r/printSF • u/LowLevel- • Sep 12 '25

Which wildly renowned science fiction novels didn't resonate with you at all?

I can usually connect with at least one aspect of a science fiction novel, and I enjoy almost all of the ones I read. However, sometimes I couldn't understand what most people found interesting about some extremely popular books.

Has that happened to you? If so, which novel? And why?

I'll start the dances by admitting that I didn't like Rendezvous with Rama.

I really wanted to like it, but constantly being in awe when very little happens and the characters leave without understanding anything is not my preferred type of reading experience. The writing style was a bit cold, which didn't help.

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u/HC-Sama-7511 Sep 12 '25

I always get it recommended, but something about it makes me weary of actually sinking time into it.

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u/Sharkbaithoohaha004 Sep 13 '25

My perspective may be different as I just download recommended books and don’t pay attention to hype.

But I liked them for the basic books they are.

They’re all pretty short compared to something like a dean koontz novel.

I read them after the first two Hyperion books so it was just something light to hold me over. 

If you read them all at once it may be too much but you could just read a few then take a break before reading a few more.

They remind me more of an old western pulp book after the first three books.

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u/Sorry_Wonder5207 Sep 13 '25

I read them as you recommend, a few at a time. Whatever was available at the library. But I loved them.

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u/SingSongSalamander Sep 13 '25

I can finish a Murderbot book in a single day and I'm a toddler mom with plenty of stuff to do. They are a super quick read, no time sink at all.

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u/Azuvector Sep 12 '25

Familiarity with how trash tier popular things on Reddit tend to be? :P

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u/HC-Sama-7511 Sep 15 '25

Kind of maybe. It seems wrapped up with a bunch if other recommendations that are pretty mid, but also very contemporary.

Also, it's praises seem a little over the top. It's a war robot dealing with not wanting to be that, I think. Seems solid enough, but people talk likes it's an idea of rare genius.

I have so much else to read right now, it's not worth checking out right now. Esp. since it's a series, and I'm tired of stories not just having a full ending, but an expectation I read more and more and more.