A List of What I've Been Reading.

I’m really big on reading. My commute to work is an hour to and an hour from so I get at least two hours of reading in five days a week. Not to mention all the short stories I sneak while at work and whatever I get to on the weekends. Now, being in school definitely cuts into my recreational reading but I’ve been trying to keep track to see how many books I can manage in a year. So far I’ve only read five science fiction books.

1. The Man In The High Castle by Philip K. Dick – I’m a huge fan of PKD. Most of you are probably familiar with at least one of the several movies based on his writing. Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly are just a few of more popular ones. Of course, if you liked the movies it might not mean that you’ll like the writing. Dick’s style is borderline surreal, oftentimes his narrators don’t know if they’re experiencing reality or something else, and the movies based on his work have generally had a lot of plot changes. I finally got around to reading The Man In The High Castle because there was an Amazon pilot of it. I know, I know that contradicts what I just said. But the pilot was amazing and even if I know I’ll dislike it I always have to experience all the mediums of something I’ve enjoyed. It’s a quirk that’s pretty terrible for my husband who often winds up watching really bad adaptations with me.
2. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis – This book is hilarious. I wasn’t expecting that. It takes place in a universe that Willis has set several other books and short stories and they aren’t nearly this funny. It deals with time travel so you know that things can get confused and provide hilarious misunderstandings. Apparently if you want to get into the Oxford Time Travel stories (as they’re called) To Say Nothing of the Dog is not the one to start with because it’s the only one that is comedic. That being said I found the humor subtle and refreshing. There were times when I was literally laughing out loud on the train.
3. Dangerous Visions by Harlan Ellison – This is an anthology so it’s a little harder to discuss in terms of liking it. However, I’ll run the risk of contradicting myself at some later point by saying that I really enjoyed it. Sure there were some short stories that I found kind of boring or way too long for what they were, but on the whole everything was easy to invest in. The thing I found particularly attractive about this collection was that each short story came with an introduction by Ellison (often relating anecdotes about the author) and a closing statement by the author about the piece. Ellison’s introductions were informative and easy to read and it’s always nice to get a view of an artist as a person. The closing statements were good for me because I just enjoy hearing writers talk about their work.
4. Neuromancer by William Gibson – So, maybe I’m cheating a little with this one because I was doing my annual reread of this iconic work of cyberpunk. Still it deserves to be noted. Neuromancer is one of my favorite novels. As in whenever I have to contemplate what book I would like to have with me while stranded somewhere it’s always in my top five. This book is responsible for so much that changed in the sci-fi literary genre in the 80s. Despite some outdated looks on technology it still holds up. It has one of the first hacker-hero characters which quickly developed into a character archetype. Neuromancer is quintessential to my personal canon of works that effected by development as a fan.
5. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin – Alright, so this is also cheating since I’m in the middle of reading this. I guess I’m just a cheater. This book is on the ballot to win a Hugo Award (controversy regarding the awards this year aside) and with good reason. Originally written in Chinese I can’t speak for the translation quality but I don’t find the prose hard to understand at all. There’s a lot of scientific and mathematical jargon, but that’s par for the course with lots of science fiction. It’s a book I’m excited to add to my list of books I’ve finished this year.

What books have you read recently that you would recommend to someone? 

Something For Everyone.

Everyone has a genre that they feel most at home in. Some people love romance. Some people prefer comedy. Other people enjoy a good horror story. As you know, I have a thing for science fiction. That doesn’t mean we all can’t get along. That doesn’t even mean that we can’t enjoy the same books and movies! It’s rare that something is only one genre. Most things overlap and combine. I decided to make a list of a couple of genres and the science fiction stories that apply to them. Maybe there’s something you like listed, or maybe you’ll find something new!

