Entries by Discover Sci-Fi

Which Secondary or Ensemble Sci-Fi Characters Deserve Their Own Spin-off?

April 22, 2021 /3 Comments/in , /by

Sometimes the best characters in our favorite books aren't the ones who get top billing; often, they are secondary characters, or those who shine despite time among a large cast. If you are like us and have dreamed of seeing your favorite secondary or ensemble character get their own spin-off book or series, this week's poll is for you!

Add your picks to the poll below, or to the one in our Facebook group. This round, you can nominate and vote for as many characters as you'd like; we'll pin you down to one selection next week.

*As alway this list is made up by combining votes from this blog and our Facebook group.  

Which Secondary or Ensemble Sci-Fi Characters Deserve Their Own Spin-off?

  • Add your answer

Results


 

Time to Decide: Which Sci-Fi Books or Series Haven’t Been Made Into a TV Series or Movie… But Should Be!

September 30, 2020 /21 Comments/in , /by

Last week we put out a call for your favorite sci-fi books or series that have yet to be brought to the screen and WOW were you guys ever full of great suggestions! Between the blog and the Discover Sci-Fi Facebook group, there were over 100 titles nominated and hundreds—no, thousands—of votes were cast. This week ten of those titles are advancing to the second round of voting, and now...

Now, it's time to decide.

We narrowed down the list of your nominations to the ten most voted for, and now it's time to figure out what the best ones are out of this group!

*As always this list is made up by combining votes from this blog and our Facebook group.  

Time to Decide: Which Sci-Fi Books or Series Haven’t Been Made Into a TV Series or Movie… But Should Be!

Results


 

Which Sci-Fi Books or Series Haven’t Been Made Into a TV Series or Movie… But Should Be!

September 24, 2020 /26 Comments/in , /by

“Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They both are fruit, but taste completely different.” ― Stephen King

The release of yet another Dune movie is upon us. 
While many of us will watch and some of us are sure it will be amazing, it's safe to say most of us can probably agree that we've seen enough remakes and reboots. It's time for some fresh material to be translated from page to screen! Because even if the result is incomparable, as King suggests, it's always exciting to see how our favorites will be adapted, and whether the results are good or bad, it's fun to discuss where filmmakers got it right, and where they got it horribly wrong.  

Considering all the great books out there that haven't yet made it to the big (or little) screen, which titles would you most love to see up lit up on the marquee? We've kickstarted the list with some we'd love to see, but as always, this is a democratic process and we are excited to hear your nominations!  Please nominate as many as you'd like here or in our Facebook group and remember that for this opening round, you can vote for as many as you'd like as well! 

Which Sci-Fi Books or Series Haven’t Been Made Into a TV Series or Movie… But Should Be!

  • Add your answer

Results


 

Military Sci-Fi That Nails the Military!

November 17, 2022 /3 Comments/in , /by

“The noblest fate that a man can endure is to place his own mortal body between his loved home and the war’s desolation.” — Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers

If you're a military sci-fi fan who especially loves those books that aim to give a realistic sense of military life and action, you're going to want to add these books to your queue. Or—for those well-worn favorites—tee them up for a re-read!

A few of the writers with books featured this week have even served in the military themselves, and as such are combining their writing chops with first-hand experience; all of the authors featured are incredible story tellers, and so you are sure to find something here that will have you utterly enthralled! 

  

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

In Robert A. Heinlein’s controversial Hugo Award-winning bestseller, a recruit of the future goes through the toughest boot camp in the Universe—and into battle against mankind’s most alarming enemy...

Johnnie Rico never really intended to join up—and definitely not the infantry. But now that he’s in the thick of it, trying to get through combat training harder than anything he could have imagined, he knows everyone in his unit is one bad move away from buying the farm in the interstellar war the Terran Federation is waging against the Arachnids.

Because everyone in the Mobile Infantry fights. And if the training doesn’t kill you, the Bugs are more than ready to finish the job...

Read Starship Troopers
here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

In this novel, a landmark of science fiction that began as an MFA thesis for the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and went on to become an award-winning classic—inspiring a play, a graphic novel, and most recently an in-development film—man has taken to the stars, and soldiers fighting the wars of the future return to Earth forever alienated from their home.

Conscripted into service for the United Nations Exploratory Force, a highly trained unit built for revenge, physics student William Mandella fights for his planet light years away against the alien force known as the Taurans. “Mandella’s attempt to survive and remain human in the face of an absurd, almost endless war is harrowing, hilarious, heartbreaking, and true,” says Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist Junot Díaz—and because of the relative passage of time when one travels at incredibly high speed, the Earth Mandella returns to after his two-year experience has progressed decades and is foreign to him in disturbing ways.

Based in part on the author’s experiences in Vietnam, The Forever War is regarded as one of the greatest military science fiction novels ever written, capturing the alienation that servicemen and women experience even now upon returning home from battle. It shines a light not only on the culture of the 1970s in which it was written, but also on our potential future. “To say that The Forever War is the best science fiction war novel ever written is to damn it with faint praise. It is . . . as fine and woundingly genuine a war story as any I’ve read” (William Gibson).

Pick up The Forever War
here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Trading in Danger (Vatta's War Book 1) by Elizabeth Moon

Kylara Vatta is the only daughter in a family full of sons, and her father’s only child to buck tradition by choosing a military career instead of joining the family business. For Ky, it’s no contest: Even running the prestigious Vatta Transport Ltd. shipping concern can’t hold a candle to shipping out as an officer aboard an interstellar cruiser. It’s adventure, not commerce, that stirs her soul. And despite her family’s misgivings, there can be no doubt that a Vatta in the service will prove a valuable asset. But with a single error in judgment, it all comes crumbling down.

Expelled from the Academy in disgrace–and returning home to her humiliated family, a storm of high-profile media coverage, and the gaping void of her own future–Ky is ready to face the inevitable onslaught of anger, disappointment, even pity. But soon after opportunity’s door slams shut, Ky finds herself with a ticket to ride– and a shot at redemption–as captain of a Vatta Transport ship.

It’s a simple assignment: escorting one of the Vatta fleet’s oldest ships on its final voyage . . . to the scrapyard. But keeping it simple has never been Ky’s style. And even though her father has provided a crew of seasoned veterans to baby-sit the fledgling captain on her maiden milk run, they can’t stop Ky from turning the routine mission into a risky venture–in the name of turning a profit for Vatta Transport, of course.

By snapping up a lucrative delivery contract defaulted on by a rival company, and using part of the proceeds to upgrade her condemned vehicle, Ky aims to prove she’s got more going for her than just her family’s famous name. But business will soon have to take a backseat to bravery, when Ky’s change of plans sails her and the crew straight into the middle of a colonial war. For all her commercial savvy, it’s her military training and born-soldier’s instincts that Ky will need to call on in the face of deadly combat, dangerous mercenaries, and violent mutiny. .

Get your copy of Trading in Danger  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

City of Pearl by Karen Traviss

Three separate alien societies have claimson Cavanagh's Star. But the new arrivals -- the gethes from Earth -- now threaten thetenuous balance of a coveted world.

Environmental Hazard Enforcement officer Shan Frankland agreed to lead a mission to Cavanagh's Star, knowing that 150 years would elapse before she could finally return home. But her landing, with a small group of scientists and Marines, has not gone unnoticed by Aras, the planet's designated guardian. An eternally evolving world himself, this sad, powerful being has already obliterated millions of alien interlopers and their great cities to protect the fragile native population. Now Shan and her party -- plus the small colony of fundamentalist humans who preceded them -- could face a similar annihilation . . . or a fate far worse. Because Aras possesses a secret of the blood that would be disastrous if it fell into human hands -- if the gethes survive the impending war their coming has inadvertently hastened.

