I've added I Cheerfully Refuse and Annie Bot to my burgeoning wish list, I'm definitely open minded about new SF works and it's good to support the genre, it's a bad job if we can only look backwards (despite that being where the majority of the gold is)
Yes, I think that's a healthy attitude. Not everything written recently is unworthy, far from it, just gets harder and harder to do something new and interesting. Thanks for watching 👀!
These lists are always a good look at the flavour of the readership more than the flavour of the books. Always fun to see. Annie Bot sounds like the classic SF short story Helen O'Loy but updated and expanded for a modern audience. Orbital sounds like if you took Solaris, stripped out the bits about aliens and any of the interesting technical science and left the rest. That might not be good news for those who already found Solaris slow. I bet I would like it and should try and read it.
Most of these books, not to comment on their merit, aren't Sci-Fi. People (causal readers, publishers, book sellers) go, "Well, something is different here and it's not magic, so it must be Sci-Fi!" It's a losing battle for sure! There are a few, mostly towards the top of the list, that I'll have to try. The only one I've read to completion was the Stardust Grail. It wears its Star Wars and Indiana Jones influences on it's big, puffy sleeves, and I had problems with the last fourth, but it was still a good time. Just don't go into it expecting your mind to be blown.
Thanks for the overview. I’m in no hurry to read any of them but I’m always skeptical of the “new and popular” in popular culture. Or maybe I just don’t like contemporary book cover design. 😂
Great vid, Jon. It was nice to hear of these really fresh books most of which I'd never seen before. Looking forward to The Mercy of Gods. Moon of the Turning Leaves looks intriguing and it's good to see a First Nations writer represented in SF. There seem to be a lot of books on this list whose premise revolves around society being upended or inverted, and a lot of empowerment fantasy thrown into the mix. I've noticed this trend in recent years, although it may just be my own perception.
I got "In Ascension" out of the library, but then somebody else wanted it so I had to return it. Perhaps I should buy a copy as it's been recommended by you and other you tubers. I own/have to read the first two Vandemeer volumes before "Absolution." Most of these Goodreads authors I've never heard of with the exception of Harvey! I' gather "Orbital" has been labelled "space realism" though you could call some of Stepehenson's "Seveneves" that!
Just read Annie Bot in one day on your recommendation. i hadn't heard of it before. it was fantastic although i was really worried as I neared the ending.
I’ve read quite a few non-fiction books in the genre of “it’s a bad idea to sail to the poles” so it was interesting to see a real person from a doomed arctic expedition used as a character in a sci-fi book. I ended up really enjoying The Ministry of Time and voted for it in the Goodreads poll. I read the sample of Baby X and immediately liked the writing so I requested it from the library but haven’t received it yet. I thought the James S.A. Corey book was okay. I’ve forgotten most of the details already, but most of the second half of the book was pretty dull as the characters were just prisoners waiting around for stuff to happen. They learned from their former boss, George R.R. Martin, how to ensure that no character is safe, and it’s pretty brutal. There are hundreds of self-published books just like it, honestly.
Great, glad to hear more good things about TMoT, I like the sound of it. I though TMoG did enough to tee up the rest of the trilogy, I'm intrigued enough to continue on. Thanks for watching 👀!
Sounds like Gen X has taken over Goodreads, leaving this Millennial behind, lol. It’s right where I want to be. Many of the newer titles are either young adult or recycled classics. I guess that’s the market demand right now. Miss your blue vulture. Looking forward to the next video. Thanks John! 😺✌️
in Ascension got my vote. It was one of my favorites for 2024 as well, but given the um, "friendly disagreements" I've gotten in with other SF readers over it, I'm not surprised it wasn't more popular. I read Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubegeshig Rice, and it was a great dystopian novel in my opinion, but haven't read Moon of the Turning Leaves yet.
🔟 Before I discovered BookTube I used to haul the top ten SF books from the GR Choice Awards every year. This top 20 is a bit 🫣 because I have read none of them, own just one of them, and am only familiar with another three. So 16 of these are utterly unfamiliar to me 🫣 Goodness me.
Aside from the Number 20 on the list, I can't say any of those floated my space capsule, and I admit I kinda nodded off toward the end of the list, I may have to re-cap that. There seems to be a lot of stretched allegory posing as Sci-Fi in 2024, with stories that would possibly be better of re-worked as modern day fiction.
There were a few towards the end that might pique your interest. Maybe. But then again. Yes, lots of angst and social issues dressed up in sf trimmings. Where's the space adventure!? Cheers Archie, thanks for watching 👀!
