Are you done with winter? You and me both. Let’s discover some fresh, new reads for spring, featuring a few heavy hitters along with some lesser-known names, and a double dose of dinosaurs!
The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires That Run the World by Oliver Milman
Insects tend to be pretty low on our list of priorities, but we need to pay attention. As Milman explains, they are a vital part of our ecosystem and food chain, yet many species are under threat like never before. An important read and a timely call to action, especially in light of the latest IPCC report on climate change.
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
A parallel universe with dinosaurs? Count me in! A fun, escapist story set firmly in our current day with plenty of pop culture references and Scalzi’s brand of snarky humor. Sure to please existing Scalzi fans who enjoyed Redshirts and will draw in new scifi readers too. If this is your thing, you might also want to check out my short story A Place In The Sun!
Owning the Sun: A People’s History of Monopoly Medicine from Aspirin to Covid-19 Vaccines by Alexander Zaitchik
Welcome to the murky world of big pharma. Exactly how does government-funded research end up being owned by huge pharmaceutical companies frequently charging outrageously high prices for drugs? Zaitchik investigates in this eye-opening historical analysis.
Arkhangelsk by Elizabeth H. Bonesteel
Settlers of an ice-bound planet think they’re the last of humanity. Hundreds of years later, they encounter a starship from Earth. A character-driven clash of cultures with mystery, romance, and great world-building. Definitely a new author to discover.
Ancient DNA: The Making of a Celebrity Science by Elizabeth D Jones
Ancient DNA research is a scientific field that’s only been around a few decades. It’s a fascinating topic, especially its close connection with the idea of resurrecting dead species. Jones argues that its development owes a lot to the influence of the media and popular culture, notably Jurassic Park, hence “celebrity” science.
Memory’s Legion by James S.A. Corey
Fans of The Expanse rejoice! For the first time, almost all of the spin-off novellas published during the last ten years have been packaged into one handy collection. Wondering what order to read them in? Here’s a chronological guide.
Beer: A Global Journey Through the Past and Present by John W. Arthur
And now for a subject close to my heart 🙂 This wonderful concoction was invented 13 thousand years ago, and archaeologist Arthur gives us an enlightening history of the science, technology, and unexpected ways in which beer has impacted our society. Cheers!
Beat the Devils by Josh Weiss
An LAPD detective and Holocaust survivor investigates the double murder of a veteran film director and a young journalist in this alternate-history thriller with a noir feel. Although set in the ’50s, expect plenty of parallels to our modern-day paranoia and unrest.
That’s it for the March roundup. Do you plan to read any of these? Let me know in the comments!
Need to catch up?
New reads for February
New reads for January
