By Betsey, Collections Development
When I am worried about the world I read science fiction. For me, science fiction is inherently optimistic – it says we will survive, maybe even flourish! We will get through this, we will meet other species, encounter other worlds and explore the universe.
Let’s just say that I read a lot of science fiction in 2021. Some of it was newly published, and some really old. Here are some of my favorites!
The Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers
An award winner, The Wayfarer books are all set in the fictional universe Galactic Commons. Characters are human, android and various other species.
Monk & Robot Series by Becky Chambers
A novella about a wandering tea monk who meets a sentient robot Mosscap, with both trying to figure out what people need.
The Divide Series by J. S. Dewes
The universe, once reliably expanding, is now shrinking, annihilating anything on the edge as it shrinks. The space ship, Argus and its crew must stop it before all life, including human life, ends.
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
In this series, a cyborg hacks its own programming and goes rogue – that is – it doesn’t have to obey the commands of anyone. It finds people generally annoying but repeatedly ends up saving some, much to its chagrin.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021)
Earth’s sun is cooling and the survival of Earth and all its inhabitants is threatened. Then middle school science teacher turned reluctant astronaut Ryland Grace is the only survivor of a 12 light year journey to find a way to reverse the process. Fortunately he encounters “Rocky,” an alien from another system whose planet is threatened by the same process. Together they work to save both planets and both species.
Dune by Frank Herbert (1965)
The first of an epic science fiction series set on the planet Arrakis and featuring the Atreides family – and sandworms!
English