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22 Books That Changed Science Fiction and Fantasy Forever

Speculative fiction is the literature of change and discovery. But every now and then, a book comes along that changes the rules of science fiction and fantasy for everybody. Certain great books inspire scores of authors to create something new. Here are 22 of the most influential science fiction and fantasy books.
These are books which clearly inspired a generation of authors, and made a huge splash either in publishing success or critical acclaim. Or both. And these are in no particular order.
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
1
Douglas Adams
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Jules Verne)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
2
Jules Verne
Dhalgren (Samuel R. Delany)
Dhalgren
3
Samuel R. Delany
Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Lord of the Rings
4
J.R.R. Tolkien
The War of the Worlds (H.G. Wells)
The War of the Worlds
5
H.G. Wells
Foundation (Iaac Asimov)
Foundation
6
Iaac Asimov
Stranger in a Strange Land (Robert A. Heinlein)
Stranger in a Strange Land
7
Robert A. Heinlein
Dangerous Visions (Harlan Ellison)
Dangerous Visions
8
Harlan Ellison
Childhood's End (Arthur C. Clarke)
Childhood's End
9
Arthur C. Clarke
Ringworld (Larry Niven)
Ringworld
10
Larry Niven
The Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula K. Le Guin)
The Left Hand of Darkness
11
Ursula K. Le Guin
Neuromancer (William Gibson)
Neuromancer
12
William Gibson
Snow Crash (Neal Stephenson)
Snow Crash
13
Neal Stephenson
A Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin)
A Game of Thrones
14
George R.R. Martin
Kindred (Octavia Butler)
Kindred
15
Octavia Butler
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (J.K. Rowling)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
16
J.K. Rowling
The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)
The Hunger Games
17
Suzanne Collins
The Wind-Up Girl (Paolo Bacigalupi)
The Wind-Up Girl
18
Paolo Bacigalupi
The Forever War (Joe Haldeman)
The Forever War
19
Joe Haldeman
Slaughterhouse-Five (Kurt Vonnegut)
Slaughterhouse-Five
20
Kurt Vonnegut
The Martian Chronicles (Ray Bradbury)
The Martian Chronicles
21
Ray Bradbury
Dune (Frank Herbert)
Dune
22
Frank Herbert
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