Whether you’re a scientist, a space enthusiast, or a plain old geek, you very well know how amazing the world of science fiction is. From wise Jedi to nefarious aliens, these fictional characters have shaped our popular culture in many ways. Be it movies or books, science fiction has always filled our minds with space-invasion dreams, and yes, a fear of being invaded.

While we've already written a lot about the best science-fiction or even geeky movies out there, we haven’t touched upon one of the most popular and powerful medium of storytelling, that is books. For centuries, this genre has been putting people in distant galaxies without giving up the comfort of their living rooms.

The sheer pleasure of perusing a good science fiction book is something that cannot be described; hence, instead of blabbering on about the awesomeness of this genre, we've compiled a list of some of the best science fiction books out there.

If you've had to sit through the shrill screams of Dakota Fanning, you’ll realize that War Of The Worlds is a book that is thousand times better than the movie. Written in 1868, the classic is a first-person narrative of an unknown protagonist’s adventures in London as Martians invade the Earth. In this ‘scientific romance’ masterpiece, the author struggles to return to his wife as the Martians ravage London. Instantly a classic, the book was so well written that when the legendary Orsen Welles read it out on radio, many people panicked thinking all of it was real.

Hari Seldon, a brilliant mathematician spends his life developing a branch of mathematics called psychohistory, which, thanks to the laws of mass action, can predict the future on large scale. Using this new invention, Seldon predicts the imminent fall of the Galactic Empire, which encompasses the entire Milky Way, and a dark age lasting thirty thousand years before a second great empire arises. Seldon's psychohistory also foresees an alternative where the intermittent period will last only one thousand years. To ensure his vision of a second great Empire comes to fruition, Seldon creates two Foundations—small, secluded havens of all human knowledge—at "opposite ends of the galaxy".

The series revolves mainly around the First Foundation and it attempts to overcome various obstacles during the formation and installation of the Second Empire, all the while being silently guided by the unknown specifics of The Seldon Plan.

Winner of Hugo Award for best all-time series, Foundation is one of the most profound yet entertaining science fiction novels of all time.

The science fiction comedy series by Douglas Adams has a sort of a cult following. A Hitchhiker's fan breaks out into a subtle smile every time he or she sees the number 42, for they know that it’s the answer to everything. This tome of a book contains six zany, out-of-this-world adventure stories by this incomparable novelist. From the very first to the very latest this collection includes The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe and Everything, So Long and Thanks for all the Fish; Young Zaphod Plays it Safe; and Mostly Harmless.

1984 presents to us a technologically advanced world where fear is used for manipulating and controlling individuals who do not conform to the political orthodoxy. Orwell, eloquent as ever, paints a chilling picture of dystopian world thrown into decadence by a failed search for utopia.

A classic novel in content, plot, and style, many of its terms and concepts, such as Big Brother, doublethink, thoughtcrime, Newspeak, and memory hole, have become contemporary vernacular since its publication in 1949. Moreover, Nineteen Eighty-Four popularized the adjective Orwellian, which refers to official deception, secret surveillance, and manipulation of the past in service to a totalitarian or manipulative political agenda.

Many of those who have seen the Will Smith starrer haven’t yet read the book on which the movie was based. Basically a collection of nine science fiction short stories by Asimov, I,Robot chronicles the experiences of Dr. Susan Calvin, chief robopsychologist at U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc. It depicts a time in the future where humans have become excessively dependent on robots. The book is also known for the popular 3 laws of robotics:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Ever since we started this blog, we've talked about Linux at great length. We've provided tips, tutorials, hacks and even some spicy gossip from the magical Penguinland. While that may suffice your geek cravings, the information falls quite short if you're trying to learn about Linux in greater detail. For learning Linux, you'll need a deeper knowledge and understanding about the system and its functions. And what better way to learn Linux than by filling your shelf with some great books on the topic?

In this article, we'll be listing some of the best books about the operating system. Not only are they helpful for Linux geeks and hackers, they're also a great starting point for anyone who's always wanted to learn Linux. So, if you're a desktop neophyte or a coding ninja, here are some of the most highly recommended books about Linux:

If you want to take a no-fluff, only-the-good-bits approach towards learning Linux, then the Linux Pocket guide is the best place to start. Though not a comprehensive reference book, the little book does pack in a lot of material that you can reference any time you want. An essential book to own for Linux administrators, and for students who are studying for Linux-based certifications.

