I read The Deluge based on your recommendation. I had been on the fence about picking it up beforehand. It is without exaggeration, one of my favorite books I've ever read. It's the type of novel that I can tell will be with me for the rest of my life. I'm flabbergasted it's not bigger on Booktube, and I commend & respect your practice of covering books that aren't always popular online. That type of individuality is a gift. Thank You!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment. Knowing someone read and enjoyed one of my favourite books really makes my day
The plot and conceptual connections made in Foundation are what impressed me. It's been 30 years since I read all 4 books. I do remember a strong condemnation of nuclear arms and that anyone talking of using it would be exiled.
Yeah I wish I could have read it years ago because I've read so many books that use similar ideas before this one. Which is too bad because they clearly pulled those ideas from Foundation
One thing about Aurora Rising/ The Prefect : the Amazing world/world building in which the story is set ! That level of awesomeness, in terms of so wonderful and technologically advanced, got me to love Alastair Reynolds' writing ! His "science" is simply beautiful and this is a constant in every book he wrote !
Loads of interesting titles on this one. I do recommend "A Hymn Before Battle" by John Ringo, its an interesting enough concept (contemporary humans recruited by an alien federation to fight their war) to at least read this, the first in a saga.
I'm amazed you got through The Deluge. It has a lot of infodumps and grimdark scenes (well you love that). Ash's vocabulary is also difficult (and his parenting skills need work). I liked the parts with the fire and the seige, but it didn't seem like it had an overall plot, and the characters aren't that connected to each other.
I have a soft spot for a lot of the things you mentioned that are usually negatives. I agree that the characters are particularly well rounded. I primarily read for the ideas so I wasn't reading for characters is that one.
I am fascinated with WWI, and I do enjoy my occasional YA novel despite it's tropes so Leviathan piques my interest. And the fact is has no romance (the part of YA I dislike) so even better!
Ooohhh you’re talking about books the other tubers aren’t discussing, love that! I just finished Man in the High Castle PKD which I loved. About to start Blood Music by Greg Bear….. sci fi horror?
envy your willingness to tackle and devour these monster-length books was big fan of KSR mars trilogy along with his debut CA one and actually enjoyed all the politics and relationship intrigues but have become more skeptical of terraforming feasibility or even desirability
I read Asimov's Foundation collection. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't as captivating as I was hoping for. I may do a review on it myself, but since I DNFd the Second Foundation, I'm not sure. Perhaps, I'll give it some time and do a re read before that. Thanks.
I loved The Terraformers! Definitely agree it's a higher bar to entry for new science fiction readers. I did have trouble not seeing it as deeply and darkly dystopian though I don't think that was the intention.
You caved to michael’s diaspora!! Haha 😂 loved that you showed illustrations in leviathan…. Ur making me nervous to try red mars….😅 as always great vid and wonderful thumbnail!?!?!
You need to read the full Foundation trilogy to truly appreciate it. The series of short stories and novellas were collected and split intro 3 books. So they are intended to be read as a whole! The Leviathan (just from your comments - I haven't read it) sounds to me that it was inspired by Michael Moorcock's book "The Warlord of the Air" or the 2nd book in the series "The Land Leviathan"
Any book that made YOU feel like a kindergartner is a skip for me. 😳😄 I am interested in Aurora Rising though. I have to see how I feel about sci-fi detective stories. 🤔 Thanks for all the great reviews, Rachel! Hope you're reading some more good books! 📚🚀😊
🚀 Don't know if the problem is at my end but the sound and picture went out of sync for me at about 5 minutes into the video. Diaspora is on the (extended) TBR
I tried to read Foundation when I was younger and I didn't get very far. I've loved everything else I've read from Asimov, both fiction and nonfiction, so I'd still recommend giving some of his other stuff a read.
Hi Rachel! I've read both Terraformers and Borne and I wouldn't say that they're all that similar. While Terraformers has some weirdness because of the animal mounts, the tone is much, much different. In Borne, VanderMeer goes all-in on the weirdness and grittiness so you would probably like it a bit more.
The Prefect (incorrectly renamed to Aurora Rising) is a classic. It was like watching Law and Order in space. I liked the whiphounds and the whole suspense around freeing the boss from that trap. I wasn't as enamored with the second book.
I recently read The Sparrow, and your Goodreads review from 2015 starts: "I'm not usually a big 'science fiction' reader". That part of your review definitely doesn't stand anymore 😆
Just curious have you heard of “In Ascension “ by Martin MacInnes? It’s a sci-fi novel where the sci-fi part sort of creeps up on you, as it also centers on the formative years of the main character so in some ways reads more like a conventional novel. MacInnes has received a good bit of praise for his writing ability.
