Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (review by Amelia H. '19)

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Binti is a teenage girl traveling to a university called Oomza Uni on another planet, the first in history of the Himba people to be admitted. On the way there, her ship is attacked by the Meduse, an alien race with a vendetta against humans. Binti is short, but it packs in the same complex world-building and characters as a SciFi novel three or four times its length. The book is a little slow in introducing the main conflict, considering that the story is only ninety pages, but that is made up for by the excellence of the writing. Okorafor’s prose is eloquent and yet concise, immersing the reader in the story. A quick read that will inspire thought long after the last page is turned. - Amelia H. '19

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Dawn by Olivia Butler (review by Catherine H. '17)

Dawn by Octavia E. Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometime in the future, Lilith Iyapo dies after humans make the Earth inhospitable in a nuclear war. Centuries later, Lilith is Awakened by aliens known as the Oankali who are trying to save the human species--taking them aboard their ship to be Awakened and teaching them how to live on Earth again. The Oankali have redeveloped the Earth and hope to use human genetic material to merge with their own and evolve as a species. Chosen to act as a leader and teacher for humans meant to be sent back to Earth, Lilith must learn to live among the Oankali and accept that the human race will be changed forever. She must learn to accept the Oankali, who as a species, have three sexes: male, female, and Ooloi. The Ooloi are the humans’ only chance at reproduction, as they can mix the genetic material of both species to create new children.

I thought Butler’s perspective on the Ooloi was very interesting, and appreciated that the Ooloi were referred to with neutral pronouns. Though this book was written in 1987, I still find the ideas regarding gender in this novel are something we can learn from today.

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2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke (review by Connie M. '17)

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

2001: A Space Odyssey depicts the first encounters of humankind with alien intelligence. This story has become one of the most well known sci-fi tales and is written by one of the greats. The story begins as a series of seemingly unconnected accounts, but gathers speed by the time we reach the halfway point. The second half of the novel blazes by in a suspense-filled whirlwind. The last 30 pages of the book holds perhaps as much action as the rest of the book put together, culminating in a thought-provoking and poetic ending. Clarke writes without extravagant vocabulary yet manages to vividly depict the beauty of space. While 2001 has little humor and no romance and thus may not appeal to everyone, it is a must read for any true science fiction lover and contains much food for thought for any reader. - Connie M. '17

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The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore (review by Catherine H. '17)

The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The fourth book in the Lorien Legacies series describes the events after the Garde's unsuccessful battle with Setrákus Ra and follows their story as they regroup and try to form a coherent plan. Sam spent forever dreaming up rescue missions by the Garde and resisting Setrákus Ra's torture sessions until he is finally rescued by two unexpected allies. John spent forever stuck, with no plans until the final member of the Garde, Five, sends a signal to them and the race begins to find Five before the Mogadorians do. Meanwhile, Ella has been having terrible nightmares and eventually ends up hurting John. The Garde try to catch up with each other and train together before the Mogadorians attack but when several people cause trouble from the inside out, the Mogadorians attack. Pittacus Lore has managed to keep the story going and provide some interesting new twists, but the constant switching of perspective can be disorienting, especially because there is usually no indication as to whose perspective we are viewing from. I would recommend this book only if you enjoyed I am Number Four. – Catherine H. ‘17

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The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (review by Catherine H. '17)

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When the aliens come and the human population is brought to its knees, only a few unlucky people survive. Cassie Sullivan, her brother, and her father were lucky enough to live through the first few waves, but when they are separated, her only mission is to find them. Armed with a gun and her wit, Cassie struggles to stay alive in this apocalyptic world. When she meets the mysterious Evan Walker who offers to help her, she doesn't know whether or not to trust him. Rick Yancey has imagined a truly terrifying world where the enemy looks human and no one can be trusted. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the action and the plot, the strange love triangle just doesn't seem to work out so well. Some of it was confusing and not well connected. I would only suggest The 5th Wave to people who are looking for a sci-fi or dystopian read. – Catherine H. ‘17

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (review by Mr. Silk)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If there was ever a book that defines comedic science fiction, this is it. Based on his own radio scripts (which are also available to read) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the first of six books that tell the story of Arthur Dent, a mild-mannered, somewhat helpless Earthling who gets swept up into a space adventure with his best friend Ford, who happens to be an alien, when the Earth is unceremoniously destroyed. Adams keeps the pace brisk in this short novel, introducing a variety of wacky characters as Arthur and Ford hitchhike across the galaxy. Although the science fiction is much more fiction than science, the dialogue is crisp, and the laugh-out-loud moments are frequent. And, while the rest of the series never captures the brilliance of this first book, you'll be eager to find out what happens to Arthur's motley crew - if only to discover why all your friends think the number 42 is so hysterical. – Mr. Silk, Harker teacher

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Ringworld by Larry Niven (review by Meilan S. '17)

Ringworld by Larry Niven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Considered one of the classics of science fiction, Ringworld follows the journey of Louis Wu, an aged explorer bored with life on Earth. On his 200th birthday, an alien named Nessus (whose race has supposedly been extinct for centuries) invites Louis to join an expedition to a new world. After recruiting two other crewmates, Speaker To Animals (a huge, carnivorous cat) and Teela Brown (a young human), the motley group sets out towards a strange, ring-shaped world. Ringworld is science fiction at its best, with an enticing and unusual concept and a richly detailed world. Its three-dimensional characters and constant surprises make Ringworld more than just another exploration story. A twist ending forces readers to reconsider the entire book. Niven is fastidious about tying up loose ends; seemingly inconsequential details often end up being instrumental to the plot. Ringworld’s pace can be slow at times, but for stylist reasons rather than bad writing. All in all, Ringworld is a fantastic read, and well worth the time it takes to track down in a used bookstore (or your local library).


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The Host by Stephenie Meyer (review by Naomi M. '16)

The Host by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Earth has been invaded by aliens. Rather, it is less of an invasion than an occupation. These particular aliens, called souls, survive by attaching themselves to a host, and controlling the body. Melanie Strider is a part of the human resistance, along with her younger brother Max and boyfriend Jared. They’re on their way to meet up with a larger group of humans in a secret camp in the desert when Melanie is captured and given a soul. This soul, named Wanderer, and Melanie become friends, and together they escape and set out for the camp. Because it is believed that a human could not survive with a soul, their welcome is tepid. Eventually, the humans accept Wanderer. Stephenie Meyer has done a wonderful job illustrating the intricacies of friendship, love, acceptance, and what it means to be human. Both Melanie and Wanderer are opposite, yet both strong, well-written characters. The Host is a wonderful novel for anyone who enjoys action, romance, and science fiction. – Naomi M. ‘16

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The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (review by Evani R. '17)

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Martian Chronicles is a collection of connected short stories about man and Martians. Bradbury paints a picture of a Mars ruined by human colonists. Although no one character travels the entire length of the book, the eerie, fascinating stories have imaginative settings. Stories are suspenseful and tackle human topics of jealousy, selfishness, racism, and actual events of the past. Throughout the book, we find out that the four expeditions for human occupation are due to the imminent atomic war on Earth. Bradbury writes his tales with lyrical beauty that culminate in an unforgettable ending . The Martian Chronicles is a great collection for both science fiction fans as well as general readers. – Evani R. ‘17

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