William Gibson, generally credited as one of the progenitors of the cyberpunk genre of sci fi (Neuromancer being one of the seminal novels in the genre), has given New York Magazine a list of his favorite science fiction novels:
Tiger! Tiger! (1956)
By Alfred BesterIt’s also known as The Stars My Destination. My favorite literary expression of mid-century Manhattan, and I doubt I’d have written without having read it.
Dhalgren (1975)
By Samuel R. DelanyIt won’t work unless you can allow it to become your head for a few weeks; it helps if you’re rather young. Closest thing I know to a great “sixties” novel.
Arslan (1976)
By M. J. EnghA very different sort of alien invasion: America as Earth. One of the best works of science fiction you probably haven’t heard of.
The Crystal World (1966)
By J. G. BallardIt’s hard to pick just one Ballard, but you could certainly start with this.
The Forever War (1974)
By Joe Haldeman
The most adult and intelligent novel of military science fiction.
Pavane (1968)
By Keith RobertsThe Roman Catholic Church still rules England in 1968, Protestantism having been destroyed in the wake of the 1588 assassination of Queen Elizabeth…
[continues in New York Magazine]
