It’s July already??? How is that possible? Let’s make the most of it with some hot new scifi and science titles guaranteed to add some zing to your vacation days.
Intersection: Joe Ballen book 4 by David M. Kelly
The fourth and final installment in my Joe Ballen series – an action-packed sci-fi noir thriller with plenty of cynical humor! When Joe uncovers a secret message from an unusual source, he must undertake a deep space journey filled with deceit and danger. But with a potential war looming, can he survive long enough to find the answers?
It’s Elemental: The Hidden Chemistry in Everything by Kate Biberdorf
Chemistry made fun and accessible by scientist and chemistry professor Biberdorf. Plenty of examples demonstrating chemistry in everyday life as well as a solid introduction to the fundamentals. A great read for students but also anyone who found the topic too intimidating in high school.
We Have Always Been Here by Lena Nguyen
A psychologist is trapped on a ship with mysterious androids and a human crew falling victim to madness as they journey to an unknown planet. All the ingredients for an absorbing sci-thriller from this debut author, and surely movie potential too.
Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space by Bruce McCandless III
With NASA for almost 25 years. McCandless was capsule communicator for the Apollo 11 moon landings and involved with the Hubble Telescope as well as undertaking the famous first untethered spacewalk during the Challenger missions. This biography, written by his son, should be an absorbing read.
Prime Directive by Davis Bunn
Space adventure with a military flavor from multi-genre author Bunn. Three soldiers from a galactic space organization are charged with discovering why scientists on a far-flung outpost are being murdered. Can they find the answers they need within their 10-day deadline?
Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings by Earl Swift
My second space choice for this month focuses on the last three Apollo landings and the lunar rover, the tracks of which are still etched into the lunar landscape today. While the book gets pretty technical with lots of engineering details (A certain Joe Ballen would no doubt enjoy it!), it’s a good choice for anyone wanting to learn more about this often-neglected era of space research.
The Fallen by Ada Hoffman
With the sequel to 2019’s The Outside, this Canadian author again delivers an epic space opera with great characterisation (bringing back many of the characters from the first book) and worldbuilding and incorporating themes of injustice and disability rights.
Blue: In Search of Nature’s Rarest Color by Kai Kupferschmidt
The appearance of blue is all around us in our seas and sky, yet surprisingly, real blue is elusive in nature. Science journalist Kupferschmidt takes the reader on a journey through the science and history of color along with some stunning photographic examples. This is a translation of the original German version published in 2019.
The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Six
Prefer to dip into some short fiction rather than a novel right now? This anthology, edited by Neil Clarke of Clarkesworld Magazine and featuring stories by Yoon Ha Lee and Alastair Reynolds to name just two, might be just what you’re looking for. Note: this is for Kindle only. Print edition to follow in September.
What are your reading plans for this summer? Might a Joe Ballen book make it to your reading list? Let me know in the comments!
Need to catch up?
New reads for June
New reads for May
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