Koncocoo

Best Time Travel Science Fiction

The Martian: A Novel
After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Perhaps it’s the rugged terrain, beautiful scenery, or vast natural landscape that appeals to you. Earth’s liquid core gives it a magnetic field that protects us from most of the nasty crap the sun pukes out at us. The easiest way to do that is to bury your base in Martian sand and rocks. The Curiosity probe recently discovered that Martian soil has quite a lot of ice in it. Just think of how much food you eat in a year and imagine how much space it takes to grow it. Mars’s average daily temperature is -50C (-58F), so it’ll be a continual energy drain to keep warm. Make a base with a big death ray so you can address the UN while wearing an ominous mask and demand ransom? Because in the end, Mars is a harsh, dangerous place and if something goes wrong you’ll have no hope of rescue. Remember Man Plus, Frederik Pohl’s award-winning 1976 novel about a cyborg astronaut who’s sent, alone, to Mars? Imagine, instead, that the astronaut was just a regular guy, part of a team sent to the red planet, and that, through a series of tragic events, he’s left behind, stranded and facing certain death. The story is told mostly through the log entries of astronaut Mark Watney, chronicling his efforts to survive: making the prefab habitat livable and finding a way to grow food, make water, and get himself off the planet. Interspersed among the log entries are sections told from the point of view of the NASA specialists, back on Earth, who discover that Watney is not dead (as everyone assumed) and scramble together a rescue plan. There are some inevitable similarities between the book and the 1964 movie Robinson Crusoe on Mars, but where the movie was a broad sci-fi adventure, the novel is a tightly constructed and completely believable story of a man’s ingenuity and strength in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Reviews
"The main character, Watney, presumed dead, is accidentally left by his crew mates when an intense Martian dust storm forces them to abort their mission. What follows for part of the book is a logbook style narrative that describes in great technical detail Watney's efforts to extend his life until the next scheduled mission arrives in 4 years. After reading just the first 20% of the book (my Kindle has no page numbers) one can't help but be impressed by the author's depth of knowledge in this regard. There are no flashbacks of our main character fishing with Dad at the old water hole, or him riding his first bicycle without training wheels. Again, we don't follow our mission control cast of characters back too their respective homes and meet their wives and husbands and get served up cliche insights into their innermost thoughts. I highly recommend this book to people who are into reading hard sci-fi of the not-too-distant future, sci-fi without blasters and ray guns or 9' tall aliens that bleed acid."
"Mark Watney the main character in The Martian will engage you in many life lessons one as such on how to survive on Mars for several years by growing your own potatoes. All jokes aside this book will help your students understand why NASA has put forth the effort towards the research they’ve done on Mars. Since we now know to grow food and live there for years we could start spreading out our world population by sending some people to Mars. This book does teach the perspective audience how to potentially live off the grid and survive if there were a huge life event to happen on earth."
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Ready Player One
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig. Along with millions of other world-wide citizens, Wade dreams of finding three keys left behind by James Halliday, the now-deceased creator of OASIS and the richest man to have ever lived. Stuffed to the gills with action, puzzles, nerdy romance, and 80s nostalgia, this high energy cyber-quest will make geeks everywhere feel like they were separated at birth from author Ernest Cline. And I mean head over heels in love--the way you fall for someone who is smart, feisty, and who can effortlessly finish your favorite movie lines, music lyrics, or literature quotes before they come out of your mouth. Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. Our unlikely hero is an overweight trailer park kid who goes by Wade Watts in real life, and “Parzival” to his best friends and mortal enemies--all of whom he interacts with virtually. Just like the Arthurian knight that is his namesake, young Wade is on a quest for an incredible treasure guarded by mythical creatures. The setup is particularly brilliant, because Ernie Cline seems to have a laser-beam knowledge of (and warm, fuzzy love for) every pop song, arcade game, and giant robot produced in the last thirty years. Seriously, this is a guy who owns and regularly drives a 1982 DeLorean that has been mocked up to look exactly like the time-traveling car in Back to the Future , complete with a glowing flux capacitor. Worse, these corporate baddies are posers with no love for the game – they have movie dialogue piped in via radio earpieces, use bots to cheat at arcade games like JOUST, and don’t hesitate to terrorize or murder people in the real world to achieve their aims inside the OASIS. Our good guy has to leave his X-Wing fighter aboard his private flotilla so that he can pilot an authentic Ultraman recreation. And how do you not grin when someone dons a pair of virtual Chuck Taylor All Stars that bestow the power of flight? Instead, Cline keeps the stakes high throughout, and the epic treasure hunt structure (complete with an evolving high-score list) keeps the action intense. The plot unfolds with constant acceleration, never slowing down or sagging in the middle, to create a thrilling ride with a fulfilling ending. In your debut novel Ready Player One you incorporate literally hundreds of pop culture references, many of them in ways that are integral to the book’s plot. Q) Like the book’s hero, you possess a horrifyingly deep knowledge of a terrifyingly broad swathe of culture, ranging from John Hughes movies to super-obscure Japanese animation to 8-bit videogames to science-fiction and fantasy literature to role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Then as an adult, I worked at a long series of low paying tech support jobs that allowed me to surf the Internet all day, and I spent a lot of my cubicle time looking up obscure pop culture minutiae from my childhood while I waited for people to reboot their PCs. When I get home that night, I accidentally invent a cheap abundant clean energy source that saves human civilization. Cline’s imaginative and rollicking coming-of-age geek saga has a smash-hit vibe.”-- Booklist , starred review. "This adrenaline shot of uncut geekdom, a quest through a virtual world, is loaded with enough 1980s nostalgia to please even the most devoted John Hughes fans… sweet, self-deprecating Wade, whose universe is an odd mix of the real past and the virtual present, is the perfect lovable/unlikely hero.”-- Publishers Weekly. "Fascinating and imaginative…It's non-stop action when gamers must navigate clever puzzles and outwit determined enemies in a virtual world in order to save a real one. " Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. "The pure, unfettered brainscream of a child of the 80s, like a dream my 13-year-old self would have had after bingeing on Pop Rocks and Coke…I couldn’t put it down. Ernest Cline's hero competes in a virtual world with life-and-death stakes -- which is only fitting, because he's fighting to make his dreams into reality.
Reviews
"Really enjoyed this book and I knew all of the 80’s references!"
"As we become more and more obsessed with our devices and less involved in our physical surroundings we could reach a future that is outlined in this book."
"If you are a gamer or just a sci/fi fantasy enthusiast this book is great."
"A little too much with old video games and movies."
"Such a fun story that incorporates great 80’s references, fantasy, science-fiction, dystopian futures and romance."
"Cline has imagined an interesting (albeit unfortunate) future world and created a story around several endearing characters."
"A touch of Ender's Game, a dab of Tron (80s original and Legacy), and top it off with all of nerddom nostalgia from the 80s. It extracts concept art and all kinds of interesting things to mold them into a story that we feel would best resemble the story we're reading."
"Overall, this was an entertaining book, and a good journey back to the heyday of coin operated arcade games of the 80s."
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Artemis: A Novel
And it calls for a particular combination of cunning, technical skills, and large explosions—not to mention sheer brazen swagger. Trapped between competing forces, pursued by a killer and the law alike, even Jazz has to admit she’s in way over her head. Propelled by its heroine’s wisecracking voice, set in a city that’s at once stunningly imagined and intimately familiar, and brimming over with clever problem-solving and heist-y fun, Artemis is another irresistible brew of science, suspense, and humor from #1 bestselling author Andy Weir. Praise for Artemis: “An action-packed techno-thriller of the first order…the perfect vehicle for humans who want to escape, if only for a time, the severe gravity of planet earth. The pages fly by.” — USA Today “Revitalizes the Lunar-colony scenario, with the author’s characteristic blend of engineering know-how and survival suspense...Jazz is a great heroine, tough with a soft core, crooked with inner honesty.” — Wall Street Journal “Smart and sharp…Weir has done it again [with] a sci-fi crowd pleaser made for the big screen.” —Salon.com. “Makes cutting-edge science sexy and relevant…Weir has created a realistic and fascinating future society, and every detail feels authentic and scientifically sound.” -- Associated Press “Out-of-this-world storytelling.”— Houston Chronicle “Weir has done the impossible—he’s topped The Martian with a sci-fi-noir-thriller set in a city on the moon. Go read it!”– Blake Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter “ Everything you could hope for in a follow-up to The Martian : another smart, fun, fast-paced adventure that you won’t be able to put down.” – Ernest Cline, New York Times bestselling author of Ready Player One “A superior near-future thriller…with a healthy dose of humor.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “An exciting, whip-smart, funny thrill-ride…one of the best science fiction novels of the year.” — Booklist (starred review) “Narrated by a kick-ass leading lady, this thriller has it all – a smart plot, laugh-out-loud funny moments, and really cool science.” — Library Journal (starred review)Praise for The Martian : And it calls for a particular combination of cunning, technical skills, and large explosions—not to mention sheer brazen swagger. Propelled by its heroine’s wisecracking voice, set in a city that’s at once stunningly imagined and intimately familiar, and brimming over with clever problem-solving and heist-y fun, Artemis is another irresistible brew of science, suspense, and humor from #1 bestselling author Andy Weir.
Reviews
"Tourists flock there for the chance to spend their life's savings on a guided tour of the lunar surface-- which involves wondering about in a high tech hamster ball-- and sampling the local delicacy known as Gunk, a flavored algae no one voluntarily eats a second time. At 26, she finds herself the lunar equivalent of an errand girl, living in an apartment the literal size of a coffin, and smuggling contraband from earth just to make ends meet. Any expectations I had for this book were purely speculative, because, unlike most of the rest of the world, I have not read The Martian or seen the movie. That said, I was surprised 1/3 of the way through to realize I was reading a lightweight heist novel with some heavy handed commentary on wealth inequality. She's as obsessed with her sex life as everyone else in Artemis seems to be, and I have to wonder if author Andy Weir has ever met a woman before. Between chapters, we get letters between Jazz and her earth penpal that date back to when they are children, but this has little relevance to the story at large and often feels like filler."
"Travel between the moon and earth is consistent, and the moon has become a vacation hot spot for people of all types, though the only ones that afford to live there year-round (other than those who work there) are filthy rich. Then he names his price, and she runs with it - she has a specific goal she's saving for, and this will clear it and then some. But that's when things get crazy, and the book takes off like a rocket (put totally intended). Having said that - the book is a fun ride from beginning to end, even *with* those puzzle pieces missing."
"(Potential plot spoilers in review). First, I would like to say that Rosario Dawson did a phenomenal job of narrating this book! Listening to her bring these sometimes flat and underdeveloped characters to life by utilizing different voices and accents was a joy. Along the way she finds herself in trouble of deportation to Earth and her life is in danger from gangsters (yes actually mafia type thugs) for retaliation of her role in the company’s sabotage. Jazz is a genius that can easily learn complex things in a short amount of time (a few hours for what typically takes the average smart person years of studying to understand at that level). This book has lots of excitement and action packed scenes which should keep readers on the edge of their seats, but they were always dulled and overshadowed by Weirs constant description of the mechanics and science behind everything (and I mean everything: from how the air is made and filtered for Artemis, how the residents are protected from space vacuums and radiation from the sun, to how and why you must use certain gases and metals during welding). I enjoyed listening to the audiobook but if I had to read through all of the boring explanations about science & mechanics, this book would have been a DNF for me."
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Best Medical Thrillers

