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Limal's avatar
Limal

I think "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne is an excellent puck! Crazy to think it was written 154 years ago. The technological concepts described in the book, such as an electrically powered submarine, were incredibly forward-thinking for the 19th century. Verne's imagination inspired many real-world inventions and advancements. For instance, his electric submarine predated the first practical electric bulb light by nine years!

The storyline itself is also remarkable combining: action, mystery, drama, and humour in a perfectly balanced narrative. Despite the current advances in technology, like modern atomic submarines, the book remains relevant even in the 21st century. Verne's ability to blend scientific foresight with engaging storytelling (in other his books too!) ensures its lasting appeal, hence can be called ‘classic’.

FirestormGamingTeam's avatar
FirestormGamingTeam

Terry Brooks

The Sword Of Shannara - If you are not a book person but more of a TV sci-fi person then you have most likely seen the mini TV series of this book.

IMO, this book has stood the test of time because of how well the story has been written, whilst there are heroes within the book itself, it spans many centuries of the world itself with the heroes becoming heroes quite by accident. We have the main druids who "sleep" for centuries at a time and so on.

The characters in this book, are diverse, they are incredibly well written and generally speaking, I think it's an amazing book series that was also published into one book!

JB
Josh B

The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

An expertly written and graphically depicted book that has definitely withstood the test of time, with numerous adaptations of the story in written and theatrical format released since (Hunger Games and Battle Royal to name just a couple).

Without too many spoilers for anyone who doesn't know it, the story follows a group of boys who survive a plane crash, landing on a deserted island.

The story really highlights how society can crumble without rules and order and how people can change from normal characters to predatory, violent beings without such rules in place to help life. There is evil in all of us and it can be unlocked in the right situations.

The best of it's kind in exploring human character and absolutely worth a read!

S
SpecialEffectLiam

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

I am going to specifically recommend the first one given that it’s one of the most important sci-fi, comedy novels of all time. I won’t be the only person who will recommend this, given that it is a sci-fi, I’m not 100% sure it will qualify but it’s definitely a classic and one of the best books of all time. The rest of the books in the series are brilliant as they’re all so completely different, up until the last one which you can tell wasn’t written by Douglas Adam’s as it doesn’t have his bats**t, irreverent tone.

Incredible book

Rich's avatar
RichStaff
SpecialEffectLiam

Fantastic book. Great choice!

Sturmer's avatar
Sturmer

When discussing the 'best' classic novels, we must acknowledge that determining the best requires a complex evaluation system, likely beyond the scope of this discussion. Therefore, I'll define 'best' from a personal perspective.

One of my top picks is Walter Scott's "Quentin Durward". This novel holds a special place for me as it was the first book that taught me various skills. Transitioning from children's books, it introduced me to a completely different world - lengthy, often tedious descriptions, complex emotions and motivations, numerous characters, varied locations, and mixed storytelling that required memory to navigate. At the age of 8, I almost gave up several times but persevered on my own accord. It wasn’t a school assignment; it was my decision, and I faced the consequences fully. As I write this, I realize how significantly the book influenced me, teaching me the concept of 'getting things done'.

M
Marcus

Of Mice and Men

I consider one of the best classic novels to be 1937’s “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. The story follows two field workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, who are trying to find work during the Great Depression to earn enough money to buy their own ranch.

Despite the book having a melancholic, cynical, and tragic tone, Of Mice and Men’s main themes focus on friendship, companionship, and loneliness, as we see how the characters interact with each other such as George and Lennie’s friendship, despite how much trouble and grief Lennie’s imbecilic behaviour has caused them, George cannot fully bring himself to abandon Lennie as he needs the companionship. Another example is Curly’s Wife, despite Steinbeck portraying her and saying she’s “not a person, she’s a symbol. She has no function, except being a foil and danger to Lennie”. You can tell that her marriage to Curly is a strained one, and she has no one to talk to.

