What Makes Great Science Fiction?

cheesethegreat writes "Have you ever noticed how everyone breaks down into a near-religious frenzy when the topic of the "best" science fiction universe comes up? Everyone has a favorite universe, be it the Foundation Series by Asimov, or the classic Star Wars trilogy. So tell Slashdot what your favorite is, and what the most important part of a science fiction universe is to you."

Comments

not Asimov

[frovingslosh]

I don't really read enough si-fi to comment on a best author, for me it might be Larry Niven or Paul Hogan. What makes it good for me? An interesting story and good plot twists naturally come to mind, but just as important is an author who doesn't preach and doesn't write down to me. I couldn't believe that The Foundation series by Asimov was listed as a canidate for a favorite, the man couldn't resist sending clue after clue about what was going to happen to the point where reading it became painful, and then, when he sprang his big "plot twist" on you had the nerve to further insult your inteligence by explaining all of the clues. Clearly he thought he was writing for morons; I did too and never read him again.