The best books that explore fantastic worlds

This is the consummate political thriller. First published in 1947, but not translated into English until 2009, the story (based on a real incident) is set in war-time Berlin. It tells the story of the Quangels, a respectable, working-class couple who, prompted by the death of their only son Otto, distribute hundreds of hand-written post-cards critical of Hitler and the Nazi regime. As the Gestapo close in, it is as if the streets themselves become narrower and more oppressive, and the networks which have surrounded the Quangels, become tighter and more intricately interlinked. The city becomes a metaphor for the claustrophobia and surveillance of life in the Third Reich. Finally, the net tightens... The finale of the novel is devastating… 

Rendezvous with Rama (and its subsequent novels) is my favorite sci-fi series. I love the idea of an alien spacecraft passing through our solar system and us being able to intercept it and potentially learn more about our universe. (If that happened in real life, I would want to be a part of that.) I actually prefer the last three books in this series because it follows several generations of a family that’s travelling through space, the difficulties that creates, the obstacles they face, and the discoveries they make both along the way and at their final destination. But the first book, Rendezvous with Rama, sets it all up beautifully and is as unique a story now as it was back when it was published in the 70s.

Even though this story has a tragic ending, Anne Frank is a true inspiration through her words. She kept this diary while she and her family hid from the Nazis during WWII. She shares with us her hopes, fears, and dreams and through her eyes we can feel a sense of hope, love of family, and so much strength. I’ve read it several times and I still can’t get over how Anne, after all she went through, could say, “In spite of everything, I still believe people are good at heart.” Wow. I wish I knew her.