The Atlantis Plague: A Thriller (The Origin Mystery, Book 2)
The Atlantis Plague is the second book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has become a global phenomenon. In Marbella, Spain, Dr. Kate Warner awakens to a horrifying reality: the human race stands on the brink of extinction. Nearly a billion people are dead--and those that the Atlantis Plague does not kill, it transforms at the genetic level. Industrialized nations offer a miracle drug, Orchid, which they mass produce and distribute to refugee camps around the world. The Immari envision a world populated by the genetically superior survivors--a new human race, ready to fulfill its destiny. With control of the world population hanging in the balance, the Orchid Alliance and the Immari descend into open warfare. This global adventure takes readers back into the world of The Origin Mystery, which began with THE ATLANTIS GENE. A.G. Riddle spent ten years starting internet companies before retiring to pursue his true passion: writing fiction. His debut novel, The Atlantis Gene , is the first book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has sold over two million copies in the US, has been translated into 18 languages, and is in development to be a major motion picture. His recently released fourth novel, Departure , follows the survivors of a flight that takes off in the present and crash-lands in a changed world.
Reviews
"This book definitely had me hitting the "buy next book" immediately."
"This is a military type drama where there is one good guy who has to upset the whole bad regime (think 24 the TV series). The final element of the plot is human evolution and history, which again is very intricately interwoven into the bio-military aspects and well researched. It almost feels like the story line may have had a well sculpted start and end (hopefully) and that this second book is for clarification and set-up for the final showdown."
"David and Kate find themselves in danger as we, the readers, find ourselves wanting answers to all the questions we have asked."
"I really enjoyed how the subject matter was handled, and I enjoyed learning all sorts of historical tidbits."
"I fell in love with the characters and the premis in the first book, and I would highly recommend the Atlantis Plague to continue the story."
"If you're buying this book, be sure you have read The Atlantis Gene first; it fills in some blanks that may leave you wondering."
"This would translate well to a movie series, or mini-series, something like Battlestar Galactica meet Star Wars. We like the overall message of the Atlantis Series & commend the author, who must have a wonderful, complex brain."
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Best Doctor Who Series

