As a scientist, I love hard science fiction, especially when the story makes me think about the true nature of reality or takes me on an adventure to places unknown. Weāve all read the classics from Clarke, Heinlein, Bear, or Asimov. But books written decades ago are becoming increasingly dated as society progresses into a new century. (Will people of the future really chain smoke? And why are all the characters men?) Never fear, modern hard sci-fi is alive and well. Here are five recent books that tell an intriguing, uplifting, or awe-inspiring story. Even better than the classics, itās hard sci-fi for the 21st century!
Rysa Walker offers a grab bag of fiction, from time travel to murder mysteries. Her latest series is an alien artifact story set on Mars.
An eccentric and not-so-honest billionaire is terraforming the planet (sound familiar?) and multiple factions of homesteaders are in conflict with the temporary workers. Enter a principled journalist who just wants to bring the breaking alien artifact story to readers back on Earth. She quickly learns that virtually no one on Mars can be trusted. In over her head, she has no ride home.
I like this story in part because Rysa is such a good writer, but also because it feels supremely relevant to our world today.
A chamber from an ancient civilization is uncovered deep below the surface of Mars. Science reporter Claire Echols is assigned to cover the story, but someone is determined to stop her. Is it the wealthy entrepreneur leading the ongoing terraforming effort? The mining companies desperate to protect their livelihoods? The cult leader who wants to put a stop to all scientific progress? Or is someone else so threatened by this discovery that they'll kill to keep it hidden?
What
a premise in this book. Girlfriend on Mars is about a reality game show where
the two winners will go along on a one-way trip to Mars, essentially setting up
the first human settlement there.
This is not a science book. Itās really about
the main characters: Amber, whoās been accepted as a contestant on the show
(sheās quite brilliant in horticulture), and her loser boyfriend Kevin (a pot
dealer who lives in terror that she will actually be chosen for the trip to
Mars).
The winners will be a man and a woman (for obvious reasons), which leads
to all sorts of misplaced jealousy and, I should emphasize, a whole lot of
hilarity.
My second recommendation is 'The Mars House' by Natasha Pulley. I'm a Natasha This
This delightful, imaginative novel uses sci-fi tropes as a launching point into something whimsical and playful ā closer to fantasy than hard sci-fi. It's a love story masquerading as a sci-fi novel and fantasy cosplaying as speculative fiction. And it all works like gangbusters. In a not-too-distant future, London has become a drowned city. Our hero January Stirling was the principal dancer in London's Royal Ballet ā now he's living on a terraformed colony on Mars. And through a series of circumstances (that are equal parts hilarious and tragic), he's in a marriage of necessity with a politician who should be his sworn enemy. Big adventure ensues. The plot has things to say about issues like climate change, immigration, gender, and politics. But all that smart stuff unfolds through a story that includes powerful twins, aā¦
Growing up, books werenāt just something I readāthey were portals to futures filled with wonder, adventure, and possibility. There was something captivating about science fiction in particular: it was more than just space battles and shiny gadgets. It was about what the future could beāour potential, our challenges, and how we might navigate the unknown. Looking back, a few books and authors had a lasting impact on me, not just as a reader but as a writer. Iāll walk you through five that really stood out and shaped the way I see the world and, ultimately, likely inspired my series.
I was completely invested in this story from the first few paragraphs. I have a habit of skimming through words and pages to get the gist of a book before committing to reading it; this book is one of the few that held me from the start.
Heinlein had this amazing ability to make Mars feel alive - not just a backdrop but a character in itself. I love this book for the sense of adventure it gives me, pulling me into a world where young explorers navigate political conspiracies and uncover the mysteries of an alien planet. Heinleinās writing made me feel like I was right there alongside the characters, sharing their triumphs and setbacks.
What stood out to me was how it combined the excitement of discovery with serious themes about freedom and responsibility. Heinleinās Mars isnāt just a playgroundāitās a battleground for ideas about independence and loyalty.ā¦
Discover the wonders and secrets of a very special Mars alongside Jim and Frank in this thrilling adventure, featuring the first appearance of the Martian elder race by one of the greatest science fiction writers of all.
Robert A. Heinlein's Red Planet features the first appearance of the Martian elder race and tells the story of Jim and Frank's journey to the Lowe Academy boarding school on Mars.
On their way to school, the boys meet Gekko, a sentient Martian, and join in a ritual called "growing together," learning about the planet and the Martians' protective nature towards Jim's pet,ā¦
Having spent thirty years working as a chef, I was always going to have working-class heroes in my stories. When someone said this is uncommon in science fiction, I didnāt believe them. But then I couldnāt think of any. I started searching through my bookshelves, and still, I couldnāt find enough to fill this list. I asked on socials and eventually found five books.
It would seem natural that in a science fiction world of adventure and exploration, the professionals would be at the forefront. But I am pretty sure that the toilet cleaners on the Death Star would still have a story or two to tell.
This book resonates with Golden Age sci-fi vibes. Set in the wonderfully described frontier that is the Mars colony, Ballingrad captures the difficulty and hardship experienced by people who venture to the edge of civilisation in hopes of a better life and reminds us that it is these hardworking people that build the foundations for everything that comes after.
Annabelle is a young girl who embarks on a journey seeking justice after bandits steal the last recording of her mother's voice. On her quest she falls in with a gang of neāer-do-wells while all communication and transport from Earth mysteriously ceases.
If you enjoy space westerns and the bygone era of classic sci-fi, this book is for you.
Ray Bradbury meets The Martian in this chilling page-turning tale of Mars' first colony, fallen to madness after all contact with Earth ceased, perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer.
Anabelle Crisp is fourteen when the Silence arrives, severing all communication between Earth and her new home on Mars. One evening, while she and her father are closing their diner in the colony of New Galveston, they are robbed at gunpoint.
Among the stolen items is a recording of her absent mother's voice. Driven by righteous fury and desperation to lift her father's broken spirits, Anabelle sets out to confront theā¦