Science Fiction
Robopocalypse
Daniel H. Wilson
In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that regulate everything from transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans—a single mother disconcerted by her daughter's menacing "smart" toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a "pacification unit" go haywire—but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late. When the Robot War ignites—at a moment known later as Zero Hour—humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us ... and an entertaining and engaging thriller unlike anything else written in years.
The Dispossessed
Ursula K. Le Guin
OverDrive eBook
Science Fiction
"One of the greats....Not just a science fiction writer; a literary icon." – Stephen KingFrom the brilliant and award-winning author Ursula K. Le Guin comes a classic tale of two planets torn apart by conflict and mistrust — and the man who risks everything to reunite them.A bleak moon settled by utopian anarchists, Anarres has long been isolated from other worlds, including its mother planet, Urras—a civilization of warring nations, great poverty, and immense wealth. Now Shevek, a brilliant physicist, is determined to reunite the two planets, which have been divided by centuries of distrust. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and attempt to tear down the walls of hatred that have kept them apart.To visit Urras—to learn, to teach, to share—will require great sacrifice and risks, which Shevek willingly accepts. But the ambitious scientist's gift is soon seen as a threat, and in the profound conflict that ensues, he must reexamine his beliefs even as he ignites the fires of change.
This book changed my life. My views on economics as well as social movements and matters has been radically changed for the better from this book. It also is an award winner of the Nebula and Hugo awards! And Ursula K. Le Guin is probably the coolest person in the world--at least to me! -Zach
Vagabonds
Hao Jingfang
OverDrive eBook
Science Fiction
A century after the Martian war of independence, a group of kids are sent to Earth as delegates from Mars, but when they return home, they are caught between the two worlds, unable to reconcile the beauty and culture of Mars with their experiences on Earth in this "thoughtful debut" (Kirkus Reviews) from Hugo Award–winning author Hao Jingfang.This "masterful narrative" (Booklist, starred review) is set on Earth in the wake of a second civil war...not between two factions in one nation, but two factions in one solar system: Mars and Earth. In an attempt to repair increasing tensions, the colonies of Mars send a group of young people to live on Earth to help reconcile humanity. But the group finds itself with no real home, no friends, and fractured allegiances as they struggle to find a sense of community and identity trapped between two worlds.
This book was an incredible read and one of the best of 2022 for me. It includes a lot of thoughtful takes on economics and other interesting motifs. The author has also won a Hugo award for her work before. -Zach
Star Hunter
Andre Norton
OverDrive eBook
Science Fiction
In the future, advanced technology has made it possible to perform "mind-swapping" procedures that implant one person's memories, skills, beliefs, and feelings into another's brain. Predictably, scam artists have begun to employ this technique for nefarious purposes. In Star Hunter, that's exactly what happens to down-on-his-luck janitor Vye Lansor, who finds himself on an unfamiliar planet with a new set of memories. Will the ploy work, or will Lansor fight back? Read Star Hunter to find out.
I love everything Andre Norton wrote, she's amazing. In this book, she adds mind-swapping into her sci-fi/fantasy repertoire. A very interesting, fun read from one of the best sci-fi authors of all time. -Mykle
Leviathan wakes
James S. A Corey
SCIENCE FICTION Corey, James S. A.
Science Fiction
When Captain Jim Holden's ice miner stumbles across a derelict, abandoned ship, he uncovers a secret that threatens to throw the entire system into war. Attacked by a stealth ship belonging to the Mars fleet, Holden must find a way to uncover the motives behind the attack, stop a war and find the truth behind a vast conspiracy that threatens the entire human race.
This is my second time reading "Leviathan Wakes." I read it when it first came out--before it became a TV show and a Sci-Fi fan favorite. I enjoyed it the first time, but I didn't keep up with the series. I'm going to give the rest of the books a go now that the story is all done. -Brian
The left hand of darkness
Ursula K. Le Guin
SCIENCE FICTION LeGuin, Ursula K.
Science Fiction
The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants can change their gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters. Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.
I can see why this novel was considered groundbreaking at its inception in 1969! Even now, more than fifty years later, “The Left Hand of Darkness” deftly explores social, political and religious issues in a world-building, adventure-telling sort of way (which I love!). -Becky
The lathe of heaven
Ursula K. Le Guin
SCIENCE FICTION LeGuin, Ursula K.
