There are some authors who come to be known for a single work. Ask someone to name a book by Isaac Asimov, and they’ll probably say Foundation. Rightly so, as it’s a significant and influential book. I wouldn’t be surprised if they mentioned I, Robot or perhaps The Bicentennial Man, which are both well-known and highly regarded. I would, however, find it rather more surprising if that person’s response was Nemesis. Not because it’s a bad book (I actually rather like it) but because it’s one that frequently slips through the cracks. This omission has nothing to do with quality, but simply the fact that famous works cast a long shadow. Conversely, there are authors who write so broadly that their names are better known than any single work.

Recently, I’ve been diving into the Audible Plus catalogue, and it’s thrown up some books that are, at least to my mind, slightly obscure. There’s a good chance you’ll recognise the authors, but perhaps not the books. I think it’s high time someone sheds some light on these overshadowed works of science fiction.

Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! by Poul Anderson & Gordon R. Dickson

Gordon R. Dickson is perhaps best known for his Dorsai series of space operas, while the equally prolific Anderson secured a place on the Gollancz Masterworks list with Tau Zero. Early in their careers, they collaborated on a series of short stories about teddy-bear like aliens called Hokas. Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! gathers most of these stories in a single volume. Each story offered a comedic take on a different genre – western, space opera, romantic comedy, and so forth – starring the cuddly creatures. Unfortunately, these stories are universally dreadful. You can tell fun was had while writing them, but listening to them is pure tedium. Overlooked, yes, but perhaps with good cause.

Time’s Eye, by Arthur C. Clarke & Stephen Baxter

Stephen Baxter is a personal favourite of mine, best known for his Xeelee universe. Arthur C. Clarke, meanwhile, is one of the all-time greats of science fiction, with legendary books such as The Fountains of Paradise and 2001: A Space Odyssey to his name. I believe I am right in seeing that Clarke conceived this novel, but due to ill-health, it was Baxter who did the majority of the writing. The scope of this one is immense, with the characters plucked out of time and thrown into a stitched-together world. There are various storylines, all culminating in a great battle between Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan, aided by UN peacekeepers, cosmonauts, early hominids, and Rudyard Kipling. Though it’s directionless for a large part of its narrative, the writing is strong, and it’s easily my favourite book to have Clarke’s name on the cover.

Destination: Void, by Frank Herbert

Frank Herbert’s Dune is on of the most famous science fiction novels of all time. What people might not know is that he wrote another book only a year later. That book is Destination: Void, which also kicks off a series of linked novels. Though it’s a very different story, featuring a ship of clones on a mission of colonisation, all the hallmarks of Herbert’s writing are there. crucially, the characters here are largely mouthpieces for Herbert to explore different philosophical arguments. As such, the book is largely dialogue-driven. The descriptive sections and overall plot don’t hold up as well, but it’s still a strong book. Though largely forgotten compared to Herbert’s other work, I would happily put Destination: Void on the same level as Dune.

The Last Man, by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein‘s reputation is so large that Mary Shelley is often erroneously labelled the ‘mother of science fiction.’ What a lot of people don’t about is her second speculative novel The Last Man. Ostensibly, this is a tale of an apocalyptic plague and the few who survive, as well as the changing cultures of the twenty-first century. Unfortunately, Shelley used most of the novel to eulogise her friends and family through thinly-veiled and poorly realised characters. Even worse, her vision of the future is largely a blow-by-blow repeat of events during her own lifetime. Thus we have a Byron-like character fighting in a war between the Greeks and the Turks. Shelley’s affection for her friends is clear, but utterly drowns out the rest of the story. An utter travesty of a novel that is too long by far, this is one classic that’s best left forgotten.

So there you have it. Even the most famous authors in the world have works that are overlooked. Sometimes with good reason, but sometimes there are hidden gems. If you’ve already read the great works of the genre (and even if you haven’t) I’d encourage you all to seek out their lesser-known contemporaries. You might just be in for a treat.