(part 5)
Welcome back, I am continuing my Book Recommendation Series with Science Fiction. Between this and fantasy, it probably makes up the bulk of my reading. I love a good dystopian novel with a bad-ass heroine. I am a big activist for justice, equality, and rights, so I really resonate with some of these novels where they are trying to make a change. I also love / am terrified when sci-fi books have a bit of truth to them, like ‘oh shit’ something like this isn’t actually so far out of the realm of possibility.
Without further ado, here are my favorite science fiction novels:
- The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick is an alternative history dystopian novel where the United States and allies lost WWII and now the former US is occupied by Japan on the West and Nazi Reich on the East. Do you need any more of a description to be intrigued? I actually learned about this book in one of my college humanities classes and as a history teacher, I found it fascinating. It follows a few different characters as they navigate their new normal on all sides of the situation. It is terrifying because we see some parallels in our real world, including the rise of white supremacists believing they are a ‘superior’ race and use of the military against a countries own citizens. This book is available on Kindle Unlimited and was made into a TV series by Amazon Prime. I have watched season 1 and 2 which I enjoyed as a whole, but they definitely played up some romance more to appeal to viewers that I didn’t like.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins really doesn’t need any type of introduction. I first read these books when I was in high school and I remember finishing one at 10 o’clock at night and I begged my mom to take me to the store to buy the next book haha. The books are real and exciting and terrifying at the same time. Katniss demonstrates great love and sacrifice and I love that everything is not all rainbows and flowers where you know the heroine will be fine. As you probably already know, this is a 3 book series and a 4 part movie. The books are available on Kindle Unlimited and in print.
The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is, in my opinion, one of the most well written dystopian series. In a world divided by blood and power, it follows the story of Mare Barrow, a red blooded girl, who finds herself working as a rebel among the enemies after developing a power she is not suppose to possess. I love her inner struggle throughout the series, it feels real and genuine as she jumps into a leader position of the Red Guard. This is a 4 book series, and although it does feel a bit long winded at times, I think the story moves well and each book faces and tackles different obstacles. It is also told from multiple perspectives which really add to the length. If you are looking for a short, quick paced read, this is not the series for you. The books are available for purchase in kindle and print form.
Thank you for reading! I really love the science fiction/ dystopian novels. They often have some of the best world building and creativity and honestly, I am a sucker for a good revolution. Let me know some of your favorite books, I am always looking for new recommendations! My next, and probably final, post in my Book Recommendations Series will be about mystery books. Stay tuned.
The Travelling Reader 