Today I’m participating in Friday Fives in celebration of #Scifimonth2025! To kick things off, I’m starting with the first prompt, and I have found five recent reads that focus on the journey, not the destination. Not all of these take place in space, so you’ll see two books below that are set in the future but whose stories take place on Earth. Here are the five books I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a futuristic journey:
Calypso by Oliver K. Langmead. This is a generation ship story told in verse, and you have to admit generation ships fit this prompt perfectly! Langmead is one of my favorite authors and writes such unique stories, and this was really good.
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite. This is another generation ship story, much lighter than Calypso but tons of fun. During the long trip to a new planet, the characters must solve a murder mystery.
Twenty Five To Life by R.W.W. Greene. Greene’s story takes place on a dying Earth and focuses on a group of renegades who didn’t make it onto the generation ships. Instead, they travel the United States in beat up vans and trucks, trying to survive off the land and limited resources. It’s quite the journey!
The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei. This is one of my favorite generation ship stories! Not only do we have a harrowing journey, since the trip to a new planet turns into a survival story, but Kitasei gives her readers plenty of wonderfully drawn characters and relationships.
All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall. I adored this book! This is a post apocalyptic tale about a group of survivors who escape a horrific storm and must try to survive on a boat.
This is a great mix of books! I have Kitasei on my radar but I haven’t read anything by this author yet… But sooner or later I will manage it!
I really love her books, especially The Deep Sky:-)
4 out of 5 of these were already on my TBR so adding the 5th now š
Yay!
If all these are as good as Calypso, I’ll need to follow all your recommendations!
Yes do! I enjoyed all of these, although none are quite as unusual/original as Calypso:-)
I really liked Murder by Memory, and plan to read All the Water in the World. Fun topic!
Thanks! All the Water in the World is definitely worth checking out.
Murder by Memory is on my TBR list. And I love post apocalyptic reads so I’ll be adding All the Water in the World to my list, too. And put them both at the top so I actually get around to reading them next year. ;D
Both are really good, and the sequel to Murder by Memory comes out next year.
I am determined to read All the Water in the World this year. We will see if I can do it. I thought November but now I have it slotted into December.
December is a good month to catch up on books. I hope you find time to read it!
I know I’ve been eyeing All the Water in the World at the library!
You NEED to read it, sooo good.
I haven’t read any of these, so you’ve added to my potential TBR. My own nomination for this prompt is The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord. Thanks for the list and happy reading!
That’s a good one too!
Wow, all but one reference generation ships! And nothing at all wrong with that. They do make for good journey stories.
I have had really good luck with generation ship stories, the idea itself is pretty mind blowing!
I’ve only read one of these (Murder by Memory) though I do have a copy of Twenty Five to Life. Have not heard of the other three though, I really need to up my Sci Fi game!
I haven’t read that much sci fi this year either!
Generation Ships can be great settings for books! I really liked Murder by Memory and I’m looking forward to the sequel a lot.
It seems that you have five excellent choices!
I haven’t read any of these! I really like the sound of All the Water in the World.
Lynn š
Thanks so much for including “Twenty-Five to Life” on your list!