For many people, reading has been a lifesaver for their mental health. I didn't begin reading until my 20s. But I wish I had had those windows into other realities when I was younger. Having a difficult childhood molds our adult lives, and therefore we can still be haunted by childhood memories. Reading can help us see other worlds and other people, and it can ignite our imagination. Growing up in a small fishing town in Scotland is the perfect backdrop for imagination, with coastlines lined with dark, boisterous waters and castles steeped in battles, folklore, and intrigues of the past. All this has given way to my writing.
Double Star was particularly interesting to me due to the human aspect of prejudice and egotism, something we see every day by our fellow man.
It explores the barrier of one man’s constant pushback of what he believes is below him, or disgusting to him; aliens and political ideologies. I believe there is a fundamental goodness in all of us, and if the dust and grim of our unsavory human traits can be scrapped away, that goodness can bleed through.
The main character in Double Star must presume the identity of a man he has nothing in common with, both in life and principles, yet he plays the part perfectly. This is also a great read for non-sci-fi fans.
One minute, down-and-out actor Lorenzo Smythe was - as usual - in a bar, drinking away his troubles as he watched his career go down the tubes. Then a space pilot bought him a drink, and the next thing Smythe knew, he was shanghaied to Mars.
Suddenly he found himself agreeing to the most difficult role of his career: impersonating an important politician who had been kidnapped. Peace with the Martians was at stake - failure to pull off the act could result in interplanetary war. And Smythe's own life was on the line - for if he wasn't assassinated,…
Sci-fi has always been my favorite genre for the simple reason that every other genre can be explored under the blanket of science fiction.
End of Eternity is a fine example of this, in that it is both a love story and a thriller. Like modern-day sci-fi writers such as Andy Weir (Computer Programmer), Alister Reynolds (PhD in Astrophysics), and Liu Cixin (Computer Engineer), Asimov always leans on his scientific knowledge as a biochemist when writing.
Although End of Eternity does involve much biochemistry like some of Asimov’s other books, it does try to explain and navigate the complexities of time travel, which sometimes requires the mechanics of scientific thinking. I find time travel is always fun to read, and when there’s jealousy and love involved, it’s a recipe for a great story.
A spellbinding novel set in the universe of Isaac Asimov’s classic Galactic Empire series and Foundation series
Due to circumstances within our control . . . tomorrow will be canceled.
The Eternals, the ruling class of the Future, had the power of life and death not only over every human being but over the very centuries into which they were born. Past, Present, and Future could be created or destroyed at will.
You had to be special to become an Eternal. Andrew Harlan was special. Until he committed the one unforgivable sin—falling in love.
Not to be confused with the Doctor Who episode of the same name. City at World’s End is one of the earliest dystopian stories.
The writer, Edmond Hamilton is more famous for Captain Future and his contributions to DC comics Batman, Green Lantern, and Superman. I enjoyed this novel for its quirky characters, as well as its simplicity as a sci-fi story. It explores crowd hysteria and basic fear of change and survival. It also highlights the need for adaptably in an ever-changing society and world, that has transformed so much since the early days of science fiction.
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
Probably the most well-known books of classic sci-fi and a true masterpiece by Bradbury. Original, but with undertones of the same human traits of controlling the population, squashing individual thinking, and the escapism and magic of imagination through the pages of books.
Again, love for another human, and the excitement of babbling in forbidden pastimes are two of the themes of this book, as well as rising above the evil big brother.
The hauntingly prophetic classic novel set in a not-too-distant future where books are burned by a special task force of firemen.
Over 1 million copies sold in the UK.
Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness. Even so, Montag is unhappy; there is discord in his marriage. Are books hidden in his house? The Mechanical Hound of the Fire Department, armed with a lethal hypodermic, escorted by helicopters, is ready to track down those dissidents who defy society to preserve and read books.
Like many novels from the 1950s, the early sci-fi writers had a profound influence on post-golden age sci-fi works.
Matheson, along with Shelley’s concept of zombies has set the stage for countless scary stories. This book alone has been adapted into three movies, and with actors Vincent Price, Charlton Heston, and Will Smith show the interest in the zombie phenomenon.
I love this book for its deep human factors of isolation, loneliness, and even in the most depressing situations survival is a fundamental need, until it’s grinder down to nothingness. I have always been drawn to Matheson for his work on the classic show The Twilight Zone. His love for twists and turns and his provocative endings has been a huge influence on me as a writer.
An acclaimed SF novel about vampires. The last man on earth is not alone ...Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth ...but he is not alone. Every other man, woman and child on the planet has become a vampire, and they are hungry for Neville's blood. By day he is the hunter, stalking the undead through the ruins of civilisation. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn. How long can one man survive like this?
Ten provocative short sci-fi stories exploring prejudice, fear, imagination, human frailty, greed, and survival, and injected with a splash of humor and adventure. Each story ends with a thought-provoking twist reminiscent of the Twilight Zone.
From the time I was a girl, I’ve loved stories that put a lump in my throat even as I’m laughing. As a fiction writer, that funny-sad tone is the one I go for in my own work. I gravitate toward female protagonists of all ages who break the mold—women who are intelligent and strong but who also have unconventional, quirky personalities. Women who can be hilarious, infuriating, and heartbreaking—sometimes all at once. Because they are complex and unique, these women tend to struggle with life’s challenges more than their contemporaries. That’s what makes their stories so interesting, and why I have chosen the books on this list.
When Mar’s husband divorces her, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy starting over, she’s ready for new adventures—as long as she can keep things casual. Each month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical consultant. . . and a handsome novelist who wants more than she can give. Mar learns from each encounter. But can she open herself up to true connection?
Surrounded by quirky, endearing characters, Mar navigates her…
"A fun, entertaining novel! I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book as much as I did." -Leslie A. Rasmussen, award-winning author
When Mar Meyer's husband divorces her for another woman, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy to start over, Mar is young-looking, fit, and ready for new adventures-as long as she can keep things casual.
With each passing month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next. Among them: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical…
