Science Fiction
The consuming fire
John Scalzi
SCIENCE FICTION Scalzi John
Science Fiction
"The Interdependency, humanity's interstellar empire, is on the verge of collapse. The Flow, the extra-dimensional conduit that makes travel between the stars possible, is disappearing, leaving entire star systems stranded. When it goes, human civilization may go with it--unless desperate measures can be taken. Emperox Grayland II, the leader of the Interdependency, is ready to take those measures to help ensure the survival of billions. But nothing is ever that easy. Arrayed before her are those who believe the collapse of the Flow is a myth--or at the very least, an opportunity that can allow them to ascend to power. While Grayland prepares for disaster, others are preparing for a civil war, a war that will take place in the halls of power, the markets of business, and the altars of worship as much as it will take place between spaceships and battlefields. The Emperox and her allies are smart and resourceful, but so are her enemies. Nothing about this power struggle will be simple or easy... and all of humanity will be caught in its widening gyre" --
Lock in
John Scalzi
SCIENCE FICTION Scalzi John
Science Fiction, Mystery
"Fifteen years from now, a new virus sweeps the globe. 95% of those afflicted experience nothing worse than fever and headaches. Four percent suffer acute meningitis, creating the largest medical crisis in history. And one percent find themselves "locked in"--fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. One per cent doesn't seem like a lot. But in the United States, that's 1.7 million people "locked in"...including the President's wife and daughter. Spurred by grief and the sheer magnitude of the suffering, America undertakes a massive scientific initiative. Nothing can restore the ability to control their own bodies to the locked in. But then two new technologies emerge. One is a virtual-reality environment, "The Agora," in which the locked-in can interact with other humans, both locked-in and not. The other is the discovery that a few rare individuals have brains that are receptive to being controlled by others, meaning that from time to time, those who are locked in can "ride" these people and use their bodies as if they were their own. This skill is quickly regulated, licensed, bonded, and controlled. Nothing can go wrong. Certainly nobody would be tempted to misuse it, for murder, for political power, or worse..."--
Part Sci-Fi, part Mystery--Lock In has something for lovers of both! -Brian
Dark matter : a novel
Blake Crouch
FICTION Crouch Blake
Science Fiction
A mind-bending, relentlessly paced science-fiction thriller, in which an ordinary man is kidnapped, knocked unconscious--and awakens in a world inexplicably different from the reality he thought he knew.
Dark Matter is a tight, Sci-Fi thriller that also made me think about my own life. -Brian
Storm front
Jim Butcher
SCIENCE FICTION Butcher, Jim
Science Fiction
As a professional wizard, Harry Dresden knows firsthand that the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most of them don’t play well with humans. And those that do enjoy playing with humans far too much. He also knows he’s the best at what he does. Technically, he’s the only at what he does. But even though Harry is the only game in town, business—to put it mildly, stinks. So when the Chicago P.D. bring him in to consult on a double homicide committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name...
How did I miss this series when it first came out? Starring Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresdin, the only practicing detective wizard in Chicago, this series started back in 2000, Currently there are 15 books in the series, but it has also been made into graphic novels, a role playing game, and a short lived television series. The audio books, performed by James Marsters (Buffy's Spike) are addicting. You've been warned. -Beth
The sparrow
Mary Doria Russell
SCIENCE FICTION Russell, Mary Doria
Science Fiction
A visionary work that combines speculative fiction with deep philosophical inquiry, The Sparrow tells the story of a charismatic Jesuit priest and linguist, Emilio Sandoz, who leads a scientific mission entrusted with a profound task: to make first contact with intelligent extraterrestrial life. The mission begins in faith, hope, and beauty, but a series of small misunderstandings brings it to a catastrophic end.
The Sparrow is immersive. Although there is world-building, this book is much more about introspection as Father Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit priest, comes to terms on what happened on the first contact mission to the planet Rakhat. This novel is a philosophical and psychological novel (sort of Dostoevsky in space). -Anne M
Strange weather : four short novels
Joe Hill
FICTION Hill Joe
Science Fiction, Short Story
"One of America's finest horror writers" (Time magazine), Joe Hill has been hailed among legendary talents such as Peter Straub, Neil Gaiman, and Jonathan Lethem. In Strange Weather, this "compelling chronicler of human nature's continual war between good and evil," (Providence Journal-Bulletin) who "pushes genre conventions to new extremes" (New York Times Book Review) deftly expose the darkness that lies just beneath the surface of everyday life.--Amazon.com
As a Stephen King fan, I naturally am drawn to his son's books. I had been eagerly waiting for the release of this collection after reading an early release of the story, Snapshot in the magazine, Cemetery Dance. The ideas in these stories have stuck with me and I often find myself thinking back on them. -Shawna
The collapsing empire
John Scalzi
SCIENCE FICTION Scalzi John
Science Fiction
To me, The Collapsing Empire felt like a modern Dune with it's sprawling universe and political machinations. It also reminded me of Game of Thrones because of its multiple point of view characters. The author, John Scalzi, is very...I don't know, SCALZI-ish? He's definitely an author where you're either going to like him and his style or you're going to go somewhere else for your spaceship fix. I loved the book and am eagerly awaiting the next installment. -Brian
Borne
Jeff VanderMeer
SCIENCE FICTION Vanderme Jeff
Science Fiction
"From the author of the Southern Reach Trilogy comes a story about two humans, and two creatures. The humans are Rachel and Wick - a scavenger and a drug dealer - both with too many secrets and fears, ready with traps to be set and sprung. The creatures are Mord and Borne - animal, perhaps plant, maybe company discard, biotech, cruel experiment, dinner, deity, or source of spare parts"--
This is one of the weirdest books I've ever read. I loved it, but it was also kind of creepy. If you want a mind-bending post-apocalyptic romp, check this one out! -Heidi K
Brave new world
Aldous Huxley
FICTION Huxley, Aldous
Dystopian, Fiction, Classics, Science Fiction
Aldous Huxley's profoundly important classic of world literature, Brave New World is a searching vision of an unequal, technologically-advanced future where humans are genetically bred, socially indoctrinated, and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively uphold an authoritarian ruling order whose motto is "Community, Identity, Stability." - all at the cost of our freedom, humanity, and perhaps our souls.
Added by Jason
The Martian : a novel
Andy Weir
SCIENCE FICTION Weir Andy
Fiction, Science Fiction
"Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive--and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old 'human error' are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills--and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit--he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?" --
Added by Jason
The Interdependency Sequence continues, and it's just as good as "The Collapsing Empire" Start there first--this is top shelf Sci-Fi!!! -Brian