I liked Aurora a lot, so would definitely pick it up at that price. Like most KSR, it’s a thoughtful exploration of a classic sf theme, in this case the effort to colonize a far-away planet using a generation ship.
Aurora is one of the books on this list I haven’t read yet. Added to the backlog!
Interesting that I own most of that list already, but haven’t read them yet. They’re all in my book backlog. Perhaps I should add Aurora to that backlog as well.
I was dubious of any list of “recent sci-fi that shaped the genre” and I’m still dubious that anything can shape a genre in that short a period of time, but that is indeed a damned fine list of works.
Sharpe
2070
I understand the hesitation to embrace rapid reshaping of a genre but that list does IMO make the point that sci-fi has seen a lot of change, a lot of new viewpoints, and a lot of new approaches in the last couple of decades. As someone who grew up in the “old school” sci-fi era and worshipped, as a young reader, the Holy Trinity of authors blessed by John W. Campbell (Asimov, Heinlein and Niven, Peace Be Upon Them) I feel like the genre has changed very substantially in recent decades. In a hopeful sign, I actually consider this change extremely good. I was at first a bit hesitant to embrace change but if you read some of the works on that list, you will see the genre is very much at a high level these days, albeit in a different form than Mr. Campbell would have recognized (but, Fuck Him.)
Also, I feel like MurderBot needs to be on that list. In terms of what I consider the heart of sci-fi, which is mixing sci-fi big ideas with studies of the human condition, I feel like MurderBot is WAY up there. (Also, one of the reasons I consider that list so strong is that pretty much every book on that list is a straight shot to the heart of sci-fi as I’ve defined it, or at least adjacent.)
Murderbot kinda is on the list, as a ‘related’ work under Leviathan Wakes. Which I think is fair, they’re a great read and worth recognition, though I’m not sure if they’re as transformative as the main list. Time will tell, I guess.
Not quite a “bargain” nor recent SF shaping the genre, but David Brin has updated the Uplift covers, and this article has a nice interview re: Startide Rising (one of my all-time favorites):
My second novel … and some think it’s my best. That’s got to rouse mixed feelings, right? And, given how many “best-ever” lists feature Startide Rising , I suppose I ought to live with it!
Well, sure, the tale includes some of my favorite characters and scenes. Still, what seems to have engaged readers most, drawing them back to this novel, is the range of ideas.
Especially uplift. The notion that one sapient, technological species (and possibly we are first in the galaxy) might scan the other life-forms around them, spot some promising candidates, and start meddling to give them a boost—a suite of mental tools that speed them along the path ahead, letting them speak, invent, argue and contemplate anew. And once they have achieved such prowess, might those who had been uplifted carry on the tradition, passing this mixed blessing to others?..
… Now, to be clear, I did not invent the concept! One might argue that the Book of Genesis is an uplift tale, and certainly the legend of Prometheus. Within modern science fiction, Mary Shelley, H. G. Wells, Pierre Boulle, and Cordwainer Smith all pondered this general concept long before I did, though always conveying the same overall morality tale, assuming that the process would be abused!..
… And so I wondered…
What if we someday begin modifying higher animals —and I think we clearly will— guided by the morality of modern liberal society?
What if we do attempt this daring act of hubris, only filled with hyper-tolerance and eagerness for diversity?
My uplift novels portray a future in which newly-sapient dolphins and apes have many rights of citizenship and may speak their minds. Their sages serve on our councils, offering their own styles of wisdom, art, and insight, enriching an Earth civilization that is no longer only human.
Aurora is a brilliant book. I don’t want to go into spoilers because the plot is so affecting, but I think it’s one of his best, showing off the world building, reasonably tight plot and interpersonal relationships that are a hallmark of the best KSR.
But afterwards you’ll want to read an optimistic space opera from say, Jack McDevitt.
Just a reminder that Blindsight is perhaps the most thought provoking book you’ll ever read, and the author lets you read it for free as a single wall of text on his website: Blindsight by Peter Watts.
You really need to buy the book, though. Whatever price you pay, it’s worth every penny.
Thanks for the tip. I found that it lets you download the book in some other formats. What worked for me is the .pdf. I have to read it in landscape on my Kindle, which is weird, so that the .pdf text is large enough for my old eyes. I may read it on my iPad which should be larger.
It seemed to support some weird mobi format and mobi normally works on Kindle, but what I got was a .dbf file that was compressed. I don’t know how to deal with that format.
The entire Cradle Series (including the new one!?) is free in ebook form for Memorial Day. These are a lot of fun and I recommend them highly. It’s a series that just gets more fun as it goes.
Second the recommendation. Also, jeez, Will, how will you make any money when you keep giving all your books away for free? :P
(Apparently it actually generates loads of sales, IIRC.)
Not really my genre, but I can’t turn down free stuff.
I read the first 8 and enjoyed them all. Its a fun ride and well worth reading. Its not ground breaking or anything, just fun. Anyway, I hadn’t read the 9th book yet so I grabbed that.
Thanks for the heads up.
Editer
2080
I grabbed them… Note the audiobooks are currently free too (at least if you’re an Audible member)!
I have to say, though, I hope the books are better written than the descriptions. I have NO idea what they are about from those tiny descriptions. There’s a guy and a contest…
We’ve had some talk about Ancillary Justice recently and it was on one of those top of lists I saw recently so I had to grab it when I saw it go on sale. $2.99
That entire series is fantastic - a vastly more interesting treatment of artificial intelligence than I’ve seen much of anywhere else coupled with some spectacular world building.
habibi
2083
Highly recommended too. He had a giveaway last year and I downloaded all 6 books. I started reading them this year and cannot put it down. I devour all 6 books in a short time and bought Book 7 and 8. And he will be getting my money for Book 9-12 on the day they are released, that’s for sure. This guy deserve it for being so generous.
As others have said, this series is fun and entertaining to read. It has a very good “Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons” vibes to it, so if you are into East Asia methodology and kung-fu genre, which is a great break from you typical Tolkien fantasy genre, you are in for a treat!
Editer
2084
I was going to jump on it, but there are some serious slams on the writing style on the Amazon reviews. Are these legit, or was this victim of a Sad Puppies review bombing?
