New sci-fi and science reads for April 2022

Resilient by Allen Stroud
A terrorist attack plunges the solar system into war in this fast-paced space opera set in the 22nd century. The narrative is told through four different points of view, allowing for plenty of compelling character development alongside Stroud’s elaborate world building. The second book in the Fractal series, after the well-reviewed Fearless, this is a sure bet for hard sci-fi fans.

The Joy of Science by Jim Al-Khalili
We could all use a little more science in our lives, couldn’t we? Al-Khalili, a British theoretical physicist and well-known science communicator, presents eight lessons on how we can apply the scientific method to ordinary life. Here’s to objectivity, critical thinking, and better decision making!

Braking Day by Adam Oyebanji
I’m partial to books featuring engineers :-), so this one immediately caught my interest. An engineer-in-training must choose between duty and uncovering the truth when he has visions of a woman floating in space with no helmet. This sci-fi mystery, set on board a generation ship headed for a distant planet, is sure to have wide appeal.

The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid Extinction and the Beginning of Our World by Riley Black
Paleontology expert Riley takes us on a time-traveling journey, in part from the point of view of the dinosaurs themselves and the species that survived, beginning one week before the fateful asteroid impact and stopping off at various time intervals up until our present day. A unique, almost novelistic take on a familiar topic.

Poster Child by Christina McMullen
If you’re in the mood for some sci-fi that’s a little more lighthearted (and I think we could all use that about now), it’s time to dive into the Maxima City Talent series. Full of quirky superheroes, dastardly villains (such as “Hostile Takeover” 🙂 ), plenty of action, and a whole lot of snarky fun – take note, Marvel. It’s great to see this author back!

The Price of Immortality: The Race to Live Forever by Peter Ward
It’s a topic that has featured in many sci-fi- titles–Heinlein’s Time Enough For Love or The Long Habit of Living by Joe Haldeman come to mind. Ward takes a comprehensive and entertaining look at the frenetic pace of research in this area–the science and the scams–as well as the far-reaching implications if immortality one day becomes reality.

CassaDark by Alex J. Cavanaugh
Space adventure with a military vibe in the fourth installment of the Cassa series. A reluctant hero, already a legend, must conquer his self-doubt when he’s called upon to undertake a humanitarian mission to a prison planet. Plenty of action, humor, and great world building. Definitely a series to discover.