Doctor Who: Engines of War (Doctor Who: New Series Adventures Specials Book 4)
The Daleks and the Time Lords deploy ever more dangerous weapons in desperate attempts at victory, but there is no end in sight. A weary, angry Doctor leads a flotilla of Battle TARDISes against the Dalek stronghold but in the midst of the carnage, the Doctor's TARDIS crashes to a planet below: Moldox. GEORGE MANN is the author of the Newbury & Hobbes steampunk mystery series, as well as numerous other novels, short stories and original audiobooks.
Reviews
"In the midst of this we have the War Doctor, the one between Eight and Nine, the one who ultimately ends the Time War by destroying both the Daleks and the Time Lords. The Doctor (for ease of reference, even though he’s not the same Doctor) and his TARDIS and the Time Lords and their battle TARDISes are engaging the Dalek fleet near the Tantalus Spiral, at least at this point in time. The Doctor reluctantly brings Cinder along to figure out what the Daleks are doing, and then it’s off to Gallifrey to report on the Daleks and figure out how to end this horrific war. Upon reflecting upon the story, I see not so much the transition of the Time Lords to the moral equivalents of the Daleks, but the Doctor’s realization that this transition has taken place, thus showing how he feels forced to make the repugnant decision to destroy the Daleks and the Time Lords."
"This is a much-abridged version of the complete review as it appears (http://ianwoodnovellum.blogspot.com/2015/01/doctor-who-engines-of-war-by-george-mann.html) at my blog dedicated to reading, writing (no 'rithmatic! In severe withdrawal after the Xmas Doctor Who show, I needed a good fix, and this delivered. We don't begin with his regeneration, but at a much later point - several centuries later - when he looks more like he did in the fiftieth anniversary special, and not long before he unleashed The Moment. The Doctor informs her that he has to go to the nearby city to find out what the Daleks are up to, and despite her extreme fear, she accompanies him. On Gallifrey we discover that Rassilon has been resurrected to lead the Time Lords, and he has a few dark secrets of his own. Having said that, of course, the time-lock seems to have failed dismally, since the Time-Lords were indeed tied up by it, but not, evidently, the Daleks - not in the least, given how often they've showed up in the rebooted TV series!"
"This is the first Doctor Who "book on tape" I've bought, and the purchase was based solely on the fact that Nicholas Briggs was the reader. I've been a fan of Big Finish for years, and even though this isn't one of their products, I knew that Briggs would put in the love and the work needed to bring the story alive. But to be fair I originally assumed there would be no special sounds -- just a straight reading --- so there is actually a lot there to sweeten the experience."
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Best Hard Science Fiction

Ready Player One
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig. Along with millions of other world-wide citizens, Wade dreams of finding three keys left behind by James Halliday, the now-deceased creator of OASIS and the richest man to have ever lived. Stuffed to the gills with action, puzzles, nerdy romance, and 80s nostalgia, this high energy cyber-quest will make geeks everywhere feel like they were separated at birth from author Ernest Cline. And I mean head over heels in love--the way you fall for someone who is smart, feisty, and who can effortlessly finish your favorite movie lines, music lyrics, or literature quotes before they come out of your mouth. Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. Our unlikely hero is an overweight trailer park kid who goes by Wade Watts in real life, and “Parzival” to his best friends and mortal enemies--all of whom he interacts with virtually. Just like the Arthurian knight that is his namesake, young Wade is on a quest for an incredible treasure guarded by mythical creatures. The setup is particularly brilliant, because Ernie Cline seems to have a laser-beam knowledge of (and warm, fuzzy love for) every pop song, arcade game, and giant robot produced in the last thirty years. Seriously, this is a guy who owns and regularly drives a 1982 DeLorean that has been mocked up to look exactly like the time-traveling car in Back to the Future , complete with a glowing flux capacitor. Worse, these corporate baddies are posers with no love for the game – they have movie dialogue piped in via radio earpieces, use bots to cheat at arcade games like JOUST, and don’t hesitate to terrorize or murder people in the real world to achieve their aims inside the OASIS. Our good guy has to leave his X-Wing fighter aboard his private flotilla so that he can pilot an authentic Ultraman recreation. And how do you not grin when someone dons a pair of virtual Chuck Taylor All Stars that bestow the power of flight? Instead, Cline keeps the stakes high throughout, and the epic treasure hunt structure (complete with an evolving high-score list) keeps the action intense. The plot unfolds with constant acceleration, never slowing down or sagging in the middle, to create a thrilling ride with a fulfilling ending. In your debut novel Ready Player One you incorporate literally hundreds of pop culture references, many of them in ways that are integral to the book’s plot. Q) Like the book’s hero, you possess a horrifyingly deep knowledge of a terrifyingly broad swathe of culture, ranging from John Hughes movies to super-obscure Japanese animation to 8-bit videogames to science-fiction and fantasy literature to role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Then as an adult, I worked at a long series of low paying tech support jobs that allowed me to surf the Internet all day, and I spent a lot of my cubicle time looking up obscure pop culture minutiae from my childhood while I waited for people to reboot their PCs. When I get home that night, I accidentally invent a cheap abundant clean energy source that saves human civilization. Cline’s imaginative and rollicking coming-of-age geek saga has a smash-hit vibe.”-- Booklist , starred review. "This adrenaline shot of uncut geekdom, a quest through a virtual world, is loaded with enough 1980s nostalgia to please even the most devoted John Hughes fans… sweet, self-deprecating Wade, whose universe is an odd mix of the real past and the virtual present, is the perfect lovable/unlikely hero.”-- Publishers Weekly. "Fascinating and imaginative…It's non-stop action when gamers must navigate clever puzzles and outwit determined enemies in a virtual world in order to save a real one. " Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. "The pure, unfettered brainscream of a child of the 80s, like a dream my 13-year-old self would have had after bingeing on Pop Rocks and Coke…I couldn’t put it down. Ernest Cline's hero competes in a virtual world with life-and-death stakes -- which is only fitting, because he's fighting to make his dreams into reality.
Reviews
"Really enjoyed this book and I knew all of the 80’s references!"
"As we become more and more obsessed with our devices and less involved in our physical surroundings we could reach a future that is outlined in this book."
"A little too much with old video games and movies."
"Such a fun story that incorporates great 80’s references, fantasy, science-fiction, dystopian futures and romance."
"Cline has imagined an interesting (albeit unfortunate) future world and created a story around several endearing characters."
"Overall, this was an entertaining book, and a good journey back to the heyday of coin operated arcade games of the 80s."
"This book covers the feeling of being hopeful for a future, Dark in the sense of how the future is, Nostalgic with all the references to old consoles and movies, the book can be lighthearted at times, and the book makes you think about are culture and what it could become."
"Im an avid reader and it caught my attention and held it because its a different subject matter then the usual fodder."
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Best Space Opera Science Fiction

Etheric Researcher: A Kurtherian Gambit Series (Etheric Adventures: Anne and Jinx Book 2)
Set on the foundation laid by the Kurtherian Gambit Series, this story tells about one of the fan favorites and her new partner.
Reviews
"The first book,Etheric Recruit, was a great start in the series."
"So, these 2 books are the beginning of Steve's contributing to the Empire of Bethany Ann ... hummm.... waiting on the rest of the books, not just the 3rd !!"
"I am so impressed by this new author, I was late getting the first book, so bought the first and second at the same time, then read them both in one night."
"This was pretty dang good!"
"Love reading about Anne and Jinx continued growth and the new characters are a fun read!"
"If someone told you that this Steven rendition is as cool as the grey Etheric nether regions then they are missing da velly goot point!"
"I really liked this second book."
"Could have been 5 stars, but why the SJW BS with a throw away character?"
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Best Military Science Fiction

Blood World (Undying Mercenaries Series Book 8)
A planet on the fringe of known space, where the people only respect masters of combat. Earth’s Legions must impress them, but other alien powers have been invited to join the contest.
Reviews
"This is one good story."
"I liked this one, but it felt unfinished."
"More double and triple crosses, the poor guy dose not get it maybe you will if you read it, I would recommend it."
"I have been hooked on t his series from the beginning."
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and look forward to an audio version in the future."
"Love this series!"
"This sci-fi is a simple read."
"Love this series, love these characters."
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Best Cyberpunk Science Fiction

