Hello readers, and welcome to my final Book Nook of the year, and this one is all about science fiction. I have gathered five fun selections for us today instead of the usual four, so let’s get into it. 

To start us off, we have an old classic, “I Have No Mouth and Must I Scream,” a short story by Harlan Ellison. You have probably heard of this, but to recap, it focuses on five humans, the last humans, who are held captive by Am, a superintelligence that hates its own existence. It takes this hatred out on the remaining humans who are kept alive nearly immortal by Am, until one of them sees an opportunity to escape and suffers for it. This story explores the existential nature of humanity using horror. It’s a must-read for all sci-fi fans.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card is a well-known novel that focuses on a kid named Ender. Humanity is fighting a war against an impossible enemy and needs a way out. Ender is that out; he is essentially conscripted into the military from a young age to serve. This is a story that has twists and turns; some can be seen coming, many cannot. Either way, it is a thrilling adventure that you need to read if you have not already.

Dune by Frank Herbert and Isaac Asimov’s Foundation by Isaac Asimov are worth a paired review even though they are opposites in a way. In Dune, you have a protagonist messiah who can see the future when they get high; in Foundation, you don’t have a single protagonist; rather, society is the protagonist. Sure, there are characters like the mule and a powerful psychic who can sway the masses, and the future is told using mathematics, not magic drugs. Dune takes the personal approach, and the Foundation focuses on the big picture, more on the scale of nations than individuals. 

Last and probably least, when compared to the previous monoliths, is Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. In my opinion, it’s good, not great, but I’m recommending it because of the world building; there are simply so many things I’m still curious about, like how delvers form and what is nowhere. During this story, you will follow a group of wanna-be fighter pilots who don’t know their place in the world; no one does. Overall, I would say it is a good read even if it can be trying at times.

For more reading recommendations, check out my other editions of Book Nook on accchronicle.net. Thanks for reading, and goodbye, till next year!