One of the greatest things about science fiction books is that they force you to think. More often than not they push past the boundaries of reality and give interesting insights into some of the humanity’s oldest and most prominent philosophical questions. Existence, society, leadership, war, technology — these are some of the main themes found in many science fiction works but so many people seem to be instilled with the notion that science fiction is nothing more than fantastic stories about robots and aliens. Luckily, some of the best science fiction literature is still getting passed around college and university classes. So, if you’re an English major who has yet have their mind blown by a great sci-fi story, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for some these titles on you class reading lists.
7. Neuromancer
Neuromancer is the archetypal “cyberpunk” story written by William Gibson. The novel tells the story of a washed-up computer hacker who is contracted by an enigmatic employer to pull off the ultimate hacking heist. The narrative seems to allude to the inevitability of post-humanity as the line between artificial intelligence and humanity in the book has become nearly impossible to distinguish.
Since its release in 1984, Neuromancer has been immensely influential in both science fiction literature and cinema. The 1999 movie The Matrix is a prime example that draws heavily from ideas conceived in the book. After a screening of the film, Gibson himself was impressed and noted that the way that the Wachowski’s had drawn from existing cyberpunk works was “exactly the kind of creative cultural osmosis” he had relied upon in his own writing. If consider yourself a fan of cyberpunk, even in the most remote sense, Neuromancer is an absolute must read.
http://artofrylee.com/2012/05/16/sf-fantasy-masterpieces-cover-designs/ Via artofrylee.com
