andy weir

Genre Starter List: Science-Fiction

One of the titans of speculative fiction, the sci-fi genre encompasses a wide range of very different works. From the “hard” science fiction of The Martian and Jurassic Park, to the epic space operas of Dune and Ender’s Game, to the fantasy elements of A Wrinkle in Time, authors have gradually established science fiction as a broad “umbrella” literary field.

Though sci-fi contains a plethora of styles, tones, and subjects, the common unifier of the field is the speculated effect of science, whether real or imagined, on individuals and/or societies. This speculation often delves into philosophical, psychological, or sociological territories; and like these sub-fields, certain sci-fi authors rise above their singular creations to become known for their whole body of work.

This list is certainly not conclusive, but it should give you, dear reader, a solid foundation from which to explore the genre as far as you wish.

Dune by Frank Herbert

With the recent releases of Denis Villeneuve’s two Dune movies, Frank Herbert’s original novel has surged back into the public consciousness. An explosive tour-de-force of everything the genre can be, Dune rightfully takes one of the top seats in the sci-fi pantheon. If you enjoyed the new movies, you will enjoy the book.

Also, do yourself a favor and read Dune: Messiah. While polarizing for fans, the sequel is a proper continuation of what Herbert was setting up in the first book.

Isaac Asimov

Asimov is one of those writers who is better known for their overall impact on the genre rather than any one specific work. Some of his highlights:

I, Robot

Foundation

The Complete Stories

Isaac Asimov by Fiedler & Mele

An emerging author, Andy Weir is best known for his breakout hit The Martian and its subsequent film adaptation. He followed up with the less-than-well-received Artemis and the exceedingly excellent Project: Hail Mary. Weir’s novels have quickly become known for their wisecracking, sarcastic characters and accessible yet comprehensive presentation of real scientific concepts.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

A sci-fi classic about a boy-turned-hero by stopping an alien invasion, with social and philosophical twists.

Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy by Cixin Liu

A near-future Chinese sci-fi series, this trilogy portrays humanity’s first contact with an alien race and the resulting reactions to the knowledge that we are not alone. Includes The Three-Body Problem, The Dark Forest, and Death’s End.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

A science fantasy series for children and adults, detailing the efforts of the Murry family and their place in the cosmic struggle of good and evil.

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

One of those rare storytelling gems where the book and the movie are both of superb quality. Crichton is a master of realistic science fiction, and his skill shines brightest in his most popular work.

2023 My Year in Books: Darius

The Library’s Social Media Team loves to read. So, in this series of blog posts, we’re bringing you some of our favorite books we read in 2023! Several of us (myself included) did a Goodreads challenge—feel free to connect with me there, or join a Goodreads Challenge of your own in 2024!

In 2023, I read 45 books and 7,701 pages. This is actually a small step down from last year, when I read 49 books and 9,587 pages. That surprised me! My shortest book was Pen Pals by Aaron Cometbus, which was 72 pages. The longest book I read was Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, which was 476 pages. You can see all the books I read on my Goodreads page.

My goal for 2023 was 45 books, which I achieved over Christmas break. In no particular order, here are some of my favorites!

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry:

An aging barber named Jayber Crow tells you his life story. Wendell Berry’s prose is excellent, and the fictional small town of Port William (in which many other Berry stories are also set) feels as real as any place I’ve ever been. Jayber Crow as a character comes to life in a way I’ve rarely experienced. My favorite “old man tells a story” book that I’ve read so far. In the months since I read Jayber Crow, I’ve found passages from it coming up in my conversations and thought life again and again.

Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck:

Steinbeck’s slice-of-life duology set in Monterey, California, about the community along a lane of sardine canneries called “Cannery Row.” I’ve been a fan of John Steinbeck’s writing ever since I read The Moon is Down in college. (I read Of Mice and Men and The Pearl in high school, but I think there’s something especially enjoyable about choosing to read something, rather than having it assigned.) I’ve always been impressed with the author’s ability to communicate a lot of meaning through very few words.

