I have always been a huge science fiction fan. I was practically raised on Star Trek The Original Series. I am still a huge Trekkie today. Surprisingly, in the past the only science fiction I tended to read were Star Trek or Stargate novels. I found I mostly gravitated towards books in the fantasy genre. In the last ten years my tastes have broadened to just about every genre written. Over the last year or so I chose to focus more on reading mainly Science Fiction novels. These are my top picks from my year of science fiction reading. I read a few new series and explored some good oldies as well!
The Finder Chronicles by Suzanne Palmer
If you enjoyed the TV show Firefly then you will totally love The Finder Chronicles! The Finder Chronicles follow space repo man Fergus Ferguson as he hunts down stolen or missing people or property. Fergus is an immensely likable character who seems to always end up in the worst kind of trouble. In each book he is tasked with finding something (or someone) and the stakes are usually quite high. The series is set in a future where Earth still exists but humans now travel the stars and interact with many other colorful alien races. The books are filled with plenty of action, intrigue, likable characters, and humor throughout. I am currently in the middle of reading Ghostdrift, the final installment, which was published in May. It has been one wild, hilarious ride and I will be sad to say goodbye to Fergus and his cat, Mr. Feefs.
As a side note, when reading a novel set in the future I ask myself if I would like to live in that future. I have to say yes to the Finder Universe. Though it is not perfect and Earth has gone through many rough patches, the future portrayed in The Finder Chronicles is one I could see myself enjoying. Sign me up for the beach planet!
To reserve individual books in the series click the links below! I highly suggest reading them in order.
Driving the Deep by Suzanne Palmer
The Scavenger Door by Suzanne Palmer
Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis
While these books are not fresh off the press new, the newest was published in 2015. Not a Drop to Drink and the sequel In a Handful of Dust are targeted for a young adult audience, but also appeal to an adult audience. The novels are set in a not far off dystopian future where water is a very scarce commodity. The first novel, Not a Drop to Drink, focuses on the main character Lynn. Lynn has lived alone her whole life with only her mother for company. Most of their time is spent guarding their pond. If anyone comes too close to their water source they are shot and killed. Things start changing when strangers start moving into Lynn and her mother’s territory and threaten their water supply. Lynn isn’t as keen to kill as her mother is. Can Lynn trust these strangers or will they threaten her and her mother’s survival?
In a Handful of Dust takes place about ten years after the first book. Lynn and her adopted daughter start to hear rumors of a city in California that is safe and has enough water for all. Is this mythical place real? Lynn and Lucy risk all to embark on a cross country journey through uncertain territory from the fields and forests of the Midwest to the shores of California. I really enjoyed this one as through traveling with Lynn and Lucy the reader is able to see just what their world is like. These women are on foot in a dangerous world where water is scarce. It felt a lot like the Oregon trail, just in a dystopian science fiction setting.
If you enjoy YA Dystopian novels and The Hunger Games I would greatly recommend these books. I would also recommend for fans of survival stories or a different take on westward travel.
Would I choose to live in this future world? No. It also seemed to me to be too real and plausible of a future. I prefer a more hopeful outlook. ( I would also not live in The Hunger Games world but still enjoyed those!) These were still enjoyable reads with strong female characters! I also really liked the western feel of A Handful of Dust. Click the links below to request the individual novels!
Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
A Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis
Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey
Do you like dragons? Do you like spaceships? Do you like the idea of humans colonizing and surviving on alien planets? Then Dragonsdawn is a book for you! I am very late to the party on this one. Dragonsdawn, the prequel to The Dragon Riders of Pern series was originally published in 1988. I only learned of this series last year when I started my year of science fiction reading. According to my great aunt, the series was very popular in the 80s and 90s and I am relying on her suggestions as to reading order. This is the first one I have read though it is not the first published. I do plan to read the rest of the series as I want to find out how the colony fairs!
I have had a love of everything dragon since I watched my father play Draken: The Order of the Flame computer game when I was a little girl. This book only reinforced my dream of having my own dragon to ride and be friends with. The book takes place in a future where humans (and dolphins) are colonizing other planets and interacting with alien species. The story follows a group of these people and their families as they set about colonizing the uninhabited planet of Pern. Pern is meant to be a new start. The colonists want this to be a place where people live off of the land like the Earth homesteaders of old. It is supposed to be a place free of political drama where people are free to do their own thing. On the plus side, the colonists befriend tiny semi-sentient fire breathing flying lizards that serve as pets. ( I want one). This idyllic lifestyle comes crashing down when these grey slimy slug-like things starts raining down in storms destroying all organic material. (They can clean a cow of all skin and organs in a matter of seconds.) Only fire seems to be able to stave off this threat. If only those tiny lizard creatures were bigger! Luckily the colony consists of scientists from many different disciplines. The geneticists are able to take the DNA of the small flying lizards and make them bigger! Will the Dragons and Dragon Riders be able to save their new world from the menace from the sky?
Would I like to live on Pern? I would like to as long as I get my own dragon! If not I would live there as a terribly jealous alpaca farmer. I do want my own dragon, but I would not be able to support his or her lifestyle living in Sheboygan. They need a lot of space and need to eat at least 2-3 cows or sheep per week! I would like one of the mini dragonets though!
Request this title by clicking the link! Dragonsdawn by Anne McCafferey
Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Warped by K.W. Jeter
Being a huge Trekkie, it would be very unlike me to not include a Star Trek novel selection in my science fiction reads. I have been rereading through the original Deep Space Nine novels and this is my pick.
If you like your science fiction with a side of murder mystery this one is for you! There is a murder spree on Deep Space Nine. Mysterious new holodecks have appeared on the station. It seems that anyone who uses them are turned into cold blooded killers. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the killings. People who use the new holodecks just snap. Where did the holodecks come from? Who is behind the new technology? Will the next killer be Captain Sisko’s own son?
This one was quite dark and reminded me of a good thriller movie. Even if you have not seen any Deep Space Nine I think you would be able to get into this novel. There is a lot of dark twisted imagery, political intrigue, detective work, and religious cults. The ending still sticks with me as the author did a good job of depicting dark and disturbing mood and imagery.
Would I live in the world of Star Trek Deep Space Nine? Yes! I always wanted to live in the world of Star Trek. As a child I dreamed of attending Star Fleet Academy and serving on Voyager. However, in my adult years I have realized I would instead be a space archeologist like Vash from The Next Generation (with ties to a real academic institute and not a THEIF like Vash.) Either that or start my own space time travel library like Mr. Atoz.
Request this title by clicking the following link: Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Warped by K.W. Jeter
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