I rarely write reviews on the books I’ve read. But sometimes I get the urge to create a list of the best ones. This list is subjective, and it’s definitely not complete—there’s surely something I’ve forgotten. I tried my best to avoid spoilers. So, here’s my list of the best in science fiction and other fantastical genres.
James Corey, The Expanse series
This is an amazing series. There’s a continuous chain of events, but each novel stands on its own as a complete work. It’s been a long time since I’ve come across such solid science fiction. The world is incredibly well thought out, particularly the relationships between people within the Solar System. They have started to consider themselves different races: Martians, Earthers, and the inhabitants of the Asteroid Belt. There’s hatred, contempt, codependency, and a fragile peace between them. Against this backdrop, an external enemy emerges—one that isn’t immediately obvious, and internal forces try to use it to their own advantage…
It’s very rare for an author (or authors) to manage to keep an entire series interesting, but this is one of those cases.
Not too long ago, the books were adapted into a TV series. I haven’t watched it yet, but I’ve heard it falls short of the books, with the storytelling altered to suit cinematic needs.
Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game
I really enjoyed the first book in the series—Ender’s Game itself—while the rest seemed significantly weaker to me. In my opinion, the first book is self-sufficient. I wasn’t particularly interested in what would happen next. The space opera aspect didn’t really draw me in, nor was it the main focus of the first book. Instead, everything revolves around the main character, his thoughts, and his decision-making processes. His decisions are the result of a complex chess game in his mind, one he plays simultaneously with himself, other people, and the world. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy science fiction that’s more psychological than scientific. And I strongly advise against watching the movie—it’s terrible.
Isaac Asimov, Foundation series
Another highly captivating series. Humanity hasn’t just conquered space—they’ve created a massive First Galactic Empire. Everything seems fine, but the historian Hari Seldon, the founder of a new science—psychohistory—predicts that it will soon collapse. Not just collapse, but humanity will fall into a dark age that will last 30,000 years. However, he also devises a plan to reduce the period of chaos to only 1,000 years.
From there, the author tells the long history of the Foundations, and even the events leading up to them.
This series is perfect for those who enjoy science fiction with scientific predictions. Can big data, when applied to various sciences, give researchers the tools to make accurate long-term forecasts? How precise can they be? And can the future be influenced, especially when unforeseen factors arise?
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Roadside Picnic
Roadside Picnic is my favorite book in Russian-language science fiction. I’m not even sure how to describe it properly. Once again, it’s a blend of science and philosophy. This book asks who we are in this world, who needs us, what we want… It raises many important questions, hidden behind the science fiction setting. That’s what the Strugatsky brothers are known for. And if there are any who haven’t read it yet—I highly recommend it. I’ve reread this book several times; it just pulls me in every time.
Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers
The author explores the idea that a soldier is still a soldier, even when deploying in the latest armor on a distant planet. It’s a blend of space action and social philosophy. Aliens attack Earth, and then there’s war. In this war, a soldier can be a hero or just cannon fodder. If the war drags on, there’s a chance to rise to the rank of commander—if you survive the next mission. It’s clear that “our side” will win, but it’s fascinating to follow the journey of the protagonist, who ends up in the infantry quite by chance.
