george orwell – Union University Library Blog

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

Andy Weir

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.

Banned Books Week is an annual event in September that emphasizes the freedom to read. The theme for this year is “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.” I once heard a fellow librarian say, “There’s a patron for every book, and a book for every patron.” Books have a way of speaking to us and being able to connect with a story or character is powerful. You won’t connect with or want to read every book out there, but that doesn’t mean another reader isn’t searching for that exact title.

Our main display in the Logos for this month features some of the books that have been banned, while this lists features a few more. It is important to note that several of these titles have been challenged, but not necessarily banned. You may be wondering what the difference is between the two. “A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials.” (https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/aboutbannedbooks)

Which of these banned books have you read?

*Book descriptions provided by the publishers via the library catalog.

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

Eternal warfare is the price of bleak prosperity in this satire of totalitarian barbarism.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Following a world war, a group of school boys survives a plane crash on a deserted island and creates a hellish environment leading to savagery and murder. Two leaders–one civilized, one depraved–epitomize the forces that war eternally in the human spirit.

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

A violent teen named Alex is “rehabilitated” by the government in this satirical view of the future of the industrialized world.

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez

Naomi Vargas and Wash Fuller know about the lines in East Texas as well as anyone. They know the signs that mark them. They know the people who enforce them. But sometimes the attraction between two people is so powerful it breaks through even the most entrenched color lines. And the consequences can be explosive. (Set during the 1937 New London school explosion, the deadliest school disaster in American history.).

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon

Despite his overwhelming fear of interacting with people, Christopher, a mathematically-gifted, autistic, fifteen-year-old boy, decides to investigate the murder of a neighbor’s dog and uncovers secret information about his mother.

Feed by M.T. Anderson

In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.

Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman

The Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus tells the story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler’s Europe, and his son, a cartoonist coming to terms with his father’s story. Maus approaches the unspeakable through the diminutive. Its form, the cartoon (the Nazis are cats, the Jews mice), shocks us out of any lingering sense of familiarity and succeeds in “drawing us closer to the bleak heart of the Holocaust” (The New York Times). Maus is a haunting tale within a tale. Vladek’s harrowing story of survival is woven into the author’s account of his tortured relationship with his aging father. Against the backdrop of guilt brought by survival, they stage a normal life of small arguments and unhappy visits. This astonishing retelling of our century’s grisliest news is a story of survival, not only of Vladek but of the children who survive even the survivors. Maus studies the bloody pawprints of history and tracks its meaning for all of us.

This list reflects Rachel Bloomingburg’s own opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university.

Tag: george orwell

Genre Starter List: Science-Fiction