I've been reading Asimov's books in in-universe chronological order for the past few months. Really enjoyed most of them, especially the robot books, and I am currently reading the last one, Foundation and Earth.
I'm trying not to feel too lost once I'm done, so I want to figure out what I'll read next in advance. I think I'm still in a sci-fi mood, but one thing I wasn't a huge fan of in these books was the lack of biological diversity in every single planet that wasn't Earth. So I'm looking for some more alien focused stuff.
My favourite alien stories tend to be either dystopian (I really liked the TV show Colony, and the book Childhood's End) or focused on the mystery and strangeness of first contact with aliens (like the movie Arrival)
I'm a huge horror fan too, so horror elements are a bonus, but not necessary. I've read some China Mieville and quite enjoyed it, especially Embassytown.
Thank you for any suggestions!
by CelestialUrsae
7 Comments
The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K Le Guin
Fluency by Jennifer Foehner Wells
The Pride of Chanur by CJ Cherryh is a reverse first contact. Galactic society coming across its first Human.
I think you’d like Octavia Butler’s Xenogenesis series.
Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin has everything You’re asking for including the horror elements (more so in books 2 and 3). Also on a level with Asimov as far as density of sci-fi concepts. Just enough to make it really interesting, but not so much that the story gets bogged down.
ETA rereading your post, this is human/earth focused so maybe not what you’re looking for. Still an amazing series. I agree with whoever suggests hainish cycle by LeGuin. Those are all about alien cultures as analogues to human culture and LeGuin is a top notch writer.
I really enjoyed Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis. The sequel (Perelandra) I didn’t enjoy as much but others appear to rate that one higher. Haven’t read the last one in the trilogy yet but will do so later this year.
Peter Kline definitely fits the horror-alien element well. 14 is a good start!
If you want weird first contact, lighthearted, how about Scalzi’s Agent to the Stars? It’s an unusual take on first contact.
Children of Time – Adrian Tchaikovsky. Instead of spoiling it by reading a synopsis, read the first 10 pages, and you will be hooked.