Cannery Row doesn’t have much of a plot, while Sweet Thursday has a (comparatively) solid narrative arc. I really enjoyed the character development in the second book, but I don’t think I would have appreciated it without the background of having read the first book. Finally, I’ll share this great quote from the introduction of Cannery Row:

“When you collect marine animals there are certain flat worms so delicate that they are almost impossible to catch whole for they will break and tatter under the touch. You must let them ooze and crawl of their own will onto a knife blade and lift them gently into your bottle of sea water. And perhaps that might be the way to write this book—to open the page and let the stories crawl in by themselves.”

Deadpool Killustrated by Cullen Bunn and Matteo Lolli:

Deadpool Killustrated is a sequel to the acclaimed Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe series, and, in my opinion, is a far more interesting story than the original. The premise of the original series is, “What if everything you thought was funny about Deadpool…was actually just disturbing?” Everyone knows Deadpool as the comic book character who knows he’s a comic book character and makes endlessly hilarious fourth-wall-breaking quips as a result. But what if that knowledge was, instead, a source of existential dread? What if Deadpool decided to kill the whole Marvel universe in an attempt to escape his reality as a pawn for readers’ entertainment?

In Deadpool Killustrated, the titular character, having been thwarted by the endless multiverse of comic book worlds, decides to get right down to the source of these Marvel comic heroes: classic literature! If he can destroy the ideas the characters are built on, perhaps he can destroy the whole multiverse at once. By killing Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde, Deadpool eliminates The Incredible Hulk. By killing the Three Musketeers, he strikes down the very idea of a team of heroes!

But Deadpool is not unopposed—on a quest to stop him is a team of classic heroes led by none other than Sherlock Holmes! I won’t spoil the ending, but what follows is a surprisingly fascinating thought experiment exploring where our ideas come from, how stories influence each other, and what would happen if a character found a way to dramatically influence our collective imagination. Plus, cameos from countless literary classics!

I got Deadpool Killustrated (and Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe) through Interlibrary Loan.

The Sting of the Wild by Justin O. Schmidt:

Dr. Justin Schmidt is famous for his sting pain index used for ranking the painfulness of insect stings on a scale from 0 (completely ineffective) to 4 (excruciating). He is also known for his beautiful descriptions of how each sting feels: for example, a sweat bee is, “light, ephemeral, almost fruity. A tiny spark has singed a single hair on your arm.”

The Sting of the Wild is the late Dr. Schmidt’s memoirs, which I decided to read after the legendary entomologist’s passing in early 2023. Pick up The Sting of the Wild for fascinating anecdotes and discoveries from the life of a man who helped humanity better understand the families of insects that—for better or worse—demand we pay attention to them.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir:

A man wakes up in a clinically-clean, windowless room with no memory of how he got there and only two corpses for company. By the end of the first chapter, he has discovered one crucial fact: he’s not on Earth.

Project Hail Mary is a realistic, near-future sci-fi novel that’s full of adventure—and even mystery, since the main character has to piece together what he’s supposed to be doing and how to do it! The plot is told utilizing several flashback scenes throughout, which is a storytelling device that, in my opinion, doesn’t always work well. This book, however, utilizes them masterfully: since each flashback scene is the main character actually remembering that event, the flashbacks influence the “current” plot just as much. Andy Weir’s writing is extremely accurate to science, but in a way that is surprisingly accessible. Project Hail Mary also includes one of my all-time favorite fictional friendships.

This is the longest book I read in 2023, but I read it in very few days because I just could not put it down. I honestly think Project Hail Mary might be my favorite science fiction novel I’ve ever read. Find some more of my thoughts about Project Hail Mary here.

You can see more books I read last year on my Goodreads page. Happy Reading!

Darius Mullin’s reviews reflect his personal opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university.

Reading List: Authors with June Birthdays

It’s hard to believe that this year is halfway over as we bring you the next installment in our Author Birthday Read Aloud series. If you haven’t been following along, now is a great time to join us as we feature authors born in the month of June. You can check out the library’s Instagram to find all the readings we have done.

