Sci-fi is such an awesome genre. It’s smart, it’s intriguing, and it takes us to places that we might never have the chance to experience, such as taking us on adventures into the farthest reaches of space. I’m probably never going to be able to hop into a spaceship and rock around the cosmos, though a girl can hope, but thanks to books, I can visit galaxies all across the universe, travel faster than light, be stranded on a lonely planet, and still be home in time for tea. There are so many amazing books set in space, and today I thought that I would share three of my personal favourites.
Aurora Rising
Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
I’ve definitely shouted about this book several times on this blog already, but that’s because Aurora Rising is absolutely worth every bit of hype it’s been given. In some ways it gives me a bit of a Star Trek vibes with the whole idea of space cadets keeping the peace across space. But there’s also a super dysfunctional team of teens, a galactic sized plot, aliens, heists and hijinks, and some of the best multiple POV writing I’ve read in a long time. There might be six point of view characters, but you’re never going to mistake whose eyes you’re seeing through. If you love sci-fi stories set in the far reaches of space, and motley crews just doing their best, then you will absolutely love this book.
The Martian
Andy Weir
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.
Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.
After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.
Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.
But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills — and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit — he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?
This book is absolutely riveting. It’s so smart, so realistic, and filled with both science and an amazing sense of humour. I think Mark Watney is possibly one of my favourite characters ever, and if I was ever stranded on a lonely planet, he’d be one of the three things I’d choose to take with me. I got so invested in his story, both in his own personal logs and adventures, and the struggles of the people back at home as they try to find a way to rescue him. It’s also got one of the best book to movie adaptations I’ve seen in a long time. If you like realistic depictions of space travel, with riveting adventures thrown into the mix, then you should read this book. I guarantee you’ll love it.
Unearthed
Amie Kaufman and Meaghan Spooner
When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying’s advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.
For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study… as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don’t loot everything first. Mia and Jules’ different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.
In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race’s secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race…
My very first impression of this book was of an Indiana Jones style adventure set in space, and I absolutely adored it. We get to explore ancient alien buildings, avoiding traps and working out puzzles. There are also amazing betrayals, an ancient and mysterious alien race, and the ever present danger of being stranded on an uninhabited planet with no way to get back home. It’s such a good space adventure, with a few twists that you might not see coming, which I really enjoyed. The second book is based much more on home soil, but Unearthed really gives you a sense of mankind’s expansion into space and all the adventures and problems that that can bring.
These are my current top three sci-fi books set in the far reaches of space, but I would love to hear from you. What is your favourite book involving space travel? Have you read any of these books? Which book do you recommend way more than any other? Let’s chat!
Before I close out, I just want to remind you that my new book Frost Hands is out now! It’s available right now in both print and ebook over on Amazon. Pick up your copy today!
Photo by Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist on Unsplash