Well, Jon, let me put it this way: in the case of a civilization-ending event, most of these books would be very useful to the survivors as fuel for their campfires...😂
@SciFiScavenger Of course not! But this list was particularly bleak, imo. The only book I found vaguely interesting was the Corey one, and just because I like (most of) the Expanse tv show. Don't mind me, Jon, I'm just a grumpy old man...
I read Absolution last month and really enjoyed it. A very nice continuation of occurrences on the periphery of area x and we also learn the fate of the first expedition. I'm taking a break from sci-fi for a while. I just finished " Roughing It " by Mark Twain and am now a big fan of his. I just started The Overstory by Richard Powers. A book I bet you would enjoy. I'm hooked on the first chapter. A Pulitzer prize winner. The first chapter describes the shocking decimation of the chestnut trees that blanketed the eastern region of America.
Jon, barely Sci-Fi. Not many float my boat. The Kitasei book might be interesting and maybe Corey. We at least get some interstellar stuff. Hopefully I won’t be triggered by it 😂 (that was a joke).
Yes, very little space adventuring in this list. A couple of ommissions are Lake of Darkness and Echo of Worlds, bit "proper" sci fi. Cheers Steve, thanks for watching 👀!
Absolution was mostly a fail for me. I enjoyed parts of it but it did not measure up to the other books. The Mercy Of Gods I was quite pleased with and especially liked the very end.
This was definitely was your most cynical and grumpy(as you stated you are)episode. I’ve view almost all your offerings and don’t think I’ve ever noticed you being so skeptical. Best to not let that happen in the future where potential new young, impressionable, sensitive subs are turned off. 😅
Cynical? Grumpy? Moi? Surely not. Cynical and grumpy is my resting state to be honest, I'm surprised it doesn't leech out more often! Cheers Tom, thanks for watching 👀!
I used to be right into the Goodread awards. A few years ago, it seemed to me they went downhill. I have ignored them ever since and based on this video will likely continue to do so. Some good books in this lot that I might read, would likely enjoy, but also a lot of American, wokeness that is unlikely to captivate me. The John Marrs was already on my to-read list.
There you go, one out of 20 ain't bad! 😀 yeah, it is slim pickings for sure. Lots of social sf, not much space adventure! Cheers Deb, thanks for watching 👀!
I came here to find a new sci-fi novel, I'm leaving with 1-2 options or yet another Tchaikovsky. The vast majority of these seem more like sociological fiction than science fiction.
Yeah agree, that does seem to be the general thrust of it. If you're looking for new SF I'd recommend Lake of Darkness by Adam Roberts and Infinity Gate/Echo of Worlds by M.R. Carey. Thanks for watching 👀!
Thank you, I recently read Theft of Fire, which was serviceable. I will have to give those both a try, I enjoyed the The Girl with All the Gifts, but loathed Someone Like Me, it sounds like I need to give Carey another try.
There's also The Boy on the Bridge which is set in the same setting as THWATG. Anyway, these two newer books are quite different. More science fictiony, if that makes sense.
You have a very polite way to dismiss a book when it screams certain modern pop cultural and political phenomena at you 😉 I don’t know, only two, maybe three books peaked my interest on this list, with one being part four of the Southern Reach novels, which I hope to dive into next year. Is it just me or did publishers forget that writing a good blurb is an art form in itself? I lost interest in most of those titles here after the third sentence or so. I think Science Fiction as a genre is meant to be an adventure, and almost none of those descriptions promised me that. But on the other hand, I grew up with Buck Rogers and his silly robot friend, so what do I know …
I'm happy it's there, it will speak to some people and they will feel seen and heard. But perhaps not my cup of tea, and that's ok. There does seem to be a lot of it though. Not enough space adventure! Cheers Michael, thanks for watching 👀!
Great video as always Jon! Think the crop from 2024 really shows why contemporary SF is circling the drain. There are some good authors out there, but trudging through the sludge of poor lazy writing all through the lens of recent identity politics is somewhat tiresome. I really hope SF can break through this, and publishers can promote fresh, interesting ideas and not what their corporate overlords feel is virtuous.
I understand a lot of scifi has always been reflective and analytical about the era in which they are written, however concealed, but many of these books listed here seem more like woke polemics than actual stories with characters.
they certainly seem "of the moment" and from a certain perspective, in the main. i think that has been the case for a few years now. it'll pass, I expect. thanks for watching 👀!
I'm always suspicious of any book where the blurb feels the need to explain what its major themes are, it makes me think the writer isn't good enough to make them obvious in the text itself, or its going to so busy hamfistedly beating you over the head with IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!! that it forgets to actually be a good book. That's probably an entirely unfounded prejudice but it puts me off a bunch of these.
