Now that we're in the midst of the hot and long days of summer, it's likely that many of us have a vacation planned that takes us to a place like the beach, or camping, or anywhere else where we can lay back, relax and sip on drinks with little umbrellas in them.
Of course, that also means that we have a chance to catch up on our reading, but we're not likely to want to pick up something heavy that requires a lot of thought processes, at least not when it's so hot outside. These are the lazy, hazy days of summer and we want to read something thrilling and adventurous, but not too deep, right?
Most wouldn't consider science fiction for summer reading but, believe it or not, there are a lot of great books out there perfect for summer. What's more fun than laying in a hammock and reading about a trip to space? Or perhaps trying to solve a mystery that takes place in a dystopian world? Or perhaps, you want to catch up on reading a book, or series of books, before a TV series or movie comes out based on it.
Whatever the case, we've got you covered with this sci-fi summer reading guide.
Wool (Silo series) by Hugh Howley
In 2011, Hugh Howley released a short story called Wool. However, that one story became so popular that readers demanded more, and eventually, that story became a series of stories called The Silo Series. Wool takes a journey into a futuristic dystopian world, where people live in a large silo to survive because the outside Earth is too dangerous. But there's a grand conspiracy going on, a conspiracy that results in murder. What exactly is going on in the silo? And what's going on outside?
You'll find Wool impossible to put down once you learn about the secrets that the silo holds. Expect a lot of surprises as you try to solve the mystery that haunts everyone who wants to go outside.
The Martian by Andy Weir
You've probably already seen the trailer for the movie based on The Martian by Andy Weir, which comes out in November and stars Matt Damon. Before then, catch up on the story by reading the book that inspired the film. The Martian is about an astronaut who gets stranded on the surface of Mars and is left for dead. But he uses his survival instincts and engineering know-how to survive.
The Martian is a gripping tale about overcoming the odds and surviving, as well as about the importance of holding onto hope.
Bypass Gemini (Big Sigma series) by Joe Lallo
You can't have summer science fiction without a spaceship pilot journeying all over space, right? Joe Lallo's Bypass Gemini tells the story of a former spaceship racing champion, Lex, who now works as a freelance delivery guy. Lex ends up falling into a plot that includes a mega corporation, mobsters and, of course, a mad scientist and his computer, Ma. Bypass Gemini is entertaining and often funny, featuring an interesting cast of characters. It's likely that you'll like this book so much that you'll probably also pick up the second and third book in the series.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Ready Player One isn't an original story per se, at least by concept, but it's an enjoyable one. The year is 2044 and reality is so bad that a teenager named Wade spends most of his time plugged into a virtual world filled with puzzles left behind by that world's creator. The person who first solves the puzzles win that man's fortune, but obviously, the solutions are not easy and some come with real dangers.
Ready Player One comes chock-full of '80s pop culture references, so it's a fun must-read for those on a nostalgia kick.
Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse series) by James S.A. Corey
Before The Expanse becomes a series on Syfy, you might want to pick up a copy of the book that serves as its basis, starting with the first story, The Leviathan Wakes. In The Expanse series, humans have colonized most of the solar system, but a case involving a missing girl brings to light a huge conspiracy while the galaxy sits on the brink of a massive civil war. Leviathan Wakes begins what becomes a space opera which is entertaining, thrilling and comes with all the bells and whistles that make for good summer reading.
John Gone (The Diaspora Trilogy) by Michael Kayatta
What happens when a teenage boy, John, finds a mysterious watch on a beach that teleports him to a random place in the world at 3:14 p.m. every day and then teleports him home 12 hours later? Of course, adventures follow, but it also leaves John being hunted by the crazy scientists who created the watch in the first place. When John learns that the watch's teleportation will eventually kill him, he's given a choice: keep the watch and die or lose his freedom and live.
Undersea by Geoffrey Morrison
It's the future and the world is now covered with nothing but ocean. Humanity survived, but only by adapting and building two great cities beneath the seas that reside inside giant submarines. However, those two cities are at war, which means that damage done to the submarines leaves its mark and puts the citizens of both cities in dangers. It's up to a fisherman and a council woman to bring the factions together to save what's left of mankind.
Journey to Hart's Halo by Lou Hood
It's 2033 and mankind is finally starting to colonize space and just set up the first international space colony. When 12-year-old Davey Randolph wins the journey of a lifetime to the colony, he discovers that all is not what it seems there. He also learns the secret behind his missing father.
Hart's Halo isn't just a good book for adults, though. It's a sci-fi book that kids of all ages will love.
Pines (Wayward Pines series) by Blake Crouch
You've probably already seen at least one episode of the Wayward Pines TV series on Fox, based on the Pines book series by Blake Crouch. And at first, the story doesn't seem like sci-fi, but thanks to a big reveal, we find out that it is. After secret service agent Ethan Burke arrives in the ideal little town of Wayward Pines, he finds himself trapped there, eventually discovering that there's a massive electrified wall surrounding the entire community. Unable to leave, Ethan begins investigating why the town keeps its citizens trapped there and what exactly the wall is keeping out. When Ethan learns the truth, can he come to terms with it and save the town at any cost?
Photo credit: Simon & Schuster
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