Ready Player One
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig. Along with millions of other world-wide citizens, Wade dreams of finding three keys left behind by James Halliday, the now-deceased creator of OASIS and the richest man to have ever lived. Stuffed to the gills with action, puzzles, nerdy romance, and 80s nostalgia, this high energy cyber-quest will make geeks everywhere feel like they were separated at birth from author Ernest Cline. And I mean head over heels in love--the way you fall for someone who is smart, feisty, and who can effortlessly finish your favorite movie lines, music lyrics, or literature quotes before they come out of your mouth. Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. Our unlikely hero is an overweight trailer park kid who goes by Wade Watts in real life, and “Parzival” to his best friends and mortal enemies--all of whom he interacts with virtually. Just like the Arthurian knight that is his namesake, young Wade is on a quest for an incredible treasure guarded by mythical creatures. The setup is particularly brilliant, because Ernie Cline seems to have a laser-beam knowledge of (and warm, fuzzy love for) every pop song, arcade game, and giant robot produced in the last thirty years. Seriously, this is a guy who owns and regularly drives a 1982 DeLorean that has been mocked up to look exactly like the time-traveling car in Back to the Future , complete with a glowing flux capacitor. Worse, these corporate baddies are posers with no love for the game – they have movie dialogue piped in via radio earpieces, use bots to cheat at arcade games like JOUST, and don’t hesitate to terrorize or murder people in the real world to achieve their aims inside the OASIS. Our good guy has to leave his X-Wing fighter aboard his private flotilla so that he can pilot an authentic Ultraman recreation. And how do you not grin when someone dons a pair of virtual Chuck Taylor All Stars that bestow the power of flight? Instead, Cline keeps the stakes high throughout, and the epic treasure hunt structure (complete with an evolving high-score list) keeps the action intense. The plot unfolds with constant acceleration, never slowing down or sagging in the middle, to create a thrilling ride with a fulfilling ending. In your debut novel Ready Player One you incorporate literally hundreds of pop culture references, many of them in ways that are integral to the book’s plot. Q) Like the book’s hero, you possess a horrifyingly deep knowledge of a terrifyingly broad swathe of culture, ranging from John Hughes movies to super-obscure Japanese animation to 8-bit videogames to science-fiction and fantasy literature to role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Then as an adult, I worked at a long series of low paying tech support jobs that allowed me to surf the Internet all day, and I spent a lot of my cubicle time looking up obscure pop culture minutiae from my childhood while I waited for people to reboot their PCs. When I get home that night, I accidentally invent a cheap abundant clean energy source that saves human civilization. Cline’s imaginative and rollicking coming-of-age geek saga has a smash-hit vibe.”-- Booklist , starred review. "This adrenaline shot of uncut geekdom, a quest through a virtual world, is loaded with enough 1980s nostalgia to please even the most devoted John Hughes fans… sweet, self-deprecating Wade, whose universe is an odd mix of the real past and the virtual present, is the perfect lovable/unlikely hero.”-- Publishers Weekly. "Fascinating and imaginative…It's non-stop action when gamers must navigate clever puzzles and outwit determined enemies in a virtual world in order to save a real one. " Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. "The pure, unfettered brainscream of a child of the 80s, like a dream my 13-year-old self would have had after bingeing on Pop Rocks and Coke…I couldn’t put it down. Ernest Cline's hero competes in a virtual world with life-and-death stakes -- which is only fitting, because he's fighting to make his dreams into reality.
Reviews
"I read Hunger Games and Divergent and Twilight and the Host and others so I was aware of what teens and young adults were being fed in the book world. The book strives to be creative, but I found it a rehashed and not as clever mix of movies/books we've already seen that combine being in a video game with real danger, and endless references to all-things 1980s: Ender's Game, Wreck-it-Ralph, and Tron (old and new versions). There was really only one aspect of this book that was intellectual or profound was the warning that escapist VR technology and do amazing things, but true happiness can be found only in the real world, interacting with real people. But again, no more so than Ender's Game, which was just as creative and intense and fun without most of the gratuitous profanity and sex talk and anti-religious themes this book wallowed in most of the time."
"Beyond that, there was little depth to the plot besides a simple fetch quest veiled in 80's nostalgia. At some level, it's interesting but I would bet that only real lovers of 80's culture thoroughly enjoy this book and subsequent movie. This book had a real chance to delve into the impact of virtual reality on society and instead we get teen apocalyptic drama mixed with shock value moments (why else have virtual prostitutes, long monologues extolling the virtues of masturbation, and indentured slaves)."
"You see, his novels (I'm talking about Ready Player One, but I understand Armada works along similar lines) talk to 40-year-old nerds who remember being into Galaga and getting atomic wedgies at school. What if being into Galaga and getting atomic wedgies at school made you A WORLD-SAVING HERO?" This book, dear reader, is about a junkie. One day, his dealer dies and leaves his stash and his entire drug empire to whoever is the junkiest junkie to ever junkie, ever. In the end, he gets the entire drug empire and and carloads of sweet drug money, along with an inspiring message from his dealer: "Drugs are bad, mmkay?""
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Best Steampunk Science Fiction

The Amber Project: A Dystopian Sci-fi Novel (The Variant Saga Book 1)
Suddenly, there's reason to hope again, and it rests within a group of genetically engineered children that are both human and Variant. Terry is one of these children, modified and trained to endure the harsh conditions of a planet he cannot begin to understand. The only regret I had in reading this book was when I looked and saw there were only eight pages left...I can't wait to see if there is a follow up to this great start. Amazon Best Seller Lists:#1 in Genetic Engineering #1 in Dystopian #1 in Post-Apocalyptic Everything is a grave - The Amber Project continues to captivate fans of dystopian science fiction,combining hard sci-fi, exploration, and gritty action with a healthy dose ofintrigue. A thrilling blend of action, scifi, and mystery, the Variant Saga is an explosive mix that fans of dystopian and Young Adult will absolutely love.
Reviews
"The characters in this book all develop and have their own journey."
"Civilization is forced underground due to the earth being taken over by toxic gas, but not just any gas, a new type of gas that that is beautiful and deadly."
"This novel is up there with the one of best science fiction book categories as it combines fine story telling, evoking the reader to engage in exploring the fundamental aspects of everything in society – certainly man's destiny in post-apocalyptic earth 200 plus years in the future as well man’s physical relationship with what is left of the earth as we know it."
"I am someone who prefers the world building of a dystopia with the characters more secondary as something to guide the reader through the book."
"However, author JN Chaney has reawakened my interest in this category, and I highly recommend THE AMBER PROJECT to readers looking to try out Dystopian sci fi, and to those looking for a riveting sci fi read."
"The Amber Project: A Dystopian Sci-fi Novel (The Variant Saga Book 1) by JN Chaney is a terrific, fast paced, suspense filled sci-fi/fantasy novel I had to inhale in one sitting."
"Book provided by the author via David Estes R&R Program on Goodreads. I haven't heard much about this book when I first started reading it, but since I really liked the blurb, I wanted to read it. So anyways, these people are modified before they were born and started training to survive Earth, or what used to be Earth, when they were 7."
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Best Dystopian Science Fiction

