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.
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:
An emerging author, Andy Weir is best known for his breakout hit The Martianand 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.
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.
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.
Further Reading:
I don’t have the space to list all the great literature of science fiction, but here are some more books and authors to check out!
Union University’s Library at the Logos is back with our second presentation of March Book Madness! On Fridays in February, you will be introduced to the books competing in March Book Madness in 2023. A difference this year is that each book has also been made into a movie. We hope that this will help you with the selection process. Each week will feature our titles 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. Our 2022 Champion was The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Will a familiar favorite win again or will a new contender reach the top of the shelf? You, our readers, will determine the winner. We hope that you journey with us as we make our way through the Final Four and crown our second March Book (& Movie) Madness Champion!
Amber: Hey everyone! Thank you for joining us in Week 2 of March Book (& Movie) Madness: 2023 edition. I’m Amber Wessies, and I’ll be highlighting our genres for the week along with Micah Rhodes. Rachel and Darius told you about our first two genres, Historical Fiction and Civil Rights, last week. And this week, we bring two totally different genres. Micah, can you tell us what they are?
Micah: Thanks, Amber! This week, we’ll be covering the brackets for Science Fiction and Gothic Horror, two of my personal favorites. While they are both speculative genres, Science Fiction often extrapolates real-world research and technology to propose futuristic scenarios, while Gothic Horror leans into haunting, supernatural themes that often look to bring dark elements of the past into the present. I really like the juxtaposition of these two genres, and they can actually overlap in fascinating ways, as we’ll see.
Amber: Science Fiction and Gothic Horror can definitely keep you on the edge of your seat or maybe just keep you up at night. Why don’t you tell us about the contenders in our Science Fiction Genre?
Micah: Our first competitor is a cornerstone of far-future sci-fi literature. Written by Frank Herbert in 1965, Dunehas proven to be influential in the decades since, most notably providing many inspirations to George Lucas’ Star Wars. Full of political scheming, novel technologies, religious quandaries, and quasi-magical power, Dune has always been upheld as foundational to modern sci-fi by avid readers. It’s seen a recent resurgence in the awareness of the general public with Denis Villeneuve’s new movie adaptation in 2021, which was a masterpiece in cinematography. I’m eagerly awaiting the release of Part 2 later this year.
Amber: Wow, I think I need to check it out. Now, which book will Dune battle against?
Micah:Dune’s rival is another juggernaut in both written and visual sci-fi media. Most of our audience will be familiar with the Jurassic Parkmovie franchise, but some may be surprised to learn that it too spawned from a literary source. Michael Crichton wrote two excellent novels, Jurassic Parkand The Lost World, that established the setting for the films. In fact, the success of the first film pressured Crichton into writing the sequel, something he did not ordinarily do with his novels. The plot for both film and book can be summarized by this witty exchange between characters Dr. Ian Malcolm and Dr. Ellie Satler:
Malcolm: “God creates dinosaurs, God destroys dinosaurs. God creates Man, man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs.”
Satler: “Dinosaurs eat man . . . Woman inherits the earth.”
Amber: Too funny, Jurassic Park is a great sci-fi choice. Which do you think will advance to the Elite 8 round?
Micah: This is a tough call. Dune brings a dedicated following from the literature crowd, and its new movie is gorgeous and dramatic if a little hard to follow for viewers who haven’t read the book (especially the ending). However, though the Jurassic Park books have less of a cult following, the movies have become such titans of popular culture that I think dinosaurs will win over spaceships this year.
Micah: Let’s move on to your category, Amber. What can you tell us about your contenders?
Amber: Well, Gothic Horror isn’t usually my go-to genre, but I think we are all familiar with Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein. There have been many movie adaptations of Frankenstein and the Union Library has three versions that you can check out. Although we all like to think the monster in the book was the man created using cadavers, that may not be the case. Dr. Frankenstein who created the monster might be more of a monster than we thought. I wonder what our voters will think? Frankenstein is one of the novels that embodied gothic fiction with its suspense, fear, and haunting from the past. Shelley’s work represents the gothic horror of the early 19th century.
Micah: It’s certainly a classic, and deeply embedded in the history of the genre. This is what I love about holding Science Fiction and Gothic Horror up for side-by-side examination: we can see how they overlap! There are elements of sci-fi in Frankenstein, as the doctor is using pseudo-scientific techniques to bring about the creation of his creature. Likewise, Jurassic Park has some similarities with gothic horror and especially Frankenstein, as scientists work to bring monsters to life which then wreak havoc on humans, leaving open the question of who is more monstrous: the creator or the created? Anyway, what’s the second contestant?
Amber: Our second book and movie duo comes from the 20th-century gothic horror period and another female author, Daphne du Maurier. Du Maurier’s book, Rebecca, has become the basis for several movie adaptations including a newer Netflix film and the Alfred Hitchcock version by the same name. Surprisingly disturbing and sad, Rebecca, tells the story of a poor girl who marries a rich widowed man with a haunting past. Although this gothic novel may be less familiar to many, Rebecca, still brings those chilling gothic elements from mystery, to love, and murder that makes these novels hard to put down. Can the new Mrs. de Winter and her husband move past the death of Rebecca?
Micah: Hmm, intriguing. I’ll have to give Rebecca a read or a watch, or both! Which book-movie do you think will triumph?
Amber: I think Frankenstein may win out since so many people read it in high school. But I wouldn’t count out Rebecca with its new movie.
Micah: Well, we’ll see if either of our predictions are correct in just a few weeks. Remember, readers, YOU will be the ones determining this year’s winners of March Book (& Movie) Madness! Want to represent your favorite page-to-screen adaptations? Vote for your favorites on Instagram next month, then see which advances. We’ll be back with our next competitor introductions after these messages…
I’m one of those people that saw the David Lynch film Dune before actually reading the source material (whoops). But luckily, the library not only has the film but the first book by Frank Herbert as well. I was eager to finally read this science fiction classic, especially because I liked the Dune movie despite its flaws.
Mild spoilers ahead.
What Dune gets right: There’s a ton of intricate world-building and politics artfully mixed with myths and character development. Honestly, there’s more plotting and better power moves in Dune than Game of Thrones, probably because the main characters actually have things and people that they care about and are more empathetic/relatable. It’s certainly a well-crafted novel.
I liked the third-person omniscient narrative style. In a novel like Dune where there are so many characters and cultures, this narrative style helps the reader to understand what’s going on from all angles.
What Dune gets wrong: Real talk: it took me forever to read this. I was grateful for the short chapters because I often needed a break from the political intrigue and dialogue. It’s a great book, but it does not lend itself to fast-paced reading.
Who should read Dune: Science fiction fans. Readers who want to sink their teeth into an in-depth, well-written series and have the time to do it.
Who shouldn’t read Dune: Readers looking for something quick and light.
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