There are few issues as memorable to a younger reader as the primary spaceship they wished to be onboard or the primary fantastical world they wished to inhabit. If you happen to’ve ever mentioned the mechanics of warp velocity, the anatomy of a shai-hulud or the ethics of a Vulcan thoughts meld, you realize one factor for sure: science fiction is a lifestyle. Giants of the style similar to Mary Shelley and Isaac Asimov confirmed readers the horror, the joy and the gargantuan penalties that come up from combining our scientific data with the expanse of our creativeness. What does it really feel wish to dwell ceaselessly, to breathe one thing aside from air or to like somebody from one other planet? How will science encourage fiction subsequent? What fiction will encourage new science?
The employees at Scientific American ask questions similar to these throughout lunch tables and whisper guide suggestions in hallways. We look at new science day-after-day and skim distinctive books every evening. Under is a set of beloved science-fiction titles from the bookshelves of Scientific American employees, exhibiting our go-to suggestions, our private basic tomes and the books we’re nonetheless rereading yr after yr.
Dwell lengthy and prosper—and hold studying nice books.
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Prime-Shelf Suggestions
1. The Hitchhiker’s Information to the Galaxy
by Douglas Adams
Initially revealed by Pan, 1979
(Tags: Humor, Journey)
“It’s an ordinary Thursday morning for Arthur Dent … until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly after to make way for a new hyperspace express route, and Arthur’s best friend has just announced that he’s an alien…. [This] pop-culture classic sends logic into orbit, plays havoc with both time and physics, offers up pithy commentary on such things as ballpoint pens, potted plants … and, most important, reveals the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything,” in line with Crown’s description of its twenty fifth Anniversary Version, revealed in 2004.
“If you haven’t read this one, you should—period. Don’t watch the movie until after you have read it.” —Michael Mrak, Artistic Director
“This is a classic! Douglas Adams’s hilarious romp through spacetime made me fall in love with sci-fi—and writing. Thanks for all the fish, Douglas!” —Tanya Lewis, Senior Editor, Well being and Medication
“This is one of my few rereads. I recommend it to everyone.” —Brianne Kane, Editorial Workflow and Rights Supervisor
“Adams’s utterly off-the-wall descriptions pop into my head all the time.”—Sarah Lewin Frasier, Assistant Information Editor
2. Contact
by Carl Sagan
Initially revealed by Simon & Schuster, 1985
(Tags: First Contact, Aliens)
“When a signal is discovered that seems to come from far beyond our solar system, a multinational team of scientists decides to find the source. What follows is an eye-opening journey out to the stars to the most awesome encounter in human history. Who—or what—is out there?” says Gallery Books in its description of a commerce paperback version it revealed in 2019.
“Contact is a beautiful book about what it means to explore off Earth. It brings humanity to science fiction and is an important examination of the intersection of politics and astronomy.” —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief E-newsletter Editor
“This is great and a foundational text for thoughtful first-contact narratives.” —Sarah Lewin Frasier, Assistant Information Editor
“This book is a big part of the reason I studied astronomy in college.” —Clara Moskowitz, Senior Editor, Area and Physics
3. The Fifth Season
by N. Ok. Jemisin
Orbit, 2015
(Tags: Postapocalyptic, Fantasy)
“This is the way the world ends … for the last time…. It starts with the great red rift across the heart of the world’s sole continent, spewing ash that blots out the sun. It starts with death, with a murdered son and a missing daughter. It starts with betrayal, and long-dormant wounds rising up to fester. This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophe, where the power of the earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy,” the writer says.
“This is the first in one of my absolute favorite series, the Broken Earth series. It has vivid writing and character development and an absolutely creative and innovative storyline with feminist characters and just thrilling action scenes.” —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief E-newsletter Editor
“Very original world-building and exquisite characters—quite dark, though!” —Tanya Lewis, Senior Editor, Well being and Medication
“Tremendous!” —Ben Guarino, Affiliate Editor, Expertise
4. Murderbot Diaries sequence
by Martha Wells
Tor Books, 2017–current
(Tags: Area Opera, Robots)
“The Murderbot Diaries… is an action-packed, cerebral science fiction series about a self-hacking robot searching for the meaning of life,” in line with the writer.
