We’ve made it to July in this strangest of summers, but thankfully, reading is something we can still enjoy safely. So I’m back with some sizzling summer reads to keep you company in the shade. Let’s grab a cold beverage and take a look at this month’s new science fiction and science releases. Spoiler alert: plenty of really fun sci-fi and lots of Mars!
Hard Wired by Len Vlahos
A near-future tale of a teenager who discovers he’s the world’s first fully-aware AI. This sounds like a thought-provoking read, exploring humanity, freedom, and the ethical issues that will become ever more thorny as we increasingly chase AI development.
The Sirens of Mars by Sarah Stewart Johnson
There’s intense interest in Mars right now, and this is the first of three Mars-related titles this month. A mix of science, memoir, and philosophy, this history of Mars exploration is entwined with the author’s own story of her work as a planetary scientist.
Chaos Vector by Megan E. O’Keefe
The sequel to the very popular Velocity Weapon. This is fast-paced, very readable space opera with great writing and character development. Make room for this on your TBR list!
Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars: Space, Exploration, and Life on Earth by Kate Greene
What would it be like to live on Mars? Scientific and personal reflections as Kate Greene looks back on her four months in a simulated Mars environment (a geodesic dome) where she carried out sleep studies on her crew mates.
Automatic Reload by Ferrett Steinmetz
It’s a dystopian, cyberpunk, rom-com! A cyborg mercenary with machine guns for arms and PTSD falls for a bio-engineered killer with a panic disorder. This sounds bizarre but very entertaining.
The Big Book of Mars by Marc Hartzman
And last up in our Mars trilogy, a pop history look at our long obsession with the red planet, from 19th century scientific theories through to The Martian and SpaceX’s ambitious plans. A fun read to dip in and out of and a nice gift idea for space fans.
Red Dust by Yoss, translated by David Fryre
Cuban noir space opera with a positronic robot detective? I’m in! This has received a few mixed reviews, but anything that’s billed as a homage to Raymond Chandler is definitely my kind of sci-fi!
The Stark Divide: Liminal Sky: the Adriane Cycle Book 1 by J. Scott Coatsworth
Adriane is one of three living generation ships, a living world that represents the last hope for the scientists and explorers fleeing a dying Earth. A fascinating premise for what promises to be an epic adventure sci-fi series by this talented and prolific author.
That’s it for now, so keep calm, cool, and carry on reading! Do any of these grab your interest? Let me know in the comments.
Need to catch up?
June reads
May reads
