The recent surge in popularity of the movie Project Hail Mary and the excitement surrounding the Dungeon Crawler Carl book series have ignited a vibrant new fandom within the Science Fiction genre, commonly referred to as Sci-fi. This genre offers so much more than just robots and space adventures! Readers and viewers can dive into thrilling tales of time travel, explore the complexities of mind control, journey through parallel universes, encounter alien life, and so much more.
What is Sci-Fi?
Science fiction, or sci-fi, books are works that include space exploration and time travel and are often set in the future. They look at scientific and technological advancements and their impact on the world. They explore “what could be possible.”
How is this genre different from Fantasy or speculative fiction? Firstly, it is grounded in logical, scientific principals wheres spec fic and fantasy explore much more of the impossible and magical side of things.
Subgenres of Sci-Fi
Like all genres, there are many subcategories and mashups in Sci-fi.
- Climate – explores ecological disasters, climate change, and a transformed world
- Military – you will find soldiers, war strategy, and warfare
- Dystopian – societies that are lacking or struggling with government, poverty, or oppression
- Cyberpunk – these include steam-powered technology.
- Biopunk/Genetic Engineering – these include biotechnology and genetic mutation/modification
- Space Opera – these include conflict, adventure, and romance in space.
- Parallel Universes/Alternate History – these are reimagined histories
Why People Read This Genre
Sci-fi captivates readers because of its imagination and creativity. It has us thinking outside our everyday lives. It also allows us to explore our humanity and ask big questions. And it challenges our thinking while also giving us an escape from the everyday. They also are fun as heck.
Sci-fi To Add to Your TBR
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, are stuck in the middle of an alien invasion. To survive, they must enter and complete challenges video game-style in a fantasy dungeon.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
It’s far into the future, and Wade Watts enjoys nothing more than to be in his game, Oasis. But in this game, people are ready to kill to win, and Wade must solve the puzzles to survive.
In this post-apocalyptic novel, a father and son must travel across the scorched country, evading those who want to take them, and hoping to find something else out there.
Matt Cruse is part of the crew of the Aurora. This ship sails above the clouds, ferrying wealthy people from city to city. One day he meets a dying man who tells a fantastical story about beautiful creatures in the sky that may in fact be completely real.
This sci-fi thriller has NYC cop Barry Sutton on the hunt to uncover what is causing False Memory Syndrome. When afflicted victims are driven mad with memories of a life they never lived.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
In book 1 of the Wayfarers series, you follow a motley crew of space explorers. To make ends meet, they take on a job of a lifetime. However, as they travel through wormholes and encounter one mishap after another, they must rely on each other to survive.
Lastly, want to learn more about genres? Check out this post that breaks it all down.