Ha, I know what you mean. I guess publishers sniff sales in the IMPORTANT MESSAGE and want to be sure you know it is contained within. Table stakes. Thanks for watching 👀!
Good episode! Some interesting books, which I investigated. I really am not interested in recent books, as you know I only get excited with a new David Weber, or (alas) I used to be excited for a new David Drake. 😭. But I'm grateful for your reviews. 😉🫡 I just bought Robert Forward's Dragon Egg. In the opinions of many, (including myself) one of the best 5 First Contact novels EVER. HIGHLY Recommended!❤❤❤. Humans contact intelligent life on the surface of...a Neutron Star?!?! 🤯🤯🤯. The very hardest of Hard Science Fiction, Forward was a physicist, like Benford and Sheffield. 🫡
Dragon's Egg is a classic, rock hard as you say..been years since I read it, must get to it again. May well feature in my forthcoming Hard SF video. Thanks for watching 👀!
I've added I Cheerfully Refuse and Annie Bot to my burgeoning wish list, I'm definitely open minded about new SF works and it's good to support the genre, it's a bad job if we can only look backwards (despite that being where the majority of the gold is)
Yes, I think that's a healthy attitude. Not everything written recently is unworthy, far from it, just gets harder and harder to do something new and interesting. Thanks for watching 👀!
These lists are always a good look at the flavour of the readership more than the flavour of the books. Always fun to see.
Annie Bot sounds like the classic SF short story Helen O'Loy but updated and expanded for a modern audience.
Orbital sounds like if you took Solaris, stripped out the bits about aliens and any of the interesting technical science and left the rest. That might not be good news for those who already found Solaris slow. I bet I would like it and should try and read it.
Yes Orbital sounds like a lot of navel gazing, and a slower Solaris doesn't appeal much I must say. Cheers Joel, thanks for watching 👀!
Agree-goodreads had something like twilight high up on whichever list.
Very interesting and informative.
Cheers David, thanks for watching 👀!
Most of these books, not to comment on their merit, aren't Sci-Fi. People (causal readers, publishers, book sellers) go, "Well, something is different here and it's not magic, so it must be Sci-Fi!" It's a losing battle for sure!
There are a few, mostly towards the top of the list, that I'll have to try. The only one I've read to completion was the Stardust Grail. It wears its Star Wars and Indiana Jones influences on it's big, puffy sleeves, and I had problems with the last fourth, but it was still a good time. Just don't go into it expecting your mind to be blown.
Yeah, very soft sf at best in this list, generally. Still, like last year, there were a few that piqued my interest. Thanks for watching 👀!
+1 🎉 totally agree. Miss the 80s and 90s. But hopefully the future of science fiction will change
Good video, man, thanks!
Cool, thanks for watching 👀!
Thanks for the overview. I’m in no hurry to read any of them but I’m always skeptical of the “new and popular” in popular culture. Or maybe I just don’t like contemporary book cover design. 😂
Fair enough! Cheers Kris, thanks for watching 👀!
Great vid, Jon. It was nice to hear of these really fresh books most of which I'd never seen before. Looking forward to The Mercy of Gods. Moon of the Turning Leaves looks intriguing and it's good to see a First Nations writer represented in SF. There seem to be a lot of books on this list whose premise revolves around society being upended or inverted, and a lot of empowerment fantasy thrown into the mix. I've noticed this trend in recent years, although it may just be my own perception.
Yes I thought that myself, running through them all. Cheers Reynolds, thanks for watching 👀!
@@SciFiScavenger Thanks. I'm Mike Reynolds, btw. Greetings from Omaha, NE, USA
I got "In Ascension" out of the library, but then somebody else wanted it so I had to return it. Perhaps I should buy a copy as it's been recommended by you and other you tubers. I own/have to read the first two Vandemeer volumes before "Absolution." Most of these Goodreads authors I've never heard of with the exception of Harvey! I' gather "Orbital" has been labelled "space realism" though you could call some of Stepehenson's "Seveneves" that!
Far as I can tell they sit in orbit and stare out the window a lot. Not v exciting! Cheers David, thanks for watching 👀!
Just read Annie Bot in one day on your recommendation. i hadn't heard of it before. it was fantastic although i was really worried as I neared the ending.
Wow that was fast work! Well done Pam, thanks for watching 👀!
I’ve read quite a few non-fiction books in the genre of “it’s a bad idea to sail to the poles” so it was interesting to see a real person from a doomed arctic expedition used as a character in a sci-fi book. I ended up really enjoying The Ministry of Time and voted for it in the Goodreads poll. I read the sample of Baby X and immediately liked the writing so I requested it from the library but haven’t received it yet.
