 |
 |
|
| HOME | WESTERN | CRIME and MYSTERY | ROMANCE | CHRISTIAN | SCI-FI Author: A through M | N through Z | FANTASY | HORROR |
| |
|
|
| Stephenson, Neal | The Diamond Age or, A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer |
|
Publication Date |
1995 |
| Number of Pages | 499 |
| Geographical Setting | Ancient City of Shanghai |
| Time Period | Near future (several decades into the 21st Century) |
| Plot Summary | John Hackworth is a nanotech engineer. Nanotechnology has been developed. Computer technology can now be placed in your body. Is this where technology is going? Meanwhile, Hackworth has designed and built a primer. The primer is a personal supercomputer. It was created to provide one of the novel’s elite members of society (Lord Finkle McGraw) an interactive educational tool that would educate his granddaughter. Hackworth steals the primer and is smuggling it home for his own daughter (Fiona) when he is mugged by some thetes (members of the poor, tribelessclass). One of the gang’s members Harv gives the primer to his four-year-old sister Nell. The primer teaches Nell how to survive, how to think, prosper and eventually lead. The primer is an interactive, multimedia teaching device. It not only teaches Nell but it has the ability to learn the user. The primer bonds, forms and molds itself according to the needs and character of Nell. Nell's destiny is changed and she becomes a leader instead of a criminal or victim. |
| Appeal | Cyberpunk (heavy on technology and the near future). Complex story combined with wit. |
| Notes | A large cast of characters. Intricate plot. Imaginative techno vocabulary. |
| Reviewer/Date | Joanne Gen 6/22/00 |
| Tepper, Sheri S | The Gate to Women's Country |
|
Publication Date |
1988 |
| Number of Pages | 278 |
| Geographical Setting | Not stated; likely Western North America |
| Time Period | Post-apocalypse (sometime in the future) |
| Plot Summary | 300 years ago, men nearly destroyed the earth and all civilization with their wars and weapons. Women now live in enclosed cities with a few gifted, non-violent men, keeping alive the arts and sciences almost lost in the devastation. Most men are warriors outside the city walls, waging hand-to-hand combat and considering themselves defenders and protectors. Stavia, the daughter of an esteemed Council member, grows to love Chernon, a young warrior outside the gates of Marthatown. Breaking all of the rules of conduct between men and women, Stavia learns why the rules are so important, and begins to understand the true meaning of the town's yearly presentation of an ancient Greek tragedy. |
| Appeal | Feminist science fiction, post-apocalyptic society, dystopia. |
| Notes | Very pro-female. Negative, stereotypical depictions of men as "less than." Also extremely negative portrayal of "old" religion (presumably Christians). |
| Reviewer/Date | Stephanie Deininger 6/22/2000 |
| Wells, H.G. | The War of the Worlds |
|
Publication Date |
1986 |
| Number of Pages | 204 |
| Geographical Setting | England |
| Time Period | Last years of the nineteenth century |
| Similar Author | Jules Verne |
| Plot Summary | While no one here on earth would suspect it, there are creatures on Mars that are watching us very closely. They send down cylinders with Martians inside who are evidently too sluggish to even climb out of the pit they have landed in. All quickly turns to chaos however when the aliens begin roaming England in their robot like tripods and begin destroying humans with heat-rays and poisonous gas. As people are fleeing for their lives and nothing we are doing is able to stop the aliens, people begin to wonder if this the end of human existence? |
| Appeal | Chilling sci fi/alien invasion |
| Notes | Inspiration for the famous radio broadcast on Oct. 30, 1938, (updated and set in New Jersey). Made into a movie. |
| Reviewer/Date | Kristina Wetherbee 6/21/2000 |
| Wilhelm, Kate | Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang |
|
Publication Date |
1976 |
| Number of Pages | 251 |
| Geographical Setting | Post-Holocaust United States, the Sumner farm |
| Time Period | The indeterminate future |
| Plot Summary | In a world where mass pollution has poisoned the environment causing worldwide hunger, human fertility has also decreased to the extent that humanity will soon be extinct if no solution is found. The Sumner family perceives this threat and devises a way to clone themselves in order to ensure the survival of humankind. However, the clones prove themselves to be something less than human, developing their own society in which the goal is to eliminate sexual reproduction entirely and individuality is considered a threat to the community. |
| Appeal | Explores the theme of diversity versus sameness. Issues of environmental pollution and human cloning. Futuristic tale that examines what it means to be human. |
| Notes | Contains some sexually explicit content |
| Reviewer/Date | Kara Nielsen 6/22/00 |
| Zelazny, Roger | Lord of Light |
|
Publication Date |
1967 |
| Number of Pages | 319 pp. |
| Geographical Setting | A far distant colony planet/ the Celestial City |
| Time Period | A far future time/ long after the death of Earth (Urath) |
|
Similar Authors/Titles |
Dune by Frank Herbert; A Canticle for Leibovitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. |
| Plot Summary | A spaceship of humans from the dying planet Urath, have colonized a distant, nameless planet; the crew of the ship, using advanced technologies, have given themselves the names, aspects and attributes of the gods of the Hindu pantheon. These gods (Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Kali, Yama, Krishna, among others), have kept their technological powers for themselves, thus dominating and controlling the lower castes of society (descendants of the passengers of the ship). They have imprisoned the demon Rakashas, the original inhabitants of the planet, in Hellwell, and have taken control of the means of reincarnation. The rebel hero, known variously as Mahasamatman, Maitreya, Siddhartha, Lord of Light, Binder of Demons, or Sam, as he calls himself, champions the cause of the Accelerationists, and does battle with the Gods in their Celestial City, aided by humans, demons and demigods, and in the process, becomes the Buddha. |
| Appeal | Science fiction meets religious fantasy. Rebel leader liberates the oppressed masses/Space rebellion. Advanced technology used to colonize alien planet. War against the Gods/Galactic battle. Playful, humorous, inventive style/Suspenseful. Messianic/Religious theme. |
| Notes | Merges science fiction and fantasy. Strong moral center/Deep symbolism. Has one of the genre's greatest puns. Chronological disorder of chapters may be confusing. First chapter is a flashback. Hugo award winner. |
| Reviewer/Date | Pamela Richards 6/21/00 |
| HOME | WESTERN | CRIME and MYSTERY | ROMANCE | CHRISTIAN | SCI-FI Author: A through M | N through Z | FANTASY | HORROR |