Rick Riordan was born on June 5^th, 1964. Micah read the chapter titles from The Lightning Thief, which is the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, because he remembered how much they made him laugh. Do you ever notice unique and/or funny chapter titles?

June 7^th features a double celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks (1917) and Nikki Giovanni (1943). These women are both African American poets with Brooks being highly regarded as the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize. Selected Poems features poems from three of Brooks’ earlier works. Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day is described as one of Giovanni’s more personal collections. Grand Mothers: Poems, Reminiscences, and Short Stories About the Keepers of Our Traditions is a collection that both women worked on.

Andy Weir was born on June 16^th, 1972. Darius read a portion of Project Hail Mary. This was previously one of our book club selections. If you’re interested in reading a review of the book, visit this blog. There you will also see some references to The Martian. Even if you haven’t read the book, you might have the seen the 2015 film adaptation starring Matt Damon.

Chris Van Allsburg was born on June 18^th, 1949. Jumanji and The Polar Express are two of his more well-known titles. These books share some things in common because Van Allsburg wrote and illustrated them both, and they’ve both been made into film. If you had to choose between having a board game come to life or riding a magical train to the North Pole, which would you choose?

Markus Zusak was born on June 23^rd, 1975. If you’re someone that likes historical fiction and being reminded about the power of stories, I recommend reading The Book Thief, which takes place during WWII and follows a young girl named Liesel.

Eric Carle was born on June 25^th, 1929. Amber read a portion of The Secret Birthday Message. Have you ever left someone clues to help them find a gift? My (Rachel) grandfather used to do this for us. Solving the clues and going on the hunt almost made it feel like another gift. Once you’ve read that, you should check out some of his other classics like The Mixed-Up Chameleon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, or The Tiny Seed.

I hope you enjoyed our focus on authors born in the month of June!

Reading List: Summer To Be Read

School is out for the semester and summer is on its way here. Summer is the perfect time to get in some non-school or school-related reading. So, we asked the library staff what’s on their summer ‘to be read’ list. Let us know what is on your summer reading list or check out one of these recommendations:

Melissa Moore, Library Director, will be finishing a re-reading of the Harry Potter series, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and Homecoming by Kate Morton.

Amber Wessies, Instruction Librarian, is finishing Marriage Builder by Larry Crabb and In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. She also wants to read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager, said: “I’m thinking of reading The Wizard of Oz and Murder on the Orient Express. I guess you could say I was inspired by March Book Madness. It’s one you would have to get as Interlibrary Loan, but I think The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry would be a great summer book.”

Darius Mullin, Evening Circulation Supervisor, might read A Place on Earth by Wendell Berry, William Shakespeare’s The Clone Army Attacketh by Ian Doescher, and The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires That Run the World by Oliver Milman.

Micah Rhodes, Cataloging Associate, plans to continue reading The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.

Sarah Blevins, Evening Circulation Associate, might re-read the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Sara Hand, Cataloging Associate and Administrative Assistant, plans to read Cursed by Marissa Meyer, Loving Our Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk, and Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodie Berndt. (All of these can be requested through Interlibrary Loan).

Beth Lynn, Collection Development Coordinator, plans to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

Library Staff Book Club: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

The library staff book club recently met to discuss two books. The ladies read Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, while the men read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. This blog will focus on Project Hail Mary. If you want to read about Where the Crawdads Sing, you can read the blog here.

Project Hail Mary is a science fiction novel written by the same author who wrote The Martian. When Ryland Grace wakes up in a spaceship in the middle of outer space with two dead crewmates for company, he can’t remember who he is or what his mission is supposed to be. He soon discovers that he is responsible for saving the Earth and humanity from an extinction-level threat, and presumably he must do it alone.

Read what Micah and Darius thought about Project Hail Mary below.