I would be interested in Terraformers and Leviathan. I really appreciate when you point out that there may be vulgar or sexual content in books. Michael from Fit 2 be Read convinced me to buy Diaspora but I am nervous that it will go over my head.
Hey! Loved the book list, got some great recommendations from here. Just as a heads up -- it looks like maybe at 4:56 or so, the video was edited but the audio kept going and got a bit misaligned 🙂
I've finished the Southern Reach trilogy by Vandermeer and honestly it persuaded me I'm in a reading crisis, but then I got to read a new thrriler by a Polish author I really like...in two days. It was just dragging and I had huge problem in concentrating on what I'm reading. I liked "Anihilation" but the two following books not fo much. On the fun sf side I got french edition of "Yimir" by Rich Larson, weird enough we didn't got the first book but I guess it works as a standalone book and I can read them in reverse. It's definitely more enjoyable then Authority and Acceptance.
More suggestions for the tbr list, thanks. Just reading the first of Greg Egan's Orthoganal trilogy...I think I know what you mean...it's making my brain ache.
The subjection of art to politics generally makes for bad art - so that book you mentioned, The Deluge, is immediately a firm no for me. I appreciate the warning btw!
Will have to try The Deluge, maybe. I’ve had to deal with those non-scientists who think that after a few youtube videos they know my subject matter better than me and my colleagues. It makes the antiscience gang arrogant, and it is difficult to tell the difference between arrogance and genuine stupidity. And sometimes I don’t have the patience for stupidity even in my fiction when it is so close to what we (as scientists) experience in our lives from the conspiracy theorists who think all the scientists are wrong.
I'm still kind of annoyed with Aurora Rising. Because I liked the Prefect, as a standalone novel. And I was totally up for a sequel. But when they decided to rerelease The Prefect and--for some kind of (coughbull$@!$cough) marketting consistency reason--change the name to Aurora Rising which... a) is a much worse title IMHO and b) feels like it's going to mislead people into buying the book twice (almost did me, but I avoided it). I did wind up reading Elysium Fire and liked it, but that anger at the title change never really went away.
In rereading SF I’ve been avoiding Kim Stanley Robinson. Couldn’t connect with Red Mars when I was younger. I do read Isaac Asimov but have avoided The Foundation stories. I DNFed Foundation when I was a teenager. I was so disappointed because I loved Asimov’s short stories and Robots novels.
wasn't paying attention, read 'the terraformers' as 'transformers'. Then she says "written in a smart and intellectual way". That's a little exaggerated.
The two recommendations that I've checked out from this reader were really not good. Yoon Ha Lee, is a no thankyou. Peter Watts Blindsight has to be one of the worst Sci-fi novels where nothing ever happens that I've ever read. Why is this TH-cam person pushing such complete Sci-fi garbage?
![The 15 Best Sci-Fi Books I've Ever Read [Updated Again]](/img/n.gif)
FYI - My video is currently experiencing a processing issue and I'm impatiently waiting for TH-cam to resolve it. Apologies.
I read The Deluge based on your recommendation. I had been on the fence about picking it up beforehand. It is without exaggeration, one of my favorite books I've ever read. It's the type of novel that I can tell will be with me for the rest of my life. I'm flabbergasted it's not bigger on Booktube, and I commend & respect your practice of covering books that aren't always popular online. That type of individuality is a gift. Thank You!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment. Knowing someone read and enjoyed one of my favourite books really makes my day
I need to get Machine Vendetta by Alastair Reynolds. I also need to reread my Greg Egan collection, that I read many years ago.
Red Mars has been sitting on my shelf for a while. I hope to get to it this summer.
I do need to read Reynold’s Prefect Series…
The plot and conceptual connections made in Foundation are what impressed me. It's been 30 years since I read all 4 books. I do remember a strong condemnation of nuclear arms and that anyone talking of using it would be exiled.
Yeah I wish I could have read it years ago because I've read so many books that use similar ideas before this one. Which is too bad because they clearly pulled those ideas from Foundation
One thing about Aurora Rising/ The Prefect : the Amazing world/world building in which the story is set ! That level of awesomeness, in terms of so wonderful and technologically advanced, got me to love Alastair Reynolds' writing ! His "science" is simply beautiful and this is a constant in every book he wrote !
Oh yes I think his worldbuilding is his strength
Loads of interesting titles on this one. I do recommend "A Hymn Before Battle" by John Ringo, its an interesting enough concept (contemporary humans recruited by an alien federation to fight their war) to at least read this, the first in a saga.
Although I'll never like or subscribe, I always enjoy your videos!
I really liked Foundation when I was a teen but then I started sci-fi by reading everything by Asimov. Diaspora seems interesting.
