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user-inactivated  ·  3366 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Let's create a list of essential scifi books

    In my opinion, people could go their entire lifetimes without reading any Frank Herbert, 99% of Asimov, 99% of Heinlein, 95% of Clarke, any Ian Banks, any Neal Stephenson or any Philip K Dick. These are the books that make people who don't like sci fi hate sci fi.

These are also the most famous names in science fiction, so I think what you're saying isn't fair. Tautology -- people who don't really like scifi also don't like the most famous scifi authors. Unsurprising, but not what you should use to guide a list of recommendations to someone who's going in blind.