Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2019 Challenge Prompts - Regular
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20 - a book set in space
Would GRR Martin's Tuf Voyaging work? Or are you reading this as "in space" referring to a space station or on a ship of some sort without any beings touching down on a planet?
I am trying to choose between:Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell
The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
Ashlei wrote: "I am trying to choose between:Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell
The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston"
You could read Sky Without Stars for book by 2 female authors and then you still get to read 2 of your choices :)
I'm going to be continuing the Illuminae series by reading Gemina, but I too want to start the Lunar Chronicles
Mod
I was just reading the FANTASTIC short story The Lady Astronaut of Mars (day 8 of my 24 Days of Shorts! Read it for yourself here: https://www.tor.com/2014/04/19/the-la... ) and had to think of you and laugh when I got to this passage:
“He thinks I should go.” My chest hurt even considering it. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the mission. “He knows it’s the only way I’ll get back into space.”
Garrett Biggs frowned like I’d said the sky was green, instead of the pale Martian amber. “You’re in space.”
“I’m on Mars. It’s still a planet.”
Red Rising - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...Work for this as it takes place on Mars. I am really enjoying it. A reviewer described this book that if Game of Thrones and Hunger Games had a baby book- it would be this story. I think they’re spot on. Only warning I have is it is quite violent.
Lori wrote: "Would GRR Martin's Tuf Voyaging work? Or are you reading this as "in space" referring to a space station or on a ship of some sort without any beings touching down on a planet?"As far as I'm concerned, so long as the main setting is fine (or you could even get away with a secondary setting--the Lady Astronauts of Mars Novels--less so the second one--spend a lot of time on Earth but space is definitely an important setting.
So Tuf Voyaging would definitely work.
Lindi wrote: "I feel like this is the universe telling me to just finish The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I've started it multiple times over the years but just couldn't get into it. I can't l..."I'm the same! I have started The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy so many times and it just doesn't grab me. But everybody I know, like every single person I socialize with, loves the book. So I constantly feel like I am the only one who doesn't get certain inside jokes and so forth. I want to read it, even if I don't actually want to read it.
Tara wrote: "I don't typically like sci-fi because I don't prefer world building. Can someone recommend some options that focus more on characters and the human story vs. the world building? TIA"The Sparrow definitely focuses on the story between the characters. It really digs into some deep esoteric stuff. I read it when it first came out and still find myself reflecting on it regularly.
Sarah wrote: "Katy wrote: "Sarah wrote: "What about S is for Space? I read Something Wicked This Way Comes last year, so I at least know his writing style suits me. And they're short ..."Sarah wrote: "Katy wrote: "Sarah wrote: "What about S is for Space? I read Something Wicked This Way Comes last year, so I at least know his writing style suits me. And they're short ..."
I read both R Is for Rocket and S is for Space a long time ago. I don't remember all of the stories very well, but I think the stories in both of them alternate between taking place in space and on Earth. Bradbury is a wonderful author. My favorite story by him is All Summer in a Day .
Harry wrote: "Would the The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin fit this prompt? Hope so as I have it my TBR stash."It takes place on another planet, so I think so! It's an awesome book! One of my favorite of all time! I think about it often, even though I read it about 30 years ago.
I think I"m going to use Eon by Greg Bear. I'm not entirely sure it'll work, but it's shelved as space and space opera so it seems promising. Has anyone read it? Does it fit?
I've not read it but I just saw Ten Little Astronauts on Twitter and it's a murder mystery in space, so it might be good for those of you who like mysteries.
Mod
I am not big on sci-fi, but I am big on murder, so...."Ten Little Astronauts" - Damon L Wakes
Came to suggest Binti. It might also fit the set on university or campus task and definitely fite the author from Asia, Africa, or South America task. Oh, and if anyone ia also doing the Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge of 2019 it fits the book by an AOC set in or abour space task.Since I'm using Binti for some of the tasks I mentioned above, I will probably go with The Martian or Artemis since I didn't get to them this year.
