Best of 2015 – Part 2
It’s that time of year when, as we have done for the last decade or so, we have dragged ourselves from the revelries here at SFFWorld to try and put some sort of order to our favourite (and not so favourite!) stuff from 2015.
The first part, on Fantasy books is HERE and the third part on Genre Film & TV is HERE.
And so, in the finest traditions of trying to reduce our lists to five in each category, here’s the first part of our attempt to show what we liked (or didn’t) this year. Taking part are Rob Bedford (Rob), Luke Brown (Luke), Mark Chitty (MarkC), our owner Dag Rambraut (Dag) and Mark Yon (MarkY).
Part 2: Science Fiction
In no order, Mark Y’s top 5 SF books for 2015:
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Luna: New Moon by Ian McDonald
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The Promise of the Child by Tom Toner
There was also a set of rereads MarkY really enjoyed:
Childhood’s End by Arthur C Clarke
Colossus by D F Jones
The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K leGuin
Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
There was also a lot of SF ‘old stuff’ I read this year. I really liked Childhood’s End by Arthur C Clarke, Colossus by D F Jones and The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K leGuin. Most of it held up surprisingly well, considering its age. Childhood’s End I liked for its unusual take on alien invasion, Colossus had great ideas about AI and scarily prescient future surveillance and Word for World is Forest was an emotional read that packed a punch is a finely-honed space. Perhaps the biggest eye-opener on the rereads for me though this year was Dune Messiah, which I hated when I read it thirty-odd years ago but now see as a much underrated book. I’m now looking forward to Children of Dune which I hope to get to soon!
Dag’s top SF books of 2015:
There were two in particular that I think deserve to be on the top list:
A Choice of Treasons by J.L. Doty
Dark Intelligence by Neal Asher
MarkC’s top 5 SF books for 2015:
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
The Affinities by Robert Charles Wilson
An Unwelcome Quest by Scott Meyer
Alive by Scott Sigler
Didn’t get to: The Promise of the Child by Tom Toner, SevenEves by Neal Stephenson, The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Disappointed with: Armada by Ernest Cline, Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
Luke’s top 5 SF books for 2015:
Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi
Something Coming Through by Paul McAuley
Clade by James Bradley
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Rob’s top 5 SF books for 2015:
Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey
Lightless by C.A. Higgins
Zero World by Jason M. Hough
The Red: First Light by Linda Nagata
Alive by Scott Sigler
SF Books in Detail
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
MarkY says: This was the one that surprised me by winning the Hugo Award for Best Novel. Admittedly it was an odd year for the Awards. But I was surprised because it was so old-fashioned in a lot of ways, albeit with a non-Western perspective. Some of the Maths was decidedly Hard SF, whilst other aspects were good ‘ol ‘scientist-in-peril.’
Luke says: As if this didn’t get enough attention this year by winning the Hugo Award for Best Novel, we also reviewed the crap out of it at SFFWorld, with reviews from both MarkY and Rob, so there was no need for me to add anything further. The book was first published in China in 2008, and saw its first English publication in the US last year, but it was only published in the UK/Commonwealth this year, so it qualifies for consideration on my list. It made the list because it brings a new voice to some traditional SF concepts, and combines a nostalgic joy with the pleasure of discovering something unique to English readers.
Rob says: I liked it more for what it tried to do and what it means to the genre as a whole than for the story itself. It wasn’t quite like anything else I’ve ever read, but there was some dry spells in the novel.
Luna: New Moon by Ian McDonald
MarkY says: Typically Ian McDonald, this story of future lunar colonisation takes the usual melange of McDonald stuff – polyglot languages, drugs, fashion, scheming – and transfers them to the Moon. Admittedly hard work to start with, this novel has one of the best cliff-hanger endings to a book I’ve read all year. Couldn’t put it down at the end.
SevenEves by Neal Stephenson
MarkY says: One I didn’t review for SFFWorld, simply because I thought Rob had said all I could. Both ‘typical Neal Stephenson’ and ‘frustratingly Neal Stephenson’, this one had all of the attributes and some of the issues I’ve come to associate with Neal’s books. Like Three Body Problem, the first third of the book is typical SF disaster tale – all 1980’s Lucifer’s Hammer or Forge of God. The last third is thrilling and almost a separate book. But that middle section…. Which nearly, nearly killed it for me (and many others, I understand.) It is a unique vision and typically Neal in that respect. Despite its issues, this one still stands out for me this year.
Rob says: This one just missed the cut for me, but I’ll still chime in. Seveneves really was two books and that second “book” was such a jarring shift with a couple of out of left field elements that detracted from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
MarkY says: A pleasant surprise in that this is unlike Adrian’s Shadow of the Apt series. It’s nice to see an author flex his writing muscles in an untypical way (felt the same about Jim Butcher’s Aeronaut’s Windlass too) and here Adrian writes an SF tale that for me is up there with Stephen Baxter and David Brin. It takes something to write a future tale where you side more with spiders than humans – and yet here it is. Hope Adrian continues to write more SF novels in the future.
