We hear from readers all the time that they read to escape, and what can be a bigger escape than an out-of-this world read? From nonfiction exploring the universe to science fiction on an interstellar ship, the Book Bingo Outer Space category lets you expand your reading to another dimension.
Adina, the protagonist of Marie-Helene Bertino’s Beautyland is a typical girl born in 1977 Philadelphia except for one thing: she’s actually an alien from another planet, communicating with her extraterrestrial brethren through a broken fax machine in her bedroom. She reports back to her “superiors” on the mannerisms and traditions of Earthlings, while they teach her to read and write from a young age. Beautyland follows Adina through her school years into college and adulthood as she struggles to make sense of the alien world around her, both literally and metaphorically.
There’s sometimes a false dichotomy between art and science, but astrophysicist and visual artist Nia Imara breaks down that dichotomy in Painting the Cosmos. Imara considers our place in the world, the connection between art and science, and how both disciplines can help us answer the big questions of the universe. “In this eye-opening and accessible book, Imara asks pivotal questions and explores humanity’s ever-evolving view of nature. Richly illustrated with spectacular full-color images of our universe and beautiful work from creators around the world—particularly the often-neglected work of women and Black artists—this one-of-a-kind book unites the realms of art, science, and culture to create a dynamic portrait of the cosmos.” (Publisher description)
Octavia Butler’s Dawn, the first book in the Xenogenesis trilogy, also sometimes published together as Lilith’s Brood, is a mind-bending, world-expanding work of science fiction that takes alien to a whole new level. Lilith Iyapo, a human (important detail), wakes as a captive on a spaceship with vague memories of a nuclear war that decimated humanity. The few human survivors have been taken by the Oankali, an alien race whose technology has far outpaced humanity, but in order to survive, humans, including Lilith, will need to submit to the Oankali to create a new hybrid race. Exploring themes of colonization, consent, and bodily autonomy, this book will stick with you far beyond finishing.
For a more traditional science fiction read, check out Yume Kitasei’s The Stardust Grail, which takes an art heist into outer space. Maya Hoshimoto is a graduate student at Princeton with a checkered past as an art thief, who gets pulled in for one last job by an old friend. The catch? This old friend is a member of an alien species called the Frenro and the object he’s looking for could save the Frenro from extinction. This space quest is filled with friendship, family, and the search for emotional redemption.
Check out the Book Bingo NW 2026: Outer Space list for more titles!
For more ideas for books to meet your Summer Book Bingo challenge, follow our Shelf Talk BookBingoNW2026 series or check the hashtag #BookBingoNW2026 on social media. Book Bingo is presented in partnership with Seattle Arts & Lectures and the King County Library System.
~posted by Jane S.