The Loneliest Girl in the UniverseThis one is all set on a spaceship and was much more of a thriller then I thought it would be!
For Star Wars or Star Trek fans, any of the novelizations of the movies or the extended universe novels would work, and there are A TON to choose from! I totally forgot that I own Brightly Burning, since I've got it in e-reader form, so I think I'll be doing that one!
BlindsightA Scifi novel dealing with a first contact. Also, a horror novel. One which for a change manages to depict aliens as something truly foreign. It throws a lot of tech jargon at you though, so this is definitely not for everyone.
Binti (and the subsequent books in the series)Skyward
New Moon
The Martian
Artemis
All Systems Red (and the subsequent books in the series)
Leviathan Wakes (and the subsequent books in the series)
If there are books/graphic novels for shows/movies/video games like Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, Halo, Mass Effect, etc. those would work too.
As for set in space, even if it's on a planet there's usually travel to/from at some point. And really sometimes they just mean not on Earth in some cases.
Stacey wrote: "Some of the ones I thought of right away were:The 100 & Day 21
The Martian & Artemis
Illuminae
[book:The Hitchhiker..."
I picked hitchhiker's guide. I did the 100 series for the climate fiction prompt.
Lindi wrote: "I feel like this is the universe telling me to just finish The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I've started it multiple times over the years but just couldn't get into it. I can't l..."I highly recommend the audiobook for Hitchhiker's Guide if you've been struggling with it - it's read by Stephen Fry, and he's hilarious.
Leia: Princess of AlderaanBloodline (this is Leia as a General; both this and the above are by Claudia Gray)
Chuck Wendig has the Star Wars series called Aftermath
Katherine Gilraine has The Index Series. Book 1 is Mages (also works for the under 100 reviews on GR and Selfpublished Book tasks if doing BR's Read Harder Challenge)
Mod
that's an interesting question. I think it could work if you want it to work.
Personally, I wouldn't count it, because in my mind it's "set on" Earth, it's a book about space from the point of view of scientists on earth, so the "setting" is earth, and how all of the earthbound scientists manage to measure stuff and figure stuff out that's happening so far away.
But ... it's ABOUT space, so if you view this category as "a book about space" then yes it works. (Just so you know: Not all of the essays are about space, some are about science on earth, the periodic table, how planets were named, how earth's atmosphere works, why things are spherical, that sort of thing.)
Okay, it's actually about being from another planet, but I love this book: The Man Who Fell to Earth. Not to be missed either, the movie version starring David Bowie.
A lot of books by Robert A. Heinlein will work if you like classic sci fi! Starship Troopers, Farmer in the Sky, others.More modern sci fi, I really like the Jason Wander series by Robert Buettner. It starts with Orphanage, which actually starts on Earth for a good part of the book but does end up in space, so up to you whether that counts. It's set on an Earth being attacked by aliens and about a troubled kid who gets sent into space infantry to train to fight them.
Also, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is almost entirely set on a space station, and an excellent book.
Lauren wrote: "Cinder ! As well as the rest of the books, if any of you have yet to finish them"Love that series! New readers should be aware though that large parts of most of the books, including the first one, take place on Earth, and the Moon is another major setting. There are parts that take place on space stations or space ships, but if you're wanting to be super strict about the prompt I'd have a backup plan in mind in case it doesn't count well enough for you.
Aniara: An Epic Science Fiction Poem takes place on a space-ship; it has also been adapted into an opera!
I read Light for Cyberpunk book last year, a great deal of the book is set in space and it is a very surprising novel, mixing different genres. It really hooked me up until the end (which was, on the down side, a bit disappointing, but the book is worth a read).
Tabitha wrote: "Came to suggest Binti. It might also fit the set on university or campus task and definitely fite the author from Asia, Africa, or South America task. Oh, and if anyone ia also doin..."Actually it wouldn't fit that prompt. The author, while of Nigerian heritage, is actually from the United States.
