10 Sci-fi/Dystopian Rereads
One thing making this blog post has taught me is that I am a big Sci-fi/Dystopian fan. I’m not sure if they should go in the same section, but not sure where else to put these. I tried to do top ten for fantasy and only got to seven. Top ten for this genre was easy. Maybe we’ll learn why as we go through the list.
1. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
I mean, who doesn’t enjoy the Hunger Games if you like this genre. But to me, it isn’t the story that make The Hunger Games Series a great reread. It’s the tone. I love the style and tone of the books. And it’s something I find myself sucked into in other books as well. So I love this series more for the tone than the story. Though it’ a great story. Even if I think the ending needed a little work.
2. Michael Vey Series by Richard Paul Evens
A little known best-seller of the Michael Vey series, it’s a fun read. And a surprise for anyone who knows the author well. Evens normally writes romance worthy of the Hallmark Channel. And it sometimes reflects in the series, and in my option, not in a good way. It slows down the story, and it has no tension. We know the relationship is going to work out because there’s no choice but to make it happen. It took up what felt like a whole book needlessly. However, the mix of superheroes, well-built characters and lots of them to latch onto, and honestly a very generic but still engaging evil corporation style story. It also is fun for a travel book. I wonder if he wrote it just so he could see the world. The action is compelling most of the time as well. I worked hard to buy them all in hardcover to take notes from and enjoy over and over.
3. Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen
Another one I love for its tone. It’s a steampunk/sci-fi/paranormal story that I just eat up. I debated if it should go on this list, but according to several people steampunk is sci-fi. So there you are. I loved the darker, mystical tone, the mystery elements, and the characters. It felt like Beauty and the Beast met Sherlock Holmes and Buffy the vampire slayer. It was a ton of fun to read and I’d reread for notes and pleasure.
4. Kiss of a Spindle by Nancy Campbell Allen
It’s a squeal to the last one, but it’s not. We have characters who are related to past characters from the last one. And this one is the characters and great twisting of the original Sleeping Beauty fairytale. The characters are compelling. The romance isn’t forced. And I enjoy the similar tone shared with Beauty and the Clockwork Beast. I just really enjoyed reading it when I was a counselor at a youth camp and had down time. I’ll reread it for reference and pleasure for sure.
5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
I say Cinder alone because I’m ashamed to admit I’ve not finished the series yet, but I’m sure it’s great. I found the tone of this fairytale/sci-fi/robot world a real pleasure. And the uses of that sickness and clear foreshadow to the rest of the series is awesome. I love the mixed world, use of fairytales well, and tone.
6. The Giver by Lois Lowry
Because hello only more classic book in this style is 1984! It’s though provoking. It’s great to set up how a dystopian book should bet set up. It’s just a great book with great characters and great world. I actually enjoyed the ending too.
7. The Alliance by Gerald N. Lund
I have a few repeat authors on here. Alliance is a lot like The Giver in the reasons why I like it. It’s not as famous as The Giver but it does a great job with the themes of dystopian, great characters, a rebellion that’s fun to follow, and is deeply thought provoking as well.
8. The Freedom Factor by Gerald N. Lund
Food for thought? Wondering how to use history as a way to make a great sci-fi/dystopian story? This one does it well. What if the United States Constitution was never written? Well, that’s what we’ve got here. One founding father decides a modern Washington Lawyer and congressmen need to learn what they really fought for. And It’s a lot like the last two picks. I enjoyed the tone and theme and have reread many times.
9. Ender’s Game
Another classic. I normally don’t like books that are kind of crude like the language in this one is. But I still really enjoyed the character arch of Ender. The strategies used in the games makes me want to play some video games. And the side characters are alive. And the moral struggle is real. I really enjoyed this one.
10. Ender’s Shadow
Is the main character your favorite character most of the time? I don’t know. It is for me, but I find that’s not normal for most people. This book is taking the whole story of Ender’s Game from the point of view of Bean. And I love reading a book that is the same story from a new angle. Most of all as the moral take away comes out a bit different when seen from the supporting character.
And those are my top ten sci-fi/dystopian reads. The pattern I see in why is the tone and how thought provoking the works are has a big effect on how much I enjoy it.
What are your favorites in this genre? Do you agree or disagree with mine? Share you favorites with me, and hopefully we’ll both find new great stories to enjoy.