The world is beginning to open up, right? But many of us are not quite comfortable traveling like we once did. So what better way to escape without going too far than immersing ourselves in science fiction? So you hit the beach, and you hit another dimension. Travel to space from the safety of your backyard, or take a hike back in time to an alternate era.
ANNALEE NEWITZ: Yes. I am so excited about this book. If you are interested in some really great swashbuckling escapism, this is a terrific pick for the summer. And so Black Sun is set in a world that is not our own, but it strongly resembles the cultures around the Gulf of Mexico about 1,200 years ago.
Some science fiction reading recommendations for the summer
Author Rebecca Roanhorse was tired of reading epic fantasy with quasi-European settings, so she decided to write her own. The result is Black Sun, set in a world influenced by pre-Columbian mythology and rich with storms, intrigue, giant bugs, mysterious sea people, ritual, myth and some very scary crows. (They hold grudges, did you know?) This is only Book 1 of a forthcoming series, but we felt it was so strong it deserved to be here, no matter where Roanhorse goes next.
Part sci-fi cautionary tale, part murder mystery, The Echo Wife is a twisty treat. At its center are a famed genetic researcher and her duplicitous husband, who uses her breakthrough technology to clone himself a sweeter, more compliant version of his wife before ending up dead. "As expertly constructed as a Patek Philippe watch," says poll judge Tochi Onyebuchi. "Seamlessly blends domestic thriller and science fiction," adds fellow judge Fonda Lee. "This book is going to haunt my thoughts for a long time."
This series is often described as "lesbian necromancers in space," but trust us, it's so much more than that. Wildly inventive, gruesome, emotional, twisty and funny as hell, the Locked Tomb books are like nothing you've ever read before. And we defy you to read them and not give serious consideration to corpse paint and mirror shades as a workable fashion statement. There are only two books out now, of a planned four-book series, but Gideon the Ninth alone is enough to earn Tamsyn Muir a place on this list: "Too funny to be horror, too gooey to be science fiction, has too many spaceships and autodoors to be fantasy, and has far more bloody dismemberings than your average parlor romance," says critic Jason Sheehan. "It is altogether its own thing."
Liu Cixin became the first author from Asia to win a Hugo Award for Best Novel, for The Three-Body Problem, the first volume in this series about one of the oldest questions in science fiction: What will happen when we meet aliens? Liu is writing the hardest of hard sci-fi here, full of brain-twisting passages about quantum mechanics and artificial intelligence (if you didn't actually know what the three-body problem was, you will now), grafted onto the backbone of a high-stakes political thriller. Poll judge Tochi Onyebuchi says, "These books divided me by zero. And, yes, that is a compliment."
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy began life as a Radio 4 show in 1978 and has since spawned adaptations across almost every format, making it a staple on every respectable list of the best sci-fi books. Following the galactic adventures of Arthur Dent after his house's untimely demolition to make way for a new hyperspace express route, this new edition of 'The Guide' features exclusive bonus archive material and a new introduction from Russell T. Davies. This classic science fiction novel is a must-read for fans of the genre.
An absolute classic of early science fiction, H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man blends high tension with sharp wit and fear. A stranger arrives at a rustic Sussex inn on a chill wintery night, his face wrapped in bandages and his body enveloped in a heavy coat. Locked away in his room, the man mixes chemicals in elaborate glass bottles. His secret? The man is invisible, a scientist desperately trying to find a cure for his unhappy, perilous fate.
Mary Shelley's story of a man who creates a monster he cannot control was a precursor of modern science fiction and a must-read for any sci-fi fans wanting to understand the history of the genre. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but wayward scientist, builds a human from dead flesh. Horrified at what he has done, he abandons his creation. The hideous creature learns language and becomes civilized but society rejects him. Spurned, he seeks vengeance on his creator.