Ready Player One
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig. Along with millions of other world-wide citizens, Wade dreams of finding three keys left behind by James Halliday, the now-deceased creator of OASIS and the richest man to have ever lived. Stuffed to the gills with action, puzzles, nerdy romance, and 80s nostalgia, this high energy cyber-quest will make geeks everywhere feel like they were separated at birth from author Ernest Cline. And I mean head over heels in love--the way you fall for someone who is smart, feisty, and who can effortlessly finish your favorite movie lines, music lyrics, or literature quotes before they come out of your mouth. Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. Our unlikely hero is an overweight trailer park kid who goes by Wade Watts in real life, and “Parzival” to his best friends and mortal enemies--all of whom he interacts with virtually. Just like the Arthurian knight that is his namesake, young Wade is on a quest for an incredible treasure guarded by mythical creatures. The setup is particularly brilliant, because Ernie Cline seems to have a laser-beam knowledge of (and warm, fuzzy love for) every pop song, arcade game, and giant robot produced in the last thirty years. Seriously, this is a guy who owns and regularly drives a 1982 DeLorean that has been mocked up to look exactly like the time-traveling car in Back to the Future , complete with a glowing flux capacitor. Worse, these corporate baddies are posers with no love for the game – they have movie dialogue piped in via radio earpieces, use bots to cheat at arcade games like JOUST, and don’t hesitate to terrorize or murder people in the real world to achieve their aims inside the OASIS. Our good guy has to leave his X-Wing fighter aboard his private flotilla so that he can pilot an authentic Ultraman recreation. And how do you not grin when someone dons a pair of virtual Chuck Taylor All Stars that bestow the power of flight? Instead, Cline keeps the stakes high throughout, and the epic treasure hunt structure (complete with an evolving high-score list) keeps the action intense. The plot unfolds with constant acceleration, never slowing down or sagging in the middle, to create a thrilling ride with a fulfilling ending. In your debut novel Ready Player One you incorporate literally hundreds of pop culture references, many of them in ways that are integral to the book’s plot. Q) Like the book’s hero, you possess a horrifyingly deep knowledge of a terrifyingly broad swathe of culture, ranging from John Hughes movies to super-obscure Japanese animation to 8-bit videogames to science-fiction and fantasy literature to role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Then as an adult, I worked at a long series of low paying tech support jobs that allowed me to surf the Internet all day, and I spent a lot of my cubicle time looking up obscure pop culture minutiae from my childhood while I waited for people to reboot their PCs. When I get home that night, I accidentally invent a cheap abundant clean energy source that saves human civilization. Cline’s imaginative and rollicking coming-of-age geek saga has a smash-hit vibe.”-- Booklist , starred review. "This adrenaline shot of uncut geekdom, a quest through a virtual world, is loaded with enough 1980s nostalgia to please even the most devoted John Hughes fans… sweet, self-deprecating Wade, whose universe is an odd mix of the real past and the virtual present, is the perfect lovable/unlikely hero.”-- Publishers Weekly. "Fascinating and imaginative…It's non-stop action when gamers must navigate clever puzzles and outwit determined enemies in a virtual world in order to save a real one. " Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. "The pure, unfettered brainscream of a child of the 80s, like a dream my 13-year-old self would have had after bingeing on Pop Rocks and Coke…I couldn’t put it down. Ernest Cline's hero competes in a virtual world with life-and-death stakes -- which is only fitting, because he's fighting to make his dreams into reality.
Reviews
"I decided to read it in preparation for the movie."
"Really enjoyed this book and I knew all of the 80’s references!"
"This book was a fun read."
"Such a fun story that incorporates great 80’s references, fantasy, science-fiction, dystopian futures and romance."
"Cline has imagined an interesting (albeit unfortunate) future world and created a story around several endearing characters."
"Overall, this was an entertaining book, and a good journey back to the heyday of coin operated arcade games of the 80s."
"The first fiction book in awhile that's really gotten me excited to read it."
"The most fun I've had in a long time."
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Best Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction

Year One: Chronicles of the One, Book 1
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. A stunning new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts— Year One is an epic of hope and horror, chaos and magick, and a journey that will unite a desperate group of people to fight the battle of their lives… It began on New Year’s Eve. As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. ” -- New York Times Book Review. NORA ROBERTS is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including The Obsession, The Liar, The Collector, Whiskey Beach, and many more.
Reviews
"Intense story with a very probable future earth."
"Once again Nora Roberts gives us characters that you can love and cheer for as well as ones to cheer against."
"Started a little slower for me than some it about 1\4 of the way through pulled me right in."
"Not what I expected as the story played out."
"I don't usually read Nora Roberts, but the theme of this book intrigued me."
"I've always loved Nora but this book was different, had an different feel, and I loved it!"
"I read when I am walking on the treadmill and 90 minutes passed before I knew it."
"Several years ago I stopped reading fantasy novels."
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Best Classic Science Fiction eBooks

Animal Farm and 1984
Animal Farm is Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution -- an account of the bold struggle, initiated by the animals, that transforms Mr. Jones's Manor Farm into Animal Farm--a wholly democratic society built on the credo that All Animals Are Created Equal. 'I continue to find the Readers' Guides indispensable for teaching - they really give students a sense of criticsm having a history' - Professor Rachel Bowlby, University of York 'The series looks really excellent - attractively produced, user friendly; and outstanding value for money' - Ronald Knowles, Reader, University of Reading I continue to find the Readers' Guides indispensable for teaching - they really give students a sense of criticsm having a history' - Professor Rachel Bowlby, University of York. 'The series looks really excellent - attractively produced, user friendly; and outstanding value for money' - Ronald Knowles, Reader, University of Reading.
Reviews
"The pigs rewrite history and convince the others that things happened differently to how they remember, and rewrite their '7 Commandments' subtly in their favour and so on. There is plenty of depth if you want to go into the details of the allegory if you are interested, but the main point is pretty obvious really."
"An excellent read which will eternally be applicable to every generation."
"I kept hoping and hoping that the animals would rise up in a second rebellion, or that Snowball would return with some kind of relief force, when I knew very well that this book is based on Russian history and no such thing happened."
"As with any book review, I do not want to spill the plot, but suffice it to say that the (potential future) world Orwell paints in vivid detail is not always a pretty one. At less than 10 bucks for the Kindle edition this set is a true Amazon bargain!"
"My son and I both enjoyed reading this classic George Orwell novel, there are a lot of discussion points to be had at the end of each chapter, and it's a relatively short read - much like this review."
"I loved this, it is one of my all time favorites, and this was a refresher read for next months discussion at the book club I belong to."
"Small print and smaller book than expected."
"Don't waist your time with this printing of such a classic, great the book."
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Best Metaphysical Science Fiction eBooks

