Entries by Discover Sci-Fi

What Sci-Fi Book Has the Best Cover Art of All Time?

July 2, 2020 /1 Comment/in , /by

"Never judge a book by its cover."

Though an idiom and not meant to be taken literally, or at least not exclusively literally, “don’t judge a book by its cover” is a good rule to follow as a reader. There is sure to be at least one book you’ve loved but almost ignored because the cover didn’t grab you, and what a shame that would have been.

This week though, we are not here to discuss drab covers with hidden gems inside; this week we are here to discuss the coolest, weirdest, most jaw-droppingly stunning covers found in science fiction. There are plenty!

Which sci-fi book covers do you think are the very best? Take a moment  to consider and then nominate as many as you'd like—doing your best to briefly describe which iteration/edition of cover you're referring to— here or in our Facebook group, then vote for your favorite(s). This could be a bit tricky, we know, but let's give it a shot! 

As always, we base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

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What Sci-Fi Book Has the Best Cover Art of All Time?

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Who Are the Best Furry Friends in Science Fiction?

June 11, 2020 /10 Comments/in , /by

"To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs." —Aldous Huxley

Like a captain willing to go down with the ship, the furry friends of sci-fi are full of a devotion that will keep them by their companion's sides till the bitter end. This week we are celebrating the ones who are always there, and who—whatever species they might be—can be counted on to bring a little extra dose of humanity to any story.

Think about which of the animal companions (robotic ones included!) from science fiction you'd want with you as the world falls apart, nominate as many as you'd like here or in our Facebook group, and then be sure to vote for your favorite(s)! We'll pin you down to one choice next week.

As always, we base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

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Who Are the Best Furry Friends in Science Fiction?

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What Are the Most Terrifying Alien Invaders in Science Fiction?

April 9, 2020 /10 Comments/in , /by

"One day, we might receive a signal from a planet... But we should be wary of answering back. Meeting an advanced civilization could be like Native Americans encountering Columbus. That didn't turn out so well."—Stephen Hawking

This is what the brilliant Stephen Hawking had to say when discussing Gliese 832c, a possibly habitable extrasolar planet 16 light years away. It seems our favorite authors largely agree with him as oftentimes, the aliens of science fiction are painted as malevolent beings or, at the very least, those whose interests pose a serious threat to humans. But like anything, there are levels, and in the interest of turning our attention to a terror not presently making headlines, this week we are taking a deep dive into the scariest alien invaders of science fiction.

We've jump-started the conversation with a few suggestions of our own, but we want to hear from you!  Add your nomination(s) for most terrifying alien invaders below and then vote on your favorite(s). If you need a little inspo, take a peek at this post from Discover Sci-Fi's own Daniel Arenson from back in January. You guys had some strong opinions on what did and didn't make Daniel's list back then and now is your chance to be heard! 

As always, we base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

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What Are the Most Terrifying Alien Invaders in Science Fiction (Books)

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What Are the Best Sci-Fi Titles Written by Women?

February 27, 2020 /6 Comments/in , /by

"I came into science fiction at a very good time, when the doors were getting thrown open to all kinds of more experimental writing, more literary writing, riskier writing. It wasn't all imitation Heinlein or Asimov. And of course, women were creeping in, infiltrating." —Ursula K. Le Guin

Even while many regard Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein as the first work of science fiction, the world of sci-fi is overwhelmingly dominated by men, writers and readers alike.  If you take a peek at NPRs (now very outdated) Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books, you'll find you have to scroll down to number 20 before you hit a title written by a woman. Much has been written on the topic of representation, and while it's important, that is not what we are aiming to discuss today. Today is about celebrating the women of science fiction.

While the numbers of women publishing in science fiction may be small, among them there are some truly outstanding writers; women who have conceived of some of the smartest, most well-written works science fiction has to offer. The best of these skillfully weave social commentary into narratives that are both gripping and artfully written. In advance of International Women's Day, this week's poll asks you to consider titles in science fiction written by women. Which ones might be considered the very best?  Add your nomination(s) below and then vote on your favorite(s).

We base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

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What is the Best Sci-Fi Title by a Woman Writer?

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What Are the Best Utopian Sci-Fi Books or Series?

May 21, 2020 /6 Comments/in , /by

“Nobody owns anything but everyone is rich - for what greater wealth can there be than cheerfulness, peace of mind, and freedom from anxiety?”
― Thomas More, Utopia

Too good to be true?

