science fiction
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Science Fiction Fridays: 3 steampunks perfect for summer reading
Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells edited by Ellen Datlow A stunning collection of short stories by some of the best fantasy authors in the field that range from lush historical fantasy to thrilling steampunk, and everything in between. Plenty of revenge tales (a personal favorite of mine) and all the authors capture the Victorian period… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: The 5 best queer sci-fi reads of the decade
Farthing by Jo Walton Set in an alternate 1949 where Hitler won the war, Lucy and David become embroiled in a murder investigation and their only hope of exoneration is the work of a Scotland Yard investigator with secrets of his own. A wonderfully clever and dark murder mystery that has quite a bit to say… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: The essential Jack Vance reading list
The world said goodbye to one of the greats last week when Jack Vance died at the age of 96. Vance was one of the most sophisticated stylists in science fiction and he was known for his far-future world building and clever storytelling. If you’ve never read Jack Vance, you owe to yourself to explore… Continue reading
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Romantic Wednesdays: Time Travel Romance
The great thing about time travel romance is that I can go back to it again and again. And I probably will! There are oodles of different versions of time travel romances, and time travel stories in general. One variation that incorporates very cool elements of romance and conspiracy are time travel stories involving organizations that… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: A science fiction reading list for Mad Men’s Don Draper
The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl In an over-populated future, Mitch Courtenay follows fame and fortune as one of the best ad copywriters in the solar system. But how does one sell products on worlds were resources are scarce but the desire to consume products is overwhelming? A dark and unflinchingly hilarious look at the… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: Must-read books for the Trekkie in your life
The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord After their planet is destroyed, an alien race looks for help from humans and other races in the universe while struggling to keep their culture alive. A smart, moving novel that features alien species that will remind one of the Vulcans and Betans from Star Trek,… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: Top 5 astronauts having a bad day
What kid hasn’t dreamt of being an astronaut? Being chosen among the elite to venture into space and explore the unkown is a childhood fantasy almost everyone has indulged in. However, in the world of science fiction, being an astronaut is not exactly the safest nor glamorous profession popular culture has imagined. So here are… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: 5 sci-fi reads that would make great summer blockbusters
Extinction by Mark Alpert The Chinese military have created an artificial intelligence that is tired of being under the government’s thumb and only Jim Pierce, an ex-military officer, and his computer hacker daughter stand between mankind and total assimilation. This near-future thriller feels both cutting edge and frighteningly Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: Jurassic panic
If you’re of a certain age, the Jurassic Park movie holds a very special place in your heart. It had everything: science, action, Jeff Goldblum and most of all dinosaurs! The book was even better and turned a whole new audience on to the particular joys of Michael Crichton’s science thrillers. In preparation for the… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: A sleight of hand
The perfect weekend read for anyone who enjoys short stories with wonder, magic, heart and hidden depths that appear seemingly out of nowhere. Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link Other quirky, oddball and otherwise strange magic realism books you may enjoy Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: Fantasy to tickle your brain
Fantasy isn’t just about epic quests or magical kingdoms or ancient races of mythic creatures. It’s also about using fantastical elements to illustrate larger themes of the human experience or as a metaphor for real world issues or philosophies. So while there are plenty of epic fantasies that do tickle the brain, they often overshadow… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: Three picks for the dystopia hungry reader
Flash Point by Nancy Kress With the United States in a permanent recession, Amy is forced to participate in a reality television show where she is never sure if the dangerous threats are real or manufactured. Fast-paced and smart science fiction that manages to be gritty and frighteningly believable in its portrayal of the future. Continue reading
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Your Next 5 Books: Science fiction, satire and fantasy
In this column we regularly highlight a Your Next 5 Books submission that we find interesting, funny, unique, or useful to other readers. Submit Your Next 5 Books entry now, or stop by and see us in person, and maybe you could see your (anonymous) reading habits on Shelf Talk! Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: Science fiction mystery blends
Science Fiction and Mystery may be starkly separated genres for some, but recently I love the way they blend together in three great series. The examples below range from the lighter, funny end of things to the traditional and even the darker genre mixtures. Check them out if you’d like to see for yourself. KOP,… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: More love and triangles
Jared recently wrote about some science fiction novels with love triangles at their core. I just read two books in a recent teen series that features a great, complex love triangle while telling a compelling story of survival: Amy Kathleen Ryan’s Sky Chasers novels, Glow and Spark. Glow sets up the series beautifully, with complex characters, suspense… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: The fantastic folly of youth
It’s really not a secret that some of the best science fiction written in the past ten years has been classified as young adult. While most people acknowledge the distinction between adult and young adult science fiction does not denote quality, I find that few science fiction fans read juvenile genre fiction, besides some of the… Continue reading
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Nightstand Reads: Author Cory Doctorow tells us what he’s reading
Cory Doctorow kicks off his book tour for Homeland with a reading at the Central Library on Tuesday, February 5 (at 7 p.m.; doors at 6:30 p.m.). We asked him what he was reading, and he kindly took the time to tell us about five books that are coming out this spring. I happen to… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: Love and triangles
It may be only the beginning of February, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start talking about love. But this being a science fiction and fantasy column, we’re talking about love stories from a different angle. To be more accurate, triangles. Here are three science fiction and fantasy romances that feature all sorts of romantic… Continue reading