“One of the most memorable characters in recent science fiction is part human, part bot, and mostly misanthropic and darkly funny about it. The human characters are rich and complex, and refreshingly, the author doesn’t kill off characters you care about.” —Laura Helmuth, Editor in Chief
“Just the best.” —Clara Moskowitz, Senior Editor, Area and Physics
“I’m always eager to read more of its adventures!” —Sarah Lewin Frasier, Assistant Information Editor
“I only have read the first book but loved it—fast-paced and thought-provoking.” —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief E-newsletter Editor
Collection and Brief Tales
1. Noumena sequence
by Lindsay Ellis
St. Martin’s Press, 2021–current
(Tags: Aliens, Alternate Historical past)
“It’s fall 2007. A well-timed leak has revealed that the US government might have engaged in first contact. Cora Sabino is doing everything she can to avoid the whole mess, since the force driving the controversy is her whistleblower father…. The alien presence has been completely uncommunicative until she convinces one of them that she can act as their interpreter, becoming the first and only human vessel of communication. Their otherworldly connection will change everything she thought she knew about being human—and could unleash a force more sinister than she ever imagined,” St. Martin’s Press says in its description of the primary guide within the sequence, Axiom’s Finish.
“The aliens in this feel alive and downright plausible, the plot is fun and unpredictable the whole time, and the protagonist isn’t just a collection of stereotypes about teen girls. I couldn’t love this series more and cannot wait for my copy of the latest installment!” —Brianne Kane, Editorial Workflow and Rights Supervisor
2. Tales of Your Life and Others
by Ted Chiang
Initially revealed by Tor, 2002
(Tags: Brief Tales, Philosophy)
“With sharp intelligence and humor, Chiang examines what it means to be alive in a world marked by uncertainty, but also by beauty and wonder,” says writer Classic in its description of its 2016 version.
“This is the first of two collections from Ted Chiang that explore our own morality and ethics through futurism. Every sentence feels so carefully constructed, and almost every short story will stay with you.” —Max Springer, Former AAAS Mass Media Fellow
3. The Expanse sequence
by James S. A. Corey
Orbit, 2011–2021
(Tags: Thriller, Area)
“When a reluctant ship’s captain and washed-up detective find themselves involved in the case of a missing girl, what they discover brings our solar system to the brink of civil war, and exposes the greatest conspiracy in human history,” the writer states in a description of the primary guide within the sequence, Leviathan Wakes.
“These books are just a classic sci-fi good time. They deal with the harsh realities of space travel through the solar system before delving into more speculative territory later on. This series has memorable and fun characters, interesting politics and a surprisingly great TV adaptation. The storylines are large in scope but always take time to fold in unexpected characters and connections from previous books, creating a really vibrant shared world and fun moments for longtime readers.” —Sarah Lewin Frasier, Assistant Information Editor
4. Saga
by Brian Ok. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Picture Comics, 2012–current
(Tags: Romance, Area Opera)
“Saga is an epic space opera/fantasy comic book series … [and] is heavily influenced by Star Wars, and based on ideas Vaughan conceived both as a child and as a parent. It depicts two lovers from long-warring extraterrestrial races, Alana and Marko, fleeing authorities from both sides of a galactic war as they struggle to care for their newborn daughter, Hazel, who occasionally narrates the series,” Picture Comics says.
“Robot aristocrats with TV sets for heads, a bald cat that senses lies and an adorable child at the center of a richly imagined galactic conflict—what more could anyone want, except for more issues of this long-running series?” —Ben Guarino, Affiliate Editor, Expertise
5. Dusk and Different Tales
by Isaac Asimov
Assortment initially revealed by Doubleday, 1969
(Tags: Dystopia, Brief Tales)
“[‘Nightfall’ is] the tale of a world with eternal sun that is suddenly plunged into total darkness and utter madness. Published when the author was only twenty-one, ‘Nightfall’ was arguably Asimov’s breakout work,” in line with writer Del Rey in its description of its 2021 commerce paperback version.
“The first science-fiction book I ever read may have been the novel based on the title story of this collection. The short story, written by Isaac Asimov, was initially published in 1941 and first appeared in this collection in 1969. The novel was co-authored with Robert Silverberg and published in 1990. My young brain was riveted by the tale of a planet with six suns that, for the first time in the history of its inhabitants, will set at the same time, bringing on nightfall. The impending event pits science and reason against religion and religious fanaticism in a way that makes you question society’s thin line between order and chaos. The novel version converted me into an Asimov reader” —Tanya Lewis, Senior Editor, Well being and Medication
6. Purple Rising (Purple Rising sequence)
by Pierce Brown
Del Rey, 2014
(Tags: Dystopia, Journey)
In accordance with the writer, “Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations…. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power.”
