Space is having a moment right now, with the landmark Artemis II lunar mission and the global sensation that is Project Hail Mary,, opens a new window the sci-fi film based on the Andy Weir novel, opens a new window. In fact, NASA provided in-person consultation to the movie’s cast, and the Artemis II crew was treated to a private film screening while in pre-launch quarantine.
Project Hail Mary is widely appealing because it approaches a tough subject (hello, saving the planet) with humor and optimism, and the sciencey parts are interesting and accessible. Read the book, listen to the audiobook, and watch the movie--you’ll discover something new in each format. And, if you’ve done all that and want more, here are several books to continue your space odyssey.
This Great Hemisphere, opens a new window by Mateo Askaripour
Set 500 years in the future, society is divided by a literal visibility gap, where the “unseen” are governed by a dominant elite. Sweetmint, an invisible woman, has worked tirelessly to build a successful career, but her life is upended when her missing brother, Shanu, is named the primary suspect in a high-profile political assassination. With a major election just five days away, Sweetmint sets off to find her brother before it’s too late, dodging a ruthless politician and a law official hellbent on maintaining order. This fast-paced mystery pairs immersive world-building with a timely, relatable look at social hierarchies.
The Vanished Birds, opens a new window by Simon Jimenez
Jimenez’s debut is a sweeping space epic that follows a lonely starship captain who finds unexpected purpose after rescuing a mysterious, gifted boy within a corporate-governed galaxy. Nia Imani lives a life shaped by the isolation of long-distance space travel, where months of traversing the stars equate to decades of lost time on Earth. Her solitary routine is upended when she encounters the enigmatic Ahro, and the two readily form a deep and personal bond. However, as the Ahro’s past begins to catch up with them, Nia must protect their makeshift family from the powerful forces that want him back.
The Deep Sky, opens a new window by Yume Kitasei
With Earth on the brink of extinction, eighty elite youth set off on the spaceship Phoenix to colonize a new world. Despite being one of the chosen, Asuka feels inadequate, even more so when she fails to conceive a child on the journey. Then an explosion knocks the ship off course, killing three of the crew, and Asuka comes under suspicion. With rumors of terrorism and the crew turning on each other, Asuka is determined to find the culprit, clear her name, and restore peace to the Phoenix.
Goldilocks, opens a new window by Laura Lam
In Lam’s riveting thriller, as Earth faces increasing social and environmental challenges, an all-female crew launches a rogue mission to secure a habitable future for humanity. Spearheaded by Valerie Black, the crew is headed to a planet in the Goldilocks Zone, where conditions are just right for human habitation. Naomi, the ship’s botanist and Valerie’s surrogate daughter, is eager to prove herself, but she soon discovers that hidden agendas and sabotage are threatening their survival. This thought-provoking thriller illustrates the lengths people will go to for the sake of the human race.
We Have Always Been Here, opens a new window by Lena Nguyen
Psychologist Dr. Grace Park is assigned to observe thirteen crew members aboard the survey ship Deucalion, their mission to evaluate the viability of living on the icy planet Eos. Park prefers the company of the ship’s androids to her human shipmates, while the humans treat them with suspicion. Trapped in the ship on Eos’ surface by a radiation storm, the humans devolve into psychosis, and the androids begin acting strangely. As their conditions deteriorate, it’s up to Park to determine whether the threat comes from the planet or from within the crew itself.
Shroud, opens a new window by Adrian Tchaikovsky
A commercial mission to a resource-rich moon takes a disastrous turn when two crew members are accidentally stranded on its inhospitable surface. Juna and Mai are forced to undertake a grueling journey across a high-pressure, zero-oxygen landscape in a desperate bid for survival. As they navigate this alien world, they begin to realize that the moon’s dominant species is observing them with a terrifying level of intelligence.
Celebrate Star Wars Day in April and May at Central Rappahannock Regional Library with themed activities, trivia, and crafts. Visit librarypoint.org/events, opens a new window, and search “Star Wars.”, opens a new window
Tracy McPeck is the Director of Adult Services at Central Rappahannock Regional Library. This column first appeared in the Free Lance-Star newspaper.
