A lone astronaut is sent on a mission to save the human race from an extinction-level threat. With no memory of his past, he must decipher the secrets of an alien technology in order to succeed.
Category: Science Fiction
Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 1) by Frank Herbert
In a future universe beset with political and religious turmoil, the planet Arrakis is the only source of a valuable resource. The desert planet is the center of a power struggle between interstellar factions, and one young man must lead his people to ultimate victory.
Ready Player Two: A Novel by Ernest Cline
Ready Player Two follows protagonist Wade Watts as he races against rivals to complete a new Easter egg hunt in the virtual world of the OASIS, uncovering secrets and treasures along the way.
Strange Planet (Strange Planet Series) by Nathan W. Pyle
Nathan W. Pyle’s Strange Planet is a wry, absurdist comic series about the bizarre day-to-day lives of aliens navigating a colorful, strange, and often silly universe.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The novel follows a future society in which books and independent thought are outlawed, and firemen burn any books they find. The protagonist, Guy Montag, struggles against his society’s constraints and becomes a book-saving rebel.
Ready Player One: A Novel by Ernest Cline
In a dystopian future, a young orphan competes in a virtual reality quest for a fortune left by a virtual world’s creator, matching wits against corporate foes.
The Martian by Andy Weir
A stranded astronaut, Mark Watney, must survive on Mars with limited supplies and no rescue plan. Through ingenuity and perseverance, he finds a way to survive and ultimately return to Earth.
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Allegiant follows Beatrice, Tobias, and the other survivors of the Divergent trilogy as they discover more secrets about their society, and ultimately choose their own fate.
Divergent by Veronica Roth
In a future-dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions and Tris, a young teen, must choose which to join. Tris discovers she is “Divergent,” different from other members of her faction and able to think outside the box, and must figure out how those differences can help her survive.
Ender’s Game (The Ender Quintet) by Orson Scott Card
Ender’s Game follows the journey of Ender Wiggin, a genius child who is recruited to train as a commander to fight a future alien invasion. Through battle school and simulations, he must prove he is the savior the world needs, leading to an epic conclusion.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
In a dystopian future society, teens fight to the death in an annual televised event called the Hunger Games in a desperate struggle for freedom.
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
In Cloud Atlas, six interrelated stories of people living in different parts of the world over a span of 500 years are woven together to explore how past decisions affect the future.
Mockingjay (The Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins
Katniss, now a symbol of hope, embarks on a mission to liberate her people from the tyrannical rule of the Capitol, only to discover a darker threat to Panem.
Next by Michael Crichton
“Next” by Michael Crichton is a fast-paced thriller that delves into the controversial world of genetic technology and its potential consequences. Through intertwining storylines and a diverse cast of characters, Crichton explores the dangers and ethical dilemmas surrounding genetic engineering and its impact on society.
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
“Cryptonomicon” follows the interconnected stories of two families, one during World War II and the other in the present day, as they navigate the world of cryptography, codebreaking, and digital warfare. Themes of data, secrecy, and power intertwine in this epic tale of technology, history, and personal relationships.
Contact by Carl Sagan
“Contact” by Carl Sagan is a science fiction novel that follows the journey of a scientist who receives a message from intelligent extraterrestrial life and sets out on a quest to make contact with them. The story explores themes of faith, science, and humanity’s place in the universe.
3001: The Final Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
3001: The Final Odyssey is the fourth and final installment in Arthur C. Clarke’s Space Odyssey series. It follows the continued adventures of astronaut Frank Poole, who was revived after being killed in the first book, as he explores a vastly changed humanity on Earth and battles against powerful alien interventions.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
“Snow Crash” is a science fiction novel that follows the adventures of hacker and pizza delivery driver, Hiro Protagonist, as he tries to stop a powerful virus from destroying civilization in both the virtual and physical worlds. Along the way, he uncovers secrets about ancient languages, religion, and the origins of humanity.
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
“Starship Troopers” is a science fiction novel that follows the journey of Juan Rico, a young soldier, as he goes through intense military training and battles against deadly alien creatures in a futuristic society where the only way to gain citizenship and political rights is through military service.
Red Mars (Mars Trilogy) by Kim Stanley Robinson
“Red Mars” is a science-fiction novel that follows the first human colonists as they attempt to terraform and inhabit the Martian landscape. The story explores themes of colonization, political conflicts, and the impact of human interference on a new world.
