Ask YC: What's the most inspiring sci-fi book you've read?

+1 for Dune (my favorite in the series is the 5th book - Heretics).

i highly recommend Dune.

Dune,

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Technically, it's sci-fi.

Snowcrash...

I'll also second Snowcrash as a must-read.

His Snow Crash novel is an absolute must read in a cyberpunk genre.

Snow Crash,

Cryptonomicon: Inspired most of the work on endergen(See Ender's Game Above). Introduced me to the concepts of privacy/security implemented in technical form and the conflict between the two.

Same with Cryptonomicon.

i can't narrow this down to one. some of these are already named: Cryptonomicon,

No hacker site would be complete without mention of Cryptonomicon.

HHGTTG: Insipired me to keep the relative unimportance of most things in perspective

how has no one mentioned Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?! It's a great book with a surprising amount of actual theoretical science

Ender's Game: Inspired my company: www.endergen.com.

"Ender's Game" and "Stranger in a Stranger Land" are among my top 5

Highly recommended if you haven't read it. It's too bad the sequels aren't nearly as good.

Ender's Game, because of the age at which I read it.

Ender's Game/Shadow,

Neuromancer a close second.

Neuromancer by William Gibson, though it might not be inspiring, is a must-read; it's practically internet heritage!

Asimov's First Foundation book.

Foundation series by Asimov

I'm a fan of The Diamond Age, myself. I found it inspirational

Second Egan, for 'Permutation City'

Permutation city (or any of the Egan's short stories such as 'Closer') is probably the one of the most intense mind blowing experiences I ever had (at least regarding books)

Reading Permutation City left me in a dazzled state for days because of the sheer number of reality-altering concepts it throws at you in such a short span.

i like heinlein's "moon is a harsh mistress"

Anthem Brave New World I love dystopias

It was not the most inspiring, but definitely it was the most interesting.