The Future, by Naomi Alderman
A dystopic, tech thriller that asks big questions about humanity, freedom, technology, and whether we can survive and thrive.
Read MoreStarter Villain, by John Scalzi
Very funny, James Bond-style science fiction involving uber-smart, genetically engineered cats, dolphins, whales, a volcano lair, giant laser beams, and a worldwide network of villains. An entertaining novel from John Scalzi, who I highly recommend.
Read MoreThe Kaiju Preservation Society, by John Scalzi
Like old Godzilla movies? You’ll love this sci-fi, action novel of four nerds trying to stay alive, keep the Kaiju alive, and beat the bad guys.
Read MoreOn Earth As It Is on Television, by Emily Jane
Quirky, funny sci fi novel, perfect for a light weekend read. TV, bacon, cheese, and plastic are our greatest achievements of human civilization, apparently.
Read MoreUpgrade, by Blake Crouch
Can we hack our genome to become smart enough to think our way out of our current environmental and political problems? Crouch’s novel sets up a cool answer to that question in this sci fi action adventure.
Read MoreSea of Tranquility, by Emily St. John Mandel
A novel of time travel and big questions for humanity. More pandemic fiction from Mandel, in a cleverly plotted novel.
Read MoreClean Air, by Sarah Blake
It’s the rise of the plants and their choking pollen in this postapocalyptic world, and a serial killer is on the loose. Great climate disaster-mystery mashup, good for your book discussion group.
Read MoreHow High We Go in the Dark, by Sequoia Nagamatsu
A pandemic novel, but far, far more. Nagamatsu tries to explore all of human history in this speculative novel.
Read MoreTermination Shock, by Neal Stephenson
Stephenson takes us a few steps into the future, when climate change threats are addressed by independent geoengineering efforts, sparking a new climate cold war.
Read MoreThe Murderbot Diaries, by Martha Wells
The Murderbot Diaries, a series of novellas and one novel, following the story of rogue SecUnit, Murderbot, as he tries to find his place in the world of a distant future. Highly recommended.
Read MoreThe Quiet Boy, by Ben H. Winters
Part legal thriller, part science fiction, and part detective fiction, this mashup by Winters is entertaining, and asks bigger questions.
Read MoreProject Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
Another winner from Andy Weir. Here’s your science nerd read for the summer.
Read MoreKlara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro
A beautiful and gentle cautionary tale— Ishiguro describes a world where artificial intelligence and gene editing may lead, and not perhaps to our liking.
Read MoreNetwork Effect: A Murderbot Novel, by Martha Wells
SecUnit, secretly self-named Murderbot, is an almost James Bond-like android hero is this terrific sci-fi adventure.
Read MoreAxiom's End by Lindsay Ellis
Great science fiction novel, combining good story telling with much food for thought. One of this year’s best, and a first novel from YouTuber Lindsay Ellis.
Read MoreAgency, by William Gibson
“One's agency is one's independent capability or ability to act on one's will. This ability is affected by the cognitive belief structure which one has formed through one's experiences, and the perceptions held by the society and the individual, of the structures and circumstances of the environment one is in and the position they are born into. Disagreement on the extent of one's agency often causes conflict between parties, e.g. parents and children.” “Agency (Sociology), Wikipedia.
Read MoreExhalation, by Ted Chiang
Every story in this science fiction collection is a well-crafted jewel. Read for both science fiction and short story construction perfection, from this creative thinker.
Read MoreRecursion, by Blake Crouch
You will either find this one fascinating, or toss it in frustration. It is worth your patience.
Read MoreLock In, by John Scalzi
Great book discussion choice— sci fi murder mystery, asking questions about the rights and morality of implants in human brains.
Read MoreArtemis, by Andy Weir
Sci-fi action and adventure in a colony on the moon— another page-turner from Andy Weir.
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