Read City of Pearl here on Amazon. 

Old Man's War by John Scalzi

John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.

The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-and aliens willing to fight for them are common. The universe, it turns out, is a hostile place.

So: we fight. To defend Earth (a target for our new enemies, should we let them get close enough) and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has gone on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.

Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force, which shields the home planet from too much knowledge of the situation. What's known to everybody is that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve your time at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.

John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine-and what he will become is far stranger.

Grab Old Man's War here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this list of military sci-fi reads that nail the military, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a top 10 list or any other articles of interest go up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

The Risen Empire by Scott Westerfeld

The undead Emperor has ruled his mighty interstellar empire of eighty human worlds for sixteen hundred years. Because he can grant a form of eternal life, creating an elite known as the Risen, his power has been absolute. He and his sister, the Child Empress, who is eternally a little girl, are worshiped as living gods. No one can touch them.

Not until the Rix, machine-augmented humans who worship very different gods: AI compound minds of planetary extent. The Rix are cool, relentless fanatics, and their only goal is to propagate such AIs throughout the galaxy. They seek to end, by any means necessary, the Emperor's prolonged tyranny of one and supplant it with an eternal cybernetic dynasty of their own. They begin by taking the Child Empress hostage. Captain Laurent Zai of the Imperial Frigate Lynx is tasked with her rescue.

Separated by light-years, bound by an unlikely love, Zai and pacifist senator Nara Oxham must each in their own way, face the challenge of the Rix, and they each will hold the fate of the empire in their hands. The Risen Empire is the first great space opera of the twenty-first century.

Get your copy of The Risen Empire 
here on Amazon. 

Terms of Enlistment by Marko Kloos

The year is 2108, and the North American Commonwealth is bursting at the seams. For welfare rats like Andrew Grayson, there are only two ways out of the crime-ridden and filthy welfare tenements: You can hope to win the lottery and draw a ticket on a colony ship settling off-world . . . or you can join the service.

With the colony lottery a pipe dream, Andrew chooses to enlist in the armed forces for a shot at real food, a retirement bonus, and maybe a ticket off Earth. But as he starts a career of supposed privilege, he soon learns that the good food and decent health care come at a steep price . . . and that the settled galaxy holds far greater dangers than military bureaucrats or the gangs that rule the slums.

The debut novel from Marko Kloos, Terms of Enlistment is an addition to the great military sci-fi tradition of Robert Heinlein, Joe Haldeman, and John Scalzi.

Dive into Terms of Enlistment
here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Marines (Crimson Worlds Book 1) by Jay Allan

Erik Cain joined the Marines to get off death row. The deal was simple; enlist to fight in space and he would be pardoned for all his crimes.

In the 23rd Century, assault troops go to war wearing AI-assisted, nuclear-powered armor, but it is still warriors and blood that win battles. From one brutal campaign to the next, Erik and his comrades fight an increasingly desperate war over the resource rich colony worlds that have become vital to the economies of Earth's exhausted and despotic Superpowers.

Erik rises through the ranks and becomes a deadly warrior, and he finally finds a home, first with the Marines who fight at his side and later among the colonists - men and women who have dared to leave everything behind to build a new society on the frontier, one where the freedoms and rights lost long ago on Earth are preserved.

But causes can be fleeting and loyalties complex. Amidst the blood and death and sacrifice, Erik begins to wonder. Is he fighting the right war? And who is the real enemy?

Get your copy of Marines here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Star Shroud by Ken Lozito

They’ve been watching us for hundreds of years.
Now they need our help.
Earth is not safe.

Zack is good at finding things, but when he discovers a global conspiracy, life as he knows it is over. Sometimes the truth doesn’t set you free. It traps you instead.

Kept secret for 60 years, the discovery of an alien signal forces an unlikely team to investigate a mysterious structure discovered in the furthest reaches of the solar system. Join the crew of the Athena, Earth’s most advanced spaceship on the ultimate journey beyond our wildest imagining.

Strap yourself in. The Star Shroud is the first book in this action-packed space opera series. Readers describe them as “a cross between David Weber and John Ringo.” If you like space opera adventure stories with clever heroes, impossible situations, and chilling discoveries, then you’re in for a fun nonstop thrill ride. Read it now!

Start reading Star Shroud  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Warship (Black Fleet Trilogy Book 1) by Joshua Dalzelle

2015 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Science Fiction
From Joshua Dalzelle, author of the bestselling "Omega Force” series, comes an all new vision of humanity's future.

In the 25th century humans have conquered space. The advent of faster-than-light travel has opened up hundreds of habitable planets for colonization, and humans have exploited the virtually limitless space and resources for hundreds of years with impunity.

So complacent have they become with the overabundance that armed conflict is a thing of the past, and their machines of war are obsolete and decrepit. What would happen if they were suddenly threatened by a terrifying new enemy? Would humanity fold and surrender, or would they return to their evolutionary roots and meet force with force? One ship—and one captain—will soon be faced with this very choice. Against incredible odds, Jackson Wolfe is determined to save humanity–and in the process, might end up saving himself.

Grab Warship
here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Have you read any of these incredible military sci-fi reads? Which ones will make their way into your (e)bookshelf or into your ears? Have one you feel really nails it that didn't appear on our list? Give it a shout out in the comments here, or over in the Discover Sci-Fi Facebook group! 

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

The Top 10 Historical Sci-Fi Books Of All Time!

September 15, 2020 /3 Comments/in , /by

"The purpose of history is to explain the present--to say why the world around us is the way it is. History tells us what is important in our world, and how it came to be". — Michael Crichton, Timeline 

Whether they take us back in time to 2000 B.C, to 14th century France, or to the USA on the brink of WWI; whether they really make us think, or are just pure fun, we can all agree that there is something for every reader on this list, and there is no doubt that which ever you pick up, you'll emerge from the pages understanding the present just a little better. But only one of these truly outstanding books could come out on top. Any guesses as to which one it was?

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are your top choices for the best historical sci-fi books of all time!  

10. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Many of us were surprised to learn that it was only just this month that Octavia E. Butler first made the New York Times Best Seller list for her book The Parable of the Sower. This achievement was one of her life goals, and while we celebrate her success, we’re sorry she never got to see this particular goal come to fruition. 

Butler's book Kindred, the 10th on our list, has yet to make the NYT Best Seller list, but remains a relevant, powerful, and compelling time travel narrative that is notable in the way it explores slavery of the antebellum south. Like The Parable of the Sower, Kindred is an absolute must read so if you haven’t yet, make sure you pick it up!

Dana, a modern black woman, is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday with her new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save him. Dana is drawn back repeatedly through time to the slave quarters, and each time the stay grows longer, more arduous, and more dangerous until it is uncertain whether or not Dana's life will end, long before it has a chance to begin.

Read Kindred here on Amazon

9. The Destroyermen series by Taylor Anderson

I committed an unforgivable sin in college. I wrote a paper on the Battle of Shiloh—and proceeded to speculate about what might have happened had A. S. Johnson noticed he was bleeding rather badly from a relatively superficial wound. I proposed that the simple application of a tourniquet at the proper time might have altered the course of the battle, possibly the war—ALL OF HISTORY! My professor was horrified, and gave me a “C.” At the same time, however, I got bitten by the “what if” bug. —Taylor Anderson

This June, 12 years after publishing Into the Storm, the first book his epic Destroyermen series, Taylor Anderson's series came to a close with the publication of the 15th and final book, Winds of Wrath. Anderson’s career as a history professor, his expertise in gun making, and experience as a forensic ballistic archaeologist provide a great background for his writing in this sub-genre in which he transports the crew of the USS Walker (among others) back in time and to an alternate earth.