The Atlantis World (The Origin Mystery, Book 3)
The Atlantis World is the final book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has become a global phenomenon. A GLOBAL CATACLYSM BEYOND IMAGINATION... A MYSTERIOUS SIGNAL FROM SPACE... AND ONE LAST HOPE TO SAVE THE HUMAN RACE: As the catastrophe circles the globe, Ares reveals the true nature of the threat to humanity, and Dorian agrees to one last mission: find and kill David Vale and Kate Warner. With Dorian in pursuit, Kate, David, and their team race through the ruins of the Atlantean ship left on Earth, across Atlantean science stations throughout the galaxy, and into the past of a mysterious culture whose secrets could save humanity in its darkest hour. ABOUT The Atlantis World is the final book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has become a global blockbuster bestseller. A.G. Riddle spent ten years starting internet companies before retiring to pursue his true passion: writing fiction. His debut novel, The Atlantis Gene , is the first book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has sold over two million copies in the US, has been translated into 18 languages, and is in development to be a major motion picture. His recently released fourth novel, Departure , follows the survivors of a flight that takes off in the present and crash-lands in a changed world.
Reviews
"I will say that the ending is far more predictable than the first book in that the analyst in the safe room, his departure was a surprise and the 3rd book was a safe "happy" ending of sorts."
"I have been busy building houses but am winding down and plan on doing more reading in my retirement and you are in the top three of my list."
"I understand wanting to connect some dots for readers who joined at the end rather than the beginning, but it inhibited my enjoyment of the book to have to quickly scan and skip 3 or 4 pages at a time to get past the summaries."
"The Atlantis World (The Origin Mystery, #3) by A.G. Riddle. A good finish to the trilogy!"
"I agree with the author, that the third book in the trilogy was a departure from the first and second--and I loved it."
"This last book at times was hard to follow all that was happening and why, but in the end it all became clear."
"The 'good' guys win and the 'bad' guys lose but billions of other people lose too."
"My only complaint about The Atlantis World is that it felt as though it was thrown together at the last minute, whereas the previous two were well thought out and the pace was fast, but it made sense and you were able to follow along easily."
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Best Alien Invasion Science Fiction eBooks

Blood World (Undying Mercenaries Series Book 8)
A planet on the fringe of known space, where the people only respect masters of combat. Earth’s Legions must impress them, but other alien powers have been invited to join the contest.
Reviews
"Does not take itself seriously like others and one of the funnier books I've read in a while."
"Absolutely love this whole series, great story with believable action and twists."
"Great series and enjoy each story more and more."
"I like Larson but this series of books has become cookie cutter."
"Good read I enjoy these book's ."
"I love,this whole series."
"I really can't get enough of Mr. Larson's books."
"Fun read."
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Best First Contact Science Fiction eBooks

The Atlantis World (The Origin Mystery, Book 3)
The Atlantis World is the final book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has become a global phenomenon. A GLOBAL CATACLYSM BEYOND IMAGINATION... A MYSTERIOUS SIGNAL FROM SPACE... AND ONE LAST HOPE TO SAVE THE HUMAN RACE: As the catastrophe circles the globe, Ares reveals the true nature of the threat to humanity, and Dorian agrees to one last mission: find and kill David Vale and Kate Warner. With Dorian in pursuit, Kate, David, and their team race through the ruins of the Atlantean ship left on Earth, across Atlantean science stations throughout the galaxy, and into the past of a mysterious culture whose secrets could save humanity in its darkest hour. ABOUT The Atlantis World is the final book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has become a global blockbuster bestseller. A.G. Riddle spent ten years starting internet companies before retiring to pursue his true passion: writing fiction. His debut novel, The Atlantis Gene , is the first book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has sold over two million copies in the US, has been translated into 18 languages, and is in development to be a major motion picture. His recently released fourth novel, Departure , follows the survivors of a flight that takes off in the present and crash-lands in a changed world.
Reviews
"Book one and book two can be amazing, but if book three doesn't stand on its own, then it can sour the whole thing."
"I will say that the ending is far more predictable than the first book in that the analyst in the safe room, his departure was a surprise and the 3rd book was a safe "happy" ending of sorts."
"When I read the excerpt from the first book I knew I had to read it. The 3rd book in the trilogy really pulls the 1st and 2nd together giving all the history and background of what you read in the first 2 books."
"I have been busy building houses but am winding down and plan on doing more reading in my retirement and you are in the top three of my list."
"In the final book of Riddle's Atlantis series Kate and David race against time to uncover Ares's plan for humanity while being pursued by Dorian who is under Ares's orders to stop them at all costs. The final book in the Atlantis series tied up all the loose ends from the previous books and had a magnificent ending."
"I understand wanting to connect some dots for readers who joined at the end rather than the beginning, but it inhibited my enjoyment of the book to have to quickly scan and skip 3 or 4 pages at a time to get past the summaries."
"The Atlantis World (The Origin Mystery, #3) by A.G. Riddle. A good finish to the trilogy!"
"I agree with the author, that the third book in the trilogy was a departure from the first and second--and I loved it."
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Best Colonization Science Fiction eBooks

Artemis: A Novel
And it calls for a particular combination of cunning, technical skills, and large explosions—not to mention sheer brazen swagger. Trapped between competing forces, pursued by a killer and the law alike, even Jazz has to admit she’s in way over her head. Propelled by its heroine’s wisecracking voice, set in a city that’s at once stunningly imagined and intimately familiar, and brimming over with clever problem-solving and heist-y fun, Artemis is another irresistible brew of science, suspense, and humor from #1 bestselling author Andy Weir. Praise for Artemis: “An action-packed techno-thriller of the first order…the perfect vehicle for humans who want to escape, if only for a time, the severe gravity of planet earth. The pages fly by.” — USA Today “Revitalizes the Lunar-colony scenario, with the author’s characteristic blend of engineering know-how and survival suspense...Jazz is a great heroine, tough with a soft core, crooked with inner honesty.” — Wall Street Journal “Smart and sharp…Weir has done it again [with] a sci-fi crowd pleaser made for the big screen.” —Salon.com. “Makes cutting-edge science sexy and relevant…Weir has created a realistic and fascinating future society, and every detail feels authentic and scientifically sound.” -- Associated Press “Out-of-this-world storytelling.”— Houston Chronicle “Weir has done the impossible—he’s topped The Martian with a sci-fi-noir-thriller set in a city on the moon. Go read it!”– Blake Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter “ Everything you could hope for in a follow-up to The Martian : another smart, fun, fast-paced adventure that you won’t be able to put down.” – Ernest Cline, New York Times bestselling author of Ready Player One “A superior near-future thriller…with a healthy dose of humor.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “An exciting, whip-smart, funny thrill-ride…one of the best science fiction novels of the year.” — Booklist (starred review) “Narrated by a kick-ass leading lady, this thriller has it all – a smart plot, laugh-out-loud funny moments, and really cool science.” — Library Journal (starred review)Praise for The Martian : And it calls for a particular combination of cunning, technical skills, and large explosions—not to mention sheer brazen swagger. Propelled by its heroine’s wisecracking voice, set in a city that’s at once stunningly imagined and intimately familiar, and brimming over with clever problem-solving and heist-y fun, Artemis is another irresistible brew of science, suspense, and humor from #1 bestselling author Andy Weir.
Reviews
"Tourists flock there for the chance to spend their life's savings on a guided tour of the lunar surface-- which involves wondering about in a high tech hamster ball-- and sampling the local delicacy known as Gunk, a flavored algae no one voluntarily eats a second time. At 26, she finds herself the lunar equivalent of an errand girl, living in an apartment the literal size of a coffin, and smuggling contraband from earth just to make ends meet. Any expectations I had for this book were purely speculative, because, unlike most of the rest of the world, I have not read The Martian or seen the movie. That said, I was surprised 1/3 of the way through to realize I was reading a lightweight heist novel with some heavy handed commentary on wealth inequality. She's as obsessed with her sex life as everyone else in Artemis seems to be, and I have to wonder if author Andy Weir has ever met a woman before. Between chapters, we get letters between Jazz and her earth penpal that date back to when they are children, but this has little relevance to the story at large and often feels like filler."
"Travel between the moon and earth is consistent, and the moon has become a vacation hot spot for people of all types, though the only ones that afford to live there year-round (other than those who work there) are filthy rich. Then he names his price, and she runs with it - she has a specific goal she's saving for, and this will clear it and then some. But that's when things get crazy, and the book takes off like a rocket (put totally intended). Having said that - the book is a fun ride from beginning to end, even *with* those puzzle pieces missing."
"Artemis. First Thoughts: Andy Weir, fresh off his big win of a novel, The Martian, tells a what-if story – what if we landed on the moon and created a city of giant bubbles, each named after pioneer astronauts. The story is dragging and does gets bloated with science terminology and what happens in certan chemical reactions, etc., that would interest a physics major more than the average young adult novel reader. Final Thoughts: Besides all that, the story really picks up and is a page turner when Jazz makes the biggest heist of her life and nearly dies trying to save Artemis and finds the Moon is not such a harsh mistress."
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Best Space Exploration Science Fiction eBooks

