Speculative Fiction Book Recommendations

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I have always been a reader. When I was young, I would stock up on books before family trips. In college, I was a regular at the original Borders. My first summer in Ann Arbor, my apartment was across from a bookstore, which was cool. During the years of working on my PhD, I did not read as much as I would like because there was guilt that I would be doing anything not oriented towards finishing my dissertation.

These days I am a Kindle addict. I value being able to download samples of books not because I can try before I buy but because I don’t spend money on books I don’t have time to read. When I worked downtown in Chicago, I read on the train. When I started working in the suburbs and had to drive, I discovered Audible. I almost miss commuting because I don’t spend so much time listening to books anymore.

Ready Player One (Ernest Cline) is so much better than the movie. Just skip the sequel.

1Q84 (Haruki Murakami) is a twisty Japanese novel about alternate worlds.

Storm Front (Jim Butcher) is the first Harry Dresden novel. Urban magic crossed with a private detective. I have read a few but have not finished the series. The audio version is great.

Woken Furies (Richard K. Morgan) is a great series and much better than the television series. Again a private detective setting but in a science fiction setting.

Hard Magic (Larry Corriea) is an interesting urban magic but set in the 1930s. 

Midnight Riot (Ben Aaronvitch) is the first of the Rivers of London series of urban magic crossed with police procedural. The audio version is so, so good.

Hyperion (Dan Simmons) is fantastic science fiction. Very philosophical. This is the first of four books in the series.

The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern) is a beautiful book about magic.

Red Rising (Pierce Brown) very social and political science fiction with military battles.

Consider Phlebias (Iain M. Banks)  is the first of his Culture books. They are all standalone and fascinating.

The Peripheral (William Gibson) is one of my favorites of his work along with the sequel. The television show was interesting and cancelled too soon.

The Collapsing Empire (John Scalzi) is really good space opera. The last book seemed rushed at the end, but the characters are fascinating. People I would like to have as friends.

All Systems Red (Martha Wells) is the first Murderbot novella. Soon to be on Apple TV. These books are so much fun.

This is Not a Game (Walter John Williams) is a techno thriller mystery. 

Gideon the Ninth (Tamsyn Muir) is a unique science fiction crossed with magic series.

Black Sun (Rebecca Roanhorse) is fantasy but drawing from non-European culture and ideas.

The City We Became (N. K. Jamisin) is an urban magic with a characters who represent diversity. She is a great writer, and this series is great.

Nine Tailed (Jayci Lee) urban magic based on Korean mythology.

The Shadow of What Was Lost (James Islington) magic but a unique perspective. Great storytelling. I am on the last novel now, and I think I am stalling because I don’t want it to end.

Titanium Noir (Nick Harkaway) is another private eye crossed with science fiction. The author’s father was a great spy novelist, and I think the son might be a better writer.

Babel (R. F. Kuang) is magic in the time of the British Empire with a focus on exploited people.

Jade City (Fonda Lee) another magic system based in non-European culture. Very good. Think the Godfather in Asia and with magical martial arts.

The Witches Curse (Molly Leasure) is the daughter of a friend and colleague. Great urban magic.

The Three Body Problem (Cixin Liu) is Chinese science fiction and very fresh from Western ideas. Also a good television series.

I am sure I missing something, but this represents highlights from the fifteen years or so.