Looking for suggestions that are very grounded genre (not gigantic space or fantasy where it’s a totally different world.)
I love books like The Leftovers or more recently Sharkheart, where it’s our world but there’s one aspect that you have to believe happened or is possible.
I guess you could also put shows like Severance in this category as well.
Any favorites you’d recommend?? Thank you in advance!
by supreddit_3
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**The Future** by Naomi Alderman. With the tech featured in the book, it could easily be set 10-15 years from now.
I also think **The Martian** by Andy Weir should count. Even though the book stars a character who was part of NASA’s sixth trip to Mars, the author took great pains to use [technology](https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/08/20/nasa-shows-off-nine-real-nasa-technologies-in-the-martian) that currently exists, or is believably on the horizon. Weir’s **Project Hail Mary** is similar, but also features the discovery of alien life whose features drastically advances human technology.
Kim Stanley Robinson in general, the red Mars series specifically.
Almost anything by Arthur c. Clarke
*Rocket Girls* by Housuke Nojiri
We are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker
Termination Shock by Neil Stephenson
Attack Surface by Cory Doctorow
Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn
I prefer this kind of sci-fi & speculative fiction too. I recently tried The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, The Bobiverse, and All Systems Red, which people rave about but I struggled to enjoy.
I absolutely loved *The Martian* and *Project Hail Mary* by Andy Weir btw, as it they felt far more grounded, comprehendable and down right hilarious!
I really enjoy things like Black Mirror, that are dark twists on reality often involving tech. I recommend…
* *The One* by John Marrs
* *The Passengers* by John Marrs
* *The Measure* by Nikki Erlick
* *Intercepts* by T.J. Payne
* *Last One at the Party* by Bethany Clift
* *At Home With the Horrors* by Sammy Scott (short story collection)
* *Exhalation* and *Stories of Your Life and Others* by Ted Chiang (which I own but haven’t read yet, but they fit this theme and the film Arrival is based on one of the short stories).
You might also enjoy the Magic Realism genre, where it’s mostly realistic with a magical element, and Shark Heart fits this (which I’m looking forward to reading!).
The City We Became by NK Jemisin
Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro