Foundation by Isaac Asimov (series)Foundation is a classic sci-fi series of seven volumes spanning 550 years. The first book, also called Foundation, follows a dying empire’s mission to preserve humanity’s collective knowledge and alleviate, as much as possible, the dark ages predicted to arrive.
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The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu (series)The Three-Body Problem is the first book in a hard sci-fi series originally written in Chinese and translated into English. The story is set both in present day and during China’s Cultural Revolution, and the plot revolves around contact with a nearby alien race and the following repercussions on human society and science.
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Children of Time by Adrian TchaikovskyChildren of Time follows the journey of a few remaining survivors of apocalypse on Earth. They come across a seemingly ideal, terraformed planet, but must face conflicts with another civilization already residing therein.
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This Alien Shore by C.S. FriedmanThis is a space-opera, cyberpunk-themed novel with apparently interesting worldbuilding. The main character, Jamisia, is sheltered in Earth’s outer orbit while the Guera Guild holds an intergalactic monopoly.
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Wayfarers by Becky Chambers (series)Wayfarers is a 4-volume light hearted sci-fi/space opera series; the first book is called The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. The main character, Rosemary Harper, joins a motley spaceship crew and ends up bonding with them as they take on dangerous deep-space missions. This series is renowned for the diversity/representation among its characters and its optimistic tone.
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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (series)The Hitchhiker’s Guide is the first book in a whimsical series set in space. The plot mainly follows the journey of two characters, Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, aided by an in-world book called, well, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide”. A notable thing about this series is that it has spawned an abundance of cultural references - for example, the meaning of life being 42.
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Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha LeeDragon Pearl is a space opera following a 13-year-old girl named Min whose family has fox powers (shapeshifting and emotional manipulation); however, Min must hide those powers and stay human. Min decides to run away to space in order to find her brother, who has apparently deserted his space cruiser in search of the mystical Dragon Pearl.
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