The most recommended books on galaxies

Sometimes, a pithy, thought-provoking novel with an ending I never saw coming is what I’m looking for, but other times I really just want a rollicking space comedy, and Starship Repo sure delivers.

Set in a universe where humans are a novelty and giant space crabs, sentient boulders, and creatures made up of a collective of autonomous organs are the norm, everything is alien yet it’s a shockingly familiar tale of a group of lovable, misfit, almost-criminals walking the fine line of the law. The humor is a little crude, but I laughed out loud more than once.

Full disclosure, Mary Fan and I partner on editing the Brave New Girls series. However, that doesn’t make this book any less awesome. Jane Colt is 20-something working a boring corporate job until she witnesses her friend, Adam, get kidnapped. Before she knows it, she’s embroiled in an interstellar chase along with her brother who has a past in the most lawless corners of the galaxy. This book is a little Blade Runner and a little Firefly, and it explores what it means to be human and the real meaning of family. I love this book because it is fast-paced with a fun and sometimes bratty (in a good way) main character. I’m a sucker for across-the-galaxy adventures and this book definitely delivers.

It was effortlessly entertaining for me and had me gripped from the first chapter.

I'm very picky when it comes to books that are inspired by gaming because I want to feel that the author themselves are actual gamers too, and you can tell how much of a gamer Russell is, which made it extra special for me whilst reading. It was like watching the craziest esports match in book form! Fellow gamers you'll know what that means.

Break out your telescope and this book.

This is one of those coffee table books you’ll pick up time and again. A wonderful resource for kids and adult space fanatics alike to get the imaginative juices going as we all look to the stars and planets and wonder about our place in the universe.

It’s part of a National Geographic book series so you know you’re getting the best-sourced and most recent info. Even writers of fiction need good sources from which to create!

This book has a special place in my heart because I couldn’t find more relatable characters.

Do you know that feeling when you always try to be the best, then you make a little mistake, and the consequences of this mistake lead you to nothing but even more failures? I felt like the author could read my mind, because every important character had a common trait with me. I also enjoyed the trope of “the mad artists”... and I really hope I won’t end up like one of them.

This is a wonderful book in multiple respects, but perhaps most impressive is the brilliant world-building, complete with several fascinating species, and complex yet comprehensible galactic politics.

The far-future galactic civilization is strikingly original, and humanity’s place in it is compelling. A close second to the world-building: the fabulous, three-dimensional characters.

As much as I enjoyed the second trilogy in this series, I would have loved to see this book’s characters return.

Siti Kassis isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life, but following her father back to the deserted homeworld of humanity is pretty low on her list. But the Hero of Darenti Four insists, and it’s an exciting mission, so they enter deep sleep together, and emerge into a much different Earth than they expected.

The characters are believable and clever, with funny bits liberally sprinkled throughout, and Julia’s writing is excellent. Young, old, male, or female; every reader will love Siti’s adventures on a catastrophically changed Earth!

This book took my breath away when I first read it. An adventure travelling across galaxies, weaving ancient mythology with aliens and spaceships and stars that may literally be singing. I have the hardback edition and the illustrations are stunning. Parts of the book have a graphic novel feel, with the illustrations picking up the storyline and taking it forward. It’s an unforgettable journey.

This is a lovely story about a boy called Edwin Hubble who was spellbound by the stars above. His father discouraged his star obsession, but his grandfather encouraged it by building him a telescope for his birthday. Cool Grandpa!

As the young Hubble looked up at the night sky, he wondered how many stars there were. How did the universe start, and where did it come from? He was the first astronomer to determine there were more galaxies than our own Milky Way.

He also discovered that our universe is constantly expanding. The famous Hubble telescope is named after him. Elegantly written and accompanied by gorgeous artwork, this book reminds us to “Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet,” Stephen Hawkins.

I picked up a copy of Sally Rogers-Davidson’s book Polymer in a bookshop in Glebe. I admit I took it from the shelf because of the chance resemblance between our names. It entertained me royally on a long bus ride and I instantly wanted to write to the author. I later met Sally R-D and found we had more in common than our names and our penchant for writing science fiction.

Polymer is one of the most wonderful lively, romantic, adventurous space operas I’ve ever read. It’s sharply written, and Polly Meridian herself is a heroine I wish I’d invented. Her hero is an antihero at first, but the story persuades the reader to give him a chance, as Polly does.