“If you want to fly through a series, this is it. Starting with this first book, it’s like The Hunger Games meets Star Wars—fabulous characters, world-building and action scenes.” —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief E-newsletter Editor
7. The Full E-book of the New Solar
by Gene Wolfe
Books within the sequence initially revealed by Simon & Schuster, Timescape Books and Tor, 1980–1987
(Tags: Postapocalyptic, Darkish Fantasy)
“Wolfe’s classic series blends elements of fantasy and science fiction to tell the story of the disgraced torturer Severian,” says writer Orb Books in its descriptions of its 2017 e-book assortment of the sequence.
“Prepare for surreal descriptions of a future flung so far that it’s like a dream. It’s an epic that’s dense and vexing. But when a piece clicks together, it’s so, so satisfying.” —Ben Guarino, Affiliate Editor, Expertise
8. The Locked Tomb sequence
by Tamsyn Muir
Tordotcom, 2019–current
(Tags: Thriller, Horror)
“The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense. Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service,” the writer says its description of the primary guide within the sequence, Gideon the Ninth.
“This is one of my favorite series of all time, and the audiobook versions are by far my favorite books in that format! While the story starts out being only about as sci-fi as Star Wars, the lore unfolds to have a backstory rooted in 21st-century science. It also features lots of queer people with swords.” —Rachel Feltman, Host of Science Rapidly
“A very fun read with deep and ambitious lore that unfolds over the course of the series!” —Sarah Lewin Frasier, Assistant Information Editor
“I adore this series and can’t wait for the next book.” —Clara Moskowitz, Senior Editor, Area and Physics
Ghastly Thrillers
1. Saturnalia
by Stephanie Feldman
Unnamed Press, 2022
(Tags: Gothic, Thriller)
From the writer: “The Saturnalia carnival marks three years since Nina walked away from Philadelphia’s elite Saturn Club…. For Nina, Saturnalia is simply a cruel reminder of the night that changed everything for her. But when she gets a chance call from Max, one of the Saturn Club’s best-connected members and her last remaining friend, the favor he asks will plunge her back into the Club’s wild solstice masquerade, on a mysterious errand she cannot say no to.”
“What made it really stand out to me were its speculative fiction elements: Feldman crafts a near-future world on the brink of collapse that feels not just believable but inevitable—and then uses that as a setting for a story rich in secret societies and arcane rights.” —Rachel Feltman, Host of Science Rapidly
2. Blindsight
by Peter Watts
Initially revealed by Tor Books, 2006
(Tags: First Contact, Aliens)
“So who do you send to force introductions with unknown and unknowable alien intellect that doesn’t wish to be met? You send a linguist with multiple personalities, her brain surgically partitioned into separate, sentient processing cores. You send a biologist so radically interfaced with machinery that he sees x-rays and tastes ultrasound. You send a pacifist warrior in the faint hope she won’t be needed. You send a monster to command them all, an extinct hominid predator once called vampire, recalled from the grave with the voodoo of recombinant genetics and the blood of sociopaths. And you send a synthesist—an informational topologist with half his mind gone—as an interface between here and there,” the writer states in its description of a 2020 version.
“This is a first-contact novel, but the story is really about the augmented people sent to make contact—and a sarcastic narrator. Watts uses their augmentations to explore the nature of consciousness and human relationships. Throw in some serious ideas about linguistics, quantum teleportation and human evolution, and a lot of suspense. It also has a 144-note bibliography that references Nature, Science and Physical Review Letters.” —Josh Fischman, Senior Editor, Medication and Science Coverage
“Great read.” —Sarah Lewin Frasier, Assistant Information Editor
3. Darkish Matter
by Blake Crouch
Initially revealed by Crown, 2016
(Tags: Thriller, Psychological)
From Ballantine Books’ description of its 2024 commerce paperback version: “‘Are you happy with your life?’ Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the kidnapper knocks him unconscious…. In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college professor but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible. Is it this life or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how will Jason make it back to the family he loves?”
“Thrilling and fast-paced, this is an excellent application of quantum physics to pop fiction, and the science is so fun.” —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief E-newsletter Editor
4. Artemis
by Andy Weir
Initially revealed by Crown, 2017
(Tags: Thriller, Area)
“Jasmine Bashara never signed up to be a hero. She just wanted to get rich…. So when a chance at a huge score finally comes her way, Jazz can’t say no. Sure, it requires her to graduate from small-time smuggler to full-on criminal mastermind…. The trouble is, engineering the perfect crime is just the start of Jazz’s problems. Because her little heist is about to land her in the middle of a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself,” says Ballantine Books in its description of its 2018 paperback version.