I'm amazed you got through The Deluge. It has a lot of infodumps and grimdark scenes (well you love that). Ash's vocabulary is also difficult (and his parenting skills need work). I liked the parts with the fire and the seige, but it didn't seem like it had an overall plot, and the characters aren't that connected to each other.
I have a soft spot for a lot of the things you mentioned that are usually negatives. I agree that the characters are particularly well rounded. I primarily read for the ideas so I wasn't reading for characters is that one.
I’ve had Leviathan on my shelf for a while. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
My favourite book channel! I would love if you did a mystery sci fi video.
I'd like to do something like that
I am fascinated with WWI, and I do enjoy my occasional YA novel despite it's tropes so Leviathan piques my interest. And the fact is has no romance (the part of YA I dislike) so even better!
Yay for no YA romance
Will be moving terraformers up the tbr list!
Ooohhh you’re talking about books the other tubers aren’t discussing, love that! I just finished Man in the High Castle PKD which I loved. About to start Blood Music by Greg Bear….. sci fi horror?
Well a few of this books are quite popular but yes I love finding lesser known books
envy your willingness to tackle and devour these monster-length books was big fan of KSR mars trilogy along with his debut CA one and actually enjoyed all the politics and relationship intrigues but have become more skeptical of terraforming feasibility or even desirability
Love hearing what worked and didn't work for you with Red Mars
Wow, you review so many good books, I'll have to make a list. The things you read and review are pretty much in my wheelhouse. Great stuff, thanks.
Glad we have some overlap in our reading tastes
I read Asimov's Foundation collection. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't as captivating as I was hoping for. I may do a review on it myself, but since I DNFd the Second Foundation, I'm not sure. Perhaps, I'll give it some time and do a re read before that. Thanks.
I loved The Terraformers! Definitely agree it's a higher bar to entry for new science fiction readers. I did have trouble not seeing it as deeply and darkly dystopian though I don't think that was the intention.
Oh I didn't get that tone from it but it certainly could have been in there. I love how subjective reading is
You caved to michael’s diaspora!! Haha 😂 loved that you showed illustrations in leviathan…. Ur making me nervous to try red mars….😅 as always great vid and wonderful thumbnail!?!?!
Thanks
I really enjoy your Science Fiction reviews.
Why thank you!
i been reading Darcy Coates..."Hunted" is awesome
🚀 I really enjoyed The Basilisk Throne but do agree with your critique of that particular character’s arc.
Thanks for this. Just a top 10 SciFi list and this gives me alot of titles to grab next.
You need to read the full Foundation trilogy to truly appreciate it. The series of short stories and novellas were collected and split intro 3 books. So they are intended to be read as a whole!
The Leviathan (just from your comments - I haven't read it) sounds to me that it was inspired by Michael Moorcock's book "The Warlord of the Air" or the 2nd book in the series "The Land Leviathan"
Good to know
Any book that made YOU feel like a kindergartner is a skip for me. 😳😄
I am interested in Aurora Rising though. I have to see how I feel about sci-fi detective stories. 🤔
Thanks for all the great reviews, Rachel! Hope you're reading some more good books! 📚🚀😊
Totally fair. Disporia was... a lot
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Don't know if the problem is at my end but the sound and picture went out of sync for me at about 5 minutes into the video.
Diaspora is on the (extended) TBR
Same here
I know ... I'm waiting for TH-cam to fix their processing error 🤦♀️
@@TheShadesofOrange still enjoyed the video!
🍊. Foundation improves the more sequels you read. Try Foundation & Empire before rereading Foundation.
Good to know
I tried to read Foundation when I was younger and I didn't get very far. I've loved everything else I've read from Asimov, both fiction and nonfiction, so I'd still recommend giving some of his other stuff a read.
Hi Rachel! I've read both Terraformers and Borne and I wouldn't say that they're all that similar. While Terraformers has some weirdness because of the animal mounts, the tone is much, much different. In Borne, VanderMeer goes all-in on the weirdness and grittiness so you would probably like it a bit more.
Yeah I don't know why I decided to hypothesize on camera. 😅
If you read short stories, you might dig my collection... ARKDUST by Alex Smith
Great book recommendations!✨🛸✨
The House of Suns, best Reynolds book. Space Rev books were not so Interesting to me. But HoS was Fascinating, full of the type of sci fi I love
I've heard such amazing things about The House of Suns
The Prefect (incorrectly renamed to Aurora Rising) is a classic. It was like watching Law and Order in space. I liked the whiphounds and the whole suspense around freeing the boss from that trap. I wasn't as enamored with the second book.
