The Six Science Fiction Books I Want to Be Buried With.
I just wanted to blog a little morbid humor. Someone once told me it is how I handle stress. I’m not dying and don’t plan to for many years to come. I’m not even stressed, much. However, I was listening to a motivational speaker who mentioned relationships and how he tries to surround himself with people that will also be the six guys that will carry his casket. That got me thinking. I’m not going anywhere without my books.
Since my Kindle won’t have any power to recharge in that box/urn and while its plethora of books would probably make sure I don’t lose it in the underworld, I have decided to make some lists. This list is my six science fiction books that will be tucked into the side of my casket.
On Basilisk Station
1.
My favorite Space Opera novel. David Webers Honorverse is the best. Errrrr well, Frank Herbert is there too, but I love the strong female character of Honor Harrington as we follow her space navy career. So, I’m grabbing On Basilisk Station and the entire series, if I can squish them into the box.
Pawn of Prophecy
By David Eddings
2.
My favorite Fantasy book – My all-time favorite fantasy books fall under David Eddings with The Belgariad series starting with good old Pawn of Prophecy or Anne McCaffreys Dragon Riders of Pern. In fact, I actually adore the Harper Hall of Pern Trilogy: Dragonsong; Dragonsinger; Dragondrums the most. For me, within the Pern series, any one of those books is an excellent choice. Who doesn’t love dragons and singing? And while the evil monsters of today’s books are actual monsters or evil people, I always loved the fact that Anne decided to make an environmental antagonist of “thread” her ultimate battle foe. It’s like trying to defeat rain. She came up with dragon riders. Who-da-thunk?
Partners
By Melissa Good
3.
My favorite LGBT Sci-fi. To keep my busy brain engaged at the end of life, I’m going to need some hardcore drama and sexy sci-fi. Something that’s smart and sassy like Partners by Melissa Good. It’s all science-y and percolates the old brain. And ohh-my-my the plot and sexual tension are wonderful in this cyber-AI girl meets hotty fantastic female warrior/militant.
Dune
By Frank Herbert
4.
The Best Movie book – Dune by Frank Herbert. It was my favorite world-building book with the planet of spice melange and the elusive secretive Fremen. I’ve probably only read a handful of books with such artful world-building, like Lord of the Rings or A Song of Ice and Fire, or even Harry Potters Mages and Muggles world, and while I love those too, this one has kept me returning to enjoy the wicked scheming of the Bene Gesserit’s and the conflicts of Harkonnens and house Atreides.
The Scorpio Races
By Maggie Stiefvater
5.
Book with the Best Cover Art. My favorite cover art should be something space-oriented, but I really love the cover on Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races. The colors of reds and oranges, the horses, and the hint of the sea, remind me of the plot and of the conflicts and perspectives of the two main characters that intend to race one of the wild sea frothing horses that show up on shore to be ridden by the brave few every year.
The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins
6.
The Best Dystopian book – Should I pick The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins? It came to mind first and while it’s mind-blowing and totally foreseeable, I want to think better of society. Another few books I’ve loved would be The Road by Cormac McCarthy and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. RPO is perhaps my favorite movie watched in the last decade besides Avatar…which was not exactly a book. Yet RPO, the book, doesn’t follow the movie, exactly. Alas, I’m going to go old school. I still re-read The Giver by Lois Lowry, one of my all-time favorites. The movie with Jeff Bridges is not altogether bad, either. He really stuck to the book plot. I’ll never forget that blessed moment when Jonas slides down the hill and the entire population of “Utopia” (which is when the name of the city hit me as ironic, Yes, I’m that slow) recovers the ability to remember emotions that were locked up and lost long ago. Oh, shoot. I forgot about The Stand by Steven King, although this is largely a good vs evil book with a little theology thrown in. I enjoyed the initial chapters of random character stories King delivered in his epic dystopian. And I’m guessing King did not mean to envision his story to parallel the life of Covid. Still, it was fairly similar in detail for some, I imagine. When evil walks the walk, it really makes a difference. Steven King makes evil walk the ultimate walk, in blue jeans.
That’s it…. if I only had these science fiction fantasy books to read after death I think I’ll be OK. Although I don’t think these might cover my Fantasy Adventure books of all time. Even my own written novels are Space Opera world-building so I’m sure I’m missing something. I hope you enjoy this quick sample of my favorite science fiction. What are your favorites of all time?
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JL Nich, SFF Author