Blood World (Undying Mercenaries Series Book 8)
A planet on the fringe of known space, where the people only respect masters of combat. Earth’s Legions must impress them, but other alien powers have been invited to join the contest.
Reviews
"This is one good story."
"I liked this one, but it felt unfinished."
"More double and triple crosses, the poor guy dose not get it maybe you will if you read it, I would recommend it."
"I have been hooked on t his series from the beginning."
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and look forward to an audio version in the future."
"Love this series!"
"This sci-fi is a simple read."
"Love this series, love these characters."
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Best Galactic Empire Science Fiction eBooks

The Atlantis World (The Origin Mystery, Book 3)
The Atlantis World is the final book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has become a global phenomenon. A GLOBAL CATACLYSM BEYOND IMAGINATION... A MYSTERIOUS SIGNAL FROM SPACE... AND ONE LAST HOPE TO SAVE THE HUMAN RACE: As the catastrophe circles the globe, Ares reveals the true nature of the threat to humanity, and Dorian agrees to one last mission: find and kill David Vale and Kate Warner. With Dorian in pursuit, Kate, David, and their team race through the ruins of the Atlantean ship left on Earth, across Atlantean science stations throughout the galaxy, and into the past of a mysterious culture whose secrets could save humanity in its darkest hour. ABOUT The Atlantis World is the final book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has become a global blockbuster bestseller. A.G. Riddle spent ten years starting internet companies before retiring to pursue his true passion: writing fiction. His debut novel, The Atlantis Gene , is the first book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has sold over two million copies in the US, has been translated into 18 languages, and is in development to be a major motion picture. His recently released fourth novel, Departure , follows the survivors of a flight that takes off in the present and crash-lands in a changed world.
Reviews
"I will say that the ending is far more predictable than the first book in that the analyst in the safe room, his departure was a surprise and the 3rd book was a safe "happy" ending of sorts."
"I have been busy building houses but am winding down and plan on doing more reading in my retirement and you are in the top three of my list."
"I understand wanting to connect some dots for readers who joined at the end rather than the beginning, but it inhibited my enjoyment of the book to have to quickly scan and skip 3 or 4 pages at a time to get past the summaries."
"The Atlantis World (The Origin Mystery, #3) by A.G. Riddle. A good finish to the trilogy!"
"I agree with the author, that the third book in the trilogy was a departure from the first and second--and I loved it."
"This last book at times was hard to follow all that was happening and why, but in the end it all became clear."
"The 'good' guys win and the 'bad' guys lose but billions of other people lose too."
"My only complaint about The Atlantis World is that it felt as though it was thrown together at the last minute, whereas the previous two were well thought out and the pace was fast, but it made sense and you were able to follow along easily."
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Best Science Fiction Anthologies

Ready Player One
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig. Along with millions of other world-wide citizens, Wade dreams of finding three keys left behind by James Halliday, the now-deceased creator of OASIS and the richest man to have ever lived. Stuffed to the gills with action, puzzles, nerdy romance, and 80s nostalgia, this high energy cyber-quest will make geeks everywhere feel like they were separated at birth from author Ernest Cline. And I mean head over heels in love--the way you fall for someone who is smart, feisty, and who can effortlessly finish your favorite movie lines, music lyrics, or literature quotes before they come out of your mouth. Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. Our unlikely hero is an overweight trailer park kid who goes by Wade Watts in real life, and “Parzival” to his best friends and mortal enemies--all of whom he interacts with virtually. Just like the Arthurian knight that is his namesake, young Wade is on a quest for an incredible treasure guarded by mythical creatures. The setup is particularly brilliant, because Ernie Cline seems to have a laser-beam knowledge of (and warm, fuzzy love for) every pop song, arcade game, and giant robot produced in the last thirty years. Seriously, this is a guy who owns and regularly drives a 1982 DeLorean that has been mocked up to look exactly like the time-traveling car in Back to the Future , complete with a glowing flux capacitor. Worse, these corporate baddies are posers with no love for the game – they have movie dialogue piped in via radio earpieces, use bots to cheat at arcade games like JOUST, and don’t hesitate to terrorize or murder people in the real world to achieve their aims inside the OASIS. Our good guy has to leave his X-Wing fighter aboard his private flotilla so that he can pilot an authentic Ultraman recreation. And how do you not grin when someone dons a pair of virtual Chuck Taylor All Stars that bestow the power of flight? Instead, Cline keeps the stakes high throughout, and the epic treasure hunt structure (complete with an evolving high-score list) keeps the action intense. The plot unfolds with constant acceleration, never slowing down or sagging in the middle, to create a thrilling ride with a fulfilling ending. In your debut novel Ready Player One you incorporate literally hundreds of pop culture references, many of them in ways that are integral to the book’s plot. Q) Like the book’s hero, you possess a horrifyingly deep knowledge of a terrifyingly broad swathe of culture, ranging from John Hughes movies to super-obscure Japanese animation to 8-bit videogames to science-fiction and fantasy literature to role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Then as an adult, I worked at a long series of low paying tech support jobs that allowed me to surf the Internet all day, and I spent a lot of my cubicle time looking up obscure pop culture minutiae from my childhood while I waited for people to reboot their PCs. When I get home that night, I accidentally invent a cheap abundant clean energy source that saves human civilization. Cline’s imaginative and rollicking coming-of-age geek saga has a smash-hit vibe.”-- Booklist , starred review. "This adrenaline shot of uncut geekdom, a quest through a virtual world, is loaded with enough 1980s nostalgia to please even the most devoted John Hughes fans… sweet, self-deprecating Wade, whose universe is an odd mix of the real past and the virtual present, is the perfect lovable/unlikely hero.”-- Publishers Weekly. "Fascinating and imaginative…It's non-stop action when gamers must navigate clever puzzles and outwit determined enemies in a virtual world in order to save a real one. " Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. "The pure, unfettered brainscream of a child of the 80s, like a dream my 13-year-old self would have had after bingeing on Pop Rocks and Coke…I couldn’t put it down. Ernest Cline's hero competes in a virtual world with life-and-death stakes -- which is only fitting, because he's fighting to make his dreams into reality.
Reviews
"I'm rating this book 5 stars for the following reasons: + Can you say total geek-out book! + It has humor, suspense, romance, action. + This is such an enjoyable read, I can't wait for the movie to come out. + The characters are so relateable. + I was just drawn into this amazing world. + The price point is spot on for a book. Cline didn't disappoint in his book Ready Player One. It is solid quality and delivers as advertised, I would purchase it again and recommend it to a friend. 5 STAR - I love it."
"In between reading sessions, I found myself thinking about how much things would have changed in the few short years since the book was written (use of flash drives, for example)."
"The ONLY thing I didn't dig was the same old same old "we wrecked the planet and wasted all our resources bit"... That backdrop is SO overdone, and not remotely believable in our foreseeable future...."
"I decided to read it in preparation for the movie."
"Really enjoyed this book and I knew all of the 80’s references!"
"Such a fun story that incorporates great 80’s references, fantasy, science-fiction, dystopian futures and romance."
"Cline has imagined an interesting (albeit unfortunate) future world and created a story around several endearing characters."
"Overall, this was an entertaining book, and a good journey back to the heyday of coin operated arcade games of the 80s."
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Best Science Fiction TV, Movie & Game Tie-In

