If you would have told me 10 years ago that my favourite genre would be science fiction, I straight up would have laughed in your face. Back then, science fiction wasn’t even on my radar. But now, it’s something I look forward to ever single month! This topic goes hand in hand with my 2 part Introduction to Science Fiction post (You can find PART ONE and PART TWO here!) It’s become such a big part of my reading life that I had a hard time narrowing this list down! But I managed to do it. I also can’t wait to see everyone else’s list so that maybe I can get some new recommendations!
**** Disclaimer – my kid found head lice this morning……… dear god help me. Today shall be utter chaos! I will be sure you link all your posts as soon as I can but will comment when I have more time tonight!
Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme where I explore different topics. If you are interested in participating I would love to have you! Here is a list of my Upcoming Topics in June – please remember to ping back a specific post of mine so I get a notification and I will add you to the participants list!
DARK MATTER BY BLAKE CROUCH (adult)
This book is probably my number one (if I was forced to choose). It absolutely blew my mind and had theories spinning in my mind for months. Once the reality of this book set in, the possibilities were endless and enormous. It had everything – action, twists, character development (in a really unique way), science, and more. It also wasn’t set in space which was a wonderful change of pace with all the sci-fi I had been reading. If you want a book to keep you up until 5:00am thinking, this is it!
READY PLAYER ONE BY ERNEST CLINE (young adult)
Of course Ready Player One makes the list! This was one of the first sci-fi’s that I picked up and I was terrified. I thought that this would go a little over my head but it didn’t. In fact, I loved the science of this world so much I actually had dreams about it! It’s also not set in space. Instead it’s a dystopian earth where they use virtual reality for pretty much everything. The setting was so creative, it was wonderful to picture it in my head.
BASICALLY ANYTHING WRITTEN BY ANDY WEIR (adult)
Cheating a little bit with this one but that’s ok. Basically anything written by Andy Weir deserves to be on this list. The Martian was about a guy left on Mars and has to survive until his crew can get him off the planet. Then there’s Artemis which is about a girl who takes a dangerous job just so that she can get a place for herself. These two are so very different in terms of characters and plot, but the writing was still the same and it’s glorious!
THE LONG WAY TO A SMALL ANGRY PLANET BY BECKY CHAMBERS (adult)
This was SO good! A mix of some pretty heavy science fiction and some seriously in depth characters and relationships! Learning of all the different people (species, aliens, beings??) was such a joy. They all had different ways of life. Interacting and balancing all of that in this world was so well done!!!
THE ILLUMINAE FILES BY AMIE KAUFMAN AND JAY KRISTOFF (young adult)
This is one of my all time favourite series! The characters were great, the plot was expansive, and the format is so unique. I read this right in the beginning of my new found sci-fi obsession and fell into the black hole of the series. It’s just incredible!!! I’m sure you’ve already heard of it though, so I won’t go into any detail!
TOP 5 TUESDAY PARTICIPANTS:
- Secret Library Book Blog
- Birdie Bookworm
- Robyn Reads Books
- Kristin Kraves Books
- Kyera’s Library
- Tay’s Infinite Thoughts
- Kristina Reads
- Libby Reads
- Books And Me
- JW Martin – Storeys of Stories
- Milkz’ Bookshelf
- Books Are Only The Beginning
- Junky Writing
- DimScreen
- Shades Of Paper
- Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile
- Hanna Reads
- Bookishly Rebecca
- Stuck In Fiction
- Beware Of The Reader
I hope this topic helps people find some amazing science fiction! What would your favourites be?
Until next time, happy reading!
I’ve actually managed to join in this week here’s my link https://thesecretlibrarysite.wordpress.com/2018/05/29/top-5-tuesday-science-fiction-novels/
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I’m SO HAPPY you put Dark Matter on the list!! That book was so good!! 💖💖
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I really need to do a reread of it. It still makes me think and wonder
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Totally agree about Small Angry Planet and Ready Player One! Great choices!
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my list! http://www.booksandme.co.uk/2018/05/top-5-tuesday-top-5-sci-fi-books.html
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Adding you to the list now. Will comment later tonight 🙂
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Mine is up already, just letting you know and i have Illumanea on mine as well
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Making sure I add you to the list! Will comment later tonight 🙂
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Ok
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Ready Player One is my favorite book!
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It’s so amazing! Have you seen the movie yet? I haven’t and it’s driving me crazy! 😜
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Hell yeah, RPO! And the Illuminae files! And I almost put Artemis on my list. Almost.
