The Top 10 Science Fiction Novels of the Eighties
In August 2023 I wrote up a post about my top 10 science fiction novels of the Seventies. None of my readers reacted violently to my list; indeed, some found the selections to have merit (!?). So, here I am with my top 10 science fiction novels of the Eighties.
As is the case with my Seventies selections, for the Eighties, I am showcasing novels that might not be foremost in mind as compared to those that won Hugo or Nebula awards, or were bestsellers (such as was the case with 'The Fountains of Paradise' or 'The Robots of Dawn.')
I do include trilogies, which I collectively count as one selection.
These aren't presented in any particular order, but simply represent a 'Top 10' compendium of 5-Star novels.
Here we go:
Slow Fall to Dawn, by Stephen Leigh (1981): this is the first volume in the 'Neweden' trilogy. On the eponymous backwater planet, society is governed by myriad guilds. To eliminate the untoward effects of crime and war, the ruling council demands that disputes between parties be settled by hiring contract killers from the guild of the assassins. The novels follow the adventures of Gyll the Thane, the leader of the assassin's guild, and a man with ambitions of expanding his operations into the Federation. The Neweden novels have a lyrical, Vance-ian flavor that I found appealing, and enough plot turns and twists to sustain interest over the span of three volumes.
West of Eden, by Harry Harrison (1984): on an alternate Earth, the comet that killed the dinosaurs never strikes, and as a result, the Age of Reptiles proceeds, in due course giving rise to a race of bipedal, talking lizards whose skills in bioengineering enable them to rule the tropical regions of the planet. In the temperate latitudes, populations of Cro-Magnons eke out a precarious existence. When one of their number, a young man named Kerrick, is captured and reared by the lizards, he gains insights into the biology of the reptiles, knowledge that can be used to resist their rule. Harrison is a veteran author and he demonstrates this in 'West of Eden,' deploying a smooth prose style that makes all three volumes engaging reads.
Jitterbug, by Mike McQuay (1984): this novel is burdened with one of the more unfortunate cover illustrations imposed on an eighties sci-fi book, which is too bad, because the contents are much better than the cover would indicate. ‘Jitterbug’ is set in a near-future USA under the rule of Saudi Arabia and Islam. Outside the walled environs of New Orleans, people terminally infected with a modified herpesvirus roam the depopulated countryside, interacting with outcasts and criminals. A young and ambitious outcast named Olsen strives to join the corporate elites secluded within the city. 'Jitterbug' combines sarcastic humor with revealing observations of Islam and Arab culture that, at the time, were rare in the genre of science fiction.
Protectorate, by Mick Farren (1985): the Eighties saw some pretty good alien invasion novels, such as 'Footfall,' by Niven and Pournelle (1985). But I think this novel by Mick Farren is a little bit better than 'Footfall.'
In 'Protectorate,' Earth has been conquered by a race of insectoid aliens known as the Wasps. Capable of summarily killing any human who displays ill-intentions towards them, the Wasps seemingly are omnipotent, and most of the surviving members of humanity are content to hustle amid the ruins of their vanquished civilization. But then a young man named Gwynn arrives on the scene…..a man with the power to defy the Wasps ! Farren avoids making ‘Protectorate’ a simplistic novel about heroic earthlings rising up against their alien oppressors, and deploys regular episodes of violence and mordant humor to give the book an offbeat, cynical sensibility.
Starhammer, by Christopher Rowley (1986): this is the first entry in the ‘Vang’ trilogy. The novel is set in the far future, when Earth is subservient to a race of blue-skinned aliens known as the laowon. Protagonist Jon Iehard is a detective assigned to ferret out and eliminate humans who resist loawon rule. One such resistor is Eblis Bey, an elderly man who seeks the long-lost planet Baraf, where, it is rumored, lies the Starhammer: a weapon of unimaginable power that can free humanity from the thumb of the laowon. But what Jon Iehard doesn’t realize is that the Starhammer was created to counter a weapon of even greater lethality….the Vang trilogy is great space opera, tinged with horror and dark humor.
Count Zero, by William Gibson (1986): this quasi-sequel to ‘Neuromancer’ delivers the cyberpunk experience, but has a more accessible prose style and more straightforward plotting than its predecessor. The cast of characters is just as interesting as those populating ‘Neuromancer,’ and Gibson’s descriptions of near-future fashion, tech, and sociocultural tropes remain engaging despite the passage of nearly 40 years.
Shining Steel, by Lawrence Watt-Evans (1986): On the planet Godsworld, Christian fundamentalists engage in violent conflicts over petty issues of doctrine. John Mercy-of-Christ, the military commander of the True Word and Flesh sect, prepares to become the dictator of Godsworld. But then comes disturbing news: a task force of offworlders have taken an interest in the planet, and they have weapons that easily can crush the forces of the True Word and Flesh. Gifted with a plot that avoids the predictable, ‘Shining Steel’ provides a treatment of the conflict between Religion and Science that is more imaginative, and nuanced, than most.
Through Darkest America, by Neal Barrett Jr. (1986): This novel (and its sequel, 'Dawn's Uncertain Light,' 1989), takes place in the U.S. several centuries after World War Three has left society at a level equivalent to that of the mid- 19th century. Howie Ryder is a young man growing up on a prosperous farm in the southeastern region of the country. When his family defies the heavy hand of the government, Howie finds himself the subject of a manhunt, and flees west to seek safety in the wastelands. One part The Outlaw Josey Wales, one part Leigh Brackett's classic novel 'The Long Tomorrow,' and one part splatterpunk, 'Darkest America' is fast-moving and suspenseful.
The Return, by Richard Maynard (1988): this novel first was printed in the UK under the title 'The Quiet Place.' The UK edition's cover art is more graphic and informative than the cover used in the American edition (where the novel was retitled 'The Return'). 'The Return' is infused with the pessimistic attitude prevailing in British science fiction. The plot revolves around a starship crew who return to Earth following a relativistic voyage into deep space. They are appalled to discover that Europe has reverted to barbarism, and a brutal fight for survival is waged as they seek to discover what, or whom, has brought about the downfall of civilization. 'The Return' brings something new, albeit downbeat, to the post-apocalypse genre, and deserves wider recognition.
Metrophage, by Richard Kadrey (1988): this cyberpunk novel is set early in the 21st century in a chaotic, partially destroyed Los Angeles. L.A. is divided into a mosaic of neighborhoods, some enjoying wealth and privilege, while others are stricken with poverty and lawlessness. The streets are peopled by various tribes comprised of techno-enthusiasts, scavengers, self-styled anarchists, and ethnic groups. The novel's hero is one Jonny Qabbala, a punk who earns a living running drugs for the Smuggler Lords. A plague of suspicious origin will devastate the low-income environs of the city.....unless Jonny can find a cure. Kadrey’s dialogue is well-written and melds nicely with a quirky cast of characters, whose adventures unfold in an L.A. that’s one part ‘Mad Max,’ and one part ‘Blade Runner.’
So there you have it, the Top 10 science fiction novels of the Eighties !
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