Ready Player One
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig. Along with millions of other world-wide citizens, Wade dreams of finding three keys left behind by James Halliday, the now-deceased creator of OASIS and the richest man to have ever lived. Stuffed to the gills with action, puzzles, nerdy romance, and 80s nostalgia, this high energy cyber-quest will make geeks everywhere feel like they were separated at birth from author Ernest Cline. And I mean head over heels in love--the way you fall for someone who is smart, feisty, and who can effortlessly finish your favorite movie lines, music lyrics, or literature quotes before they come out of your mouth. Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. Our unlikely hero is an overweight trailer park kid who goes by Wade Watts in real life, and “Parzival” to his best friends and mortal enemies--all of whom he interacts with virtually. Just like the Arthurian knight that is his namesake, young Wade is on a quest for an incredible treasure guarded by mythical creatures. The setup is particularly brilliant, because Ernie Cline seems to have a laser-beam knowledge of (and warm, fuzzy love for) every pop song, arcade game, and giant robot produced in the last thirty years. Seriously, this is a guy who owns and regularly drives a 1982 DeLorean that has been mocked up to look exactly like the time-traveling car in Back to the Future , complete with a glowing flux capacitor. Worse, these corporate baddies are posers with no love for the game – they have movie dialogue piped in via radio earpieces, use bots to cheat at arcade games like JOUST, and don’t hesitate to terrorize or murder people in the real world to achieve their aims inside the OASIS. Our good guy has to leave his X-Wing fighter aboard his private flotilla so that he can pilot an authentic Ultraman recreation. And how do you not grin when someone dons a pair of virtual Chuck Taylor All Stars that bestow the power of flight? Instead, Cline keeps the stakes high throughout, and the epic treasure hunt structure (complete with an evolving high-score list) keeps the action intense. The plot unfolds with constant acceleration, never slowing down or sagging in the middle, to create a thrilling ride with a fulfilling ending. In your debut novel Ready Player One you incorporate literally hundreds of pop culture references, many of them in ways that are integral to the book’s plot. Q) Like the book’s hero, you possess a horrifyingly deep knowledge of a terrifyingly broad swathe of culture, ranging from John Hughes movies to super-obscure Japanese animation to 8-bit videogames to science-fiction and fantasy literature to role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Then as an adult, I worked at a long series of low paying tech support jobs that allowed me to surf the Internet all day, and I spent a lot of my cubicle time looking up obscure pop culture minutiae from my childhood while I waited for people to reboot their PCs. When I get home that night, I accidentally invent a cheap abundant clean energy source that saves human civilization. Cline’s imaginative and rollicking coming-of-age geek saga has a smash-hit vibe.”-- Booklist , starred review. "This adrenaline shot of uncut geekdom, a quest through a virtual world, is loaded with enough 1980s nostalgia to please even the most devoted John Hughes fans… sweet, self-deprecating Wade, whose universe is an odd mix of the real past and the virtual present, is the perfect lovable/unlikely hero.”-- Publishers Weekly. "Fascinating and imaginative…It's non-stop action when gamers must navigate clever puzzles and outwit determined enemies in a virtual world in order to save a real one. " Ready Player One expertly mines a copious vein of 1980s pop culture, catapulting the reader on a light-speed adventure in an advanced but backward-looking future. "The pure, unfettered brainscream of a child of the 80s, like a dream my 13-year-old self would have had after bingeing on Pop Rocks and Coke…I couldn’t put it down. Ernest Cline's hero competes in a virtual world with life-and-death stakes -- which is only fitting, because he's fighting to make his dreams into reality.
Reviews
"Really enjoyed this book and I knew all of the 80’s references!"
"As we become more and more obsessed with our devices and less involved in our physical surroundings we could reach a future that is outlined in this book."
"A little too much with old video games and movies."
"Such a fun story that incorporates great 80’s references, fantasy, science-fiction, dystopian futures and romance."
"Cline has imagined an interesting (albeit unfortunate) future world and created a story around several endearing characters."
"Overall, this was an entertaining book, and a good journey back to the heyday of coin operated arcade games of the 80s."
"This book covers the feeling of being hopeful for a future, Dark in the sense of how the future is, Nostalgic with all the references to old consoles and movies, the book can be lighthearted at times, and the book makes you think about are culture and what it could become."
"Im an avid reader and it caught my attention and held it because its a different subject matter then the usual fodder."
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Best Genetic Engineering Science Fiction eBooks

The Atlantis Gene: A Thriller (The Origin Mystery, Book 1)
The Atlantis Gene is the first book in The Origin Mystery , the global bestselling trilogy that is now in development to be a major motion picture. From the Hardcover Edition Off the coast of Antarctica, a research vessel discovers a mysterious structure buried deep inside an iceberg. THE ATLANTIS GENE is a thought-provoking technothriller about global genetic experiments, ancient conspiracies, and the mysteries of human evolution. This fast-paced adventure is the first book in The Origin Mystery Series (now in development at CBS Films to be a major motion picture). "Riddle ( The Origin Mystery trilogy) makes an effort to keep the focus on how his characters react to each other (including to their future selves) rather than to the technological marvels that reshaped their world."
Reviews
"It's a Science Fiction thriller that combines elements of the lost city of Atlantis, human evolution, Nazis, conspiracy, alien technology, and end of the world scenarios. The very basic premise (without spoiling anything) is that the human race was on the brink of extinction at one point in the past and somehow, for some unexplained reason, humans made a giant leap forward in the evolutionary ladder that allowed them to not only survive, but to take control of planet Earth. Shortly thereafter, agent David Vale shows up on the scene and he and Kate are sucked into a worldwide race against time to save not only themselves and the children, but quite possibly the whole world. As a matter of fact, I was a bit disappointed at how similar certain aspects of the plot were to Jeremy Robinson's "Second World" and James Rollins' "Black Order". After spending much of the first half of the book at a jog, Riddle flips the switch towards the end and the pacing becomes very quick, and the action and story become intense."
"This book definitely had me hitting the "buy next book" immediately."
"I think I've managed this without spoilers so here we go: Staccato writing style rapidly switching between real time scenarios and the late in novel plot twists regarding the principal and second person characters was a little hard for this old man to follow but it was worth it."
"By the time I had read half of the novel, there were so many unfinished ideas that I was exhausted."
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