeds, travel through time as well. The result is that the starship crews age at a much slower rate than those not on the ships. Arthur C. Clarke has a rare gift for not only delineating plausible star-faring technology that does not violate current scientific understanding of cosmology, but also elucidating that technology in almost poetic terms that remind us of just how wondrous such a technology would really be.

Rama Revealed is the final book of the "Rama" series. It tells the fate of the humans occupying the giant alien spacecraft Rama. Rama finally makes its rendezvous with The Node, an awe-inspiring deep space station occupied by many sentient races working together to expand their knowledge of the galaxy.

The Node of Rama Revealed, along with Ringworld of the science fiction novel by Larry Niven of the same name, are the two main inspirations for the super space-habitat Nahfenkroyjenol set in my "Fellowship of Star-Faring Sentients" universe. I find myself enthralled by Arthur C. Clarke's ability to present stories that transcend human's obsessions with themselves and instill a sense of wonder for the universe and ultra-advanced sentient beings. It is this sense of wonder, combined with Ursula K. LeGuin's ability to see humanoid races as members of one family, that I hope to convey in my own science fiction. Other books in the "Rama" series include Rama II (c) 1989 and The Garden of Rama (c) 1991

26. SHIKASTA by Doris Lessing (c) 1979 published by Vintage Books - This novel is the first of Lessing's classic "Canopus in Argos: Archives" series. It differs from much modern science fiction in that is defies classification. In part science fiction, in part psychological-religious exploration, in part modern doomsday tale, in part pseudo-historical documentation, the story follows the earthly life of Geoge Sherban, human incarnation of the Canopan being Johor. George/ Johor visits a near future Earth where human society is on the brink of total breakdown. Johor/George is depicted on the one hand as scientific observer of humanity and on the other as Prophet trying to help them overcome their worst traits. Lessing's novel in some parts expresses a detachment akin to the the science fiction of Olaf Stapledon. At other places, a character is followed in a way similar to those employed by Ursula LeGuin and Dorothy Bryant. Shikasta is a fascinating and troubling story all at the same time. Other novels in "Canopus in Argos: Archives" series include The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five and The Making of the Representative for Planet 8.