**Did you read The Martian? How did Project Hail Mary compare to it? Which one did you enjoy more?**

Darius Mullin, Evening Circulation Supervisor, answered: I have not read The Martian—yet. I have seen the movie though, which is a pretty faithful adaptation of the book from what I understand. Project Hail Mary employed a lot of the strengths of The Martian while having a plot that is very different. Although both main characters are attempting to survive alone in a scary situation, the main character of Project Hail Mary has a very different personality and background from The Martian’s Mark Watney. Micah might mention this too, but another difference is in The Martian, Watney is in a dire situation while the rest of humanity is safe. In Project Hail Mary, the main character is relatively safe while humanity as a whole is in eminent danger.

Micah Rhodes, Cataloging Associate, answered: I have read The Martian, but I actually watched the film first, which is quite good. To my surprise and delight, reading the book second did not alter or tarnish my appreciation for the film, which unfortunately is so often the case in the tricky world of page-to-screen adaptations. In fact, each medium served to enhance my experience of the other! Project Hail Mary does not (yet) have a screenplay, so reading the book without the corresponding visuals was a different experience from reading The Martian. It was a longer read with different plot tensions and structure, and I found that I enjoyed the narrative premise and the character relationships of Project Hail Mary more than in The Martian. To me, it seems as if Andy Weir built on the strong sci-fi genre foundations he developed in The Martian and managed to write a story with even higher stakes, cooler science, and deeper heart.

Would you recommend this book to people who do not typically read science fiction? Why or why not?

Darius Mullin answered: Yes! This feels like a very accessible science fiction plot, and there are lots of fascinating worldbuilding, mystery, and interpersonal aspects to the story as well. As far as the science itself goes—it is a very realistic sci-fi world, yet I never felt like the author was talking over my head, even with subjects like radiation shielding or quantum physics. At the same time, I have a biology degree, but never felt like the author was “talking down” to me either. I was really impressed with the way Andy Weir was able to strike that balance.

Micah Rhodes answered: Yes. The biggest hurdle to most sci-fi—the “sci”—is handled extremely well. Weir weaves real scientific concepts into the plot in a manner that is both accessible but intelligent. He doesn’t water anything down, but neither does he leave readers swamped in scientific jargon that has no discernible meaning. Concepts important to understanding the plot and stakes are established and explained well in advance and are relevant throughout the story. Tangential, flavorful, and complicated ideas and theories are referenced, but never require full comprehension to understand the plot and consequently never distract the reader from the important action. Ultimately, I think readers with a high school education will follow most of the science and have many, “oh, yeah, I remember learning something about that” moments like I did.

Another reason I recommend this book to anyone is the quality of the relationship between the two main characters. Their meeting, interactions, and respective character growths are so wholesome and relatable and the best surprise of this book. Weir’s expert use of science makes his fictional world believable, but the relationships between his characters made me care about it.

There are so many novels and movies about space. What is it about space that fascinates people around the world?

Darius Mullin answered: What a big question! I’d imagine it’s different from person to person, but some combination of mystery, awe, challenge, beauty, wonder, and a God-given desire to explore and know Creation.

Micah Rhodes answered: I think the reason space has been particularly intriguing to humankind in the past century is that we have made our own world small. The revolution of transportation and communication that began with industrialization in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries makes it seem like humanity has largely won control over our planet. We can travel to nearly anywhere on its surface within 24 hours, speak with people on the other side of the world almost instantaneously, and have nearly any material good we desire delivered to our homes with guaranteed 2-day shipping. Now, if we take a step back and really consider our place on Earth, we can realize how big the world still is and how little control we truly have over it. But that’s not our instinctual, daily posture anymore.

Without unpacking all the baggage that statement brings, I’d say one of the things we’ve lost is our sense of adventure, of exploring the unknown. With space, we have yet to create any sort of illusion of control. We cannot survive in the vacuum. We don’t have any means of the self-propulsion required to move in zero gravity. There’s nothing for us to eat or drink there. We don’t truly know what lies beyond our own atmosphere. We as a species used to have similar problems with travel, resources, and facing the unknown on Earth until we thought up ways to solve those problems, and now many of us don’t worry about them at all anymore. It’s both bold and frightening to think about facing those problems again. That’s why I think space and science fiction are attractive to so many people these days. Especially now that we’ve demonstrated the first set of solutions to those problems all within the last century.

