I recently finished The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and Old Man’s War by John Scalzi, and while I enjoyed both, they offered very different experiences.
Le Guin’s book felt deeply intellectual. I liked how the characters grappled with philosophical ideas in a way that felt organic. It made me pause and reflect often, though some of the sci-fi elements understandably feel dated; it was written in 1969. Scalzi’s series, on the other hand, was more action packed and entertaining, but without those lingering, contemplative moments.
I’ve also read much of the Culture Series by Iain banks which I very much enjoyed.
Can anyone recommend some modern sci fi that combines some of these elements?
The Mercy of Gods, by James SA Corey. When I started it, I was like, “Oh. Petty academia politics, but IN SPAAACE. Joy.” Fortunately I kept with it, and it’s an excellent start to a series.
Alien Clay, by Adrien Tchaikovsky. This is my favorite of the Hugo nominees this year, by a long shot. Very brief overview: tyrannical government exiles political dissidents to work camps in hostile landscapes. IN SPAAAACE. Someone described it as Fuzzy Nation as written by Franz Kafka, if that means anything to you. The action trips along, the book is bitterly funny, and it goes a lot into philosophical elements.
These are my two favorite SF novels that I’ve read so far this year.
Sure thing–I love nerding out about good SF, and as you might guess from my username, Le Guin is my hero.
A few others to consider, from the 21st century:
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. A person walks around. She may or may not be a woman, because gender isn’t barely recognized in this culture and the author uses she/her for everyone; but she’s definitely not human, because she’s actually a battleship. It gets weirder. Super thoughtful, super bleak.
Embassytown, by China Mieville. This is Mieville’s only book set in a classic SF planet-and-spaceship universe. It’s linguisticspunk with a huge helping of political and philosophical stuff going on. It’s one of my three favorite Mieville novels: he’s hit or miss for me, but when he hits, almost nobody is better.
And this one is more fantasy, but definitely has some SF elements to it: The Fifth Season, by NK Jemisin. She is, for my money, Le Guin’s spiritual successor: her writing is gorgeous, and unflinching, and fascinating. This trilogy is the only time an author has won the Hugo for three consecutive years, and she deserved every single win. So, so good.
If you haven’t already read it, Snow Crash, (1992) by Neal Stephenson.
Ponderings on the nature of society, language, and how we communicate beyond simple language, combined with a wonderful (accurate?) satirical take on corporate societal evolution, with plenty of serious AND comedic action.
Possibly his best balanced book, though he has many others that are interesting, but IMHO would be improved by a great editor who could stand up to the author.
Speaking of clay, I recommend Kiln People by David Brin. A great exploration of a new sci-fi technology: the ability to make a temporary copy of yourself to do whatever you need it to.
I love Snow Crash, but I might recommend The Diamond Age instead. It’s a bit more “mature” and philosophical than Snow Crash, IMO. Both great, though - can’t really go wrong with either.
I’m going to recommend Permutation City by Greg Egan, just because it’s one of my most favourite modern SF novels. Makes you think about what it means to exist.
I think that’s a fair assessment of Diamond Age, and I’ve read (and enjoyed) it as well, but I think (equally IMO) that Snow Crash does a better job with the sort of action our OP was asking for in balance with the philosophical elements.
I wanted to also mention, two stand-alone novels by S.M. Stirling, which are sci-fi adjacent, Conquistador (timeline fork and travel between), and The Peshawar Lancers (alt history timeline + minimal psychic elements). These fall much more on the interesting setting and action elements, and lower on the philosophy, though they both spend a great deal of time talking about humans make moral and social decisions, both individually and for their societies.
Steel Beach and/or The Golden Globe by John Varley. Both legendary books to me, both have lots of smart SF, humor and action. I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything from Varley but these books are my absolute favorites.
This was our latest book club selection. I was very skeptical: a few years back, I noped out of Andy Weir’s Artemis after about 70 pages because I just couldn’t even. The writing was clunky, the main character was insufferable, and every page annoyed me.
But I’m really glad I stuck with Project Hail Mary. About a third of the way into it, something happened that totally changed my enjoyment of the book. It’s not my favorite, mind you, but I ended up having a lot of fun with it.
Haven’t started this one yet, but if you haven’t read The Expanse, just go start it now.
Always a safe choice. I have his personal guarantee on Bluesky that he always finishes a story. Even if a book is part of a series, it tells a self contained story, so you’re only really committing to one book at a time.
So much so, yes.
All of these recommendations are thoroughly fantastic.
How about Seveneves. Just be warned, this is a book about the apocalypse happening, not being avoided, or the world saved.
For my own recommendations:
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. Sort of a story about if the Aztecs had gone to space and made an empire.
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh. Kids live on a military space station. Then other things happen.
and of course swashbuckling lesbian space necromancy, Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Meir. The fourth, and supposedly final book in the series is several years late, and is still being written. Is it fantasy, is it sci fi, is it a romance, is it military fiction, is it zombie horror? Genres are for cats that like to sit in boxes.
Just want to add, Ancillary Justice, A Memory Called Empire, The Fifth Season and Nona the Ninth are all difficult books. They take effort and commitment to read, but are that much more rewarding for it.
It’s really great. Sort of a sci-fi version of the The Canterbury Tales (in style). Really excellent and it will make you think. It won the Hugo and Locus awards when it came out.