If you like romance…

• Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey –I know what you’re thinking. How can a story about dragons be science fiction? In McCaffrey’s story the dragons are  actually genetically modified lizards living on a planet that is a colonization attempt of people from Earth. There are a lot of books in the series (something like 25) so it might seem a daunting suggestion. However, for the most part you can pick up any one of the books and not feel lost. The first one that I read was The Skies of Pern which comes much later in the narrative chronology. While these books deal with action and drama there are strong romantic arcs in the books as well. The dragon riders share a telepathic bond with their dragons and so when the dragons go into heat the riders are often forced into emotionally wrought situations with one another which generally leads to confessions of love and swooning. 

• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind –This movie came out in 2004 and has remained one of my favorites since then. I’m not super into romance so generally I don’t seek out things billed as romance, but I like Jim Carrey a lot so I gave this a chance. Totally the right choice. The story is about a couple who break up and wish to erase themselves from each other’s memories, a technology that is commonplace in the world of the film and what gives the movies its science fiction label. It’s a bit difficult of a plot to explain because a lot of the film is told via the memories being erased. I also don’t want to spoil anything as a lot of the pleasure of watching it for the first time is the sense of uncertainty and disconnect that the jumpy narrative elicits.  

If you like comedy…

• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams –Like with the Pern books when I speak about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy I’m referring to the entire series. This one isn’t so easy to pick up in the middle and run with though so I advise starting at the beginning. These books tell the story of Arthur Dent, an average Earth man, as he gets swept into a sprawling intergalactic adventure. Adams’ sense of humor is distinctly English (think Monty Python) and there are parts of the book that are laugh out loud funny. Marvin the Paranoid Android is always good for a laugh from me. I think what makes these books particularly worth reading is the fact that it isn’t just the dialogue that’s funny but Adams’ unique way of describing things. “The ship hung in the sky much the same way that bricks don’t,” is a perfect example of the type of humor Adams has packed into a relatively quick read.

• Back to the Future –I’m cheating a little with this one because most people have probably seen it. But on the off chance you haven’t (what’s wrong with you?) here it is. Marty McFly and Doc Brown have pretty much become pop culture staples at this point. The DeLorean’s 88 mph, Mary’s Calvin Klein underpants, the rock and roll at prom. Although hilarious, the movie also addresses some of the major concerns and issues of time travel. Marty has to learn that going back in time isn’t just fun and games, especially when you wind up interacting with your own parents!

If you like horror…

• The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton –Horror is a little bit harder to recommend because everyone gets scared by different things. Also, the things that are typically considered scary are generally not science fiction. The Andromeda Strain is more easily associated with thrillers than horror but shouldn’t a good thriller have some horror elements? And in all honesty a biological infestation of space is pretty scary stuff. The novel takes place in a science research facility and the sterile setting lends itself to a claustrophobic feel. The scientists are trying to figure out how to combat this dangerous alien microbe and the stakes are high and time is running out. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I was blown away by the ending.

• The Fly –There’s more than one version of this movie and while the version I’m going to be specifically referring to is the 1986 one I recommend both. It just happens that I saw this one first and was totally traumatized with fear. The scene where Jeff Goldblum is teaching people about the way flies ear? Ugh, I freaked out every time a fly came near me for a long time. This movie has a lot more to offer than simply gross out scares. There’s a rich plot, deeply developed characters, and the sense of mounting horror as the film progresses is surprisingly subtle. Watch the 1986 one. Watch the 1958 one. Just make sure to keep bug spray handy for afterwards.

Here’s a bonus…

• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes –I couldn’t think of which category to throw this under but desperately wanted to recommend it. Flowers for Algernon is a heart wrenching story about a developmentally disabled man who submits himself for scientific experimentation. The novel is told through the log the scientists have him keep to monitor the progress of their experiment. Charlie, the main character, has a distinct and emotionally evocative voice. The novel deals with being an outsider and the consequences of being thrust into a new world that you hadn’t been a part of previously. I cried the first time I read this book and I would probably cry again if I read it.  

 

Everyone can enjoy science fiction even if they aren’t enjoying the story for the science fiction elements. I hope these recommendations appeal to people and if you have any suggestions of your own about cross-genre books and movies let me know. I have a long list of things I want to read and watch but I’m always willing to add more!