Currently in its fourth edition, this 1200-paged book covers everything you want to know about Linux and UNIX system administration. The book is divided into three parts, Basic Administration, Networking and Bunch o' Stuff. Basic Administration will give you a broad overview of UNIX and Linux from a system administrator's point of view. By the end of the section, you'll be able to administer your own computer.

Networking deals with all the protocols used on UNIX and Linux that help set up, extend and maintain networks and Internet-facing servers. The final section includes a lot of supplemental information like virtualization, Eco-friendly computing and more. To make sure you understand all the stuff perfectly, every chapter ends with a set of practice exercises. Simply put, the book is a must-have for anyone who wants to get into system administration.

While the aforesaid Linux Pocket Guide serves as a great reference tool, this next book helps you dig deeper into the operating system. Linux in a Nutshell is a book that covers almost everything about Linux. Written by four experienced authors from the Linux community, the 1000-paged tome includes a variety of topics that both novices and experts will find useful. Currently in its sixth edition, Linux in a Nutshell has been rated 4 and ½ out of 5 stars by Amazon users.

This book is a definitive guide to the Linux and UNIX programming interfaces. Written by Micheal Kerrisk, Linux Programming Interfaces gives a detailed insight into all the system calls and library functions that are needed to master the craft of system programming. The book is filled with examples, exercises, diagrams and detailed descriptions that will help you master the topic without any need for external help. Overall, an essential book for anyone who wants to get started on system programming.

The title of the book says it all. Written by Mark. G. Sobbell, the book explains how to work with the Linux operating system from the command line. Not only that, there are also detailed coverage of Mac OS's command line interface, which is an added bonus.

Unlike most of the aforementioned books, which dealt with more advanced topics, this book sticks to the basics and helps you take your first steps into the penguinland. Covering a vast array of basic topics, the book is divided into nine self-contained minibooks that makes the content much more organized and easy to scan through. Topics include system administration, security, programming, scripting, and of course, the very basics of Linux. Worth your every hard-earned penny if you're trying to use and understand Linux.

Written by award-winning author Kier Thomas, this Kindle-only book will make you a Ubuntu command-line ninja in no time. The book will teach you basic shell commands, syntax and some advanced techniques in a simple, easy-to-understand manner. Overall, the book proves to be a great way to get started with the command prompt.

Cited as the authoritative guide to the Linux command line, this book is the only book you'll need if you want to master shell scripting. Filled with real-world examples, the book isn't just for Linux pros; it's a book that even novices can pick up and enjoy reading. Written by experienced authors, Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible is a must-have book for anyone who's serious about taking up shell scripting.

Written by Kier Thomas, Andy Channelle, and Jamie Sicam, Beginning Ubuntu Linux is a great starting point for anyone who is curious about Ubuntu and its working. Being the number 1 distribution around, Ubuntu's importance cannot be overlooked. This book will take you from the very basics of Ubuntu to more advanced topics like shell scripting, user management and SSH networking. Overall, a great choice if you want to master the popular operating system.

Written by Brian Ward, How Linux Works gives you a deeper insight into the internals of the Linux system. Aimed at system administrators, this book teaches you how to deal with real-world issues that arise while administrating a Linux system. With coverage of vast array of topics -- from boot sequence to networking – How Linux Works is a great investment if you're a system administrator.

While organizing some of my ancient stuff, I saw this book that I have read during the 90’s that I wanted to share to my young readers for they might never heard about it. This very fascinating book is entitled, “The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage”.

Written by Clifford Stoll, a U.S. astronomer and computer expert, The Cuckoo's Egg tells about the author's true to life hunt for a computer hacker who broke into a Unix computer at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL). Markus Hess, a computer prodigy and particularly effective hacker, is a German KGB spy that used LBL to gather sensitive data from hundreds of U.S. military computers.

The story began when the Stoll’s supervisor asked him to resolve a USD$.75 accounting error in the computer usage accounts. He traced the error to an unauthorized user, and in the long run realized that the unauthorized user was a hacker who had acquired root access to the LBL system by exploiting a vulnerability in the movemail function of Richard Stallman's GNU Emacs.

I don’t want to add anymore details about the story because I might spoil the fun to those who are now planning to read this book. I can only assure those who are interested in the early days of computer hacking and international espionage will surely treasure The Cuckoo's Egg.