Science Fiction
In a future world racked by violence and environmental catastrophes, George Orr wakes up one day to discover that his dreams have the ability to alter reality. He seeks help from Dr. William Haber, a psychiatrist who immediately grasps the power George wields. Soon George must preserve reality itself as Dr. Haber becomes adept at manipulating George’s dreams for his own purposes.
This is a classic, and it still holds up today. Le Guin, like all great Sci-Fi authors, was way ahead of the curve. It's a fast, short read, so pick it up and read it over the weekend! -Brian
Star wars : lost stars
Claudia Gray
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Star Wars
Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
The arrival of the Galactic Empire to their planet allows Thane and Ciena to bond over a love of flying, but once Thane witnesses the horrors of the Empire and joins the Rebellion, Ciena is forced to choose between her love and her allegiance.
Lost Stars is fascinating in several ways. It's a wonderful look into the lives of two people, Luke Skywalker's age, as they grow up under the indoctrination of the Empire. It's also a whirlwind view of the original series from the Empire's view. -Mykle
Star Wars. The High Republic
Cavan Scott
COMIC Star Wars High
Graphic Novels, Science Fiction
"A new era of Star Wars storytelling begins! Journey back to the High Republic -- the golden age of the Jedi! Centuries before the Empire and the Skywalker saga, the Jedi are at their height, protecting the galaxy as Republic pioneers push out into new territories. But as the frontier prepares for the dedication of the majestic Starlight Beacon, Padawan Keeve Trennis faces the ultimate choice -- will she complete her Jedi trials, or rescue the innocent from disaster? And can she trust her closest ally? Enter a rich and vast world of new Jedi! New worlds! New ships! And new evils to fight -- including the terrifying Nihil!"--Amazon.
I've been evangelical about The High Republic, though, I have to admit that the comic has been the weakest link so far. There seems to be a weird disconnect between what happens in the books vs. the comics. It seems like I wouldn't recommend it, but it features some of the best characters of the High Republic era and great art throughout. -Brian
Sea of Tranquility : a novel
Emily St. John Mandel
FICTION Mandel Emily
Science Fiction, Literary Fiction
"The award-winning, best-selling author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel returns with a novel of art, time, love, and plague that takes the reader from an island off Vancouver in 1912 to a dark colony of the moon three hundred years later, unfurling a story of humanity across centuries and planets. Edwin St. Andrew is eighteen years old when he crosses the Atlantic by steamship, exiled from polite society following an ill-conceived diatribe at a dinner party. He enters the forest, spellbound by the beauty of the Canadian wilderness, and suddenly hears the notes of a violin echoing in an airship terminal -- an experience that shocks him to his core. Two centuries later a famous writer named Olive Llewellyn is on a book tour. She's traveling all over Earth, but her home is the second moon colony, a place of white stone, spired towers, and artificial beauty. Within the text of Olive's best-selling pandemic novel lies a strange passage: a man plays his violin for change in the echoing corridor of an airship terminal as the trees of a forest rise around him. When Gaspery-Jacques Roberts, a detective in the black-skied Night City, is hired to investigate an anomaly in the North American wilderness, he uncovers a series of lives upended: The exiled son of an earl driven to madness, a writer trapped far from home as a pandemic ravages Earth, and a childhood friend from the Night City who, like Gaspery himself, has glimpsed the chance to do something extraordinary that will disrupt the timeline of the universe. "--
Emily St. John Mandel seems to brilliantly encapsulate all of modern fears in the sum of 255 pages. Or are they just human fears? This book, spanning centuries, from the 1910's to the 2300's, takes on post-traumatic stress disorder, pandemics, technological shifts, and the fragility of Earth and its nations. And like always, St. John Mandel leaves me with more questions than answers. -Anne M
The idea of robots rebelling against humanity is an old one, going back to R.U.R. by Karel Čapek, but this one gives an interesting, new perspective--it's similar to those other tales, and yet Wilson creates a story which I loved dearly. If you loved World War Z by Max Brooks and the interview style of that world, I think you may love this book too. -Zach