I love Sci-Fi, and got lots of ideas from this thread! I definitely tend to prefer "lighter" sci-fi that is more focused on the character relationships and involve lots of action. I tend to read a lot of female main characters too. Here are some I recommend for this topic:A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe
Tantamount
Stars Uncharted
Linesman
Apollo's Outcasts
Trading in Danger
Unearthed
Fortune's Pawn
And, if you like romance, these are some spacey romances that are pretty tame (includes sex, but no tentacles - I promise!)
Dark Horse
Mercenary Instinct
Tonya wrote: "So does it count as "space" if takes place on a different planet? I really want to read All Systems Red but I'm not sure how much of it actually takes place in space. The synopsis s..."All Systems Red definitely takes place on another planet but that seems open to interpretation on whether it "fits." They are still very sci-fi / spacey, IMHO. And it is fabulous. Especially the audio-book version. It's also VERY short. The sequels Artificial Condition Rogue Protocol and Exit Strategy (also quite short) are on ships and space stations so might fit the prompt better. (But still, read them in order; there is a bit of an over-arching story.)
Mod
I was going to suggest the sequels, too. "All Systems Red" is not "in space" so I wouldn't use it, BUT it's also very short, so you could read it and then read the next novella (which IS set in space). Naturally, you'll fall in love with this awesome series and have to read the next two books also :-)
I'll end up reading All Systems Red anyway and if I like it I'll continue on and count the sequel(s). I saw someone post they were planning to read Aurora Rising. I don't remember if it was here or in the ATY threads. It seems interesting so if all else fails I'll check it out. I have 172 Hours on the Moon too but I'm going to assume it's mostly set on the moon. I don't want to read too much into it in case I accidently spoil myself.
Mod
Oh I'm so excited to read that one!! I may have been the one who said she was reading it for this :-)
Laurel wrote: "I love Sci-Fi, and got lots of ideas from this thread! I definitely tend to prefer "lighter" sci-fi that is more focused on the character relationships and involve lots of action. I tend to read a ..."
I love that list! I'm going to have to work my way through it! (Unfortunately, my library doesn't have all of those titles)
Nadine wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Tonya wrote: "So does it count as "space" if takes place on a different planet? I really want to read All Systems Red but I'm not sure how much of it actually takes pl..."Great! I'll read the second one then.
... I was going to read it anyway, but if it fits a prompt.
I am going to read
for this one, but I would like to quote my daughter on this one: "Aren't we already in space because the Earth is a planet." Therefore, I would argue that any book set on planet Earth should count since technically we are in space.
Would The Knife of Never Letting Go work here? I'm not familiar with the book, but some are reading it for the book becoming a movie prompt
Kirsten, we don't hear about them travelling in space, but they are very clearly on another planet, so it depends on how strict you interpret the prompt.
Johanne wrote: "Kirsten, we don't hear about them travelling in space, but they are very clearly on another planet, so it depends on how strict you interpret the prompt."Ahhhhh ok. I'll look for another one or else I'll feel like I cheated :) Thanks!
This will be the year I finally get around to reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, so help me.
I am reading Laika right now and am counting it towards this category, even though it is strictly speaking set in the Soviet Union (at least up to now), but it deals with Laika, the dog in the Sputnik and the whole space program in the Soviet Union in the late 1950s. For me that qualifies. It is a cute graphic novel (for those who - like me - are not so much into science fiction…)
I'm going to read The Martian for this one.
Quick read: Leia Princess of AlderaanEven quicker read: Obscura
Long read that might end up being eligible for cli-fi (don’t fully know yet, currently reading): Children of Time
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Becky Chambers (other topics)Becky Chambers (other topics)
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The majority of Illuminae is set on spaceships and if you like it the other two books fit other prompts (multiple POV/unusual chapters). Another YA option is Across the Universe.
Becky Chamber's books are just lovely and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is set on a spaceship. Both The Explorer and Way Down Dark by James Smythe are excellent and space based.
Hold Back The Stars is quite sci-fi light and about a couple who only have 90 minutes of air left but it goes back and forth between their relationship and their time in space.
Hope this gives you some ideas. I read a lot of sci-fi but not much in space!