On My Bookshelf

Science Fiction

By Rebecca Buchanan
June 1, 2009

When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes. — Erasmus

On My Bookshelf focuses on the books Tarts love, love to hate, hate to hate, or lust after with all our being but we can't afford them. *sob* In the months ahead, we'll cover a variety of genres and topics, from women's studies to fairy tales to mystery to pulp classics to history to biography to the worst books we've ever read to ... well ... you name it. If you have any suggestions for future columns, please email Rebecca Buchanan.

Like many people of my generation, my first exposure to science fiction was Star Wars (the first film, which turned out to actually be the fourth). Anyway, it had such a deep and long-lasting impact on me that it was a long time before I looked elsewhere, and then I turned to that other big sci fi franchise, Star Trek. I still love them both, but my horizons have broadened considerably. I have discovered that there is a heck of a lot more to science fiction than just light sabers and holodecks, and that the genre dates back quite a few years — a couple of centuries if you consider Shelley's Frankenstein as the first work of true science fiction, even farther if you count the pseudo-scientific tales of such authors as Ibn al-Nafis, Cyrano de Bergerac and Jonathan Swift.

Needless to say, considering the long history and broad definition of what, exactly, qualifies as science fiction, this is a very short list. Very very short. So, a few qualifiers: these are the sci fi tales of which I am particularly fond, or which had the greatest impact on me. Most of them are strictly science fiction, but a few of them mix genres, blurring the lines with elements of mystery and romance and fantasy. And they are all twentieth century, mostly American in origin; I've had little exposure to such nineteenth century giants as Verne and Wells and none to non-Western authors. Really, some day I will read Roquia Sakhawat Hussain's Sultana's Dream (1905), an early work of feminist science fiction.

Here, than, are a few of my favorites. If you have any favorites, and think I should read them, email me and tell me why you love them so much.

Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb was an early library discovery. The title caught my eye. When I realized that it was a murder mystery set at a sci fi/fantasy convention, I was hooked. Much like Elizabeth Peters in Die For Love (which skewers romance and mystery tropes), McCrumb does the same for science fiction and fantasy — but kindly. I sense a sister geek. Lots of fun.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M Miller Jr. was required reading in junior high. I've been fascinated by religion my whole life and, at the time, I was still a devout Catholic. So, a science fiction novel about monks trying to preserve the remnants of civilization following a nuclear holocaust sounded fascinating, if not fun. And it was not fun. It was a difficult read — not because of the theology which Miller worked into the text, but because I knew there would be no happy ending. I still get a little weepy when I think about those final scenes.

The entire Finder (Lightspeed Press) series by Carla Speed McNeil is one of those difficult-to-classify titles. The best definition I have heard is anthropological science fiction. Set on a far future Earth, Finder follows the adventures of Jaegar, sort of a cross between a Native American shaman and a Romani jack-of-all-trades, as he makes his way between domed cities, encountering sentient lion people, sacred sex workers and the occasional crazy woman. I recommend starting with the first two volumes, Sin-Eater, or delving into The Rescuers for a good mystery.

The Ginger Star by Leigh Brackett is the first volume in The Book of Skaith trilogy. I haven't read The Hounds of Skaith or The Reavers of Skaith yet, but if the first volume is any indication, I'm in for quite a ride. If you're a Han Solo fan, you'll like John Eric Stark. Fun characters, creepy villains, weird technology and narrow escapes. Woot!

The Girl Who Owned a City by OT Nelson was a junior high discovery. I think I found it in the library. Anyway, this is another case of title and cover pulling me in. It was a little frightening at first to read about a world in which everyone over the age of twelve (ie, puberty and up) is killed in a pandemic. Ten year-old Lisa has the smarts, determination and charisma to find a sanctuary for herself, her little brother and others — a place where there will be plenty of food, water, clothing and safety from the roving gangs of feral children. Give this to the tween girl in your life; even girls can save the world.

The Honor of the Queen by David Weber is the second book in the military sci fi Honor Harrington series. It has everything you might expect, from awesome technology to epic space battles. What drew me to this particular book, though, were the gender and religion subplots. Harrington and her crew are sent to aid the planet Grayson, a patriarchal polygynous civilization, whose people do not react well to having a (powerful, respected) woman come to their assistance.

The Martian Chronicles by Edgar Rice Burroughs is another Golden Age classic that only discovered a few years ago. I wrote a whole article about it for ST, so let me just say: sword fights, epic battles, lost civilizations, heroes, villains, happy ending, woot!

Northwest of Earth: The Complete Northwest Smith by CL Moore is another Golden Age classic that I only recently discovered — thank you, Paizo Publishing, for collecting and re-releasing so many of these stories. Northwest Smith has a lot in common with Han Solo and John Eric Stark and even Malcolm Reynolds. The solar system which he calls home is a wild, strange and sometimes lawless place. Highly recommended to fans of Firefly.

Rihannsu: The Bloodwing Voyages by Diane Duane is one of my two favorite Star Trek novels (the other is discussed a couple of paragraphs down). This omnibus edition collects all four novels featuring Ael t'Rllaillieu, an honorable Romulan officer sickened by the greed and corruption which is destroying her beloved Empire. She joins forces with Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise (her greatest and most honorable enemies) in a desperate scheme to save it. Duane does a fantastic job of fleshing out the mysterious Romulans, giving them a language, a religion, a whole culture. She even explains why the Romulans of the original series are so different from the Romulans of The Next Generation.

Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia by John Clute was published back in 1995, so it's a bit dated now. But it is still worth picking up just for the illustrations. Lots and lots and lots of full color photos and drawings of interior and cover art accompany entries chronicling the origins and development of science fiction. Comic books, radio, television, animated and live action films, novels and short stories and magazines — it's all here.

Spock's World by Diane Duane is my other favorite Star Trek novel. It was here that I learned the history of Vulcan, the story of Surak, the real meaning of logic ("passion's mystery" is a better translation of the Vulcan term), how Sarek and Amanda met, and that Vulcans know for a fact that there is a Divinity (telepathy, hello). Cranky old T'Pau, who appeared on the original series and Enterprise, plays an important role here, too, ultimately guaranteeing by her sacrifice that Vulcan will remain part of the Federation.

I can't remember how old I was when I first read A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle. Probably junior high. It honestly sounded like a boring book, so I was probably forced to read it. It wasn't boring. It was an emotionally-rich, uplifting work of Christian science fiction/fantasy in which an angry, plain-faced teen girl and her genius little brother defeat the ultimate evil and save the world. Highly recommended to anyone in need a good cry with a smile at the end.

So, there they are: a few of my favorite things. I have read many many many more than that, and I have other favorites — but those are the books which had a real impact on me. Which science fiction tales have deeply impressed you?

Science Fiction on Wikipedia
On My Bookshelf: Women's Studies — Includes several science fiction titles