What are some of your favorite science fiction books and why? If you had to pick only a few. As of writing this post my favorites are the following.
- The Quantum Magician
- Three Body Problem
- Children of Time
I tend to like in-depth explanations of the fictional science that exists in-universe as well as a good mystery.
My favourites are (still) HitchHikersGGTG and Good Omens. I just adore that writing style, I guess.
I’m currently reading The Left Hand of Darkness, and so far enjoying it a lot.
The Expanse series has done it for me. Best books I’ve read in a long time.
I completely agree and love The Expanse. It’s more character driven than I prefer, but it is still in my top 10 for sure.
I really enjoyed Project Hail Mary.
Didn’t know about this, going to go out and get this one, thanks! I really enjoyed reading The Martian by the same author way back when.
I recently read Artemis by Andy Weir, but the protagonist had so much teenage angst that it was difficult to finish despite its short length. I’ll have to try one of his more popular books instead.
I haven’t read Artemis but I’ve seen multiple people say that it is his weakest work. There is no teenage angst in this one.
- Three Body Problem (and sequels, especially The Dark Forest:) it’s good scifi, though I worry that a lot of people missed the message.
- Consider Phlebas/Use Of Weapons: tragic space opera is my favorite kind.
- Gideon The Ninth: sci-fantasy popcorn with a sass-mouthed narrator.
- Providence: Fresh take on ubiquitous scifi tropes, and I’m a fan of Max Barry’s punchy writing style.
I haven’t read Quantum Magician but certainly agreed on the Three Body Problem and Children of Time. Fantastic books.
Some others I really like:
- This Is How You Lose the Time War - short, poetic. Love it.
- Red Mars trilogy and really anything by Kim Stanley Robinson. Oh also in particular The Years of Rice and Salt
- Diaspora by Greg Egan and also much of his other stuff
- Player of Games and Use of Weapons from Ian Banks’ Culture series. Haven’t read all of them yet.
- Ancillary Justice
I don’t see many people recommending Ancillary Justice, but really enjoyed the series. I thought it was a pretty light read as far as Sci-fi goes, but it ticked all the right boxes for me.
I wouldn’t call AJ a light read, just because you spend so much time wrapping your brain around what the narrator is doing and the cultures are so deliberately weird. All the more rewarding for it though imo.
