Science Fiction
Caliban's war
James S. A Corey
SCIENCE FICTION Corey James
Science Fiction
We are not alone. On Ganymede, breadbasket of the outer planets, a Martian marine watches as her platoon is slaughtered by a monstrous supersoldier. On Earth, a high-level politician struggles to prevent interplanetary war from reigniting. And on Venus, an alien protomolecule has overrun the planet, wreaking massive, mysterious changes and threatening to spread out into the solar system. In the vast wilderness of space, James Holden and the crew of the Rocinante have been keeping the peace for the Outer Planets Alliance. When they agree to help a scientist search war-torn Ganymede for a missing child, the future of humanity rests on whether a single ship can prevent an alien invasion that may have already begun . . .
God Emperor of Dune
Frank Herbert
SCIENCE FICTION Herbert, Frank
Science Fiction
Warner Bros released the trailer for Dune Part II, and it got me interested in continuing my re-read of the series. God Emperor of Dune has always been my favorite--and revisiting it has not disappointed. -Brian
A psalm for the wild-built
Chambers, Becky, author.
SCIENCE FICTION Chambers Becky
Science Fiction
"In A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Hugo Award-winner Becky Chambers's delightful new Monk & Robot series gives us hope for the future. It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend. One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They're going to need to ask it a lot. Becky Chambers's new series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?"--
This series is the warm hug you didn't know you needed--the hope you feel on the first warm day of March or seeing a dear friend after a time apart. This beautiful, wholesome story will remind you of what matters most; hope, love, and curiosity for one another. -Bailey
Infinity gate
M. R. Carey
SCIENCE FICTION Carey, M. R.
Science Fiction, Adventure
"The Pandominion: a political and trading alliance of a million worlds. Except that they're really just one world, Earth, in many different realities. And when an A.I. threat arises that could destroy everything the Pandominion has built, they'll eradicate it by whatever means necessary. Scientist Hadiz Tambuwal is looking for a solution to her own Earth's environmental collapse when she stumbles across the secret of inter-dimensional travel, a secret that could save everyone on her dying planet. It leads her into the middle of a war on a scale she never dreamed of. And she needs to choose a side before every reality pays the price."--Provided by publisher.
Truly a sweeping epic, Infinity Gate is a face paced read, packed with lots of action and many memorable characters. Taking a different approach to how the multiverse works, there is no effective space travel and movement between realities, using what's termed Step technology, takes travelers to the exact same spot on a variant Earth to where they departed from on there own version Earth. Thrown into the mix are different cultural, historical, and evolutionary paths on each world, some fairly similar, others wildly different. To keep everything from getting out of hand, there is a very larger and extensive government/control structure in place, the Pandominion, which calls all the shots and has a well developed enforcement army. Unfortunately, there is also another force out in the multiverse that has a very different approach to things, especially the idea of sentience. -Paul
Star Wars. The Mandalorian, Season 1
Rodney (Producer) Barnes
COMIC Star Wars Mandalorian Season 1
Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Adventure
"Din Djarin, the armored bounty hunter known to friend and enemy as simply the Mandalorian, has agreed to track down a target for a mysterious ex-Imperial client who offers to pay in Beskar, a rare metal revered by Mandalorians. But when Djarin locates the target--an adorable green toddler--all bets are off! Will Djarin follow his Mandalorian code and turn over the Child? And if he doesn't, what will the consequences be?"--Back cover of Season 1, part 1.
This is a beautiful comic version of the hit series. Learn to love Baby Yoda all over again! -Mykle
Gideon the ninth
Tamsyn Muir
SCIENCE FICTION Muir Tamsyn
LGBTQ+, Science Fiction
Muir's Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cutthroat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.
This was unlike anything I've ever read before and left me thinking every time I put it down. Not only is this about lesbian necromancers in space, it's hilarious and full of twists as Gideon finds herself part of deadly challenges amidst a suspicious cast of characters. You can expect not to fully understand what's going on to start, but your understanding of the world and the plot grows as time goes on, much like the characters themselves begin to shift perspectives as the nature of the challenges they face become more apparent. -Bailey
Ancillary justice
Ann Leckie
SCIENCE FICTION Leckie Ann
Science Fiction
On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest. Once, she was the Justice of Toren - a colossal starship with an artificial intelligence linking thousands of soldiers in the service of the Radch, the empire that conquered the galaxy. Now, an act of treachery has ripped it all away, leaving her with one fragile human body, unanswered questions, and a burning desire for vengeance.
Have you ever had a book on your "To read" list, and think to yourself--"Why do it take me so long to start this one?!?!?" "Ancillary Justice" was one such title. I've had my eye on it for a long time. Someone told me that it's a "Murderbot Diaries" read-alike (it kind of, sort of is), so it jumped to the top of my list. It's a fantastic Sci-Fi series opener with interesting characters and a great premise. Seriously, I want to start the next book right now, but I feel like I should ration them out. I highly recommend this to Sci-Fi fans. -Brian
Greater good
Timothy Zahn
SCIENCE FICTION Star Wars Thrawn
Science Fiction
When a mysterious enemy strikes at the very foundation of the Ascendancy by widening the rifts between the Nine Ruling Families and Forty Great Houses, Thrawn and his allies must decide what matters most--the security of their family or the survival of the Ascendancy itself.
This series continues to be an outstanding Sci-Fi adventure in an unfamiliar part of the Star Wars universe. I've got one book left, and I don't want it to end! I definitely enjoy my Star Wars with a dash of political intrigue and plenty of original characters. -Brian
Finna
Nino Cipri
Hoopla
Science Fiction
When an elderly customer at a Swedish big box furniture store -- but not that one -- slips through a portal to another dimension, it's up to two minimum-wage employees to track her across the multiverse and protect their company's bottom line. Multi-dimensional swashbuckling would be hard enough, but those two unfortunate souls broke up a week ago. To find the missing granny, Ava and Jules will brave carnivorous furniture, swarms of identical furniture spokespeople, and the deep resentment simmering between them. Can friendship blossom from the ashes of their relationship? In infinite dimensions, all things are possible.
I listened to this book alongside my best friends while on a road trip. We all found it to be engaging while also being fun and witty. Finna was a short read, but an easy one. -Zach
To Be Taught, If Fortunate
Becky Chambers
SCIENCE FICTION/Chambers Becky
Science Fiction
Ariadne is one such explorer. As an astronaut on an extrasolar research vessel, she and her fellow crewmates sleep between worlds and wake up each time with different features. Her experience is one of fluid body and stable mind and of a unique perspective on the passage of time. Back on Earth, society changes dramatically from decade to decade, as it always does. Ariadne may awaken to find that support for space exploration back home has waned, or that her country of birth no longer exists, or that a cult has arisen around their cosmic findings, only to dissolve once more by the next waking. But the moods of Earth have little bearing on their mission: to explore, to study, and to send their learnings home. Carrying all the trademarks of her other beloved works, including brilliant writing, fantastic world-building and exceptional, diverse characters, Becky's first audiobook outside of the Wayfarers series is sure to capture the imagination of listeners all over the world.
If you want a quick and enjoyable read this is for you. All of Becky Chambers' books have queer characters of all varieties, and I love each of the books in their own way. This book brought me into her writing style, and while it's on the heavier side emotionally, it still showcases some excellent themes and characters whom I have not forgotten since. This got me through the beginning of the pandemic and I'm grateful to Chambers for that. -Zach
I'm late to the party on continuing this series, but I highly recommend it to Sci-Fi fans. I absolutely love the characters, and I'm pleasantly surprised by the scope of the story. -Brian