Who was <PERSON>?
<PERSON>, one of the most prominent writers of the New Wave of Science Fiction in the 1960's and 70's, was very good at making stories self-contained while still part of a larger whole. Known Space was his first, best series of tales, and all of the stories in it are reasonably self-contained.
While there are some story cycles within Known Space that are best read in order, the core Known Space tales can be easily read in whatever order you happen to come across them. They were written for publication in sci-fi magazines, after all. This allows a reader to discover <PERSON> series of Known Space books in an order that will maximize enjoyment while letting the reader bail early if they don't enjoy <PERSON>'s unique style.
This order is definitely not a chronological one, and it isn't at all the order in which the stories were written. While there's something to be said for seeing a writer's style evolve over time, some of <PERSON>'s early stories are tough reads, peppered with cardboard characters and simplistic plots. <PERSON> became a much better writer as he went along. But all is not lost! Those earlier stories are more enjoyable when you have the "easier" reads under your belt, and can enjoy the cohesive tapestry of Known Space.
What is "Known Space" and why should I read it?
The "Known Space" cycle actually started as two series. <PERSON> only later bridged the two stories, and we now have a future history that includes an oppressive, politically-correct Earth colonizing the stars with slower-than-light ramscoops, and also a more cosmopolitan Known Space, made possible by easy travel between the stars.
The two periods are divided by a period of bloody war with the alien Kzinti. This was ended when a human colony purchased the hyperdrive from the secretive Outsiders, a race of information brokers who nevertheless travel between the stars at sub-relativistic speeds. Humanity made alliances with other species, including the Kdatlyno, the Trinocs, and even their former enemies the Kzinti. Most notable is the uneasy relationship humanity had with the alien Puppeteers and their powerful interstellar company General Products.
While it's easy to find fault with <PERSON>'s writing (his characters aren't the best, dialog is predictable, the sociology is a bit too pat) he was a master at creating memorable alien races and societies. He regularly introduced mind-bending twists and turns to his fiction, and set it all in fascinatingly strange corners of the universe. 663
His work from the 60's and 70's remains among my favorite science-fiction stories of all time.
1. "Neutron Star" (story collection)
I came across the story "Neutron Star" in a collection of tales put together by the late <PERSON>. "Where Do We Go From Here" used science-fiction as a springboard for asking science questions. The good Doctor used this seminal <PERSON> tale as an example of good astronomical science.
This collection of stories, now out of print, is the prefect introduction to <PERSON> "Known Space" tales. The book has some of <PERSON>'s best short fiction, and along the way we learn about several important Known Space worlds and races. There isn't a single bad story in this book. If you don't like any of these, you can safely give up on <PERSON> right now.
* "Neutron Star"
The title story (and three others in this book) introduces the character <PERSON>. This, along with "At the Core", "Flatlander", and "Grendel" are some of my favorites.
* "A Relic of the Empire", "The Soft Weapon", "The Handicapped"
In these stories, we learn about the slavers, who ran the galaxy millenia before humanity appeared. "The Soft Weapon" was later adapted by <PERSON> into an episode of the animated Star Trek series.
* "The Ethics of Madness"
This is the only story here that dips into the early history of Earth before the invention of the hyperdrive. A bit long and not as breezy as the other tales, it nevertheless is worthwhile and has a great ending.
Note: This collection, while out of print, can be fairly easily found in used bookstores or read on Kindle. While the later collection "Crashlander" includes these stories and more, I don't recommend it. "Crashlander" is saddled with a weak framing story and has inferior pacing to "Neutron Star".
2. "Tales of Known Space" (story collection)
This collection is the centerpiece of all Known Space stories. 837