I know I'm always looking for good book recommendations, so it's time again for me to pass along some for you. These three are unique in their own way, and they are all worthy of your time!

Written by one of the giants in Sci-fi, this book was shortlisted for for the 2009 Arthur C. Clarke Award. It stands out for how unique the concepts are and how far out in the future (6 million years) it takes place. It's no small feat to conceptualize some really rich ideas and then carry off a compelling story, but Reynolds does it. 

A synopsis of the book would be too long here, but the central theme is around families or "lines" of clones called "shatterlings" (specifically the Gentian line) as they travel the galaxy and come in conflict with other clone lines. 

The two Gentian protagonists, Campion and Purslane encounter an emergency distress signal from Fescue, another Gentian shatterling. There was a vicious attack on the reunion world; an ambush in which the majority of the Gentian Line was wiped out. The identity of the responsible party is unknown, but the attackers used the supposedly long-vanished 'Homunculus' weapons – monstrous spacetime-bending weapons that were created ages ago, but were ordered to be destroyed by another Line.

Campion and Purslane now must fight for their very existence within a universe of really interesting ideas and concepts - including the mystery of "the absence" - the complete disappearance of the Andromeda galaxy.

The story has machine people, clones, posthumanism, wormhole travel and more. It's one of the most unique books I have ever consumed. I read the audiobook by John Lee, and I can't recommend that version enough. Don't miss this one.

I don't know why this book wasn't a massive hit. It is one of the funniest books I've ever read, with a great story to boot. 

The Amazon description is perfect:

Meet Cole: hapless space rogue and part-time smuggler. His sidekick just stole his girlfriend. The galaxy’s most hideous and feared bounty hunter wants to lay eggs in his brain. And the luxury space yacht Cole just hijacked turns out to be filled with interstellar do-gooders, one especially loathsome stowaway, and a cargo of freeze-dried orphans. Cole gathers a misfit crew for a desperate journey to the far reaches of the galaxy: the mysterious world of Yrnameer, the very last of the “your-name-heres”—planets without corporate sponsors. But little does Cole suspect that this legendary utopia is home to a band of outlaws bent on destroying the planet’s tiny, peaceful community.

There are loads of fun concepts going on in the story, including the bounty hunter chasing Cole across the galaxy - who also has a soft spot for Cole's pursuit of his true love - a funny juxtaposition. 

He pokes fun at some tropes and plays on the idea of excessive corporate interference in our lives while weaving a great story. If you liked my book, or you like Douglas Adams, this is a must read for you.

I've recently read a few of Blake's books (I believe I recommended Recursion previously) and I have come to really enjoy his fast paced storytelling.

The story begins with Jason Dessen hearing these last words before a masked abductor knocks him unconscious:

“Are you happy with your life?”

He awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits and a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

He finds out he's in an alternate Chicago where his life is completely different. Desperate to get back to his original life, he escapes and begins a furious chase through parallel worlds. 

This isn't hard SF, mind you - and why should any reader try to take the science of traveling through worlds too serious anyway? While this book has taken some criticism for being unrealistic (which is odd) or even predictable. But I found it super enjoyable throughout and I couldn't put it down. 

I think sometimes people miss the point of a good story. Who cares about the setting or the science (or the fantasy?) If you have interesting characters that are conflicted and facing tough choices with stakes that matter, you have a good book - and I definitely recommend this one.

My Books

Blanchland Blues   |   Lonely Ones   |   Stinger   |   The Flower

Books You Might Like

From time to time I’ll swap promotions with other science fiction authors if they have a book I think you might be interested in.

MONSTER HUNTING FOR FUN AND PROFIT!

Pix and Jaz are two girls who just want to hunt monsters, craft armor, and pay off their college loans—but when a colossal new monster falls through the portals in the Dazzling Skies, it’ll take all their skills to survive it.

Their skill levels? Slightly above noob.

Fortunately, they have their oversized swords, a lot of sass … and one giant monster friend who might help them out.

For a price …

Pfc Bernie Lebna has been through hell.

It's left a mark.

Now, a random rescue has put a baby in his arms. He's the only one that seems able to keep her happy and quiet. The Shepherd recruits Bernie for the extraction. No one wants a crying baby.

What should be a simple side mission goes sideways.

Now Bernie must not only struggle with his own fears, but with the safety of a trusting baby girl. Can he save the baby? Can he save himself?

Since mankind first climbed down from the trees we have looked out to the stars. We looked outward wondering what secrets to our existence are out there.

Professor John Spanks is about to discover the biggest secret the universe has. John has his World turned upside-down when he discovers that all this time; we were looking the wrong way!