Pressed into service when World War II breaks out in the Pacific, the US Walker—a Great War-era destroyer—finds itself retreating from pursuing Japanese battleships. Its captain, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Patrick Reddy, desperately leads the Walker into a squall, hoping it will give them cover—only to emerge into an alternate world. A world where two species have evolved: the cat-like Lemurians and the reptilian Griks, and they are at war.

With its power and weaponry, the Walker's very existence could alter the balance of power. And for Reddy and his crew, who have the means to turn a primitive war into a genocidal Armageddon, one thing becomes clear. They must determine whose side they're on. Because whichever species they choose is the winner.

Read Into the Storm here on Amazon.

8. Time's Eye by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter

"Quick: you're a writer, and you want to do a story in which Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan meet up in Babylon to go head to head in the mother of all battles. How do you pull it off? How about by shattering time itself? —Thomas M. Wagner, SFReviews

Next up, the legendary Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter shatter time in their brilliant collaboration, Time’s Eye. Time’s Eye is the first book in the three book series, A Time Odyssey, and while fans have often speculated the duo had intended to write more, it would be hard to imagine Baxter continuing the series further without Clarke, who died in 2008. 

In an instant, Earth is carved up in time and reassembled like a huge jigsaw puzzle. Suddenly the world becomes a patchwork of eras, from prehistory to 2037, each with its own indigenous inhabitants. The explanation for this cataclysmic event may lie in the ancient city of Babylon, where two groups of refugees from 2037—three cosmonauts and three U.N. peacekeepers—have detected strange radio signals. The peacekeepers find allies in nineteenth century British troops and in the armies of Alexander the Great. The cosmonauts join forces with the Mongol horde led by Genghis Khan. Both sides set out for Babylon, vowing to win the race for knowledge—as a powerful and mysterious entity watches, waiting.

Get your copy of Time's Eye  here on Amazon.

7. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

"Doomsday Book is a heartbreaking, beautiful, and thoroughly-researched science fiction book about pandemics by Connie Willis. When it was first published almost thirty years ago, it won both the Hugo and the Nebula awards. It’s aged well, and it’s remarkably relevant to today’s real-life pandemic; I’ve found it both cathartic and comforting for me as I shelter in place in my San Francisco home.For Kivrin, preparing an on-site study of one of the deadliest eras in humanity's history was as simple as receiving inoculations against the diseases of the fourteenth century and inventing an alibi for a woman traveling alone. For her instructors in the twenty-first century, it meant painstaking calculations and careful monitoring of the rendezvous location where Kivrin would be received." —Lydia Laurenson, TOR

Were you among the readers who picked up Connie Willis's stunning Doomsday Book  a few months ago when many of us were looking for pandemic literature to help us make sense of this new, collective experience? If you didn't, or if you happened to miss this multi award-winner all together, now might be the time to give it a read. 

But a crisis strangely linking past and future strands Kivrin in a bygone age as her fellows try desperately to rescue her. In a time of superstition and fear, Kivrin—barely of age herself—finds she has become an unlikely angel of hope during one of history's darkest hours.

Read Doomsday Book here on Amazon.

6. The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove

“The Guns of the South chronicles the redemption of the New South: the novel’s villains are so clearly evil that they allow a slew of controversial Southerners, including Nathan Bedford Forrest, to achieve atonement in opposing them. We can be suspicious of this, so long as we understand the novel’s trade-off: the first Grand Wizard of the KKK appears as kind of an antihero, but in imagining the Confederacy into existence, The Guns of the South ends up discrediting and discarding it more effectively than real history ever did.”  —Renee de Groot, LARB

A scholar holding a PhD in Byzantine history, and an author renowned for his reimagining of history via science fiction, Harry Turtledove has done alt-history accounts of everything from the Byzantine Empire to World War II (featuring alien invasion!) And while it’s hard to make the case for an alt-history in which the South wins (as evidenced by the pushback HBO faced with it’s ill-fated series Confederate), that is exactly what Turtledove does with our sixth place title, The Guns of the South. Here, he reimagines the US Civil War in a way that is unflinching and hard to stomach, but also, as noted in the piece from LA Review of Books quoted above, nuanced in a way that avoids romanticizing what we can all agree would have been an unthinkable alternate outcome.

January 1864--General Robert E. Lee faces defeat. The Army of Northern Virginia is ragged and ill-equipped. Gettysburg has broken the back of the Confederacy and decimated its manpower.

Then, Andries Rhoodie, a strange man with an unplaceable accent, approaches Lee with an extraordinary offer. Rhoodie demonstrates an amazing rifle: Its rate of fire is incredible, its lethal efficiency breathtaking--and Rhoodie guarantees unlimited quantities to the Confederates.

The name of the weapon is the AK-47….

Grab Guns of the South here on Amazon.

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this top 10 list, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a new top 10 list, or any other articles of interest goes up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'

ll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

5. The Time Traders by Andre Norton

The Time Traders, a must-read classic by beloved author Andre Norton, was originally written in 1958 and updated in 2000 to “account for real world changes.” Regardless of which publication date we choose to go by, the book—the first in the Time Traders Series—easily qualifies, taking us back as far as 2000 B.C! Note that while the books in the series can be read in any order, the first book is a great place to start! 

The never-ending tension between Russia and the United States has been escalated by a stunning new variable: time travel. While the Americans can roughly utilize the technology, the Russians have learned the secret of space travel—and that makes the US vulnerable. What they need is someone expendable to send through time to obtain the same secret.

Ross Murdock doesn’t consider himself expendable. He’s just a smart guy who made some bad choices that led him to a life of crime. But when he’s given a choice between medical “rehabilitation” and joining the mysterious Operation Retrograde, he decides to go along with the military option and hope for a chance to get away.

And he is going to get away—farther away than he ever imagined . . .

Get your copy of The Time Traders 
here on Amazon.

4. 1632 by Eric Flint

In fourth place we have Eric Flint's book 1632! In transporting an entire city back in time and to a different place entirely, writer and historian Eric Flint has added an intriguing element to the classic time travel narrative. While not the first time an author has transported all the inhabitants of a given area to another time or place, the concept remains novel, feels fresh and makes for a fun read! 

It’s worth noting that 1632 is the first in a series of many books, many of which are written in collaboration with other authors. So if you are new to this book and happen to read and love it, know that there are many more to look forward to!

"The Ultimate Y2K Glitch....

1632 In the year 1632 in northern Germany a reasonable person might conclude that things couldn't get much worse. There was no food. Disease was rampant. For over a decade religious war had ravaged the land and the people. Catholic and Protestant armies marched and countermarched across the northern plains, laying waste the cities and slaughtering everywhere. In many rural areas population plummeted toward zero. Only the aristocrats remained relatively unscathed; for the peasants, death was a mercy.

2000 Things are going OK in Grantville, West Virginia. The mines are working, the buck are plentiful (it's deer season) and everybody attending the wedding of Mike Stearn's sister (including the entire membership of the local chapter of the United Mine Workers of America, which Mike leads) is having a good time.

THEN, EVERYTHING CHANGED….