You can find Project Hail Mary in the Recreational Reading section of the library.

March Book Madness 2022: Week 1

Union University’s Library at the Logos welcomes you to this presentation of March Book Madness! On Fridays in February, you will be introduced to the books competing in March Book Madness in 2022. Each week will feature our selection from two different genres. By the end, you will have been introduced to 8 genres and 16 books. Then, during the month of March, stay tuned to our social media channels to vote on your favorites. You, our readers, will determine which book will make it through the Final Four to become our first March Book Madness Champion!

Micah: Welcome, everyone, to our first inaugural March Book Madness competition! I’m Micah Rhodes, and I’ll be one of your commentators for this week, alongside Rachel Bloomingburg. We will take you through our first two genres and the books that go with them. Rachel, what do we have today?

Rachel: Fantasy and Science Fiction are up first! Fantasy has magical elements and is typically set in another land. Science Fiction often takes place in the future and usually has a technological component.

Micah: These are some of my favorite genres to read. Why don’t you start us off with a rundown of our fantasy contestants?

Rachel: Sure! Our first book is Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson. Elisabeth is an apprentice librarian that’s grown up in one of the Great Libraries of Austermeer. She dreams of becoming a warden where she can help protect the kingdom from magical grimoires. Grimoires can seem harmless, but once provoked, they transform into monsters of ink and leather. One day, someone unleashes the most dangerous one. Elisabeth ends up being accused of the crime. She has no choice but to turn to Nathaniel Thorn, a sorcerer, for help. She’s always been taught that sorcerers are evil; however, the more she gets to know Nathaniel, the more she questions what she’s been taught. See what happens as Elisabeth learns more about herself, the people she can trust, and the libraries that she loves.

Micah: Some fascinating stuff in there! What book will Sorcery of Thorns be facing in the first round?

Rachel: Next up is Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Living in Wonderland and marrying the king is what all girls want, right? Not Catherine. She is a talented baker and desires to do more with her life. Her mother expects her to accept the king’s proposal at the next royal ball, but neither predicted that handsome and mysterious Jest would enter the picture. Catherine and Jest enter a secret courtship, but in a land full of wonder, things don’t always go according to plan. You may think you know what happened in Wonderland, but Catherine’s story may prove otherwise.

Micah: Sounds like a winning combination of intrigue and romance! Which do you think will end up on top?

Rachel: They’re both strong contenders, but I think Sorcery of Thorns’ originality will help it to stand out. Why don’t you introduce us to our sci-fi contestants?

Micah: One of our science fiction competitors is Andy Weir’s breakout novel, The Martian. In the book, astronaut Mark Watney is accidentally left behind on Mars when his research team must perform an emergency evacuation. The novel follows Watney’s journal entries as he attempts to survive alone on the inhospitable planet, figuring out how to solve all manner of problems from conserving food to contacting Earth without long-range communications equipment. Though the stakes are high, and time is ticking, Mark’s unique brand of humor and pragmatic approach to problem-solving keeps the novel’s tone light and extremely entertaining.

Rachel: Wow. That’s a lot to handle. Sounds like the type of person you’d want up when the game is on the line. What book will The Martian be going up against?

Micah: Our other sci-fi entrant is To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, by Christopher Paolini. Paolini is well known for his dragon-rider epic fantasy novel, Eragon, and he brings all his world-building expertise to the genre of science fiction. Kira Navárez, the protagonist, is a xenobiologist who wants nothing more than to settle down with her fiancé in a new planetary colony. However, disaster strikes, war erupts, and Kira’s life is upended when she discovers an ancient alien artifact. Paolini interweaves Kira’s story with fascinating technology, unique aliens, and the perplexing paradox of faster-than-light travel to create a gripping yet thoughtful narrative.

Rachel: Another unique and intense combination. Which one do you think will end up on top?

