Ask a librarian for a SCI-FI recommendation

[Juanita]

Here's the thread where you can post a request for a librarian's recommendation if you enjoy science fiction.

[Mike]

Hello Librarians!

I love sci fi, and I don't think I read enough, so let me hear what you have for me! Some of my favorites:

Ready Player One
The Martian
Ender's Game
I, Robot
Foundation

I will also accept Fantasy recommendations if you're so inclined.

Thank you!
Mike (non-librarian)

P.S. While I don't shy away from longer books, to have a chance of finishing the whole (Advanced) challenge, a shorter book (less than 350-400 pages) is appreciated.

[Jennifer]

For fantasy, I really enjoyed Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Also, The Queen of Blood by Sara Beth Durst.
I haven't read as much science fiction lately, but I'm looking forward to reading Crosstalk by Connie Willis.
Jennifer K. , librarian by day

[LynnDee (LynnDee's Library)]

I second Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Probably my fave book of 2015.

For science fiction on the shorter side I would recommend "Lock In" by John Scalzi. It's about a guy who has "lock in" syndrome and operates his daily life through human looking artificial intelligence they call "threeps". He's also an FBI agent. I've also heard his "Old Man's War" series is pretty good.

LynnDee, librarian in the Midwest

[Erin the Avid Reader ⚜BFF's with the Cheshire Cat⚜]

My favorite genre is Sci-Fi so I'd love to help you find something wonderful! I, Robot is a fantastic hooves and is one of my favorite books to date.

Here are some others you may be interested in:

Invisible Planets: Contemporary Chinese Sci-Fi literature. -It's a collection of short sci-fi stories written by some extremely talented authors.

Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein -Classic hard sci-if mixed with political science and psychology. Really, really interesting. Much better than the movie in my opinion.

The Time Machine by H.G Wells -This is more of a novella, but keep your mind open as you're reading it. I missed a lot of cool details the first time I read it.

[Jessica]

This one's for Mike:
Since you mentioned The Martian, I'm suggesting Sleeping Giants. Both are about very big things, but never lose track of the humanity in each situation. The sequel to Sleeping Giants comes out in 2017.

If you like Ready Player One, have you read Scalzi's Redshirts? Both are affectionate love letters to the genre.

Jessica, SPL librarian.

[Rebecca]

If you haven't read it yet, I'd suggest Ernest Cline's Armada which is another love letter to the 80s, but far more about video and arcade games than anything else. Definitely sci-fi as well, and I've heard it too will be made into a movie in the near future.

Becca, SCCCLD Librarian

[Mike]

Thank you for all the recommendations! I have read Redshirts and Armada before.

The remaining books all look good, and I've added them to my TBR list. I've decided to try either Sleeping Giants or Lock In, depending on which is available at my library when it's time.

[Erin]

Mike wrote: "Hello Librarians!

I love sci fi, and I don't think I read enough, so let me hear what you have for me! Some of my favorites:

Ready Player One
The Martian
[book:Ende..."

Dark Matter is a quick read and the story is fascinating if you haven't read that yet! I wouldn't say it's as good as the books you listed as favorites, but I think it's worth a read.

Erin, Librarian

[Mike]

Erin wrote: "Mike wrote: "Hello Librarians!

I love sci fi, and I don't think I read enough, so let me hear what you have for me! Some of my favorites:

Ready Player One
[book:The Martian|1800756..."

That one is on my radar too. Maybe as Red Spine?

[Nina]

I am a librarian but these are (some) personal favorites >>

Dune by Frank Herbert... and its sequels and prequels including those by his son

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card ... and its sequels

Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, The Door Into Summer and Beyond This Horizon are some of my favorites by Robert A. Heinlein.

Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler

The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and its sequels by Douglas Adams

The Handmaid's Tale or the Oryx and Crake series by Margaret Atwood

Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke

Freedom's Choice by Anne McCaffrey

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

Bio of a Space Tyrant by Piers Anthony

Omnivore by Piers Anthony

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

[Erin]

Mike,

That would be a good pick for Red Spine! Another book I can suggest is Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson although this one is on the longer side.

Erin

[Judi]

If anyone's trying to slowly add sci-fi to their reading list, try The Age of Miracles. There are sci-fi concepts in the book, but it reads more like fiction and it's from the view of a young woman reflecting on her teen years when this scientific event(s) occurred. It's Sci-Fi Lite, but a really good read!

[Rebecca]

Judi wrote: "If anyone's trying to slowly add sci-fi to their reading list, try The Age of Miracles. There are sci-fi concepts in the book, but it reads more like fictio..."

But, oh my gosh, this is definitely a three hanky book. I've read this book twice now, and it's like a gut punch each time. Read this only if you're like Sally Sparrow from Doctor Who, who said, "Sad is happy for deep people."

[Rebecca]

Folks, I just read Dark Matter and let me just tell you that it's the best book I've read in a long time. I highly recommend for anyone who loves thrillers, edge-of-your-seat, "OMG what's going to happen next?" type books. I bought the book. I'm a librarian. I never buy books because I work in a place where there are thousands upon thousands of them. I bought this one, though, because I loved it that much.

[Mike]

Thanks to LynnDee and Jessica, I have finished both Lock In and Sleeping Giants in the last few weeks. One will be "Recommended by a Librarian", and the other will be my "First Book in a Series You Haven't Read Before." Excellent recommendations both, and I thank you!

Now to move Dark Matter up my To-Read list!

[Jenna]

I just started the audio book, hope it's as good as the book. I have heard great things!

Rebecca wrote: "Folks, I just read Dark Matter and let me just tell you that it's the best book I've read in a long time. I highly recommend for anyone who loves thrillers, edge-of-your-seat, "OMG ..."

[poshpenny]

Dark Matter was one of my favorite books last year!

[Judi]

Rebecca wrote: "Judi wrote: "If anyone's trying to slowly add sci-fi to their reading list, try The Age of Miracles. There are sci-fi concepts in the book, but it reads mor..."

I have to agree! If you are an empathetic person, you will probably cry at certain parts.

[Thegirlintheafternoon]

Random recommendation: check out the audiobook version of Nnedi Okorafor's Binti! It is so great.

[Michele]

Thanks for recommending Dark Matter! I bought it from a book club and now it fits in my challenge and I can read it! Woohoo!!

[Paige]

Yay! Thank you Nina! I'm going to look into Do Andriods Dream of Electric Sheep for sure!

[Michelle]

Looking for a new author or two to check out. I prefer serieses to one-off books but my tastes are very varied. Right now, what I'm aiming for is somebody clever, quirky, and humorous without trying too hard. Absolutely love Jasper Fforde and have already read everything he's written. Read everything by Neil Gaiman and most of Christopher Moore's and Douglas Addams' stuff. Other top favorites include the Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman, Ready Player One, and The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. I lean towards Sci-fi/fantasy/YA but not LOTR or Potter. Thanks in advance for any suggestions! (Cross-posted to YA and Fiction)

[Elena]

Have you tried The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett?

[Eric]

Hello Hello. I was really hoping to ask a librarian in person, but the first I asked didn't read... ya. I'd love to start a new sci-fi/fantasy series. I really loved the Red Rising trilogy, anything Starwars like, both of Cline's, and some of the older stuff like Enders Game, Hitchhikers, and the Forever War. thanks!