Dive into1632  here on Amazon.

3. Timeline by Michael Crichton

“But in Timeline, I wanted to write a time travel story that took its premise seriously. And I wanted to write a story that dealt with the reality behind our cliched images of knights and courtly love. I wanted to talk about what knighthood was really like.” —Michael Crichton

Wanting to make it as historically accurate as possible, Micheal Crichton conducted an incredible amount research when writing his historical sci-fi thriller Timeline. The result is a historically tight novel that, like many of Crichton's books, is also an incredibly fun read. 

In an Arizona desert, a man wanders in a daze, speaking words that make no sense. Within twenty-four hours he is dead, his body swiftly cremated by his only known associates. Halfway around the world, archaeologists make a shocking discovery at a medieval site. Suddenly they are swept off to the headquarters of a secretive multinational corporation that has developed an astounding technology. Now this group is about to get a chance not to study the past but to enter it. And with history opened up to the present, the dead awakened to the living, these men and women will soon find themselves fighting for their very survival—six hundred years ago.

Get your copy of Timeline 
here on Amazon.

2. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

A man before his time, Mark Twain was writing alternate histories with sci-fi flare before the rest of the authors on this list were born. And, as evidenced by this poll, his work is still considered among the greatest of the sub-genre. Our first runner up is Twain's book A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs's Court . This book has enjoyed considerable reach; as a result, pop culture is filled with references to it, and once you read it, you will see them everywhere!

When Hank Morgan, a practical, no-nonsense Yankee who works in an ammunition factory as a head superintendent gets into a fight with an aggressive employee, little does he know what's in store for him. The bully lays Morgan low with a skull-crushing blow delivered with a crowbar and knocks him out. When Morgan regains consciousness, he finds himself transported back in time, to the sixth century. From here on, the story describes the travails of a hard-boiled, true blue American with strong democratic values who has to deal with medieval feudalism and ancient customs!

Start reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court here on Amazon.

1. Time Enough for Love by Robert A. Heinlein

“TL:DR – Lazarus Long plays Scheherazade, gets his groove back and seduces his mother.” —Chris Nuttall

In the top spot, we have Time Enough for Love by the inimitable Robert A. Heinlein! Like many of Heinlein’s books, Time Enough for Love is a work of philosophy as much as it is a work of science fiction, and at least some of those philosophical musings are made possible thanks to the juxtaposition between the various settings of the novel; the historical one we know versus the imagined future in which Heinlein places Long.

Time Enough for Love follows Lazarus Long through a vast and magnificent timescape of centuries and worlds. Heinlein's longest and most ambitious work, it is the story of a man so in love with Life that he refused to stop living it; and so in love with Time that he became his own ancestor.

Grab Time Enough for Love 
here on Amazon.

What do you think of our top 10? How many of these brilliant books have you read? Which one will you read next? We'd love to hear from you! Weigh in on the comments here on the blog, or visit us  here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and make sure to check out our most recent poll while you're there!

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

Time to Decide: What Is the Best Historical Sci-Fi Book of all Time?

September 10, 2020 /6 Comments/in , /by

Last week we asked you to nominate and vote for your favorite historical science fiction books. To be considered, books had to have a significant part of the plot set 50 years before publication date, and include at least one element of science fiction. While not all the reader nominations met the criteria, between here and the facebook group, there were plenty of incredible titles that did, and we have a solid slate moving forward to round two of voting! 

Now, it's time to decide!

Last week you were able to nominate and vote for as many selections as you deemed worthy, this week we're going to pin you down to one selection.  Which ONE historical sci-fi book is the very best? Vote for your pick below and throw your support for it in the comments here or in our facebook group.

*This list is made up by combining votes from this blog and our Facebook group.  

Time to Decide: What Are the Best Historical Sci-Fi Books of All Time?

Results


What Are the Best Historical Sci-Fi Books of All Time?

September 3, 2020 /13 Comments/in , /by

“History, and science too, help put our small lives in context. But if we want to meet the dead looking alive, we turn to art.” —Hilary Mantel

The fact that science fiction "typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts" might make historical science fiction sound like an oxymoron, and yet science fiction authors have long been using the tools of science fiction to mine our history, and in doing so—like other writers of historical fiction—they have not only kept us engaged and entertained, but have often allowed us to find greater connection to and meaning in our history. In the case of historical science fiction, authors can also explore the question of "what if." What if things had gone differently? 

Goodreads defines historical fiction as being "any science fiction that has a significant portion of the plot set at least a century before the present. This can involve time travel or a setting entirely in the past but must contain at least one element of science fiction." We like this description, but for our purposes will expand and alter the criteria to include books where a significant portion of the plot is set at least fifty years in the past (with respect to the time of publication, please.) 

So, what do you think? Which historical sci-fi books are the very best? As always, this is a democratic process and we are excited to hear your nominations!  Please nominate as many as you'd like here or in our Facebook group and remember that for this opening round, you can vote for as many as you'd like as well! 

What are the Best Historical Sci-Fi Books of All Time?

  • Add your answer

Results


The Top 10 Stand-alone Sci-Fi Books From 2010 to Today!

August 26, 2020 /2 Comments/in , /by

There will always be room in our hearts for both series and stand-alone books, but there is no denying that the latter is harder to find these days, and so, this poll was born. Via democratic process, we've made an effort to guide you toward some of the best stand-alone science fiction of recent years, and seriously: pick any book off this list and you will not be disappointed. Of various length, style, sub-genre and commitment to the realities of science, these are all excellent in their own way, and if you miss one, you are missing out!  

But as great as they all are, we wanted to know which one was the very best... Curious to see which one the community decided is an absolute must read? Read on! As always, these top ten lists are not meant to be all-inclusive or definitive, but give a great finger on the pulse of our communities interests and favorites. Want to see who missed out? Here's the original nomination list from the blog.

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are your top choices for the best stand-alone sci-fi books published since 2010! 

10. Recursion by Blake Crouch

It is no surprise to see Blake Crouch’s
Recursion—winner of the 2019 Goodreads Readers Choice Award for science fiction—on this list! While many of you said you preferred Dark Matter over Recursion (and voted in that direction as well), there is no denying that Crouch—who has written several stand-alone books over the last 10 years (mostly thrillers)—has mastered the art of the the mind-bender, taking his readers on an intense and thrilling sci-fi journey which he cleverly wraps up in less than 400 pages. Delicious. 

At first, it looks like a disease. An epidemic that spreads through no known means, driving its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived. But the force that’s sweeping the world is no pathogen. It’s just the first shock wave, unleashed by a stunning discovery—and what’s in jeopardy is not our minds but the very fabric of time itself.

Read Recursion  here on Amazon

9. The Others by Jeremy Robinson

The Others was one of two books by Jeremy Robinson originally nominated for this top 10 list. It beat out the other selection by Robinson, Infinite, by just a few votes to land in our final poll and, inevitably, 9th place on our final list. The Others is a short, eerie, fast paced read that immediately grabs you. If you happened to miss this one, it's definitely one to add to your TBR! 

UFOs and alien abductions remain one of the most hotly debated and mysterious subjects of the twenty-first century. In the decades since 1960, with reports of strange encounters on the rise, thirteen million people have gone missing worldwide and never been found. The Others takes a fast-paced, unique, and moving look at the phenomenon that has fuelled Jeremy Robinson’s imagination since several sightings, strange happenings, and visits with renowned UFO investigator, and family friend, Raymond Fowler.

