Reviews and Blog Posts: Science Fiction

Locus Award Finalists Announced

Submitted by Becker on May 3, 2012 - 12:46pm
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Welcome to Bordertown

The Locus Science Fiction Foundation recently announced the finalists for the 2012 Locus Awards. The Locus Award celebrates science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and nonfiction works related to these subjects. If you're looking for a good read, try some of these!

Science Fiction Novel:

Leviathan Wakes, James S.A. Corey

11/22/63, Stephen King

Embassytown, China Mieville

Rule 34, Charles Stross

Hugo Nominees Announced!

Submitted by Becker on April 9, 2012 - 3:14pm
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Among Others

The nominees for the Hugo Award, given in 15 categories by the members of the World Science Fiction Convention, were recently announced. For the complete list, check the Hugo website.

Here are some of the nominated novels, works of nonfiction, and films that the Denver Public Library owns:

Best Novel:

Among Others, Jo Walton

A Dance With Dragons, George R. R. Martin

Deadline, Mira Grant

Embassytown, China Miéville

James Tiptree Jr. Award Announced!

Submitted by Becker on March 13, 2012 - 7:53am
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Deathless

The James Tiptree Jr. Award is a literary award given annually to science fiction or fantasy (novels, novellas, short stories) that expands or explores our understanding of gender. The award is named after Alice B. Sheldon, who wrote under the male name James Tiptree Jr. in order to be more accepted by publishers of science fiction.

While some of these books/stories may not be in the Denver Public Library's collection, they may be worth seeking out if you are interested in issues of gender in science fiction and fantasy. Please note all the teen books on the list--several of which were on my favorite reads of 2011 list!

The 2011 Tiptree Award Winner is: Redwood and Wildfire by Andrea Hairston (Aqueduct Press, 2011)

The Honor List includes:

2012: Are You Ready?

Submitted by Becker on December 27, 2011 - 3:19pm
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2012: The War for Souls

The year 2012 is fast approaching. To many writers, 2012 seemed like a good year far in the future in which to set their stories. Other books are centered around a prophecy that the world will end in 2012. Get ready for the new year with some fiction set in 2012!

Angel Fire East, Terry Brooks

2012 Airborne Prophecy, Nina Anderson

Apocalypse 2012 & The 2012 Codex, Gary Jennings

Domain, Steve Alten

In Praise of Connie Willis

Submitted by Becker on October 12, 2011 - 8:26am
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Blackout

The 2011 Hugo Award winner for Best Novel happens to be one of my favorite writers, Colorado author Connie Willis.

Many people may see Willis' books in the science fiction section, winning science fiction awards, and immediately think that those books are not for them. I urge you to reconsider.

Ready Player One

Submitted by Bobby on October 10, 2011 - 5:42pm
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Ready Player One

 Have you heard about Ernst Cline's Ready Player One?  Filled with tons of 80s pop culture references, it might be worth doing a bit of extra research to keep up.  We can help.

Set in the near future, Ready Player One is the story of Wade Watts, a poor, orphaned kid whose only escape is entering the vast virtual world of OASIS.  In OASIS, Wade's avatar spends endless hours attempting to solve clues and puzzles in order to find the three keys that will unlock the vast inheritance left by the company's founder, Halliday, who created this hunt as his legacy.  In tribute to his 1980s upbringing, Halliday has loaded the game with all sort of cultural icons and trivia.  Wade and&n

2045: A Story of Our Future

Submitted by Oskar on September 21, 2011 - 2:12pm
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2045: A Story of Our Future

As a general rule, I don't read much fiction.

However, I have a weakness for post-apocalyptic, sci-fi dystopian pieces. Think Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451) and Dick (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep). Confessional sidebar: I'm a much bigger fan of the film Blade Runner (which is, of course, based on Androids) than I am of the book. Both succeed, however, in firing the cylinders of the brain and sparking imagination.

In Praise of Mary Doria Russell

Submitted by Jennifer on September 7, 2011 - 4:42pm
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Doc

Do you love literary fiction? Historical fiction? Science fiction? This author is a rare find - someone who can cross genres with ease, style, and literary merit. She has won many national and international awards for her work. If you haven't read her, you should!

Many years ago, I discovered The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell and loved it, but somehow with all of the other books on my list, I never revisited her work. Then, this year, Doc hit our featured titles table. I snagged a copy and devoured it in three days. It was so good, I was compelled to read every work of fiction she ever wrote.

What to do with yourself while you’re waiting for Mass Effect 3 to come out.

Submitted by extra medium on August 16, 2011 - 1:01am
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Do you ever find yourself in this crazy loop where you obsess about an awesome upcoming thing? Right now, I’m obsessing about the forthcoming videogame Mass Effect 3.

When Mass Effect 3 was delayed to March 6, 2012 earlier this year, I told everyone I knew (and a few that I didn’t) that it was going to be the longest wait ever, and that I would probably die of impatience before it came out. Instead of obsessively playing the games again, (okay, maybe I’m doing that a little) or obsessing on the Internet (well, I am doing that) I’ve decided to read and watch some awesome Sci Fi. Here’s what I’ve come up with:

Books

Vote for the Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of All Time

Submitted by Tara on August 2, 2011 - 2:56pm
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Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

NPR asked their audience to nominate titles and series for a Top 100 list of Science Fiction and Fantasy. They were sent almost 5,000 nominations! They have narrowed down the list to a few hundred and need your help to find the 100 most popular titles. The results will be published on August 11.

From their list, my Top 10 choices are:

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