Highly Recommended Books on Python: Here is my own compilation of highly recommended books about Python programming language. They are classified according to user’s experience level so take your pick:

Learning Python
By: Mark Lutz

With this hands-on book, you can master the fundamentals of the core Python language quickly and efficiently, whether you're new to programming or just new to Python. Once you finish, you will know enough about the language to use it in any application domain you choose. Learning Python is based on material from author Mark Lutz's popular training courses, which he's taught over the past decade. Each chapter is a self-contained lesson that helps you thoroughly understand a key component of Python before you continue. Along with plenty of annotated examples, illustrations, and chapter summaries, every chapter also contains Brain Builder, a unique section with practical exercises and review quizzes that let you practice new skills and test your understanding as you go.


Python For Dummies
By: Stef Maruch, Aahz Maruch

Python For Dummies is the quick-and-easy guide to getting the most out of this robust program. This hands-on book will show you everything you need to know about building programs, debugging code, and simplifying development, as well as defining what actions it can perform. You’ll wrap yourself around all of its advanced features and become an expert Python user in no time.


Python
By: Chris Fehily

The quick and easy way to master Python for Internet and Intranet programming-- Visual, step-by-step guide to the popular Python programming language-- Cross -platform coverage for the Mac, Windows, and Unix environments-- Teaches techniques for cookies, session management, and integration with XML. Visual QuickStart Guide helps readers master the language with simple steps, screen shots, and clear explanations. With the foundation laid, the book brings the Python language to real-world usage in Web development and is suitable for beginning to intermediate users who want to join the Python revolution.



Intermediate:

Python Cookbook
By: Alex Martelli, David Ascher

The Python Cookbook is a collection of problems, solutions, and practical examples for Python programmers, written by Python programmers. Over the past year, members of the Python community have contributed material to an online repository of Python recipes hosted by ActiveState. This book contains the best of those recipes, accompanied by overviews and background material by key Python figures. The recipes highlight Python best practices and can be used directly in day-to-day programming tasks, as a source of ideas, or as a way to learn more about Python. The book contains a foreword by Guido van Rossum, the creator of Python.


Programming Python
By: Mark Lutz

Whether you're a novice or an advanced practitioner, you'll find this refreshed book more than lives up to its reputation. Programming Python, 3rd Edition, teaches you the right way to code. It explains Python language syntax and programming techniques in a clear and concise manner, with numerous examples that illustrate both correct usage and common idioms. By reading this comprehensive guide, you'll learn how to apply Python in real-world problem domains such as: GUI programming Internet scripting Parallel processing Database management Networked applications Programming Python. Along the way, you'll also learn how to use the Python language in realistically scaled programs--concepts such as Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and code reuse are recurring side themes throughout this text. If you're interested in Python programming, then this O'Reilly classic needs to be within arm's reach.


Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional
By: Magnus Lie Hetland

Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional is the most comprehensive book on the Python ever written. Based on Practical Python, this newly revised book is both an introduction and practical reference for a swath of Python-related programming topics, including addressing language internals, database integration, network programming, and web services. Advanced topics, such as extending Python and packaging/distributing Python applications, are also covered.



Advanced:

Dive Into Python
By: Mark Pilgrim

Whether you're an experienced programmer looking to get into Python or grizzled Python veteran who remembers the days when you had to import the string module, "Dive Into Python" is your 'desert island'. "Dive Into Python" is a hands-on guide to the Python language. Each chapter starts with a real, complete code sample, proceeds to pick it apart and explain the pieces, and then puts it all back together in a summary at the end. This is the perfect resource for you if you like to jump into languages fast and get going right away.


Python in a Nutshell
By: Alex Martelli

Ask any Python aficionado and you'll hear that Python programmers have it all: an elegant language that offers object-oriented programming support, a readable, maintainable syntax, integration with C components, and an enormous collection of precoded standard library and extension modules. Moreover, Python is easy to learn but powerful enough to take on the most ambitious programming challenges. But what Python programmers have lacked is one concise and clear reference resource, with the appropriate measure of guidance in how best to use Python's great power. Now Python in a Nutshell fills this need. Python in a Nutshell provides a solid, no-nonsense quick reference to information that programmers rely on the most. This latest addition to the best-selling "In a Nutshell" series will immediately earn its place in any Python programmer's library.


Python Essential Reference
By: David M. Beazley

Python Essential Reference, 3rd Edition, is a comprehensive reference to the Python programming language. The focus of this latest edition is to add coverage of significant new features and new library modules added to the language over the past five years. Clearly written with concise organization, the new features covered include new style classes, unification of types and classes, xmlrpclip, intertools, bz2 and optparse, making it the most up-to-date Python book on the market.


If there are other good and helpful Python programming books that you know of but were not included here, feel free to drop us a comment.