“Artemis follows Jazz, an ambitious citizen of the lunar colony who wrestles with the usual hustle and grind of everyday life, just in less gravity. She is constantly getting herself into trouble, and it’s impossible not to root for her as she uses an entertaining combination of grit and cleverness to get back out of it again and grow as a result!” —Zane Wolf, Graphics Intern, June–December 2024
4. The Echo Spouse
by Sarah Gailey
Tor Books, 2021
(Tags: Horror, Scientists as Characters, Thriller)
From writer Tor Books: “Martine is a genetically cloned replica made from Evelyn Caldwell’s award-winning research. She’s patient and gentle and obedient. She’s everything Evelyn swore she’d never be. And she’s having an affair with Evelyn’s husband. Now, the cheating bastard is dead, and both Caldwell wives have a mess to clean up.”
“This book is simultaneously a poignant reflection on gender roles and narcissistic abuse, a tense and thrilling mystery and a book about scientists doing science. Fans of classic sci-fi won’t be disappointed by the way this story weaves a research scientist’s life’s work (and the bioethics raised by cloning) into the narrative.” —Rachel Feltman, Host of Science Rapidly
Dastardly Dystopias
1. The Dispossessed
by Ursula Ok. Le Guin
Initially revealed by Harper & Row, 1974
(Tags: Dystopia, Area)
“Anarres, Shevek’s homeland, is a bleak moon settled by an anarchic utopian civilization, where there is no government, and everyone, at least nominally, is a revolutionary. It has long been isolated from other worlds, including its mother planet, Urras—defined by warring nations, great poverty, and immense wealth. Now Shevek, a brilliant physicist, is determined to unify the two civilizations. In the face of great hostility, outright threats, and the pain of separation from his family, he makes an unprecedented trip to Urras. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and explore differences in customs and cultures, determined to tear down the walls of hatred that have kept them apart,” says Harper Perennial Fashionable Classics in its description of its 2014 version.
“This is the story of ‘an ambiguous utopia’ that sends an earnest anarchist world’s math genius to a rapacious, beautiful, greedy planet run like something resembling the 1960s geopolitical scene. A well-done braided narrative alternately tells the story of his exile and return, combining Albert Einstein’s and J. Robert Oppenheimer’s moral turmoil with the ending of a Graham Greene novel. It turns a bit didactic at the end, but it’s also a thought-provoking, fun read.” —Dan Vergano, Senior Opinion Editor
2. Kids of Time
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Initially revealed by Tor, 2015
(Tags: Dystopia, Area Opera)
“The last remnants of the human race have left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age—a world terraformed and prepared for human life. But all is not right in this new Eden. In the long years since the planet was abandoned, its new occupiers have turned it from a refuge into mankind’s worst nightmare,” says writer Pan, an imprint of Pan MacMillan, in its description of its 2016 paperback version.
“I won’t spoil who the ‘aliens’ are in this book, but it provides an incredibly creative look into what a society built by very nonhuman species could be like and charts the alien minds’ evolution from animal-level intelligence all the way up to an advanced society very unlike our own. And then the humans get there.” —Sarah Lewin Frasier, Assistant Information Editor
3. Too Just like the Lighting
by Ada Palmer
Tor Books, 2016
(Tags: Dystopia, Philosophy)
The writer says, “Mycroft Canner is a convict. For his crimes he is required, as is the custom of the 25th century, to wander the world being as useful as he can to all he meets. Carlyle Foster is a sensayer—a spiritual counselor in a world that has outlawed the public practice of religion, but which also knows that the inner lives of humans cannot be wished away…. And in this world, Mycroft and Carlyle have stumbled on the wild card that may destabilize the system: the boy Bridger, who can effortlessly make his wishes come true. Who can, it would seem, bring inanimate objects to life.”
“This smart and creative story takes place in an imagined far-future society that has harnessed technology to take its best crack at building a utopia by banning religion, gender and geographic nation-states. It practically blew my mind on every other page.” —Clara Moskowitz, Senior Editor, Area and Physics
4. Fiasco
by Stanisław Lem, translated by Michael Kandel
Initially revealed in English by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1987
(Tags: Brief Tales, Translation)
“The planet Quinta is … a kingdom of phantoms and of a beauty afflicted by madness. In stark contrast, the crew of the spaceship Hermes represents a knowledge-seeking Earth. As they approach Quinta, a dark poetry takes over and leads them into a nightmare of misunderstanding,” says Harper Voyager in its description of its 1988 version.
