Cinder by Marissa Meyer

This is the first book in a series the kids have read and Miss Adventure has been trying to get me to read. I finally got around to it because I was looking for something a bit lighter to read.

Published: 2012

Genre: YA science fiction

Length: 387 pages

Setting: New Beijing, about 100 years in the future

Summary: Short version: Prince Kai has to deal with a plague while avoiding marriage to the Lunar Queen

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

This is the newly released sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. I’m a big fan of Margaret Atwood’s writing and have read many of her books (at least the newest stuff). When I saw this on the new book shelf at the library, I snapped it up.

Published: 2019

Genre: post-apocalyptic

Length: 415 pages

Setting: Gilead, in what used northeast U.S., and Ontario, Canada, after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, near future

Font: Hoefler Text

Summary: Short version: Women’s life in Gilead as the society is slowly undermined

Neuromancer by William Gibson

This is a classic science fiction novel that created the whole subgenre of cyberpunk. It also won lots of genre awards. It’s a book that I was meaning to read for a long time. It was suddenly referenced referenced in several of my blogs (back when I read it in 2008) so I picked it up.

Published: 1984

Genre: cyberpunk science fiction

Length: 278 pages

Setting: Tokyo and space, near future

Summary: Short version: Case is hired to hack an orbiting satellite for a rival AI

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

I wanted to read this book after watching the Will Smith movie. My husband had listened to the book and recommended the audio book to me.

Published: 1954

Genre: post-apocalyptic science fiction

Length: 324 pages

Setting: Los Angeles, near future

Summary: Short version: The only human survivor of a vampire plague tries to survive

Explorer by C. J. Cherryh

This is the third book in the second Foreigner trilogy that I bought at the library book sale (years ago now). I really enjoyed the first two books and had high hopes for the third.

Published: 2002

Genre: science fiction

Length: 408 pages

Setting: space around Reunion Station, soon after the events of Defender

Summary: Short version: Phoenix encounters aliens at Reunion Station

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Our family watched the movie recently. I’ve been intrigued by the series for a while and took the movie as a push to read the book. Bonus, it was available as an audiobook.

Published: 2009

Genre: YA scifi/post-apocalyptic

Length: 384 pages

Setting: a constructed maze, near future

Summary: Short version: The boys in the Glade need to figure out how to get out of the Maze

Fall, or Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson

This is Stephenson’s newest book. I loved Seveneves and wanted to read this one as soon as possible, in case it was just as good.

Published: 2019

Genre: science fiction

Length: 883 pages

Setting: mostly around Seattle, present day to near future, and a simulated world

Summary: Short version: Society changes when we can simulate your brain after death