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Best Science Fiction

Animal Farm and 1984
Animal Farm is Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution -- an account of the bold struggle, initiated by the animals, that transforms Mr. Jones's Manor Farm into Animal Farm--a wholly democratic society built on the credo that All Animals Are Created Equal. 'I continue to find the Readers' Guides indispensable for teaching - they really give students a sense of criticsm having a history' - Professor Rachel Bowlby, University of York 'The series looks really excellent - attractively produced, user friendly; and outstanding value for money' - Ronald Knowles, Reader, University of Reading I continue to find the Readers' Guides indispensable for teaching - they really give students a sense of criticsm having a history' - Professor Rachel Bowlby, University of York. 'The series looks really excellent - attractively produced, user friendly; and outstanding value for money' - Ronald Knowles, Reader, University of Reading.
Reviews
"If you are of my age 25+, and have not read the book, I would say give it a chance because it's not bad."
"A sentiment clearly shared by other writer's of his time across a spectrum ranging from despair (Ray Bradbury, Farenheit 451) to hope (Tolkein, Lord of the Rings; CS Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia)."
"If you ever wonder how your revolution can be hijacked by those in the background, Animal Farm is the book for you!"
"This book must be read by those - at leaset i Europe - who tries to rehabilitate one off the worlds most insane and malicious gangsters mister Joseph Stalin."
"One of my favorite books."
"It shows how a revolution, started with good intentions, can turn into a vehicle of corruption and totalitarianism."
"Both of these are topical and relevant as much, if not more, today than when written."
"Orwell's "Animal Farm" is one of those we probably should reread every 10 years or so--even when our English teacher has not assigned it."
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Battlefield Earth: Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi and New York Times Bestseller
In the year A.D. 3000, Earth is a dystopian wasteland, plundered of its natural resources by alien conquerors known as Psychlos. Read the novel that changed the shape of science fiction * Over 4,000,000 copies sold * Translated in 25 languages * 21st Century edition with expanded content: author's never-before-published handwritten notes & an exclusive author interview An engaging read for STEM learning The imaginative diversity of the novel's characters and alien races, its military artifacts and striking technologies and mathematics make it the perfect motivation for STEM learning. Accelerated Reader level 5.8, students earn 62 points Lexile 780 Discussion guide available for book clubs and educators. I found Battlefield Earth un-put-downable.” —Neil Gaiman. Ron Hubbard was one of the central figures in the creation of science fiction and Battlefield Earth was at the center of his own work.” —Eric Flint. “Battlefield Earth is more than pure Science Fiction, its pure gold.” —Barnes and Noble.
Reviews
"This edition has cut out and moved around many of what I consider important parts to the flow and telling of the story."
"If I had time I'd read it more often."
"Not at all like the movie (thought the movie only covers the first section of the book)."
"I'd recommend this book to anyone that loves a good science fiction story!"
"I reread this (listened to the audiobook)."
"I found it rather entertaining years ago when I first read it, and did so again recently with audio narrative."
"I read this book about 25 years ago and thought it was great.. Just finished reading it again and was not nearly as impressed."
"It was a very fat paperback sitting on a rack near the checkout stand at the grocery store. It had a guy with no shirt on the front, and he was firing two "ray gun" looking pistols. A few years later, I got the book on audio tape, narrated by Roddy McDowall. We had it running for like two days straight while we wandered about the house, but converging on the living room when really exciting stuff was happening."
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A Scanner Darkly
The only problem is that Bob and Fred are the same person. The antihero Bob Arctor is forced by his double life into warring double personalities: as futuristic narcotics agent "Fred," face blurred by a high-tech scrambler, he must spy on and entrap suspected drug dealer Bob Arctor. Giamatti is an inspired choice, managing to capture both the touching charm and the irritating obsessiveness of Dick's leading characters in a slightly futuristic version of Los Angeles: a drug addict named Bob and a narcotics cop called Fred—who might just be the same person, especially since they're both addicted to a drug called Substance D, which gradually splits the user's brain into two warring entities.
Reviews
"This is a great book."
"Partly, it is dated, but the writing is very current feeling, so when you run into a reference to something that happened in 2010 or 2012 you have a moment of confusion where you need to remove yourself from the immersion and remember it is a story written many years ago, when 2012 was a hypothetical future."
"He has a way of painting an accessible story out of deeply personal and disturbed material, so that those of us who haven't explored the dark side ourselves can see a glimpse of it and understand our brothers a little better."
"A world of burn outs who can't remember one moment from the next - an eternal fresh encounter."
"Although not my favorite Dick's book, this is the one that drew me in the story the most."
"Amazing book, definitely worth a read if you're into sci-fi."
"Surprisingly, unlike most movie adaptations to Dick's books, the movie with Keanu Reeves followed pretty closely."
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Best Fantasy

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley. Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. After 11 years of disregard and neglect at the hands of his aunt, uncle and their swinish son Dudley, Harry suddenly receives a visit from a giant named Hagrid, who informs Harry that his mother and father were a witch and a wizard, and that he is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry himself.
Reviews
"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
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