To the Reluctant Science Fiction Reader

If you are a reluctant Sci-Fi reader you may think that the genre is all about spaceships, aliens, or dense technobabble. But, science fiction is so much more than that - it’s a playground for big ideas, a way to explore human nature, and often, a mirror reflecting our present and future. Science fiction is such a huge genre covering time travel and artificial intelligence to dystopian societies and alternate histories. You can find stories grounded in reality or ones that stretch the imagination beyond its limits. They are often social commentaries disguised as futuristic adventures and, oh yeah, they are full of incredible storytelling. Here are a few that I love that I hope you will try. 

Love Minus Eighty by Will McIntosh - I would recommend this book to anyone, even those who are not into Science Fiction or Romance. This book is about a complicated future where love and life is dependent upon money, social media and the ever changing technology. Love Minus Eighty follows several characters who try to navigate romantic relationships through a world that celebrates “perfection”. Love Minus Eighty can be checked out at the library or as an eBook on Bridges.

​The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - This is a space opera …yes a space opera! Originally self-published, it is a comforting book about a group of friends who fly through the galaxy completing various missions. This book can be found on Bridges both eBook and audiobook.

​​The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin - This is a brilliant mix of fantasy and science fiction about a planet that goes through a “fifth season” every few centuries where catastrophic climate change occurs. You can check out all three books in this series starting with The Fifth Season at the library.

What are some of your favorite Sci-Fi books?

Robin Munson, Adult Programming & Grant Specialist Librarian