I thought the James S.A. Corey book was okay. I’ve forgotten most of the details already, but most of the second half of the book was pretty dull as the characters were just prisoners waiting around for stuff to happen. They learned from their former boss, George R.R. Martin, how to ensure that no character is safe, and it’s pretty brutal. There are hundreds of self-published books just like it, honestly.
Great, glad to hear more good things about TMoT, I like the sound of it. I though TMoG did enough to tee up the rest of the trilogy, I'm intrigued enough to continue on. Thanks for watching 👀!
Sounds like Gen X has taken over Goodreads, leaving this Millennial behind, lol. It’s right where I want to be.
Many of the newer titles are either young adult or recycled classics. I guess that’s the market demand right now.
Miss your blue vulture.
Looking forward to the next video.
Thanks John!
😺✌️
I can't even claim to be a millennial. A few piqued my interest, but most not so much. Thanks for watching 👀!
Very few SF fans appreciate In Ascension, I do NOT get it. It’s absolutely stunning ⭐️
Agree. I mean it wasn't perfect, but I thought it was damned good. Thanks for watching 👀!
A great Sci-fi book is Ariya Kai the Secret of Colony L.I.F.E. by F. Z. Zach. Well worth checking out.
Noted, thank you!
in Ascension got my vote. It was one of my favorites for 2024 as well, but given the um, "friendly disagreements" I've gotten in with other SF readers over it, I'm not surprised it wasn't more popular. I read Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubegeshig Rice, and it was a great dystopian novel in my opinion, but haven't read Moon of the Turning Leaves yet.
Good news about Moon, I do like the sound of it. Thanks for watching 👀!
I think I would trust your best sci-fi of 2024 more than goodreads :)
Thanks it'd be a short list, I've only read 3 or 4 books new out this year. Thanks for watching 👀!
🔟 Before I discovered BookTube I used to haul the top ten SF books from the GR Choice Awards every year.
This top 20 is a bit 🫣 because I have read none of them, own just one of them, and am only familiar with another three. So 16 of these are utterly unfamiliar to me 🫣 Goodness me.
Well, to be fair, you might not need to rush out and get them! Not much appealed to me tbh. Thanks for watching 👀!
Aside from the Number 20 on the list, I can't say any of those floated my space capsule, and I admit I kinda nodded off toward the end of the list, I may have to re-cap that. There seems to be a lot of stretched allegory posing as Sci-Fi in 2024, with stories that would possibly be better of re-worked as modern day fiction.
There were a few towards the end that might pique your interest. Maybe. But then again. Yes, lots of angst and social issues dressed up in sf trimmings. Where's the space adventure!? Cheers Archie, thanks for watching 👀!
Well, Jon, let me put it this way: in the case of a civilization-ending event, most of these books would be very useful to the survivors as fuel for their campfires...😂
Along with almost anything written after 1990, amiright? 😀 cheers Luiz, thanks for watching 👀!
@SciFiScavenger Of course not! But this list was particularly bleak, imo. The only book I found vaguely interesting was the Corey one, and just because I like (most of) the Expanse tv show. Don't mind me, Jon, I'm just a grumpy old man...
Just teasing!,
I read Absolution last month and really enjoyed it. A very nice continuation of occurrences on the periphery of area x and we also learn the fate of the first expedition. I'm taking a break from sci-fi for a while. I just finished " Roughing It " by Mark Twain and am now a big fan of his. I just started The Overstory by Richard Powers. A book I bet you would enjoy. I'm hooked on the first chapter. A Pulitzer prize winner.
The first chapter describes the shocking decimation of the chestnut trees that blanketed the eastern region of America.
Overstory sounds interesting, will take a look. Cheers Stephen, thanks for watching 👀!
Jon, barely Sci-Fi. Not many float my boat. The Kitasei book might be interesting and maybe Corey. We at least get some interstellar stuff. Hopefully I won’t be triggered by it 😂 (that was a joke).
Yes, very little space adventuring in this list. A couple of ommissions are Lake of Darkness and Echo of Worlds, bit "proper" sci fi. Cheers Steve, thanks for watching 👀!
Absolution was mostly a fail for me. I enjoyed parts of it but it did not measure up to the other books.
The Mercy Of Gods I was quite pleased with and especially liked the very end.
Oh interesting, OK. I liked TMOG, I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes next. Cheers Montie, thanks for watching 👀!