Another key theme of the book (probably its most important one) is dreams. It’s George and Lennie’s dream to own their own ranch, that keeps pushing them forward despite these troubling times. George and Lennie’s dream inspires Candy and Crookd to help them achieve it regardless of his old age and cynical attitude. There is also the focus on broken dreams, which is fitting as the story takes place during the Great Depression when finding work was near impossible. Curly’s Wife wanted to be an actress but after that didn’t pan out, she married Curley. The most tragic example of a broken dream in Of Mice and Men is after George is forced to kill Lennie, he realises their dream was unlikely to happen at all, even if Lennie was still alive.

M
Maskedgambit

For me, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson is one of the best pieces of fiction ever written. As a pure dystopian horror story, it’s inciting event is believable, and its hero is entirely empathetic.

I Am Legend creates a world that is remarkably easy to slot yourself into and set off your imagination wondering ‘how would I cope?’.

The way loneliness is portrayed is harrowingly real, while the story beats of finding companionship, first through a furry friend and then through another being, are written so perfectly that we feel every emotion that our protagonist goes through.

it’s ending, I believe, is rather ambiguous but sets up so many unanswered questions that allow the reader to make their own endings, and it’s each individuals interpretation of the world and the story that will determine whether they come out with a positive or negative view on the future.

I Am Legend is an un-adaptable piece of fiction, too, as the pure emotion it illicits can only be achieved by written word in collaboration with a readers imagination. (The Hollywood attempt further proved this)

Makster's avatar
Makster

Animal Farm (1945)
When you think Orwell, you will think 1984 but I think Animal Farm is by far a better examination of the human condition, society, and politics that is applicable today.

I love the elements of this book. Taking an innocent title like Animal Farm, having characters named Snowball, Old Major and Boxer makes you think that it is a novel for kids and the wimsy of animals trying to fight against a cruel farmer. Think Charlotte's Web or On the Farm.

Instead this imperfect societal structure becomes rapidly dystopian with the rise of Napoleon. Taking cues from history and not-so-subtle political commentary, it becomes more like a Aesop fable and Greek tragedy with a small light of optimism at the end of some iterations.

If you removed the animal nature from this adaptation then it'd be a very dark and horrific story of caution but through the eyes of animals, it is separated enough you can share the story with younger readers allowing them to start to form their own thoughts and opinions on how the farm i.e. world should be run

Boomer's avatar
Boomer
Makster

I still get sad thinking about poor old Boxer 😭

R
Remi

Moby Dick By Herman Melville

“They call me Ishmael” We’ve seen some movies where this is a line often read.

 I remember reading this as a child. Watching the obsession of Captain’s Ahab’s drive to kill the whale. Showing us the dangers of relentlessly driving out after the madness of things which overtakes us in our pursuit of living. The obsession, the madness, what we are willing to give up in striving to go after something we are so stuck on.

 

The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum

“There’s no place like home”

This will forever be a childhood classic of mine. From childhood thoughts of being able to not think there is a greater place than home.

To the grown-up ideas of the world itself from this novel. Of being able to find the strength, courage, and love within us. It’s always there, you just have to look pretty deep and never give up on yourself.

Some have even gone as far as saying there is representation of the government, farmers, little people, Indians.

All in which there is no wrong answer.

 

Little Women by Lousia May Alcott

“Love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go.”

Another near and dear one to my heart. This has always been a favorite of mine. Watching the family grow up and chase after their hopes and dreams to what they want in their life during the hardships during the Civil War era. It was my hopes and dreams that the family I was born with we could have had relationships like this. Though I found it in the most unexpected places, in the people I call my family.

Georgina_Herdman's avatar
Georgina_Herdman

I think the best Classic novel that was before its time and yet had remained an OG classic through the years has to be Bram Stokers - Dracula. Not only is this story to thank for the cultural impact of every Vampire book/show/movie that has been created from the template of Bram Stokers original Fiction, but also this story was mostly responsible for creating an iconic era of Victorian Gothic. Dracula is the height of classical horror, inspired by a very real Transylvanian ruthless ruler Vlad ‘the impaler’ Tepes (Dracul).

Given the fact that you won’t likely find anyone that doesn’t know of the infamous Vampire Dracula speaks for itself that this piece of Classic Fiction written in 1897 impacted the century that we live in, giving people across the globe chills even in the 21st century this iconic Victorian novel is one that will continue to inspire culture far into the future.

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