Modern science fiction can be seen as the true mythology of our age. Barely a genre a century ago, it has flourished and diversified to embody our hopes and fears as a technological civilization. At its best, true science fiction can symbolize the perils and promises wrought by our technological adolescence. What follows is a list of 10 essential science fiction works, some well-worn classics with a few undiscovered gems thrown in. This list is by no means all inclusive of the thousands of fine science fiction tales out there, and is only representative of definitive works of hard science fiction that make a pivotal statement, sparked a sub-genre, and/or bothered to get the science right along the way.