Micah: It’s a hard call; Paolini’s pedigree is impressive and evident in To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, but I think the broad appeal and accessibility of The Martian will give it the win.

Rachel: Well, folks, that’s all we have time for today! After meeting our first four competitors, which one do you think has the best chance of making the final four? Be ready to vote for your favorite and follow us down to the last page of March Book Madness.

Reading List: New Books Fall 2021

Need a new book to read? The library’s Collections Development Coordinator, Beth, and Cataloging Associate, Susan, share some of their favorite new finds below. Click each link to locate the book in our library collection.

The Personal Librarian

New York Times bestseller and critically acclaimed historical fiction novel by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, accounts the remarkable, little-known story of Belle DaCosta Greene. After being discovered at Princeton University by Morgan’s relative, Belle was asked to become the personal research librarian and curator for the enormously powerful business and industry tycoon, J. Pierpont Morgan. What makes this story incredible is the fact that Greene is an African American passing as white in a 1900s racist, male-dominated society. Belle becomes extremely successful and powerful, not only as a research expert, but also as a connoisseur of art and literature in New York society. She was known for her impeccable taste and uncanny negotiating skills for adding critical works to Morgan’s collection. Belle is caught between embracing her heritage, and losing it all if exposed, or maintaining the façade to continue her powerful career and prestige. Recommended highly, it is a beautifully written page-turner that can be found in our main campus book stacks.

Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation

This book addresses the profound influence that parents provide on the religious identities and beliefs of their children. The authors, Christian Smith and Amy Adamczyk, provide well researched data in the areas of religious parenting, parenting styles, and intergenerational religious transmission. It also examines different cultural models of parenting and why religious parenting is so important. Handing Down the Faith is on our New Books shelf on the 2^nd floor.

Project Hail Mary 

A newly released science-thriller by Andy Weir who is the author of The Martian. The story revolves around Ryland Grace who is on a desperate journey into space to save Earth. He awakens from an induced coma to find himself millions of miles from earth with two dead crew mates. Alone on a tiny ship, it’s up to him to conquer an extinction level threat to our species. This book will have your inner nerd screaming with delight. And did I mention there are aliens?  Andy Weir’s book is devilishly clever and funny with some big surprises. If you like tech jargon, space travel, and a plant that can save the world, this book is for you. Project Hail Mary is shelved in our Recreational Reading area on the 2^nd floor.

Harlem Shuffle

 Written by Colson Whitehead, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys. Harlem Shuffle depicts Harlem in the 1960s and includes mystery/suspense, historical fiction, and family drama. Whitehead builds his story with Ray Carney, a furniture salesman and part-time fence. The novel is full of well-rounded characters living harsh and desperate lives in order to rise above their dire circumstances. A gripping crime novel that tells a bigger story, Whitehead grounds his tale on solid research into Harlem’s history and the sociology of the people who lived there during that time. Harlem Shuffle is shelved in our Recreational Reading area on the 2^nd floor.

 The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: A Photographic History

Released on the 100^th anniversary of the horrific event, The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: A Photographic History by Karlos K. Hill, communicates in pictures the actions of a hostile crowd against an entire community, known as the Greenwood District, of African Americans. What began as an innocent elevator ride involving a black man and a white woman intensifies as word of mouth turns the incident into one of the most tragic happenings in the history of America. Fueled by hatred, white supremacy, and jealousy, the white mob attacked the residents of the community. Because Greenwood District had become a flourishing community of successful businesses and nice homes, some of the Tulsa residents were not going to “have it.” This attack resulted in most of the community in ruins from fires and more than 800 people injured. Approximately 300 people died during this merciless attack. Taking in the events of the 24-hour destruction spree in photographs brings to life the severity of these actions. You can find The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in our main campus book stacks.

Thanks to Beth and Susan for sharing these new books! Feel free to check out one or all of them from Union’s library today. Most of our new books are found on the New Books shelf on the second floor. You can also find new books in our Recreational Reading Collection and Family Room. Find an up-to-date list of our new books using the New Books quick link on the library’s homepage.

Tag: andy weir