Read The Others here on Amazon.

8. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

“I don’t know who in their right mind would want to read Station Eleven during a pandemic.” —Emily St. John Mandel

Emily St. John Mandel's
Station Eleven was an instant hit with both critics and fans when it was released 2014. Many read and loved it then, and in light of the current pandemic, many were drawn to reread it this year, finding… comfort? Not likely, but perhaps a relevancy that was impossible to feel only six years (and a lifetime) ago. 

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.

Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

Get your copy of Station Eleven here on Amazon.

7. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

“From first line to beautiful denouement, Claire North's The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is a gripping read that is often quietly profound, emotionally affecting and intellectually dizzying.” —Eric Brown, The Guardian 

Did this one happen to escape your notice? As a multi-award winning novel, it’s not exactly a “hidden gem,” but we suspect Claire North’s
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, might not have been as widely read as some of our other selections. In The Guardian, Eric Brown further described North’s 2014 release as  “a subtle study of friendship, love and the fluid complexity of existence,” which sounds downright comforting, right about now, don't you think? If you haven’t read it yet, take this as your cue to pick it up! 

Harry August is on his deathbed. Again.

No matter what he does or the decisions he makes, when death comes, Harry always returns to where he began, a child with all the knowledge of a life he has already lived a dozen times before. Nothing ever changes.

Until now.

As Harry nears the end of his eleventh life, a little girl appears at his bedside. "I nearly missed you, Doctor August," she says. "I need to send a message."

This is the story of what Harry does next, and what he did before, and how he tries to save a past he cannot change and a future he cannot allow.

Read The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August here on Amazon.

6. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

“'Dark Matter?' It's a whole bag of barbecue chips, man. And it's just sitting there waiting for you to devour in one sitting.” —Jason Sheehan, NPR

Series are great! We love ‘em! But sometimes? Sometimes we want something short and zippy; something with great characters, and both a plot and pace that drives us to read the whole thing in one sitting, leaving us deeply satisfied when we do. A great, short, stand-alone can do that, and that quote up there, if nothing else, should tell you that this is exactly what Blake Crouch’s
Dark Matter does. Reach for this 2016 stand-alone sci-fi thriller next time you have a free afternoon and a desire to be wildly entertained.

“Are you happy with your life?”

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. 

Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

Grab Dark Matter here on Amazon.

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this top 10 list, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a new top 10 list, or any other articles of interest goes up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'

ll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

5. Under Darkness by Jasper T Scott

Published in 2018, Under Darkness is one of a handful of excellent stand-alone books written by best-selling author Jasper T. Scott. Under Darkness resonates well with stand-alone readers the same way that the original Independence Day resonated with viewers. It’s a story about an alien invasion that focuses on the characters. There’s a pervasive mystery of why the invaders are here woven throughout, and a chilling sense of horror surrounds the aliens themselves. Multiple viewpoints are developed, both civilian and military, and the setting is the picturesque island of Kauai. The book perfectly captures both the physical setting and the cultural nuances of the locals, making it an authentic read. You really feel like you are there on a tropical island, being hunted by alien invaders. The why of their arrival is eventually answered, and all of the plot threads are resolved without leaving anything hanging at the end. It’s no wonder readers love this book!

Bill Steele is in the trenches, trying to survive in the competitive world of luxury vacation resorts on the island of Kauai. Today is a particularly bad day; the water main burst and his guests are demanding refunds and promising bad reviews. In the middle of this, a dark shadow falls over the island. It’s not a lunar eclipse, because Bill can clearly see the crescent moon shimmering on the water. This is something else.

Get your copy of Under Darkness 
here on Amazon.

4. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

“SEVENEVES is a very old project; I first started thinking about it when I was working at Blue Origin, probably circa 2004… The basic elements of the world were fixed a long time ago, and for at least eight years I have been roving around pitching it to various people in various media: television, movies, games, and various "transmedia" combinations. In the autumn of 2013, however I decided to just sit down and write it as a novel: the one thing I know I can get done.” —Neal Stephenson

The word "epic" gets tossed around a lot these days, but when it comes to Neal Stephenson's
Seveneves, it is far from misplaced. Seveneves is a truly epic stand-alone novel, both in scope and in length. No doubt, there is something to be said for a short, fast-paced book you can burn through in one sitting, but if you want to go deep, to get lost for a while without committing to a series, look no further than this book, which was almost a decade in the making. 

What would happen if the world were ending?

A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.

Dive into Seveneves  here on Amazon.

3. 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Stephen King has said that the concept for 11/22/63 was formed forty years before he actually wrote and published it in 2011. Wisely, perhaps, as he claims that back then, he lacked the willingness to do the research required to do the story justice, so instead let the idea marinate for a while. By the time he came back to it, not only was he ready to commit to the research needed to support the story, but he had over 50 books under his belt and had better honed his talents. 

At just shy of 1000 pages, the book is a commitment. Obviously less of a commitment than a series, but a commitment, none the less. A wonderful length, really, giving the reader a chance to settle in for the ride, and the writer an opportunity to really explore the plot and characters and unhurriedly infuse the story with a sense of richness. As discerning readers, this is what we’re looking for in a good stand-alone: something that can go the distance in a single work.

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? Stephen King’s heart-stoppingly dramatic new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination—a thousand page tour de force.

Get your copy of 11/22/63 
here on Amazon.

2. Redshirts by John Scalzi

Many of you have read John Scalzi's debut novel, Old Man’s War, as well as the rest of the books that completed the series. It’s probably safe to say that to date, the series remains his best known work. While not as well known, Scalzi’s clever, fun, funny, multi-award-winning, and wildly entertaining stand-alone Redshirts is definitely worthy of attention!  It’s short, it’s fast-paced, it’s the perfect afternoon read. If you've missed it, be sure to grab it! You won't be disappointed.

Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It's a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship's Xenobiology laboratory.

Life couldn't be better…until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship's captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations, and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues' understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is…and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.

Start reading Redshirts
here on Amazon.

1. The Martian by Andy Weir

More than a few of you mentioned that among the nominees, The Martian was the only book you’d read! This will always be a bit of a hazard with these polls, that the books finding their way to a wider audience will inevitably stand a better chance at winning; but regardless of how the odds might have been stacked in its favor, there is no denying that Andy Weir’s
The Martian—a multi-award-winner described by many casual reviewers as being the “perfect novel”—is an incredible book. Not every book gets the audience it deserves, but in the case of The Martian, it’s safe to say it has. On the off chance that you missed this modern classic, make sure you make the time to give it a read.

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.

Grab The Martian 
here on Amazon.

What do you think of our top 10? How many of these brilliant books have you read? Which one will you read next? We'd love to hear from you! Weigh in on the comments here on the blog, or visit us  here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and make sure to check out our most recent poll while you're there!

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

The Top 8 (+1!) Books or Series Employing Parallel Universes

May 14, 2020 /4 Comments/in , /by

“Time could bifurcate, like a pair of trousers. You could end up in the wrong leg, living a life that was actually happening in the other leg, talking to people who weren't in your leg, walking into walls that weren't there any more. Life could be horrible in the wrong trouser of Time." —Terry Pratchett . 

Well, we have a winner! Haha! Perhaps not the one we expected, and while you guys direct the outcomes with your nominations and votes, we think many of you will be head-scratchingly surprised by the results here as well.

The unexpected.

Isn't that one of the things that keeps whatever universe we're conscious in exciting? Is your curiosity sufficiently piqued? Want to know why we are so perplexed by the results? Why our "Top 10" is a "Top 8 + Bonus Read?" Read on! 

