science fiction
66 books.
read
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (The Carls, #1)
by: Hank Green
"Read on a recommendation from my husband, I came in to the book expecting some variation of the YA sci-fi, futuristic trope. Which I have had enough of. I was pleasantly surprised.
The protagonist was a terrible person (not unusual for YA), but in a way that was relatable and understandable. The story arc was interesting, although it was told from a high-level. Often the narrator gave summaries of what happened over several weeks and months - as if it were a memoir. There was not a lot of character development besides the narrator, but the novel had a lot to do. (1) Develop a complicated sci-fi mystery, (2) grow the narrator through some crazy circumstances and huge character flaws, and (3) expound on some huge, important cultural issues.
The novel dealt with a lot of big issues including handling fame and more importantly (in my opinion) the way that we relate to people with different opinions than us. Hank had so many insightful things to say about the media, political pundits, and how we should form opinions and support them in healthy ways. He described the political world we live in accurately - a world I often find completely hopeless. But he brought it back around and pointed a way forward - maybe an idealistic vision, but it was still inspiring (and not partisan). "
- katelynn
10/13/2018
The protagonist was a terrible person (not unusual for YA), but in a way that was relatable and understandable. The story arc was interesting, although it was told from a high-level. Often the narrator gave summaries of what happened over several weeks and months - as if it were a memoir. There was not a lot of character development besides the narrator, but the novel had a lot to do. (1) Develop a complicated sci-fi mystery, (2) grow the narrator through some crazy circumstances and huge character flaws, and (3) expound on some huge, important cultural issues.
The novel dealt with a lot of big issues including handling fame and more importantly (in my opinion) the way that we relate to people with different opinions than us. Hank had so many insightful things to say about the media, political pundits, and how we should form opinions and support them in healthy ways. He described the political world we live in accurately - a world I often find completely hopeless. But he brought it back around and pointed a way forward - maybe an idealistic vision, but it was still inspiring (and not partisan). "
- katelynn
10/13/2018
Klara and the Sun
by: Kazuo Ishiguro
1Q84 (1Q84 #1-3)
by: Haruki Murakami
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The Giver (The Giver, #1)
by: Lois Lowry
"What the heck just happened? I'm completely reeling from the ending.
This whole book was completely absorbing and wonderful."
- katelynn
10/08/2020
This whole book was completely absorbing and wonderful."
- katelynn
10/08/2020
Spoonbenders
by: Daryl Gregory
The Only Harmless Great Thing
by: Brooke Bolander
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Project Hail Mary
by: Andy Weir
"4.5
I don't understand how Andy Weir manages to handle topics that are so dark and so serious with such a light touch. This was so much fun, just like The Martian. I did skim a bit of the more technical portions, but I was here for the touching moments! And what a great ending."
- katelynn
11/24/2021
I don't understand how Andy Weir manages to handle topics that are so dark and so serious with such a light touch. This was so much fun, just like The Martian. I did skim a bit of the more technical portions, but I was here for the touching moments! And what a great ending."
- katelynn
11/24/2021
11/22/63
by: Stephen King
The Twenty Days of Turin
by: Giorgio De Maria
The Humans
by: Matt Haig
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Dirk Gently, #1)
by: Douglas Adams
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Dark Matter
by: Blake Crouch
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Cloud Atlas
by: David Mitchell
Binti (Binti, #1)
by: Nnedi Okorafor
Space
by: James A. Michener
Oona Out of Order
by: Margarita Montimore
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Recursion
by: Blake Crouch
"Good grief. Just like with Dark Matter, this wrinkled my brain and warmed my heart. Also like Dark Matter, it is a perfect movie concept."
- katelynn
06/07/2020
- katelynn
06/07/2020
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The Martian
by: Andy Weir
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Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)
by: Suzanne Collins
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Those Left Behind (Serenity #1)
by: Joss Whedon
Pandora's Star (Commonwealth Saga, #1)
by: Peter F. Hamilton
1Q84 (1Q84, #1-3)
by: Haruki Murakami
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Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, #1)
by: James S.A. Corey
"This was everything I had hoped it would be. It was completely immersive with great characters (at least the main two characters were pretty well developed). Getting back on the Roci was like reuniting with old friends!
