The article identifies ten highly influential science-fiction novels that it argues became models for later writers and subgenres.

– ‘Snow Crash’ is credited with popularising ideas such as the “Metaverse” and virtual avatars.
– ‘The Forever War’ is presented as a defining, critical work of military science fiction.
– ‘Rendezvous With Rama’ is described as foundational to “Big Dumb Object” fiction.
– The article also cites ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’ as helping define science fiction itself.