MarkC says: I read Children of Time early/mid-December while looking at books I’d missed but wanted to get to. I’m really pleased I did too: this is the best book I read this year. Uplifted spiders with more detail than you can shake a stick at and a last-ditch Arkship attempt by remaining humans to find a new home– this book hits the mark perfectly with each story thread. It’s vividly realised with a society and civilisation built from the ground up, characters (both human and spider) that are relatable and engaging, and plenty going on to keep the pages turning. Very highly recommended.
The Promise of the Child by Tom Toner
MarkY says: Bit of a cheat this one, as I’ve only just finished it. There’s been a lot of debuts this year, I’m pleased to say, though most of them I haven’t liked that much. This one I did. Whilst The Shadow of the Child is not the most perfect book, there’s a lot here I liked and that I would expect from a more seasoned writer. The Shadow of the Child takes a lot of SF tropes (galactic politics, mega-weapons, big spaceships, a multitude of races and planets) and turns them into something – well, not new, exactly, but very well done.
A Choice of Treasons by J.L. Doty
Dag says: Hands down the best book I’ve read in years. A Space Opera with twists and turns around every bend, a truly roller coaster ride of a story. The Empire and Directorate have been at war for ages and we follow Lieutenant York Ballin as he find himself in the middle of a struggle more complicated and filled with conspiracies than anyone can imagine.
Dark Intelligence by Neal Asher
Dag says: This first novel in Neal Asher’s new Transformation trilogy is both disturbing and complex in many dimensions. Maybe not for the faint of heart, but I loved it.
MarkC says: Have to agree – Dark Intelligence has all of Neal’s typical in-your-face action, but also has a deeper look at the characters that gets very interesting as the novel progresses. Personally, I’m very much looking forward to see where the story goes in War Factory.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
MarkC says: Despite being self-published in 2014, I’m including this here as it was released through a traditional publisher earlier this year. What can I say about it? Well, it’s one of the best and most enjoyable science fiction novels I’ve read in a while. It’s got everything you could hope for, and then something extra to raise it above the competition. It’s also a science fiction novel that will appeal to many different people as it contains so much. Without a doubt one of the best of the year.
The Affinities by Robert Charles Wilson
MarkC says: While I wouldn’t have rated this so highly when I read it, The Affinities is a book that I always come back to when I think of the best novels I’ve read this year. Wilson does social science fiction like very few can, and his ideas stuck with me well beyond the closing pages. I didn’t review this at the time because, much like now, I really don’t know what to say about it. The central idea in the novel is a fascinating one, but this is a book about the characters, how they deal with life, and how they adapt as society changes around them.
An Unwelcome Quest by Scott Meyer
MarkC says: The third Magic 2.0 novel, and such a hugely enjoyable book that has so many laugh-out-loud moments I lost count. With our colourful cast of characters whisked off unexpectedly to take part in a quest created by the exiled Todd, An Unwelcome Quest starts as it means to go on with jokes that any player of RPG’s will get instantly, and builds to a finale that is both pleasing and surprising. If you’ve not read any of this series yet I highly recommend doing so – start with Off to Be the Wizard and follow it with the sequel, Spell or High Water, before tackling this. Great stuff.
Alive by Scott Sigler
MarkC says: I don’t want to say much about Alive, simply because the less you know when you go into it, the better (but check out Rob’s review). Suffice to say that as far as the current trend of YA SF goes, Alive can sit mighty proud atop the pile – it’s certainly one of the best I’ve read. And don’t let the YA tag put you off, this is good for everyone! I can’t wait to see where Sigler takes the sequel, Alight – April can’t come fast enough!
Rob says: The premise starts with this: a 12-year old girl wakes up in a dark place on what she thinks is her birthday. She comes to realize she is in a coffin, but she has no concrete memories of who she is but sees what she assumes is her name “M. Savage” on the coffin. Some memories of moments enter her mind, but nothing really informing her of her identity or situation. She realizes she is not the only person in a coffin as a voice comes from another locked coffin in the room. Em (as she comes to calling herself) realizes her body is no longer that of a 12-year old girl. To reveal too much more of the plot beyond that would violate the unwritten/unsigned agreement I made with Scott Sigler when I finished the book. This was a damned fun novel.
Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
Luke says: My book of the year. Simply brilliant. It’s an updating of the old generation star ship trope for a modern audience and, as such, it explores some fascinating hard SF ideas. But what makes this book great is its deep understanding of humanity and it’s hidden narrative layers. From the AI mind of the star ship learning what it means to be human, to the deep examination of our place in the universe and our relationship to our planet, this book made me think and moved me more than any other thing written this year.