“First published in a German translation in 1986, this is the final (and in my opinion, the best) of Stanisław Lem’s explorations of “first contact” situations. Fiasco is, on its floor, a narrative about humanity in a postscarcity technological utopia striving to make contact with a mysterious alien civilization, the Quintans. However it may also be learn as an allegory of the chilly battle—or, for that matter, as a cautionary story in regards to the limits of information, the futility of the seek for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) and the damaging cognitive biases of human beings. Don’t anticipate a contented ending.” —Lee Billings, Senior Editor, Area and Physics
5. Parable of the Sower
by Octavia E. Butler
Initially revealed by 4 Partitions Eight Home windows, 1993
(Tags: Dystopia, Fantasy)
“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,” states Grand Central Publishing in its description of its 2019 commerce paperback version.
“I honestly think the world would be better off if everyone got to read and discuss this book. Butler imagines a depressingly realistic future for the U.S. yet somehow manages to offer hope for the next phase of human civilization. There’s a lot of practical stuff to take away from this book, and I find it extremely uplifting.” —Rachel Feltman, Host of Science Rapidly
“I enjoyed this one, too—really nice character development.” —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief E-newsletter Editor
6. Ender’s Recreation
by Orson Scott Card
Initially revealed by Tor Books, 1985
(Tags: Dystopia, Struggle)
“In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race’s next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers…. Young Ender is drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training…. Is Ender the general Earth needs? The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long,” the writer says in its description of its 2017 mini hardcover version.
“This is classic sci-fi that taps on global politics and psychological warfare. It was ahead of its time in recognizing the power of the Internet to promote ideologies and create factions. There’s an incredible twist at the end.” —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief E-newsletter Editor
“I love this one! The twist ending shocked me, and I still recommend this to anyone interested in, but hesitant to try, science fiction.” —Brianne Kane, Editorial Workflow and Rights Supervisor
All’s Truthful in Love, Struggle and Time Journey
1. Uncharted Territory
by Connie Willis
Spectra, 1994
(Tags: Humor, Romance)
From writer Spectra: “Findriddy and Carson are two explorers sent to Boohte to survey the ridges and scrub-covered hills of the planet…. Teamed with a young intern whose specialty is mating customs, and a native guide of indeterminate gender, the group sets out for a previously unexplored sector of the planet. As they survey canyons and cataracts, battle dangers, and discover alien treasures, they will soon find themselves in alien territory of another kind: exploring the paths and precipices of sex. And love.”
“This is just a beautiful and short read that captures imagination perfectly.” —Megha Satyanarayana, Chief Opinion Editor
2. The Way forward for One other Timeline
by Annalee Newitz
Tor Books, 2019
(Tags: Time Journey, Alternate Historical past)
From writer Tor Books: “Tess and Beth’s lives intertwine as war breaks out across the timeline—a war that threatens to destroy time travel and leave only a small group of elites with the power to shape the past, present, and future. Against the vast and intricate forces of history and humanity, is it possible for a single person’s actions to echo throughout the timeline?”
“I read this book several years ago, but it couldn’t feel more relevant today, in a post-Roe world where women’s reproductive freedoms are being stripped away state by state and law by law. It’s a riveting and at times upsetting story about how past decisions can have long-term ripple effects, featuring the real-life moral crusader Anthony Comstock, whose 1873 antivice act continues to be used to justify repression of bodily autonomy today. But it’s also an uplifting story about the power that women and people assigned female at birth have to fight for a better future.” —Tanya Lewis, Senior Editor, Well being and Medication
3. Camp Focus
by Thomas M. Disch
Initially revealed by Rupert Hart-Davis, 1968
(Tags: Struggle, Horror)
“Thomas M. Disch imagines an alternate 1970s in which America has declared war on the rest of the world and much of its own citizenry and is willing to use any weapon to assure victory. Louis Sacchetti, a poet imprisoned for draft resistance, is delivered to a secret facility called Camp Archimedes, where he is the unwilling witness to the army’s conscienceless experiments in “intelligence maximization.” Within the experiment, Prisoners are given Pallidine, a drug derived from the syphilis spirochete, and their psychological talents shortly rise to the extent of genius. Sadly, a aspect impact of Pallidine is dying,” says Classic in its description of its 1999 version.