This was definitely was your most cynical and grumpy(as you stated you are)episode. I’ve view almost all your offerings and don’t think I’ve ever noticed you being so skeptical. Best to not let that happen in the future where potential new young, impressionable, sensitive subs are turned off. 😅
Cynical? Grumpy? Moi? Surely not. Cynical and grumpy is my resting state to be honest, I'm surprised it doesn't leech out more often! Cheers Tom, thanks for watching 👀!
I used to be right into the Goodread awards. A few years ago, it seemed to me they went downhill. I have ignored them ever since and based on this video will likely continue to do so. Some good books in this lot that I might read, would likely enjoy, but also a lot of American, wokeness that is unlikely to captivate me. The John Marrs was already on my to-read list.
There you go, one out of 20 ain't bad! 😀 yeah, it is slim pickings for sure. Lots of social sf, not much space adventure! Cheers Deb, thanks for watching 👀!
@@SciFiScavenger Thanks for posting!
I came here to find a new sci-fi novel, I'm leaving with 1-2 options or yet another Tchaikovsky. The vast majority of these seem more like sociological fiction than science fiction.
Yeah agree, that does seem to be the general thrust of it. If you're looking for new SF I'd recommend Lake of Darkness by Adam Roberts and Infinity Gate/Echo of Worlds by M.R. Carey. Thanks for watching 👀!
Thank you, I recently read Theft of Fire, which was serviceable. I will have to give those both a try, I enjoyed the The Girl with All the Gifts, but loathed Someone Like Me, it sounds like I need to give Carey another try.
There's also The Boy on the Bridge which is set in the same setting as THWATG. Anyway, these two newer books are quite different. More science fictiony, if that makes sense.
You have a very polite way to dismiss a book when it screams certain modern pop cultural and political phenomena at you 😉 I don’t know, only two, maybe three books peaked my interest on this list, with one being part four of the Southern Reach novels, which I hope to dive into next year. Is it just me or did publishers forget that writing a good blurb is an art form in itself? I lost interest in most of those titles here after the third sentence or so. I think Science Fiction as a genre is meant to be an adventure, and almost none of those descriptions promised me that. But on the other hand, I grew up with Buck Rogers and his silly robot friend, so what do I know …
I'm happy it's there, it will speak to some people and they will feel seen and heard. But perhaps not my cup of tea, and that's ok. There does seem to be a lot of it though. Not enough space adventure! Cheers Michael, thanks for watching 👀!
Great video as always Jon! Think the crop from 2024 really shows why contemporary SF is circling the drain. There are some good authors out there, but trudging through the sludge of poor lazy writing all through the lens of recent identity politics is somewhat tiresome. I really hope SF can break through this, and publishers can promote fresh, interesting ideas and not what their corporate overlords feel is virtuous.
Even space opera isn't getting much of a look-in this year, Mercy of Gods aside. Cheers Paul, thanks for watching 👀!
I understand a lot of scifi has always been reflective and analytical about the era in which they are written, however concealed, but many of these books listed here seem more like woke polemics than actual stories with characters.
they certainly seem "of the moment" and from a certain perspective, in the main. i think that has been the case for a few years now. it'll pass, I expect. thanks for watching 👀!
I'm always suspicious of any book where the blurb feels the need to explain what its major themes are, it makes me think the writer isn't good enough to make them obvious in the text itself, or its going to so busy hamfistedly beating you over the head with IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!! that it forgets to actually be a good book. That's probably an entirely unfounded prejudice but it puts me off a bunch of these.
Ha, I know what you mean. I guess publishers sniff sales in the IMPORTANT MESSAGE and want to be sure you know it is contained within. Table stakes. Thanks for watching 👀!
While watching this in VR from my seat perched on the moon, books 2, 3 & 20 sound interesting and I've added to my wants list.
Excellent, hope they reach you, the lunar post is murder this time of year! Cheers Ian, thanks for watching 👀!
Good episode! Some interesting books, which I investigated. I really am not interested in recent books, as you know I only get excited with a new David Weber, or (alas) I used to be excited for a new David Drake. 😭. But I'm grateful for your reviews. 😉🫡
I just bought Robert Forward's Dragon Egg. In the opinions of many, (including myself) one of the best 5 First Contact novels EVER. HIGHLY Recommended!❤❤❤. Humans contact intelligent life on the surface of...a Neutron Star?!?! 🤯🤯🤯. The very hardest of Hard Science Fiction, Forward was a physicist, like Benford and Sheffield. 🫡
Dragon's Egg is a classic, rock hard as you say..been years since I read it, must get to it again. May well feature in my forthcoming Hard SF video. Thanks for watching 👀!