For Fans of Heinlein
My spouse has a stack of paperbacks written by Robert Heinlein that are lovingly battered. These were favorites when he was younger and remain the books he returns to over and over. A long time ago he asked me to write a blog post about books that Heinlein fans would enjoy. It’s taken me awhile to get to it because these aren’t books I tend to gravitate toward. But I found a handful that I think are great and I hope will be appreciated by fellow Heinlein fans. I really enjoyed delving deeply into recent sci-fi and plan to continue my search for other great reads.
Lock In by John Scalzi (2014)
A pandemic has changed the world. Many died from the illness, and others survived only to be “locked in” their bodies, alive and thinking but unable to move or communicate. The government provided funding to create technology to make the world accessible to these victims. That funding is about to end. And then the murders begin. A riveting read.
Martians Abroad by Carrie Vaughn (2017)
Two siblings born and raised on Mars attend boarding school on Earth. Vaughn does a great job with the details of what it would be like to adjust to Earth’s gravity and the shock of being outside without a protective mask and space suit. At the school, every lesson turns into a test as the siblings try to compete with Earth’s elite.
The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes (2021)
Cavalon is a member of the royal family who has been sent to the Divide (the edge of the known universe) after rebelling against his grandfather. Adequin heads up the Argus, a ship posted at the edge. The ship’s purpose is to prevent another crossing of the long-defeated enemy. Life on the border is also isolated and challenging, but when the border starts moving, things get really complicated. Some passages of Dewes novel felt like a Star Trek: Next Generation time loop episode — in a great way.
Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas (2024)
A ragtag crew attempts to take down a corrupt system without killing themselves. AI Eoan is the captain of the Ambit, which has a crew of two others: Saint and Nash. They take on a semi-stowaway named Jal, who has a past with Saint. When they discover that terraforming planets are being destroyed on purpose, they hope that genius coder Anke will help them defeat the bad guys. A good adventure with interesting characters.
Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis (2024)
This compelling read is set on an interstellar hotel and is told from multiple perspectives of the staff and guests. When the empire suspects that a powerful rebel is hiding on the ship, everyone becomes a suspect. The question becomes which side the crew is on. The characters are lovingly created and make for an enjoyable escape.