Atlas Shrugged
by Ayn Rand
This could probably be called a classic, but I say it's soft science fiction. It does involve several un-explained soft sci-fi elements, such as the mushroom device at then end, and Reardon metal. Most important, however, the whole story seems to be a thought experiment in economics.
If you are considering reading this book, you have to understand that it's written from a certain political/philosophical point of view. If you disagree with that point of view, this will be a very annoying book. (Much as I tried to read another of her books, The Fountainhead, and simply couldn't manage to continue.)
This book is written from several points of view of different people, mostly industrialists and entrepeneurs, in a peculiar time. The entire economy seems to be falling apart, and just when the whole world seems to be relying on the work of one individual, that individual disappears and their work ceases to function. Much of the storyline follows our main character as she chases "the destroyer" who is causing these people to stop working. The point of view in question is that a few intelligent and practical people are the driving force in an economy, and that the rest are just parasites. If you strenuously disagree with that idea, then I postulate that you won't enjoy this book.
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