Science Fiction for the Bookish and Hesitant
Annotation:Part of the recent increase in SF set in the developing world; this seems culturally-authentic, and sets out a near future after the oil crash where illicit biotechnology is the new data piracy.
Annotation:Set in an almost-real present day, but with enough of Gibson's tropes to feel like his science fiction. Interesting how through his career Gibson’s looked shorter and shorter distances into the future.
Annotation:Not as trippy as some of Ryman's other writing: a metaphor for how people deal with change.
Annotation:Amazingly, not owned by the library. Future Europe with longevity treatments, fizzing with ideas.
Annotation:My favourite Sterling: near-future politics, neuroscience, and sly silliness.
Annotation:Founding document of the Steampunk movement, which has produced nothing comparable since. Paleontologist hero and a Burgess Shale cameo.
Annotation:First of his fantasy series, showing up most fantasy books as the pale derivative things they are.
Annotation:Least-known, most-unsung short story writer of the century. This early work is opaque and I only half-understand it. Amazing for its time.
Annotation:I'm not a huge fan of Stephenson's later bloated books, but this is a fast-paced and inventive work on nanotechnology and China.
Annotation:Amazing short stories from a very talented former biologist.
Annotation:His first novel, and an important work (and a good read) though I think the sequel, Count Zero, is better. But one must read this.
Annotation:Mainstream author who is not a genre snob. An feat of alternate history, very evocative about Jewish identity, and a damn good noir mystery too.
Annotation:Doctorow doesn't excel at characters, but his ideas and plots are great, and he explores and extrapolates present trends as well as anyone out there.
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Description
A list of science fiction novels for readers of literary fiction who may have read some SF by mainstream authors (Kazuo Ishiguro, Margaret Atwood, Jonathan Lethem) and are interested in the real thing. The problem is that much of SF is crap (to be fair, much of all fiction is crap), so it's useful to have a guide to get you started.
Genre Guide