Lists: science fiction
Little Brother
"While the price of security and freedom is high, it is never too high." But what about when the price of security is freedom? In this frighteningly plausible tale of homeland security v. personal freedom, teenager Marcus, after being detained in a secret prison for suspected terrorism, starts a freedom-fighting movement among his fellow teens in San Francisco, taking advantage of the Internet's culture and (if you do it right) anonymity. But can a bunch of kids really take on the U.S. government and win? Words of wisdom: "Don't trust anyone over 25."
Little Brother is probably plausible enough to put in my realistic fiction list, but I'm praying the speculative aspects will stay speculative; hence, here it is on the science fiction list for now.
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
In the not-too-distant future, the Moon is a penal colony for criminal and political prisoners. But even their children, born "free", are effectively prisoners. Their bodies cannot withstand Earth's heavy gravity; they must stay on Luna forever, harvesting ice and grain to meet overpopulated Earth's growing demands under the Authority's rule.
Mannie is a Lunar native and computer technician who discovers Luna's mainframe computer has somehow made the transition from machine to self-aware individual. He's now Mike, an AI with an oddly developed sense of humor and undying loyalty to Mannie.
When Mannie and Mike fall in with an anti-Authority agitator named Wyoming, they learn that if current trends continue, Luna's people will be starving in seven years. There's only one way out: revolt! And Mike, with his unfettered access to all computerized communications and controls, is the only one who can help pull off a daring scheme to gain Lunar independence, once and for all.
This is one of my favorite novels in any genre. I love Heinlein's evocative yet unadorned language. Rather than being overwhelmed by its science fiction aspects (space travel, artificial intelligence), The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is instead a compelling and thought-provoking story of rebellion, freedom, and nation-building. Highly recommended for high school and up.
Life as We Knew It
When an asteroid knocks into the Moon, altering its orbit, Earth undergoes catastrophic changes. Higher tides flood the coasts. Volcanoes erupt. The ash blocks out the sun. Temperatures plummet. And humans struggle to survive.
Miranda is one such survivor. She, her mother, and brother live in relative isolation in rural Pennsylvania. Together, they must preserve their hope for the future – even though there's no promise life will ever be better.
This is one of the most disturbing and haunting books I have ever read, and its parallels to today's fears about global warming and nuclear war make it all the heavier-hitting. Highly recommended for middle school and up.
Mortal Engines
Thousands of years in the future, the world's great cities roll across the continents in search of resources. They snap up smaller cities, stripping their resources and enslaving their people.
Tom, an Apprentice Historian, has always accepted this "Municipal Darwinism" as a fact of life. But when a strange turn of events finds Tom - together with a mysterious and enraged girl assassin - unceremoniously dumped off his beloved London, Tom's whole world is turned on its head.
What follows is an action-filled, steampunk page-turner with plenty of intrigue, suspense, and a touch of romance. This first volume of the Hungry City Chronicles is a terrific read for middle school and up, especially those who have enjoyed Kenneth Oppel's Airborn.