We love a good, purely dystopian sci-fi story: The Stand, 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Road, The Hunger Games… It’s easy to rattle off a list of both classics and more contemporary favorites that revolve around a dystopian society. This week we’re interested in utopian science fiction, and the bevy of sci-fi books that explore whether such a thing is even possible, or if all our imagined utopias conceal a dark underbelly.

So. This week, whether they are ultimately optimistic or not, we want your picks for science fiction books and series that explore utopian themes.  

We've kicked things off with a few of suggestions, but we are counting on you to add your own favorites to the poll, so submit your nomination(s) below and then to vote for the ones you think are the best!

We base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

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What Are the Best Utopian Sci-Fi Books or Series?

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What Are the Best Friendships Found in Science Fiction?

March 18, 2020 /2 Comments/in , /by

“There are good ships there are wood ships, there are ships that sail the sea. But the best ships are friendships, and may they always be." —Irish Proverb

Friendships really are the best ships, aren't they? While there is something to be said for a flaming hot romance; a seasoned, mature and devoted love; or, a passion unrequited, truly, some of the deepest and most loyal bonds are between friends. These friendships can also be a source of some pretty witty banter and some wild shenanigans too, which is always a treat to read!  

Does it feel like the world is falling apart right now? Maybe a little. We like to think The Beatles were on to something when they promised "we'll get by with a little help from our friends" and so this week's poll is in celebration of friendship. This week we're asking you to think about the most iconic and inspiring friendships found within the pages of science fiction, to add your nomination(s) below and then to vote on your favorite(s).

We base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

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What is the Best Friendship from a Science Fiction Book (standalone or series)?

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What are the best multi-book sci-fi series of all time?

January 15, 2020 /40 Comments/in , /by

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
― C.S. Lewis

We can't help but think that C.S. Lewis, he himself having published one of the most popular multi-book series of all time, would approve of the smorgasbord of options available to science fiction readers these days when it comes to multi-book series.  

The multi-book series has the power to absorb us like nothing else. Authors have the freedom to play the long game: to build out worlds with detail and richness the likes of which they simply couldn't if restricted to the length of a standalone or even a trilogy; to build characters of epic proportions that over time, we readers come to know better than our own friends. You ache for it never to end, and no matter how long it is when it does conclude, it will always leave you wanting more.

This week's poll asks for you to ponder multi-book series' containing four books or more, either completed or evolving. Which ones might be considered the very best?  Add your nomination(s) below and then vote on your favorite(s).

We base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

What Are the Best Multi-Book Sci-Fi Series of All Time? (Four BOOKS or more, completed or evolving)

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What are the Best YA Sci-Fi Books or Series?

February 6, 2020 /5 Comments/in , /by

“Good stories are good stories, no matter how they’re categorized.” —Octavia Butler

Why yes, we YA!  What about you?

Generally—or perhaps historically—speaking Young Adult works were written for audiences in the 12-17 age range. Even while the popularity of YA fiction has grown across all age ranges over the last decade, some adults still snub YA fiction, writing it off as lacking the maturity necessary for a grown up audience. We know however, that a great YA novel or series can be sophisticated and well written enough for the discerning reader of any age. This, for starters, requires the author to have a little faith in the younger generation and their capacity to attend to a multi-layered narrative. It requires them to choose interesting themes and write those themes in a way that is accessible while also having depth; and, it requires them to choose their language with care. Failing that, it requires them to write something appealing to youth, while sparking something like a sense of adventure (for example) that might provoke the adult reader's feelings of nostalgia. Or, it could just be down right fun. In today's world, sometimes that is plenty; sometimes that is more than enough.

This week's poll asks for you to ponder young adult science fiction books and series. Which ones might be considered the very best?  Add your nomination(s) below and then vote on your favorite(s).

We base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

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What are the best young adult science fiction books or series of all time?

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What are the best one-liners from sci-fi books?

September 5, 2019 /19 Comments/in , /by

“There's something to be said for hunger: at least it lets you know you're still alive.” — Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake

There's also something to be said for the beautiful pairings of words into well-shaped phrases, the meaning of which sparks joy, sadness, wisdom, and deep understanding in our hearts when we read it.