As always, these top ten lists are not meant to be all-inclusive or definitive, but give a great finger on the pulse of our community's interests and favorites. Want to see who missed out? Here's the original nomination list from the blog.

And now, without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook Reader group, here are your top choices for the best books or series employing parallel universes... 

8. The Crossroads of Time by Andre Norton

We were surprised this short, adventure driven novel didn’t get more love! Andre Norton's
The Crossroads of Time landed on the list with just a handful of votes; perhaps that simply means many of you haven't had a chance yet to enjoy it.

In an odd twist on the theme of time travel, Norton has her characters traveling across time, rather than forward or backward. The dates do not change as the men travel from one timeline to another, but the histories of those worlds differ from each other. Tacitly postulating a kind of two-dimensional time, Norton anticipated Hugh Everett III's many-worlds interpretation of the quantum theory by one year. She called it the "possibility worlds" theory of history.

When Blake Walker foiled a murder attempt on one of his neighbors he somehow found himself drafted into a frantic chase for a dangerous criminal - through the almost infinite levels of alternate Earths. It was a chase that would take him through level upon level of unknown dangers in search of a ruthless genius who had found our Earth the perfect place to begin his series of conquests. If Walker succeeded, he would save Earth. If he failed, his homeworld could be enslaved, and he could be trapped on an alien Earth!

Start The Crossroads of time
here on Amazon

7. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

“And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful house!
And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful wife!"

In 7th place, we have a more contemporary selection: Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch. In Crouch's mind-bending science fiction thriller Dark Matter, Jason Dessen is living the lyrics of the famous Talking Heads song. I mean, sure, parallel universes wasn’t really what they were on about, they weren’t talking about waking up in and finding that, literally, your house was not your house, your wife was not your wife, and so on. Still, we think of him now when we hear that song…

Jason Dessen is walking home through the chilly Chicago streets one night, looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the fireplace with his wife, Daniela, and their son, Charlie—when his reality shatters.

It starts with a man in a mask kidnapping him at gunpoint, for reasons Jason can’t begin to fathom—what would anyone want with an ordinary physics professor?—and grows even more terrifying from there, as Jason’s abductor injects him with some unknown drug and watches while he loses consciousness.

When Jason awakes, he’s in a lab, strapped to a gurney—and a man he’s never seen before is cheerily telling him “welcome back!”

Jason soon learns that in this world he’s woken up to, his house is not his house. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born.

And someone is hunting him.

Read Dark Matter here on Amazon.

6. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

Of all the books that lean toward fantasy on this list, the title landing in 6th place leans the hardest. Perhaps a little too hard to be properly included in a list celebrating science fiction works, and while we generally attempt to ferret out all pure fantasy titles, this one slipped through but is, nevertheless, a splendid example of a book employing parallel universes.

The Sword of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel by American writer Terry Brooks. It is the first book of the Original Shannara Trilogy, followed by The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara.

Living in peaceful Shady Vale, Shea Ohmsford knew little of the troubles that plagued the rest of the world. Then the giant, forbidding Allanon revealed that the supposedly dead Warlock Lord was plotting to destroy the world. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness was the Sword of Shannara, which could only be used by a true heir of Shannara--Shea being the last of the bloodline, upon whom all hope rested. Soon a Skull Bearer, dread minion of Evil, flew into the Vale, seeking to destroy Shea. To save the Vale, Shea fled, drawing the Skull Bearer after him.

Get your copy of The Sword of Shannara  here on Amazon.

TIE! 5A. Apprentice Adept by Piers Anthony

And here we have the first of our selections which tied for 5th place! Once again, if hard sci-fi is more your jam, this is another great book that might have gone unnoticed by you.

The Apprentice Adept series by English American author Piers Anthony takes place on Phaze and Proton, two worlds occupying the same space in two different dimensional planes. Phaze is a lush planet of magic, where Proton is a barren mining planet of science. As the series opens, each person born on Phaze and Proton has an alternate self living on the other world. But if a person on either world lacks a duplicate (for instance if a Proton citizen immigrated there from another planet, or a counterpart from the opposite frame died), he can cross to the other through an energy "curtain" that circumscribes each frame.

On the technological, decadent world of Proton, someone was trying to destroy Stile, serf and master Gamesman. His only escape lay in Phaze, a world totally ruled by magic. Soon he learned that his alternate self had already been murdered, and that he was next. On Proton, his fate depended on winning the great Games. On Phaze, he must master magic to survive. And if he used any magic at all, his friends were determined to kill him at once!

Get your copy of Split Infinity, book one in the Apprentice Adept series,  here on Amazon.

TIE! 5B. The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan 

Sharing 5th spot is the EPIC sci-fi fantasy series, The Wheel of Time. While some members questioned the inclusion of Robert Jordan’s
The Wheel of Time series to this poll, we feel that—unlike other questionable nominations that found their way onto the list—this one is in keeping with the theme of the poll. Of course, if you have strong opinions either way, we'd love to hear more from you in the comments here or in our facebook group! 

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Grab the first book in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, The Eye of the World, here on Amazon.

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this top 10 list, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a new top 10 list, or any other articles of interest goes up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'

ll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

4. The World of Tiers by Philip José Farmer

Coming in at number 4 on our list is The World of Tiers, a series of science fiction novels by American writer Philip José Farmer. Farmer is known for his incredible world-building, and this series is no exception!

The World of Tiers novels are set within a series of artificially-constructed universes, created and ruled by decadent beings who are genetically identical to humans, but regard themselves as superior, who are the inheritors of an advanced technology they no longer understand.

When Robert Wolff found a strange horn in an empty house, he held the key to a different universe. To blow that horn would open up a door through space-time and permit entry to a cosmos whose dimensions and laws were not those our starry galaxy knows.

Get your copy of Volume One of Philip José Farmer's The World of Tiers  here on Amazon.

3. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson

If you’re a sci-fi purist, you may have missed reading this award-winning series, another which blends science fiction and fantasy. That said, clearly enough of you have read it that it made and placed high on the final list; for those of you who haven’t though, maybe the stamp of approval from your fellow sci-fi fans is the push you need to consider diving in?

Lord Foul’s Bane, the first book of Stephen R. Donaldson's series, follows Thomas Covenant on a journey through another land, one in which he wakes following an accident where he is hit by a police car. Believing that he is unconscious from his collision with the police car, and therefore experiencing a fantastical dream or delusion, Covenant refuses to accept the reality of the Land. Appalled and indignant at the expectations the people of the Land have for him as their new-found saviour, he gives himself the title of "Unbeliever."

Yet the Land tempted him. He had been sick; now he seemed better than ever before. Through no fault of his own, he had been outcast, unclean, a pariah. Now he was regarded as a reincarnation of the Land's greatest hero--Berek Halfhand--armed with the mystic power of White Gold. That power alone could protect the Lords of the Land from the ancient evil of Despiser, Lord Foul. Only...Covenant had no idea of how the power could be used!

Pick up your copy of Lord Foul's Bane
here on Amazon.

2. The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King 

Many fans cite this deeply immersive series as being their favorite work by the author, Stephen King, so we definitely expected to see this one here. How about you? The main story takes place in a world somewhat similar to the Old West but in an alternate timeframe or parallel universe.

