My Summer of Science Fiction - The Top 3

I try to read a variety of books but while reviewing my reading list from this past summer I noticed that 5 of the books I read fall in to the sci-fi category. I do like science fiction, but 5 in a row?! That’s a bit unusual for me. Maybe this summer I was looking for a bit of escapism. Anyway, the books below are excellent, even for those who don’t normally wander into the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section of the bookstore.

1. Planetfall

I think my favorite book of the summer was Planetfall by Emma Newman. I didn't know much about this book when I picked it up and it kept me guessing. It’s the story of a small group of colonists who establish a carefully planned and seemingly harmonious society on a far-away planet. When a mysterious stranger shows up their world is thrown into disarray. It started out reading like hard science fiction and ended up a metaphysical novel. Along the way it became a character driven story about grief, mental illness and what makes us human. Surprising and fast-paced.

2. After Atlas

I enjoyed Planetfall so much, I decided to pick up Newman’s companion novel After Atlas, a plot-driven sci-fi detective novel. Although set in the same universe as Planetfall, it’s not really a sequel. It picks up 40 years after Planetfall when Detective Moreno, whose mother abandoned him to join the Planetfall mission, must solve the murder of a cult-leader who was also connected to the mission. Newman takes current issues around corporatization of government, religious freedom, food supply and technology and extrapolates them to create a plausible and terrifying future. But aside from that, this is just a good, page-turner of a story.

3. The Wanderers

And the last of my top 3 is The Wanderers by Meg Howrey. I really liked the Wanderers, but am a little hesitant to recommend it. The story concerns 3 astronauts sent on a simulated 17 month mission to Mars. Howrey includes plenty of technical details for sci-fi fans, but the book really focuses on the astronauts' inner journeys as they are forced to confront what they reveal and what they keep hidden, from those closest to them and from themselves. The book explores the nature of reality, how we define ourselves, as men, women, parents, crew members, lovers, and humans (and potentially Martians?). The characters are well drawn and the author has a dry sense of humor. If you enjoy literary fiction don't let the space part scare you off and if you enjoy science fiction, don't come in expecting a lot of plot and action.

The other 2 sci-fi novels I read over the summer I did not enjoy as much. More on those in another post.

Do you have any other great sci-fi titles I should add to my reading list?