I am recommending the author as much as this book. Nothomb is a Belgian author who writes beautifully in French (many of her books have been translated into English). None of her books are the same, though there are some motives which appear with regularity: beauty and ugliness, Champagne, books, and brilliant dialogues. Péplum excels particularly on the latter. And it has elements of both science fiction and politics, which makes this short book thoroughly interesting and enjoyable reading. As Péplum has not yet been published in English, I recommend Cosmetic of the Enemy to the English-speakers as a great introduction to the wonderfully weird world of Amélie Nothomb.
Do you smell that? Freshly cut grass, sunscreen, smoke from a grill, hot plastic floaties in the pool, and the pages of a brand new book...it must mean that summer is coming! Every year the team at Fiction Unbound collects our best summer reading recommendations in speculative fiction for you, so you can be ready to jump in the moment summer begins. Whether you are going on a well-deserved vacation or staying close to home this year, there is nothing like taking advantage of these long summer days to crack open a good book. Why wait? Get your read on now and let us know your favorite speculative fiction books in the comments below.
I know, I know, I have given you a lot of reading recommendations this summer, but I'm here to tell you to make room on your TBR list, because these science fiction books starring women can't be missed. Filled with action, excitement, and some serious badass heroism, these 2017 releases will make you feel like you're on an intergalactic adventure, even if you spend all summer reading on the couch.
Thankfully, there's a cure for that, and it's sitting on my bookshelf. Whenever I need to take a trip without leaving the house, I know I can count on books to get the job done, specifically science fiction books. I feel trapped at home, suffocated by work, or just plain old bored, I reach for an exciting space adventure that can give me the vacation I want, without the hassle of actually leaving the house.
A fantastic mix of science fiction, horror, fantasy, and humor, The Prey of the Gods is a unique novel that defies categorization. The South African coastal town of Port Elizabeth is booming: the genetic engineering industry has brought the area money, stability, and fame. But despite how great things look on the surface, danger looms not far below in the form of a new hallucinogenic drug sweeping South Africa, a possible AI uprising, and a vengeful demigoddess determined to rise to power again. The only hope for salvation? A ragtaag team of misfits that include a mind-controlling queer teenager, a spoiled diva, and a misguided politician with more issues between them than anyone can count. Fun and engaging, The Prey of the Gods is an unforgettable read.
Literature's greatest science fiction classics collide in Theodora Goss' incredibly inventive new novel about an incredible team of unlikely crime fighters. Mary Jekyll is determined to get to the bottom of her father's mysterious past, even if that means tracking down his former partner and notorious murderer, Edward Hyde. When her search leads her to Hyde's daughter, Diana, the two form an unlikely bond that is the beginning of Mary's run-ins with the creations of infamous scientists, including Catherin Moreau, Justine Frankenstein, and Beatrice Rappaccini. With the help of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, can these forgotten women band together and help good win over evil, or are they destined for the fates of their creators?
July 5 Fonda Lee7PM Seattle Public LibraryCentral Branch1000 4th AvenueSupported by the Sally Klages Memorial InstructorshipFonda Lee is the World Fantasy Award-winning author of the epic urban fantasy Green Bone Saga as well as the acclaimed young adult science fiction novels Zeroboxer, Exo, and Cross Fire. She is a three-time winner of the Aurora Award, and a multiple finalist for the Nebula and Locus Awards.Register now.
Is your rising 4th grader looking forward to the lazy days of summer filled with ice cream cones, trips to the beach and afternoons in the hammock with a good book? The books on this summer reading list will transport any 4th grader into a new and exciting world. Whether your 9-10 year old loves adventure, mystery, fantasy, or even graphic novels, the books on this list are sure to delight.
Note: this post contains Amazon and Bookshop affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may earn commission for this blog. Bookshop supports independent booksellers. You can see this list, in addition to our other summer reading lists curated at Bookshop.
This book is a kooky and entertaining blend of history, science, math and humor. Science genius Victor is working on a school project only to discover Ben Franklin, alive and living on electricity, in his basement! In some ways, this is the perfect book for summer. It is light-hearted and funny yet keeps the joy of learning in the foreground. 2ff7e9595c
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