In the first book of this brilliant series, The Gunslinger, Stephen King introduces readers to one of his most enigmatic heroes, Roland of Gilead, The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which frighteningly mirrors our own, Roland pursues The Man in Black, encounters an alluring woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the Kid from Earth called Jake. Both grippingly realistic and eerily dreamlike, The Gunslinger leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter

Get your copy of The Gunslinger, the first book in this iconic series,
here on Amazon.

1. The Number of the Beast by Robert A. Heinlein

The subtitle says it all: "A Parallel Novel About Parallel Universes." How could this, written by a sci-fi master no less, NOT have made the cut? Based on the votes this title landed in second place, but considering the criteria and adjusting for that, this excellent selection easily takes the place it deserves: Number 1! 

The Number of the Beast, by legendary author Robert A Heinlein follows the adventures of Zeb, Deety, Hilda, and Jake when they are ambushed by the alien “Black Hats” and barely escape with their lives on a specially configured vehicle (the Gay Deceiver) that can travel along various planes of existence, allowing them to visit parallel universes.

Heinlein had already wrote a “parallel” novel about the four characters and parallel universes in 1977. He effectively wrote two parallel novels about parallel universes. The novels share the same start, but as soon as the Gay Deceiver is used to transport them to a parallel universe, each book takes the readers to a totally different parallel world.

When two male and two female supremely sensual, unspeakably cerebral humans find themselves under attack from aliens who want their awesome quantum breakthrough, they take to the skies -- and zoom into the cosmos on a rocket roller coaster ride of adventure and danger, ecstasy and peril.

The novel lies somewhere between parody and homage in its deliberate use of the style of the 1930s' pulp novels. How can you NOT read this?

Read Heinlein's legendary, pulp fiction inspired The Number of the Beast, here on Amazon.

BONUS Selection: Foundation by Isaac Asimov

“How does the Foundation series qualify?” 

“A very good series, but no indication that it was in a parallel universe.”

“Can't vote because Foundation is not a parallel universe!” 

Indeed.

The statements above are just some of the many comments some of you added to the thread about this poll in the Discover Sci-Fi Facebook Group. And rightfully so!

We concede that despite pulling in the most votes in the opening poll and landing in top spot here in the final account, Isaac Asimov's
Foundation doesn’t fit the criteria.

We take full responsibility for letting this slide into the final round of voting, but we are curious to hear from those who did nominate and vote for this selection, and we hope you will chime in in the comments: what made you select Foundation for this particular best of poll?

Maybe all that means is that it is time for a refresher. When was the last time you read this award-winning and, one might say, “foundational” work of science fiction? Decades ago? <gasp> Never? Parallel universes or not, perhaps it’s time to take a read. (or re-read).

For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future -- to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save mankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire -- both scientists and scholars -- and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the Galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for a future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation.

Get your copy of the sci-fi classic, Foundation 
here on Amazon.

With infinite possibilities, is there ever a real conclusion?

What do you think of that list? Do you agree, or do you feel as though your best-loved parallel universe narrative should have placed higher on the list? What do YOU think of Foundation showing up here? Are you a hard sci-fi lover shaking your head at all the sci-fi fantasy selections? We want to hear from you! Feel free to join us here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and then check out our most recent poll while you're there. Don't have Facebook? Feel free to add to the comments below

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

The Top 10 Best Utopian Books/Series in Science Fiction

June 4, 2020 /1 Comment/in , /by

“Your utopia is my dystopia." —Gordon Jack 

A few weeks ago, we asked you to think about the best utopian science fiction books and series.

Now we're asking: Does such a thing even exist? 

This is a question many put forward in response to the various titles that were nominated and considered because, as we noted, many stories centring on utopian themes pose this very same question. And, what we see over and over again is that, indeed, what is a utopian existence for one, is inevitably someone else's dystopian nightmare. 

While we'd love to believe that someday, somehow, a utopian world can be found, in literature the tension required to carry a story that is of interest often ends up finding itself in the juxtaposition between the perfect world and what we have to give up in order to achieve it; that or an examination of who still suffers.

As always, these top ten lists are not meant to be all-inclusive or definitive, but give a great finger on the pulse of our communities interests and favorites. Want to see who missed out? Here's the original nomination list from the blog.

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are your top choices for the best utopian sci-fi books/series.

10. Those Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin

We were thrilled to see this brilliant work nominated and pleased that it garnered enough votes to make the final cut. We’re going to go out on a limb and say that the fact it placed tenth in the final poll may be an indication that it hasn’t been read as widely within in our community as some of the other (excellent) selections. It's a very short read, something you could likely finish over your morning coffee. Perhaps it’s time to pick it up?

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas is a 1973 work of short philosophical fiction by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin.

With deliberately both vague and vivid descriptions, the narrator depicts a summer festival in the utopian city of Omelas, whose prosperity depends on the perpetual misery of a single child. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Short Fiction in 1974 and won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1974.

Get The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
here on Amazon

9. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

Ninth on our list is another selection from Ursula K. Le Guin! The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia is a 1974 utopian science fiction novel set in the fictional universe of the seven novels of the Hainish Cycle, about anarchy and other societal structures, like capitalism and hierarchy.

Over the course of this poll, we’ve heard many a debate about why one title or another doesn’t meet the criteria for exploring the theme of utopias. The Dispossessed, it seems, is beyond reproach in that regard. A true masterpiece, the book that “started as a very bad short story, which I didn’t try to finish, but couldn’t quite let go” was, by Le Guin’s account, the result of a lot of soul-searching and deep thought about “war, peace, politics, how we govern one another and ourselves, the value of failure, and the strength of what is weak” which helped her land on a clear vision of what she wanted to explore with this book: “an anarchist utopia.” It is a wholly original and compelling book.

If you haven’t read this multi award-winning classic yet, take this as your cue to do so. 

Read the classic,The Dispossessed  here on Amazon.

8. To the Stars by Harry Harrison

Perhaps better known for his Stainless Steel Rat Series, author Harry Harrison’s To The Stars Trilogy opens with Homeworld, which presents a dystopian world some centuries in the future. Like other books on this list, this dystopia is initially presented as a utopia, with an elite class enjoying a life of privilege that comes at great cost.

Jan Kulozik was one of Earth's privileged elite. A brilliant young electronics engineer, he enjoyed all the blessings of a 23rd-century civilization that survived the global collapse and conquered the stars, unaware of the millions who slaved or starved to maintain his way of life.

Then Jan met Sara, a beautiful agent of the rebel underground dedicated to smashing Earth's rigid caste system. Through her he discovered the truth behind the lies he'd been taught. His every move watched by state surveillance, Jan risked his position and his life to restore humanity's heritage.

Get your copy of Homeworld, the first book in the To the Stars Trilogy  here on Amazon.

7. The Earthseed Series by Octavia E. Butler

Our seventh place selection, the Earthseed Series, by sci-fi luminary Octavia E. Butler, takes place in (what is now) the very near future, in the United States, which—in the book— has fallen into collapse. The series was meant to be a trilogy, but Butler died before finishing the third book.

Billed as a dystopian novel, the book deals heavily with utopian themes. The first book in the series, Parable of the Sower, takes place in In 2025 where, with the world descending into madness and anarchy, one woman begins a fateful journey toward a better future.

Lauren Olamina, is the daughter of a Baptist minister who serves their walled-in neighborhood. Because of her mother's addiction to a prescription drug, Olamina suffers from hyperempathy, which causes her to share pain or perceived pain with any living creature she sees. When her community is attacked, burned, and looted, seventeen-year-old Olamina barely escapes with her life. She travels, at great danger, into northern California in search of a haven where she and others can build the first Earthseed community.