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Lol I loved Artemis so much! I’m adding you to the list now and will comment later tonight 🙂
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Ready Player One made my list too! I have almost all of these on my TBR. I’m so ashamed I haven’t read all of them! ahh!
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Well now you know that I loved them so maybe you will too!!
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I’s have to include the Themis Files, even though the final book wasn’t as good as the first two. Science fiction has really surprised me the last few years.
I still love Starflight too!
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Starflight was really great. The sequel was ok but maybe not as good. I wanted to add the Themis Files but since I had just finished the last book and didn’t love it as much as I wanted to, I was too bummed to put it on the list
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I haven’t read any of these 😦 Guess I need to buff up on my Sci-Fi!!
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The list gives you something to look forward to I guess 🙂
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I have yet to read The Martian and Dark Matter. Everyone seems to love them, but sci-fi is not the genre I usually reach as often, so hopefully I’ll be reading them soon-ish 😅.
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If I was to suggest one out of those two, Dark Matter is the one! It absolutely blew my mind!!
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I’ve heard a lot about Dark Matter and you’ve finally convinced me to add it to my list! And I also put The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet of my list, it was such a fun sci-fi read.
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Dark Matter is possibly one of my all time favourites – ever!! I convinced my mom to read it and she was texting me at 3am freaking out. It’s stellar!
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Awesome! I guess I’ll have to put it on my “buy next” list!
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I still have such a hard time classifying Ready Player One as Sci-Fi, and I’m not really sure why. It’s definitely speculative fiction, and it’s NOT fantasy, so Sci-Fi is the correct genre. It just didn’t FEEL like Science Fiction to me. Whatever that means, lol.
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I know what you mean. It didn’t feel a whole like like science fiction to me either. It kind of felt like a dystopian where the characters were playing VR video games!
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Exactly!
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Oh no, head lice is one thing that I’m scared of every year, those little bastards are probably the worst my kid could get from day care. I’m sending all the sympathies for you!
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It wasn’t as bad as it was when she was a little one. This one will hopefully be manageable!
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I hardly ever read sci-fi but it looks like there’s so many amazing books that I’m missing out on! I’ve been meaning to read The Martian ever since I saw the movie a few years ago because I really enjoyed it. I’ve heard that the book is even better which makes me even more excited to read it!
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I read the book before the movie and the movie seriously disappointed me. It didn’t even touch the book! The book gave the main character so much depth and emotion. If you loved the movie then I KNOW you’re going to fall head over heels for the book!
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It’s always so disappointing when the movie misses stuff out. I’m definitely going to check out the book though!
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Haha Shanah while this became your favorite genre you made me sweat this time! I had to enroll my kids 🙂 Here is my link http://bewareofthereader.com/my-top-5-science-fiction-books-or-rather-all-the-science-fiction-that-i-have-read/
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I was wondering how you were going to handle the topic! Fantastic job 🙂
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I actually really didn’t like Artemis but The Martian is one of my favourite books. I am also really excited for A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet, I’m glad it was on your list!
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A lot of people didn’t enjoy Artemis. And I understand why they didn’t. But the vulgar nature of the main character is my type of person….. I don’t know what that says about me?? 😂
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I love Illuminae! And I can’t wait to read The Martain!
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i’ve only read illuminae and it was great! I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy!
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I hope you love them all 🙂
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I’m really sorry I missed this one because it’s such a great topic, but I’ve just started a new job while still jetlagged from vacation so it just wasn’t meant to be this month! I’ve been reading more science-fiction lately as well and I’ve found that my initial objections to sci-fi were to the image I had in my head of what the genre was (mostly male, science & technology, plot-driven rather than character-driven) and that I just had to branch out. I LOVED The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet as well, and adored the sequel even more! Ann Leckie is also high on my list of top sci-fi. Her Imperial Radch trilogy is a masterpiece of worldbuilding that zigs when you think it’s going to zag, and I highly recommend her standalone story Provenance too! Jeff VanderMeer’s Borne blew me away as well with how original and creative it is.
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There’s a free week in June so you could do this topic then! It’s the 19th I believe. Ann Leckie is on my list of authors I need to read!
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RPO and The Martian are totally in my top! I need to read Artemis soon!
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I have a feeling you’re either going to love or hate the main character in Artemis. But I’m pretty sure you’ll love her!
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I hope so! Would you compare her to any of the characters in RPO or The Martian at all?
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No. Not at all. She’s a whole different being. I LOVED her! She’s bold, brave, bad ass, fearless, sexual, vulgar, and everything in between. She also had a heart of gold behind it all. She’s one of my all time favourite characters!
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Sounds like I’m in for an exciting treat! 😀
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Yes!
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