Science fiction plays an important role in forcing us to question the meaning of our day to day lives and the status quo of the world around us.

This week's poll asks for you to think of the quotes that struck fear and wonder, laughter and awe, into your heart when you read it. Add your nomination(s) below and then vote on your favorite(s).

We base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

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What are the best quotes/one-liners from a sci-fi BOOK?

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Interview: Daniel Arenson’s latest release “The Earthling” is here.

October 12, 2019 /0 Comments/in , /by

This week we sat down with Daniel Arenson, author of the incredible Earthrise series to talk about his latest release.

Having written over 60 books across the sci-fi and fantasy genres, Daniel Arenson is a master storyteller. 

His latest release, Soldiers of Earthrise Book 1: The Earthling, was inspired by the Philippine-American war, but it's set in space. It's about a war between Earth and a Filipino colony on another planet. And if the success of the original Earthrise series is any indicator, this new installment is sure to be one epic ride.

What are you currently writing?

I'm currently working on new novels in my SOLDIERS OF EARTHRISE series. The first novel, THE EARTHLING, was just released. This is my most heartfelt series, and something I'm really proud to share with readers.

If you write multi-book series: how do you keep up a fast paced story, spanning several different settings/situations, and still manage to keep all of your readers excited for the next part of each story?

I tend to write long series. My Earthrise series is 12 books long. A few of my other series (Moth, Kingdoms of Sand, Children of Earthrise, Soldiers of Earthrise) are 6 books long. I like big stories. I like room to immerse myself in a new world, to take the time to fully explore it. I find that shorter works are actually harder for me to write. I love having that breathing room, to really take the time to flesh out my world and characters.

When writing a book, have you ever learned something interesting/surprising, etc. that changed your life, or how you looked at life afterwards?

I often base my fictional wars and battles on conflicts from history. I spend a lot of time reading about historical battles, looking for inspiration. Even though I write books set in fantasy worlds or outer space, humans are still humans, and warfare is still warfare. Being a fantasy and science fiction writer means I read a lot of history. When you read a lot of history, you learn about how horrible we humans can be, how tragic war is, but also how noble and triumphant we can be during the most difficult times.

What technology from a sci-fi book (written by you or not) do you wish was real, and why?

A holodeck would be fun. But I worry that we'd get addicted to it and never leave... I also think a transporter would be great. A lot of my friends and family live in different countries. It would be great to just ping Scotty and have him beam me over. Yes, Star Trek has the best tech.

Have anything you've written about come true?

Since I write about alien invasions, thankfully not!

What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why?

I give away three books to anyone who visits my website: Moth, Requiem's Song, and Alien Hunters. I've probably given away tens of thousands of those by now. Want them? You can download them here: DanielArenson.com.

Get Daniel's latest release, The Earthling, available now on Amazon.

Jon Taylor is an Earthling. He doesn't care much about space. At least until his brother dies on Bahay, a war-torn planet many light-years away.

After the funeral, Jon joins the army. He learns to kill. And he flies to Bahay, sworn to avenge his brother.

Centuries ago, Filipino colonists arrived on Bahay to build a utopia. But this world has become a nightmare. Jon finds himself in a dizzying dreamscape, a world of dark jungles and neon slums, of ruthless guerrillas and intoxicating bargirls, of blood-soaked battlefields and glittering brothels. Here on Bahay, a man can lose his life in the jungle, lose his sanity in the gleaming drug dens, or lose his heart to a local girl with a sweet smile and knife behind her back.

On Bahay, nothing is as it seems. In this place of strange dreams and secrets, Jon hunts the man who killed his brother. But he learns that revenge always comes with a price...

If you loved Ender's Game, Starship Troopers, and Battlestar Galactica, you'll love The Earthling, a new tale in the bestselling Earthrise universe.

Author Biography:  Daniel Arenson is a bookworm, proud geek, and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. His novels have sold over a million copies. He's written over sixty novels in multiple series.

His bestselling series is Earthrise, the story of Earth struggling to rise after a devastating alien invasion. Children of Earthrise, a spinoff series, has recently been released, and Soldiers of Earthrise is launching Fall 2019.

In addition to Earthrise, Daniel has written the comedic sci-fi trilogy Alien Hunters.

He's also written several epic fantasy series: Kingdoms of Sand, Moth, Requiem.

You can follow Daniel on Facebook, Twitter and his website.