Pick up the Earthseed Series here on Amazon.

6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

In sixth place, we have Brave New World, a dystopian novel by English author Aldous Huxley, written in 1931 and published in 1932. A dystopian novel.

Did we say it already?

Perspective is everything.

“Brave New World is either a perfect-world utopia or its nasty opposite, a dystopia, depending on your point of view: its inhabitants are beautiful, secure and free from diseases and worries, though in a way we like to think we would find unacceptable." —Margaret Atwood, The Guardian, 2007

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--all at the cost of our freedom, full humanity, and perhaps also our souls. It asks us to consider whether a “perfect” world is possible, or even desirable. It ask us to consider if a utopia is worth the cost.

Huxley followed this book with a reassessment in essay form, Brave New World Revisited (1958), and with his final novel, Island (1962), the utopian counterpart. They are both definitely worth checking out if you've already read Brave New World, and if you haven't, as always, we've got you.

Get Brave New World, here on Amazon.

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this top 10 list, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a new top 10 list, or any other articles of interest goes up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'

ll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

5. Logan's Run by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson

We’ve reached the top five! Coming in fifth place is Logan’s Run, the bestselling dystopian novel that inspired the 1970s science-fiction classic starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter, and Richard Jordan. The book, co-written by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson is yet one more that explores the idea that “your utopia is my dystopia,” by presenting a utopian future society on the surface, revealed as a dystopia where the population and the consumption of resources are maintained in equilibrium by killing everyone who reaches the age of thirty. An ageist dystopia, masquerading as a utopia. Nevertheless, an excellent read exploring utopian societies and their price.

It's the 23rd Century and at age 21... your life is over! Logan-6 has been trained to kill; born and bred from conception to be the best of the best. But his time is short and before his life ends he's got one final mission: Find and destroy Sanctuary, a fabled haven for those that chose to defy the system. But when Logan meets and falls in love with Jessica, he begins to question the very system he swore to protect and soon they're both running for their lives. When Last Day comes, will you lie down and die... or run!

Grab your copy of Logan's Run
here on Amazon.

4. The Culture Series by Iain M. Banks

The Culture Series is a science fiction series written by Scottish author Iain M. Banks, one he has said will ultimately “form the largest part of [his] life’s work.” So much has been written about the series and the way it explores utopian themes, including some fascinating interviews with the author—such as the one previously quoted—in which he discusses, among other things, why he feels it’s unlikely we humans will ever succeed in establishing a utopia.

The stories in the Culture Series centre on the Culture, a utopian, post-scarcity space society of humanoids, aliens, and advanced artificial intelligences living in socialist habitats spread across the Milky Way galaxy. The main theme of the novels is the dilemmas that an idealistic hyperpower faces in dealing with civilizations that do not share its ideals, and whose behaviour it sometimes finds repulsive.

The series currently stands at ten books written over more than 25 years. While the books work as standalones, the first book, Consider Phlebas, is a great place to start as it gives a different perspective from the other books and provides a great foundation for understanding the world Banks has created.

The war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans fought for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles were at stake. There could be no surrender.

Get your copy of Consider Phlebas 
here on Amazon.

3. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

The top three! In third place, is Starship Troopers  by sci-fi giant Robert A. Heinlein. As with other selections on the list, the setting of our third place title has been described as dystopian, but it is presented by Heinlein as utopian; its leaders are shown as good and wise, and the population as free and prosperous.

Do a Google search for “misunderstood science fiction book,” and you’ll find plenty of discussion on this one. Is it a criticism of democracy? A celebration of the military? Satire? Of course, some of the confusion comes not from the novel itself, but with how it was adapted to the screen, but it’s fair to say that regardless, this classic gives us plenty to think (and talk) about.

In Robert A. Heinlein’s controversial Hugo Award-winning bestseller, a recruit of the future goes through the toughest boot camp in the Universe—and into battle against mankind’s most alarming enemy...

Get your copy of Starship Troopers 
here on Amazon.

2. Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

“No utopia can ever give satisfaction to everyone, all the time. As their material conditions improve, men raise their sights and become discontented with power and possessions that once would have seemed beyond their wildest dreams. And even when the external world has granted all it can, there still remain the searchings of the mind and the longings of the heart.”—Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood's End

We were not surprised to see this incredible entry near the top of the list. Childhood's End is a true classic written in 1953 by the British author Arthur C. Clarke. The story follows the peaceful alien invasion of Earth by the mysterious Overlords, whose arrival begins decades of apparent utopia under indirect alien rule, at the cost of human identity and culture. If you’ve missed this classic, consider this your invitation to pick it up! You won’t be disappointed.

The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city - intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began.

But at what cost? With the advent of peace, man ceases to strive for creative greatness, and a malaise settles over the human race. To those who resist, it becomes evident that the Overlords have an agenda of their own. As civilization approaches the crossroads, will the Overlords spell the end for humankind . . . or the beginning?

Start Childhood's End, here on Amazon.

1. The Lazurus Long Series by Robert A. Heinlein

We've reached the top! The number one entry in our poll—the Lazarus Long Series by Robert A. Heinlein—won by a hearty margin. 

“At the time I wrote Methuselah’s Children I was still politically quite naive and still had hopes that various libertarian notions could be put over by political processes…”—Robert A. Heinlein

Lazarus Long is a fictional character featured in a number of science fiction novels by Robert A. Heinlein. The first book in which he appears is Heinlein’s Methuselah’s Children and given it won the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award for "Best Classic Libertarian Sci-Fi Novel” in 1997, you can safely assume it explores the virtues of Libertarianism. Given the series’ first place standing in a poll on books exploring utopian themes in science fiction, is it safe to say that many among us feel a society that maximizes political freedom and autonomy is a utopian one? Or, at the very least, that the notion is an enticing one?

No one may seize or harm the person or property of another, or invade his privacy, or force him to do his bidding. Americans are fiercely proud of their re-won liberties and the blood it cost them: nothing could make them forswear those truths they hold self-evident. Nothing except the promise of immortality...

Lazarus Long, member of a select group bred for generations to live far beyond normal human lifespans, helps his kind escape persecution after word leaks out and angry crowds accuse them of withholding the “secret” of longevity. Lazarus and his companions set out on an interstellar journey and face many trials and strange cultures, like a futuristic Odysseus and his crew, before returning to Earth.

Start the journey with Methuselah's Children 
here on Amazon.

"Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me..." 

Frogs singing their hearts out about a utopian dream? Definitely the stuff of science fiction, right?  We all can dream, but as Margaret Atwood pointed out in the Guardian article we quoted earlier, "Utopia" is sometimes said to mean "no place", from the Greek ou-topos; others derive it from eu, as in "eugenics", in which case it would mean "healthy place" or "good place". Sir Thomas More, in his own 16th-century Utopia, may have been punning: "utopia is the good place that doesn't exist…"

But whether or not a utopian society could ever be possible is beside the point, and we think it's safe to say, at the very least, it's something none of us will ever live to see. However, we sure hope science fiction authors continue to explore the possibility in their work, even if it doesn't look quite as rosy as we'd like because one thing these books offer that their purely dystopian counterparts don't always manage, is a little bit of hope.

What do you think of the books on our final list, and do you think it's possible for a author to write a compelling, yet purely utopian work? One that captures readers without the tension of a dystopian threat being introduced at some point? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Visit us here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and then check out our most recent poll while you're there. Don't have Facebook? Feel free to add to the comments below.

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.