I was trying to think of good sci-fi books to rec to
abyssinia4077on her recent post, and took a look at my bookshelves, and realised that I needed some help there myself. My sci-fi collection consists of William Gibson, more William Gibson, Doctor Who, Stargate, Dune (unread), Spider Robinson, a wonderfully trashy book called Pzyche that no one but me has read, as far as I know, and that’s about it. It’s a travesty! I do have more sci-fi books, I’m sure, but they’re at my dad’s and I can’t remember titles. I should be getting them soon, though, along with the enormous bookshelf they're in. *rubs hands gleefully*
So, knowing that there are people out there (*looks hopefully at
secretrebel*) who like to recommend books and love sci-fi, and have in fact recommended sci-fi books to me which I’ve stupidly not taken note of (I really need to be holding a pen and paper rather than alcohol when people tell me these things – oh, my lamentable memory) – what’s good?
ETA: Just for clarity, I have read Orson Scott Card, Anne McCaffrey, some Harry Harrison, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and a ton of Star Trek novels (How Much For Just The Planet rools) - and yes, I'm an ungrateful cow to ask for recs and then say, "But I've read that!" :-) (But this is making me think I should re-read Orson Scott Card, because I remember very little about those books.)
So, knowing that there are people out there (*looks hopefully at
ETA: Just for clarity, I have read Orson Scott Card, Anne McCaffrey, some Harry Harrison, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and a ton of Star Trek novels (How Much For Just The Planet rools) - and yes, I'm an ungrateful cow to ask for recs and then say, "But I've read that!" :-) (But this is making me think I should re-read Orson Scott Card, because I remember very little about those books.)

Comments
Asimov's short stories are probably his best work. Nightfall (the short story - not the novel) is unmissable.
Oh, and on the subject of short stories - you should read Clarke's Nine billion names of God. If you never read anything else by Clarke, read this. The ending... *shudders*
And... while we're on the short stories - Ray Bradbury is the king of short stories. Dark they were and golden-eyed is brilliant - but his best IMHO, is really 'A sound of thunder'.
And just to finish it... I picked up Larry Niven's Neutron Star at a sale, and it has two unmissable short stories, too. Flatlander and The ethics of madness. Both brilliant, hard-core Sci-fi.