With a total of 5,579 votes cast (a maximum of 10 per reader) for the 103 novels nominated, the best Science-fiction novel of all time as selected by the readers of GeekDad is (drum roll…)
DUNE by Frank Herbert
Although the tale of giant sand worms and life giving spice took first place, it was an incredibly tight race. There was a tie for second place and it was almost a 3 way tie for first place with only a 3 vote margin separating Dune, Ender’s Game, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy! The winners are:
Dune by Frank Herbert
TIE: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
TIE: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Foundation by Isaac Asimov
1984 by George Orwell
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Neuromancer by William Gibson
Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
Ringworld by Larry Niven
Interesting to note: both Cold Allies by Patricia Anthony and Light by M John Harrison didn’t get any votes.
Here are the full results: