4 sci-fi books worth your time (that aren't Star Wars)

Happy May the 4th anyway though

Star Wars day just happened, I think — none of these books are Star Wars-related, it just seemed like a good excuse to write this newsletter.

So here’s my problem. “Science Fiction” is not specific enough of a genre name. Oh, it has science? Oh, it has fiction? Great. Thank you.

I could be getting Frankenstein or Dune or The Sirens of Titan.

So as a genius move I spent three minutes this morning dividing every sci-fi book into three categories. They are:

• Space Princess, Pew Pew

• Aliens Are Coming, Here!

• Physics.

On further consideration there is also a fourth category.

• Oops! (We Made a Monster)

This list is definitive and perfect in every way. So here’s one recommendation for each category!

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1. Space Princess, Pew Pew

Brief Overview Of Subgenre: These books don’t need a princess, per se. What they DO need is to basically feel like a fantasy novel that just happens to have lasers (hence the Pew Pew). Star Wars is maybe the quintessential Space Princess, Pew Pew story.

But today’s recommendation is: Red Rising (and trilogy) by Pierce Brown.

“On Mars there is not much gravity. So you have to pull the feet to break the neck.”

Two Sentence Summary: In a future society, set on Mars and other planets, there’s an oppressive social order. Golds run the world, Reds are at the bottom, and the Reds Don’t Like It.

What’s Good About It: Like most SPPP (Space Princess, Pew Pew) stories, Red Rising is all about the adventure. You’re reading this for pure enjoyment. Will you learn some things? Maybe. Will you watch people scream, bleed, betray each other, make up again, and overturn an entire society? For sure.

How To Enjoy: This is one of those books that works AMAZINGLY as an audiobook. It took me a second to get used to the narrator, but he is FANTASTIC. I listened to all three books in the trilogy on very long road trips this past year. I’m sure it works as a paperback too — but if you’re driving cross country, queue this up.

You Might Not Like: If you’re listening as an audiobook on a drive, be ready for the Irish narrator to say “Piss” and “Blood” a lot, and for your wife to wake up in the passenger seat and ask what in the world are you listening to. Somehow she will only wake up during scenes where there is a lot of piss and blood.

And One More Note: I know there are more books in this series — but personally I stopped after the first trilogy. It ends really well, I’m satisfied. No need to continue.

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2. Aliens Are Coming, Here!

Brief Overview Of Subgenre: Gotta take place on Earth, almost always. And aliens are coming! Sometimes they make it to Earth. Sometimes we fight them way out in space. But they’re coming, here!

Today’s recommendation is: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.

“What is it next time? My army in a cage without guns, with the rest of the Battle School against them?”

Two Sentence Summary: Aliens are coming! Ender is a genius kid who gets recruited by the military to Battle School where he and other students train in zero-gravity war simulations.

What’s Good About It: AACH (Aliens Are Coming, Here!) stories break down into two parts: Training and Fighting. They spend some time working on technology, tactics, whatever, then there’s some clashy clash. This book does a tremendous job in the Training phase. The descriptions of Battle School are truly amazing. You’ll really see it and feel the impact.

How To Enjoy: Read it.

You Might Not Like: If you saw the movie and thought it was “meh” — you were right. The movie sort of stinks. Not to be that guy. But if you saw the movie, and you feel like it spoiled too much of the story for you, maybe you wouldn’t like reading it? But honestly I think the writing is strong enough that you’d still love it.

You Should Know: I bought a copy at Goodwill for one dollar three years ago. My wife just pointed out that it is a SIGNED copy. So.

This is Orson Scott Card’s signature, in my 99 cent copy of Ender’s Game.

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3. Physics.

Brief Overview Of Subgenre: There is actual science involved. And the characters will explain it, to each other and to you.

Today’s recommendation is: The Three-Body Problem (and trilogy) by Liu Cixin.

“Have you seen three suns? Or know anyone who has?” Galileo asked.

Two Sentence Summary (Almost Impossible to Do): Humanity’s science has come to a screeching halt, and all our particle accelerators are giving faulty data, and then there are aliens coming, but not for four hundred years, and some people want the aliens to come because they’re so sick and tired of humanity. And that is sort of the setup.

What’s Good About It: Yes, it’s got science, but it’s not a textbook. It is one of the most sprawling epic stories I’ve ever read, spanning huge chunks of space and time. Characters live, hibernate, wake up, die. We meet so many people over the course of the trilogy and somehow Liu makes us care about them.

Also, you will maybe feel smart at certain points. And dumb at others. (Which is good for us, once in awhile, I think.)

How To Enjoy: Do not attempt this as an audiobook! I don’t even know if it exists but I imagine it would be impossible. Read the paperbacks.

You Might Not Like: Look, there IS action, but this is not a SPPP or AACH story. If you’re looking for laser battles, see those previous categories.

You Should Know: You will want to buy a telescope after reading these.

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4. Oops! (We Made a Monster)

Brief Overview Of Subgenre: This is when scientists have been on the verge of a breakthrough, and then they break through, and then the breakthrough kills a lot of people. Scientists, am I right?

Today’s recommendation is: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.

“He won’t drown,” Muldoon said. “Never seen an animal that was harder to kill.”

Two Sentence Summary: Come on, you’ve seen the movie. Dinosaurs! Eat People!

What’s Good About It: Being terrified by a dinosaur at the movies is one thing. Being terrified in a book is another. For one, you can be terrified for longer.

How To Enjoy: Maybe throw on some Jurassic Park ambience.

You Might Not Like: If you’re lame!

You Should Know: This didn’t really happen, guys. It’s a book. Don’t be nervous.

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And that’s it! The definitive guide! Maybe soon I’ll give some more examples for each category — but drop your own suggestions for Space Princess, Pew Pew / Aliens Are Coming, Here! etc. in the comments below.

If you enjoyed these recommendations and would like new ones next month, you can sign up here! And if you think a friend might enjoy getting book recommendations, you can forward this to them. If you’re a friend who got forwarded this, hello!

Happy reading!

-Tim

P.S. I’m trying out using Amazon affiliate links for the books — so if you do purchase from any of the links in here, I make a little money. However, I personally almost always buy books USED, in person or on ThriftBooks.com — so that’s honestly the method I recommend. Or hit up the library (= free!).

But if you’re more of an Amazon person, the links are there for you to use. Happy reading either way!