Neuromancer by William Gibson
“Neuromancer” is a groundbreaking science fiction novel that follows a former hacker turned drug addict, Case, as he is recruited for one last job by a powerful artificial intelligence. Set in a dystopian future, the book explores themes of technology, identity, and the blurring lines between reality and virtual reality.
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
In “The Diamond Age,” an influential interactive book called the “Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer” guides a young girl named Nell through a technology-obsessed society facing social and political turmoil. As she learns and grows, she must navigate a world of nanotechnology, political intrigue, and revolution.
The Terminal Experiment by Robert J. Sawyer
“The Terminal Experiment” follows Dr. Peter Hobson as he creates a technology that allows him to digitally upload his consciousness after death. As he explores the afterlife, he becomes entangled in ethical and moral dilemmas and must confront the consequences of playing god.
The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
“The Stars My Destination” is a science fiction novel set in a future where teleportation is possible. The story follows Gully Foyle, a man seeking revenge for being abandoned in space. He discovers he has the ability to teleport and uses it to achieve his goal, but ultimately learns the power of forgiveness.
How to Save the World by Charles Sheffield
In “How to Save the World”, Charles Sheffield offers a comprehensive guide to addressing and mitigating major global crises such as climate change, resource depletion, and overpopulation. Through a combination of scientific research and practical solutions, he presents a hopeful and actionable plan for saving the world.
Legacy by Greg Bear
“Legacy” by Greg Bear is a science fiction novel that tells the story of a group of human colonists who are stranded on a distant planet and must face the challenges of survival and evolution. Through their struggles and triumphs, they ultimately discover the true essence of what it means to be human.
Gold: The Final Science Fiction Collection by Isaac Asimov
“Gold” is a collection of 13 science fiction stories by renowned author Isaac Asimov. Each story explores various scientific themes and creates unique worlds and characters, showcasing Asimov’s mastery of the genre. From robots to time travel, this collection is a must-read for science fiction fans.
Permutation City by Greg Egan
In “Permutation City”, a man uploads his consciousness into a simulated world, exploring the nature of identity and stimulating philosophical debates about the meaning of reality and existence. However, as he delves deeper, he discovers that his digital world is not as perfect as he thought.
Valis by Philip K. Dick
VALIS is a science fiction novel that follows the spiritual and philosophical journey of a man named Horselover Fat, as he explores themes of reality, perception, and divine intervention. Through a series of visions and mysterious events, he comes to question his own sanity and the role of a higher power in the world.
Startide Rising (The Uplift Saga, Book 2) by David Brin
“Startide Rising” is the second installment in the Uplift Saga, a sci-fi series exploring a galactic civilization where advanced races uplift and mentor younger species. This book follows the crew of a sentient dolphin-crewed starship as they are caught in a dangerous power struggle while searching for the ultimate prize: an ancient relic with the power to shape the future of the galaxy.
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
“Doomsday Book” is a sci-fi novel that follows a historian named Kivrin who time travels to the middle ages and gets trapped during a deadly epidemic. As her colleagues in the future try to rescue her, they themselves face a deadly virus outbreak, creating a race against time to save both eras.
The Uplift War (The Uplift Saga, Book 3) by David Brin
In “The Uplift War,” the alien races of the galaxy are at war, and humanity finds itself caught in the middle. As they struggle to survive and make their own place in the universe, the humans face challenges and betrayals from both their allies and enemies.
Sundiver (The Uplift Saga, Book 1) by David Brin
“Sundiver” by David Brin is the first book in the Uplift Saga series. Set in a distant future where humanity has joined a galactic community, it follows a team of scientists as they embark on a dangerous mission to explore the surface of the sun and uncover a secret that could change the fate of all civilizations.
The Diamond Age, or, A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson
The Diamond Age is a science fiction novel set in a future world where a young girl is gifted a highly advanced interactive book that guides her through adventures and teaches her about technology, culture, and survival. The book explores themes of artificial intelligence, nano-technology, and societal divides.
Brightness Reef (Bantam Spectra Book) by David Brin
“Brightness Reef” is the first book in David Brin’s “Uplift Storm Trilogy” that follows a group of stranded aliens as they try to survive on a planet with mysterious advanced technology. As their past and present collide, they must navigate political tensions and ancient secrets to uncover the truth and find a way back to their home world.