Science Fiction
Midnight horizon
Daniel José Older
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Star Wars
Science Fiction, Fantasy
After a series of losses, the Republic seems to have the villainous Nihil marauders on the run. Jedi Masters Cohmac Vitus and Kantam Sy are sent to the world of Corellia, in the Galactic Core, to investigate a suspected Nihil attack. There, Padawans Reath Silas and Ram Jomaram encounter security specialist Crash, whose friend was one of the victims of the attack. What they uncover on Corellia turns out to be part of a great plan-- one that could lead the Jedi to their most stunning defeat yet. -- adapted from jacket
A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Becky Chambers
Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space-and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe-in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star. Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain. Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.
This series is filled with love and joy. I can say with absolute certainty that each book will be one of the best books I've read this year, and I cannot wait for more by Becky Chambers--so far I have read everything written by her and I'm excited to read everything in the future! The series is a collection of stand alone novels, but that doesn't take away from my love. Usually I love when a series continues with the same characters because you grow to love them more as time goes on, but each story ended so satisfactorily that I felt content and happy with their conclusions. My one sadness is that the series is over, that I won't be able to see any new tales in this universe, but I will happily revisit it anytime. (P.S. Record of a Spaceborn Few was my favorite!) -Zach
Dawn
Octavia E. Butler
Lilith Iyapo has just lost her husband and son when atomic fire consumes Earth—the last stage of the planet’s final war. Hundreds of years later Lilith awakes, deep in the hold of a massive alien spacecraft piloted by the Oankali—who arrived just in time to save humanity from extinction. They have kept Lilith and other survivors asleep for centuries, as they learned whatever they could about Earth. Now it is time for Lilith to lead them back to her home world, but life among the Oankali on the newly resettled planet will be nothing like it was before. The Oankali survive by genetically merging with primitive civilizations—whether their new hosts like it or not. For the first time since the nuclear holocaust, Earth will be inhabited. Grass will grow, animals will run, and people will learn to survive the planet’s untamed wilderness. But their children will not be human. Not exactly.
This book and series can be hard to read. There are a lot of scenes which focus themselves on consent, and with that there comes the feeling of sexual assault. It's not graphic, but it can be hard to read at times. I read this book in a class on science-fiction and it was fascinating to se the depths of the story with that lens. I recommend this book and all other books by Octavia E. Butler, she is truly a master at her craft. -Zach
Parable of the sower
Octavia E Butler
SCIENCE FICTION Butler, Octavia E.
Science Fiction
When global climate change and economic crises lead to social chaos in the early 2020s, California becomes full of dangers, from pervasive water shortage to masses of vagabonds who will do anything to live to see another day. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding anarchy. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy, a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions. Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.
"Parable of the Sower" is a powerful and harrowing tale told in a matter of fact tone. At its core, it is a dystopian story that shows how ugly humans can be. It ends up being surprisingly optimistic--and I encourage you to push through even when parts of the book can be difficult to stomach. This was my first Octavia Butler novel, and it won't be my last. -Brian
Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Sprit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction
Joshua Whitehead
Love After the End is a new young adult anthology edited by Joshua Whitehead (Lambda Literary Award winner, Jonny Appleseed) featuring short stories by Indigenous authors with Two-Spirit & Queer heroes, in utopian and dystopian settings. This is a sequel to the popular anthology, Love Beyond Body Space and Time (2019 AILA Youth Honor Book), and features several of the same authors returning, along with new voices!
Another great collection! There's a wonderful few stories here, some of my favorites, and I cannot recommend them enough! -Zach
Love Beyond Body, Space, & Time: An Indigenous LGBT Sci-Fi Anthology
Hope Nicholson
"Love Beyond, Body, Space, and Time" is a collection of indigenous science fiction and urban fantasy focusing on LGBT and two-spirit characters. These stories range from a transgender woman trying an experimental transition medication to young lovers separated through decades and meeting far in their own future. These are stories of machines and magic, love, and self-love. This collection features prose stories by: Cherie Dimaline "The Girl Who Grew a Galaxy," "Red Rooms" Gwen Benaway "Ceremonies for the Dead" David Robertson "Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story," Tales From Big Spirit series Richard Van Camp "The Lesser Blessed," "Three Feathers" Mari Kurisato "Celia’s Song," "Bent Box" Nathan Adler "Wrist" Daniel Heath Justice "The Way of Thorn and Thunder: The Kynship Chronicles" Darcie Little Badger "Nkásht íí, The Sea Under Texas" Cleo Keahna And an introduction by Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair "Manitowapow," with a foreword by Grace Dillon "Walking the Clouds". Edited by Hope Nicholson "Moonshot," "The Secret Loves of Geek Girls"
I love an anthology of science fiction and fantasy, and this one holds an incredible collection of different authors and stories, some already on this list. -Zach
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 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
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
The High Republic is so captivating. Another good installment here. -Mykle