I definitely think the book is easier to follow if you've seen the show. Especially if you're doing audio."
- katelynn
09/20/2020
I definitely think the book is easier to follow if you've seen the show. Especially if you're doing audio."
- katelynn
09/20/2020
To Be Taught, If Fortunate
by: Becky Chambers
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
by: Christopher Paolini
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The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan, #1)
by: Robert Jackson Bennett
"3.5
What a crazy world! And a wild and unique detective. Our hero was easy to root for.
Overall well-written it just dragged and I got lost a bit. I think definitely read the print, don't do audio with this one, unless you can really focus."
- katelynn
05/01/2024
What a crazy world! And a wild and unique detective. Our hero was easy to root for.
Overall well-written it just dragged and I got lost a bit. I think definitely read the print, don't do audio with this one, unless you can really focus."
- katelynn
05/01/2024
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Caliban's War (The Expanse, #2)
by: James S.A. Corey
Followers
by: Megan Angelo
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Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)
by: Orson Scott Card
After the Flood
by: Kassandra Montag
The Dreamers
by: Karen Thompson Walker
The City We Became (Great Cities #1)
by: N.K. Jemisin
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Light from Uncommon Stars
by: Ryka Aoki
Time After Time
by: Lisa Grunwald
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1)
by: Douglas Adams
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Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1)
by: Pierce Brown
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The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)
by: Suzanne Collins
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Babylon’s Ashes (The Expanse, #6)
by: James S.A. Corey
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The Light Pirate
by: Lily Brooks-Dalton
Moon of the Crusted Snow
by: Waubgeshig Rice
The Power
by: Naomi Alderman
Moon of the Crusted Snow (Moon, #1)
by: Waubgeshig Rice
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Golden Son (Red Rising Saga, #2)
by: Pierce Brown
"The difference in ratings between the first and second book in this series should be more than one star, but I don't want to go back and lower my rating of the first book. This story matures the protagonist and the level of story-telling. It takes the series from just another teen distopia to a complex, fleshed-out epic with so much great detail in world-building, history and philosophy. I was riveted."
- katelynn
10/11/2016
- katelynn
10/11/2016
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Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
by: Damian Duffy
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Kindred
by: Octavia E. Butler
"Wow, this 5 star was ... unexpected. It starts off really simple. I was not impressed with the initial setup of characters and the time travel theme. But, boy, does Butler ratchet up the tension and complexity! I ended completely overwhelmed. There's so so much to consider and discuss. She does not back down from any difficult ideas or grey areas. She faces them head on, showing human brokenness and defending dignity. "
- katelynn
12/04/2019
- katelynn
12/04/2019
Artemis
by: Andy Weir
Enchantress from the Stars (Elana, #1)
by: Sylvia Engdahl
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World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
by: Max Brooks
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On a Sunbeam
by: Tillie Walden
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Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)
by: Suzanne Collins
The Passage (The Passage, #1)
by: Justin Cronin
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A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor (The Carls, #2)
by: Hank Green
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The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)
by: Becky Chambers
"Most of this was pretty slow, riding at a 2.5. It was just SO MUCH world building- and a little preachy. But the ending tied it up well with lots of plot and lots of feels. I think I’ll try the second one!"
- katelynn
08/06/2022
- katelynn
08/06/2022
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Polaris Rising (Consortium Rebellion, #1)
by: Jessie Mihalik
A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot, #1)
by: Becky Chambers
The Echo Wife
by: Sarah Gailey
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Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park, #1)
by: Michael Crichton
"Like a lot of science fiction, this book had a well-developed concept and riveting plotline with it's main flaw being shallow and uninteresting characters. Overall a very entertaining read!"
- katelynn
08/23/2014
- katelynn
08/23/2014
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Morning Star (Red Rising Saga, #3)
by: Pierce Brown
"Good. Grief. What an amazing end to an epic saga! This book made me laugh and cry, brought me high and low. It felt so real, so genuine - The author portrayed the war, politics, and relationships with such complexity. Nothing was black and white. In the end the best thing about all of the books was the relationships. They were beautifully developed and really inspiring."
- katelynn
11/09/2016
- katelynn
11/09/2016
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I Who Have Never Known Men
by: Jacqueline Harpman
Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre
by: Max Brooks