“This book captures the paranoia of the Vietnam War era in a way that perfectly foresaw today’s bleak nihilism and campus protests. It’s a secret meditation on grad school, I’ve always suspected, and, more seriously, on intellectual and moral integrity.” —Dan Vergano, Senior Opinion Editor
4. Cinder
by Marissa Meyer
Initially revealed by Feiwel & Associates, 2012
(Tags: Fairytale Retelling, Romance)
“Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl…. Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction,” says Sq. Fish in its description of its 2020 version.
“Make Cinderella a cyborg mechanic with a trusty android sidekick and go from there!” —Meghan Bartels, Senior Information Reporter
5. The Finish of Eternity
by Isaac Asimov
Initially revealed by Doubleday, 1955
(Tags: Dystopia, Time Journey)
From Del Rey’s description of its 2020 commerce paperback version: “The Eternals, the ruling class of the Future, had the power of life and death not only over every human being but over the very centuries into which they were born. Past, Present, and Future could be created or destroyed at will. You had to be special to become an Eternal. Andrew Harlan was special. Until he committed the one unforgivable sin—falling in love.”
“This is a story about a man whose job is to travel through time to modify certain events for the betterment and happiness of humanity. Things go awry when he meets and falls in love with a woman who can’t time travel and decides to bend time and history to his own ends. It’s a fascinating and endearing read.” —Tanya Lewis, Senior Editor, Well being and Medication
Fantastical Area Operas
1. A Reminiscence Known as Empire
by Arkady Martine
Tor Books, 2019
(Tags: Area Opera, Thriller)
“Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives in the center of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire only to discover that her predecessor, the previous ambassador from their small but fiercely independent mining Station, has died. But no one will admit that his death wasn’t an accident—or that Mahit might be next to die, during a time of political instability in the highest echelons of the imperial court,” the writer states.
“This is a subtle, suspenseful and thought-provoking caper about an ambassador from a small mining station who must navigate politics, poetry and murder attempts when she visits the center of the galactic empire, all while hiding secret brain technology that could upend society.” —Clara Moskowitz, Senior Editor, Area and Physics
“This is a very intriguing book full of politicking. I loved the idea of the brain technology—it’s so novel.” —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief E-newsletter Editor
2. Demise’s Finish
by Liu Cixin, translated by Ken Liu
Initially revealed in English by Tor Books, 2016
(Tags: Area Opera, Aliens)
From the writer’s description of its 2017 commerce paperback version: “Half a century after the Doomsday Battle, the uneasy balance of Dark Forest Deterrence keeps the Trisolaran invaders at bay. Earth enjoys unprecedented prosperity due to the infusion of Trisolaran knowledge. With human science advancing daily and the Trisolarans adopting Earth culture, it seems that the two civilizations will soon be able to co-exist peacefully as equals…. But the peace has also made humanity complacent. Cheng Xin, an aerospace engineer from the early twenty-first century, awakens from hibernation in this new age…. Will humanity reach for the stars or die in its cradle?”
“First published in Chinese in 2010, this is the third and (in my opinion) best book in the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy, otherwise called the Three-Body Problem series. A first-contact story that spans a vast amount of time, this book is equal parts mind-expanding and devastating.” —Ian Kelly, Product Supervisor
3. Ubik
by Philip Ok. Dick
Initially revealed with Doubleday, 1969
(Tags: Fantasy, Area Opera)
“Glen Runciter runs a lucrative business—deploying his teams of anti-psychics to corporate clients who want privacy and security from psychic spies. But when he and his top team are ambushed by a rival, he is gravely injured and placed in ‘half-life,’ a dreamlike state of suspended animation. Soon, though, the surviving members of the team begin experiencing some strange phenomena, such as Runciter’s face appearing on coins and the world seeming to move backward in time. As consumables deteriorate and technology gets ever more primitive, the group needs to find out what is causing the shifts and what a mysterious product called Ubik has to do with it all,” states Mariner Books Classics in its description of its 2012 version.
“Philip K. Dick’s mind-bending sci-fi detective caper turned eroding-reality epic prefigured both The Matrix and Memento. This is the story of a precog investigator caught in a consumerist limbo and trying to piece together the clues to what has happened both to himself and his world. It makes no sense, in classic Dick fashion, but there’s something profound in this one—a fun, fast trip, a vortex of drug-fueled paranoia in paperback.” —Dan Vergano, Senior Opinion Editor
