Popular science fiction books in the 1960s.

'Contact' by Carl Sagan was also very popular. It was a thought - provoking story about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. The movie adaptation also helped to boost its popularity. It delved into scientific concepts as well as human emotions when faced with the possibility of first contact.

Well, '2001: A Space Odyssey' was already quite well - known from the movie, but the book was also very popular among science fiction fans in the 1980s. Its exploration of human - machine interaction and the mystery of the monoliths was fascinating. 'The Uplift War' was also popular as it had a great mix of adventure, politics, and alien species with their own unique cultures and motives.

Arthur C. Clarke was a very popular author of 1960s science fiction. He is famous for '2001: A Space Odyssey'. His works often dealt with space exploration and the future of humanity. Robert A. Heinlein was also popular during this time. His book 'Stranger in a Strange Land' was widely read. Ursula K. Le Guin emerged as a significant voice with her works like 'The Left Hand of Darkness' which explored new ideas in science fiction.

Some popular 1980s science fiction books include 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card. It tells the story of a young boy, Ender, trained in a military school for a future war against an alien race. Another is 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson. It's a cyberpunk classic that explores a world of high - tech and low - life in a future dominated by corporations.

One popular 50s science fiction book is 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury. It presents a dystopian future where books are burned. Another is 'The Day of the Triffids' by John Wyndham, which features strange and dangerous plants. Also, 'I, Robot' by Isaac Asimov is well - known, exploring the relationship between humans and robots.

One popular 1940's science fiction book is 'Slan' by A.E. van Vogt. It features a race of super - intelligent beings called Slans.

Among the popular 1960s science fiction books, 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' has a cult following. It's praised for its exploration of religion and knowledge in a post - apocalyptic setting. 'Rogue Moon' was well - received for its exciting and dangerous alien - related plot. 'The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress' was popular for its portrayal of a lunar colony and the struggle for freedom there.

Some great 70's science fiction books include 'A Scanner Darkly' by Philip K. Dick. It has a very unique and somewhat psychedelic take on a future society with drug use and surveillance. 'The Forever War' by Joe Haldeman is another one. It's a military science fiction that also reflects on the nature of war and how it changes people. And then there's 'Tau Zero' by Poul Anderson which is about a spaceship that is unable to stop accelerating and the consequences that follow.

I think 'Dune' was very popular in the 1970s. Its detailed world - building and complex characters made it stand out. It has since become a huge franchise.

One popular 1990s science fiction book is 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson. It combines cyberpunk elements with a post - apocalyptic setting. Another is 'Contact' by Carl Sagan, which delves into the idea of first contact with extraterrestrial life. And 'The Diamond Age' by Neal Stephenson as well, exploring a future world of nanotechnology and social hierarchies.