Yeah it's weird they changed the name
I recently read The Sparrow, and your Goodreads review from 2015 starts: "I'm not usually a big 'science fiction' reader". That part of your review definitely doesn't stand anymore 😆
Haha! I know... I really need to reread that book so I can replace that review, haha
Just curious have you heard of “In Ascension “ by Martin MacInnes? It’s a sci-fi novel where the sci-fi part sort of creeps up on you, as it also centers on the formative years of the main character so in some ways reads more like a conventional novel. MacInnes has received a good bit of praise for his writing ability.
No I haven't
I would be interested in Terraformers and Leviathan. I really appreciate when you point out that there may be vulgar or sexual content in books. Michael from Fit 2 be Read convinced me to buy Diaspora but I am nervous that it will go over my head.
Oh yes Michael is completely responsible for me reading Greg Egan
Hey! Loved the book list, got some great recommendations from here. Just as a heads up -- it looks like maybe at 4:56 or so, the video was edited but the audio kept going and got a bit misaligned 🙂
Yeah waiting on TH-cam to fix it
TBR at zero? ....yeeeeeh.....and I'm going to stop looking at pretty girls 😅😂
Lol
I've finished the Southern Reach trilogy by Vandermeer and honestly it persuaded me I'm in a reading crisis, but then I got to read a new thrriler by a Polish author I really like...in two days. It was just dragging and I had huge problem in concentrating on what I'm reading. I liked "Anihilation" but the two following books not fo much. On the fun sf side I got french edition of "Yimir" by Rich Larson, weird enough we didn't got the first book but I guess it works as a standalone book and I can read them in reverse. It's definitely more enjoyable then Authority and Acceptance.
I hope you enjoy Ymir
More suggestions for the tbr list, thanks. Just reading the first of Greg Egan's Orthoganal trilogy...I think I know what you mean...it's making my brain ache.
Sorry for your aching brain haha
Ah, the Leviathan series...I read it a few years ago and enjoyed it.
Ugh, hated Foundation.
The Deluge sounds awesome!!! Great reviews. 🙂🙂
I liked the Foundation books, but they do read like a collection of short stories, which it turns out they were. 😂
Yes! I didn't realize that until after
The subjection of art to politics generally makes for bad art - so that book you mentioned, The Deluge, is immediately a firm no for me. I appreciate the warning btw!
Will have to try The Deluge, maybe. I’ve had to deal with those non-scientists who think that after a few youtube videos they know my subject matter better than me and my colleagues. It makes the antiscience gang arrogant, and it is difficult to tell the difference between arrogance and genuine stupidity. And sometimes I don’t have the patience for stupidity even in my fiction when it is so close to what we (as scientists) experience in our lives from the conspiracy theorists who think all the scientists are wrong.
Totally fair
🚀 Great video Rachel😊
I'm really excited to read the deluge, I really liked ohio!
I saw your Ohio review when I was looking up the book! I hope you also love Deluge
Love your content. Hope you don't mind me pointing out that diaspora is pronounced dai-'a-spr-uh. :)
Pronounciaton help is always appreciated! I had no clue
I've heard great things about The Deluge but I'm pretty intimidated. How long did it take to grip you?
It reads like a thriller so I was hooked by chapter 1. You could sample the start on kindle. It'll give you a good idea if you'll like it
How come I always end up buying books after listening to you??? lol
Sorry about that 😄
Hey there hey Hello
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I'm still kind of annoyed with Aurora Rising. Because I liked the Prefect, as a standalone novel. And I was totally up for a sequel. But when they decided to rerelease The Prefect and--for some kind of (coughbull$@!$cough) marketting consistency reason--change the name to Aurora Rising which... a) is a much worse title IMHO and b) feels like it's going to mislead people into buying the book twice (almost did me, but I avoided it). I did wind up reading Elysium Fire and liked it, but that anger at the title change never really went away.
Yeah I don't understand the reason for a name change
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It's pronounced dell-yooj, if it's related to rain.
Thanks for the help. I may have already filmed another video with the same pronunciation but I'll try to remember
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In rereading SF I’ve been avoiding Kim Stanley Robinson. Couldn’t connect with Red Mars when I was younger. I do read Isaac Asimov but have avoided The Foundation stories. I DNFed Foundation when I was a teenager. I was so disappointed because I loved Asimov’s short stories and Robots novels.
Sounds like we have similar tastes with some of these classics
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wasn't paying attention, read 'the terraformers' as 'transformers'. Then she says "written in a smart and intellectual way". That's a little exaggerated.
Lololol
Foundation is so dry
Your video and audio are not in sync
Sorry that's annoying. It's a processed issue on TH-cam end. My video file was good
The two recommendations that I've checked out from this reader were really not good. Yoon Ha Lee, is a no thankyou. Peter Watts Blindsight has to be one of the worst Sci-fi novels where nothing ever happens that I've ever read. Why is this TH-cam person pushing such complete Sci-fi garbage?
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