Science Fiction
God Emperor of Dune
Frank Herbert
SCIENCE FICTION Herbert, Frank
Science Fiction
Leto II, God Emperor of Dune, trades his humanity for immortality and, as the magnificent sandworm of Dune, desperately attempts to save mankind.
Provenance
Ann Leckie
SCIENCE FICTION Leckie Ann
Science Fiction
"Following her record-breaking debut trilogy, Ann Leckie, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, Arthur C. Clarke and Locus Awards, returns with an enthralling new novel of power, theft, privilege and birthright. A power-driven young woman has just one chance to secure the status she craves and regain priceless lost artifacts prized by her people. She must free their thief from a prison planet from which no one has ever returned. Ingray and her charge will return to her home world to find their planet in political turmoil, at the heart of an escalating intergalactic conflict. Together, they must make a new plan to salvage Ingray's future, her family, and her world, before they are lost to her for good"--
Leckie returns to the world of the Imperial Radch, and does something interesting by having "Provenance" take place in a different corner of the galaxy. The events of the Imperial Radch trilogy are mentioned, but are not important to the events of this book. This is almost a coming of age book--or maybe a finding your place story--with a main character who is quite distinct from the A.I. character of the previous books. I recommend it to fans of Leckie's other books, or just someone who's looking for a solid, non-traditional sci-fi story. -Brian
OVERGROWTH.
GRANT, MIRA.
ON ORDER BOOK
Horror, Science Fiction
"This is just a story. It can't hurt you anymore. Since she was three years old, Anastasia Miller has been telling anyone who would listen that she's an alien disguised as a human being, and that the armada that left her on Earth is coming for her. No one has been willing to listen. Now, with an alien signal from the stars being broadcast around the world, humanity is finally starting to realize that it's already been warned, and it may be too late. The invasion is coming, Stasia's biological family is on the way to bring her home, and very few family reunions are willing to cross the gulf of space for just one misplaced child. What happens when you know what’s coming, and just refuse to listen?"
Mira Grant's latest novel is all about the what ifs of an alien invasion. Expertly combining science fiction, suspense, and a sense of creeping dread, "Overgrowth" is great for readers who want a novel that explores what it means to find one's place in a world that faces an (un?)avoidable extraterrestrial threat. -Madison C
Cold Eternity
Barnes, S. A.
ON ORDER BOOK
Horror, Science Fiction
"Halley is on the run from an interplanetary political scandal that has put a huge target on her back. She heads for what seems like the perfect place to lay low: a gigantic space barge storing the cryogenically frozen bodies of Earth’s most fortunate citizens from more than a century ago… The cryo program is long defunct, and the AI hologram "hosts" are glitchy. The ship feels like a crypt, and the isolation gets to Halley almost immediately. She starts to see figures crawling in the hallways, and there’s a constant scraping, slithering, and rattling echoing in the vents. It’s not long before Halley realizes she may have gotten herself trapped in an even more dangerous situation than the one she was running from…."
Are you a long time fan of the "Alien" franchise? Does deep space and cosmic terrors that go bump in the night sound like your kind of read? Then S.A. Barnes' newest space horror is the perfect novel for you. -Madison C
Sunrise on the reaping
Suzanne Collins
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Collins Suzanne
Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction
"As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear gripsthe districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a youngfriend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena."--
Suzanne Collins returns to the world of Panem with a timely and brutal novel. "Sunrise on the Reaping" explores the concept of implicit submission. It asks us what motivates our acceptance of the status quo, and what it might take to change. -Chelsea
The unworthy : a novel
Bazterrica, Agustina María, 1974- author.
FICTION Bazterri Agustina
Fiction, Dystopian, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction
"From her cell in a mysterious convent, a woman writes the story of her life in whatever she can find--discarded ink, dirt, and even her own blood. A lower member of the Sacred Sisterhood, deemed an unworthy, she dreams of ascending to the ranks of the Enlightened at the center of the convent and of pleasing the foreboding Superior Sister. Outside, the world is plagued by catastrophe--cities are submerged underwater, electricity and the internet are nonexistent, and bands of survivors fight and forage in a cruel, barren landscape. Inside, the narrator is controlled, punished, but safe. But when a stranger makes her way past the convent walls, joining the ranks of the unworthy, she forces the narrator to consider her long-buried past--and what she may be overlooking about the Enlightened. As the two women grow closer, the narrator is increasingly haunted by questions about her own past, the environmental future, and her present life inside the convent. How did she get to the Sacred Sisterhood? Why can't she remember her life before? And what really happens when a woman is chosen as one of the Enlightened?" --
Bazterrica's unsettling (perhaps better described as disturbing) fictional future shows a world ravaged by climate change and societal collapse. But our storyteller has found refuge from starvation, violence, and the harsh weather--if you can call it a refuge.This is a novel that peels back itself layer by layer revealing harsh truths and buried feelings. -Anne M
The Martian : a novel
Andy Weir
SCIENCE FICTION Weir Andy
Science Fiction
"Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive--and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old 'human error' are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills--and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit--he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?"
If you ever find yourself stranded on Mars, "The Martian" would be an excellent "how to survive" guide to keep on hand...plus a fully-fueled rocket to get you back home. This character-driven story is told with incredible wit and humor, despite the dire circumstances astronaut Mark Watney finds himself in. If you are looking for a book about surviving against the odds and the unbreakable human spirit, "The Martian" is the perfect read! -Madison C
Jurassic Park : a novel
Michael Crichton
SCIENCE FICTION Crichton, Michael
Adventure, Science Fiction
On a remote jungle island, genetic engineers have created a dinosaur game park. But as always there is a dark side to the fantasy and after a catastrophe destroys the park's defence systems, the scientists and tourists are left fighting for survival.
A novel that further captivated readers since the release of the 1993 cinematic masterpiece (in this staff person's opinion), "Jurassic Park" is perfect for any reader who has long imagined what it would be like for dinosaurs to roam the Earth...and why cloning ancient dino-dna may not be the best plan. A story of dinosaurs sprinkled in with commentary of the downsides to greedy capitalism, "Jurassic Park" is a must-read! -Madison C
Vicious
Victoria Schwab
SCIENCE FICTION Schwab Victoria
Science Fiction
Victor and Eli started out as college roommates-- brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.
If you're a fan of morally ambiguous main characters, superpowers in the real world, and destructive journeys of vengeance, "Vicious" is just the book for you! For any reader that is a fan of dark, action-packed stories that sprinkle in superheroes (and villains you can't help but root for). -Madison C
Ender's game
Orson Scott Card
SCIENCE FICTION Card Orson
Dystopian, Science Fiction
A veteran of years of simulated war games, Ender believes he is engaged in one more computer war game when in truth he is commanding the last fleet of Earth against an alien race seeking the complete destruction of Earth.
In this classic novel, Orson Scott Card explores the complexities of war and the consequences of pushing the human spirit to its breaking point. "Ender's Game" is an unforgettable read about the costs of heroism and the value of compassion, told from the eyes of a child. -Madison C
Continuing my long re-read of Herbert's Dune saga, I'm finally at my favorite: God Emperor of Dune. I've learned recently that this is the love or hate it entry in the series. I love it! I love the characters and the philosophical musings. It's slow, but it always keeps my attention. -Brian