Stellar Book Recommendations

SPACE FOR IMAGINATION

Scientists from Albert Einstein to Carl Sagan have emphasized the importance of imagination. For something to be achieved, it must first be imagined. It’s little wonder then that science fiction has time and time again become reality.

Jules Verne imagined landing on the moon as far back as 1865 with From the Earth to the Moon. In 1953, Ray Bradbury described listening devices that sound suspiciously like Bluetooth headsets in Fahrenheit 451. In 1898, the internet was described in a short story called “From the ‘London Times’ of 1904” by none other than Mark Twain. These are but a few examples.

In this spirit, here are some books that you can find on your library’s shelves that complement the Science Center’s exhibit Planet Pioneers. They’ll have you imagining what could be next.

Artemis by Andy Weir Taking place in 2080, this novel is set in Artemis, the first and thus far only city on the Moon. The main character finds herself caught up in a conspiracy to control the city.

Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson Jumping forward in time quite a bit, this novel is set in 2545 and concerns an interstellar ark starship launched to begin a human colony. The story is narrated by the ship’s artificial intelligence.

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor She is the first of her people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. To accept the offer, Binti must give up her place in her family. The Terranauts by T.C. Boyle A similar ark theme but set in a biosphere in 1994 as climate change threatens Earth. Human nature is under the microscope as eight scientists live and work in a prototype of a possible off-earth colony.

Saturn by Ben Bova Part of the author’s Grand Tour Series, each novel follows the colonization of the Solar System by humans in the late 21st century.

Books selected by the Acquisitions Services department of Orange County Library System.