From its world-building to its quirky characters, Star Trek is a beloved series, spanning multiple TV shows, books, and movies. As Captain Picard, Patrick Stewart brought an exciting narrative of adventure and thrill in a whole new world to its audience. If you are looking for more books similar to this style, take a look at these five books for all the Star Trek fanatics.
The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
Set in the fictional planet of January, a planet with a side engulfed in total darkness and a side scorched by constant daylight, the story centers around the character of Sophie, a girl who is exiled to the dark side because she was part of a failed revolution. However, she survives and joins a ragtag group of exiles as they fight for their lives.
Nominated for the Readers’ Favorite Science Fiction 2019, The City in the Middle of the Night was noted by one reviewer as having, “complex and well defined characters, interesting and dangerous landscapes (both political and physical), and some serious cool biological science fiction.”
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
Taking place in 1952, a meteorite obliterated the entire East Coast, including Washington, D.C. As a result, there is a pressure to colonize space as the next meteorite will entirely wipe out Earth. The main character, Elma York’s experience as a pilot and mathematician grants her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition to put man into space. However, seeing all the women pilots and scientists in the program makes Elma want to become the first Lady Astronaut.
The novel was the winner of the 2018 Nebula Award for Best Novel, the 2019 Hugo Award for Best Novel, and one of Esquire’s 75 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time, along with a myriad of other awards. The book was characterized by one reviewer as having, “A good, solid alternate history; a very involving story; characters I can believe in, invest in, and even identify with…”
Falling Free (Vorkosigan Saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold
The story focuses on Engineer Leo Graf, who gets the shock of his life when he arrives on a planet with beings who have arms for legs, aka the “Quaddies.” When the company that created them abandons them, he now has to figure out how to deal with this crisis.
A 16-book series with some additional novellas, the author recommends reading the series in “internal chronological order with some caveats,” which is why the above book is suggested here. For the full chronological order, the list can be found here.
One reviewer wrote about this Nebula Award Winner for Best Novel, and Hugo Award finalist, “Ms. [Bujold] has created a world based on scientific possibilities and has brought it and all of its inhabitants to life in a somewhat linear and minimalistic, but very powerful and enjoyable way.”
Dauntless by Jack Campbell
After a century of war between the Alliance and the Syndics with no resolution, the Alliance finds itself stranded in enemy territory. Their only hope is a legendary hero named Captain John “Black Jack” Geary, a man who was presumed dead.
A New York Times Bestselling series, Dauntless was characterized by one reviewer as “Strong military sci-fi that is fun, engaging, and exciting.”
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Adapted into a 2005 movie with a star-studded cast, the book centers around the character of Arthur Dent, who is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, seconds before Earth is to be demolished. Arthur and Ford, along with a crew of fellow travelers, embark on a journey throughout the galaxy.
Known for its comedy, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was described by one reviewer as “A work that showed humanity its insignificance and that madness is a general, entertaining trait in the universe.”
The sci-fi genre brings a thrill to us like no other, and these books make the perfect read for any Star Trek lover; we hope these books make you say “engage” to your TBR.
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These books and more can be found on our Dystopian Worlds, Technology, and the Universe in Science Fiction shelf at Bookshop.