MarkC says: I mentioned above that this was a disappointment for me, and I’d like to explain a little seeing as it really worked for Luke. I didn’t think that was a badly written book, and the premise and story were very interesting. The issue I had, and one I suspect many would with Aurora, is that the long scientific explanations and ponderings really dragged. The parts outside of these musings were very good, but they were too few and far between for me, hence my disappointment.
MarkY says: Must admit, I tried it, but was disappointed. I often like Kim’s books, but found this one frustrating, as I did 2312, for the reasons MarkC’s mentioned.
The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi
Luke says: I’m not sure if a more timely or terrifying book was written this year. Bacigalupi’s near-future thriller cuts like the well-honed knife of the title, portraying a world throttled by water scarcity in way that seems all too plausible. The fact that the book manages to tell a full throttle action thriller at the same time as providing a dire warning about the current trajectory of our society makes this work all the more powerful.
Something Coming Through by Paul McAuley
Luke says: McAuley is always worth reading, and while I don’t think this was his strongest work, it certainly compares well to the majority of other 2015 SF I read. There’s a playfulness here that I’ve not encountered from this author before and the sense of fun is infectious as you read this novel about human society interacting with a mysterious alien race. But be warned: there’s also a dark edge to balance things out.
Clade by James Bradley
Luke says: It’s a travesty that this book isn’t yet available outside of Australia. I implore people to seek it out because it really is quite brilliant. It’s a very literary science fiction novel that follows a family through the collapse (and rebirth?) of society in the wake of the devastating effects of climate change. It’s a beautifully written book that balances epic, global scale events against the challenges and turmoil of the human spirit, and it sneaks in just under Aurora as my novel of the year.
The Red: First Light by Linda Nagata
Rob says: Lieutenant James Shelley is in charge of a Linked Combat Squad (LCS), who has dubbed him King David because of his premonitions which have often saved some, or all of them, from defeat or death. In this near future (probably about Twenty Minutes into the Future) members of the military wear skull caps on their heads which connect them to a cloud network. The military answers more to defense contractors than the government. The skull caps worn by the squad members also, via the cloud and their network administrator (for lack of a better term), control their emotions to ensure a more cool and calculated demeanor in the field. Ironically enough, Shelly was a war protestor and in lieu of serving out a jail sentence, he agreed to join the military. He excelled and eventually Shelly’s premonitions become more powerful, but he sustains a very damaging combat injury in the first third of the novel. What provides Shelly with these premonitions is something he dubs “The Red;” but is it malevolent, benign, or benevolent or more likely, an unknowable wild card? It is very easy to understand why this book, when Nagata self-published it, was shortlisted for the Nebula Award for Best Novel.
Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey
Rob says: The previous installment, Cibola Burn, was very much a game changer, in terms of the scope of the story. Here in Nemesis Games, James S.A. Corey changes the script again, by breaking up the crew of the Rocinate into its individual parts: Alex Kamal, Naomi Nagata, Amos, and James Holden. Not only that, a good portion of the narrative takes place on Earth, so in many ways, Nemesis Games is a risk. Worry not, though: the powerful storytelling and engaging characterization from previous volumes are shining through as The Expanse continues to reshuffle the deck with each installment. I say this with every installment of The Expanse, but it remains true. This is the best space-based science fiction series on the shelves with a perfect balance of entertainment and thought-provocation. Each novel changes the game while still managing to remain true to the heart of the series.
MarkC says: I’m loving The Expanse, and Nemesis Games did exactly what Rob said. I actually think this is one of the best in the series so far, the changes work to its advantage and allow Corey to deeper explore their characters. This one narrowly missed out on my top 5, and it’d very likely take the 6th spot.
Lightless by C.A. Higgins
Rob says: The System is the governing body of the solar system, they have total control of the populace. One of their experimental military space vessels – the Ananke – is boarded by two hostile men. These men, Mattie and Ivanov, are known to be thieves (Space Pirates!) and are suspected to be allies of the galaxy’s most infamous terrorist. Ivanov is caught, Mattie escapes. But before he escapes, Mattie does something to the Ananke. At the center of Lightless, C.A. Higgins debut novel space is computer scientist Althea. Lightless is a remarkably impressive tightly woven debut novel from a new voice in the genre that will hopefully have many more stories to share with readers.
Zero World by Jason M. Hough
Rob says: Zero World is Jason Hough’s first hardcover novel after a successful career-launch with The Dire Earth Trilogy. Part of why that trilogy was so successful is because Del Rey had the faith to release the trilogy over the course of three months. It also didn’t hurt that Hough spins a fun yarn.
Here in Zero World, Jason sets a much larger canvas for his story, expanding not just beyond the bounds of planet Earth, but beyond the universe itself. Zero World is a high concept SF novel that takes the multiverse/parallel world theory to an ambitious, exaggerated degree and places at its center Peter Caswell, an operative of a highly secretive organization tasked with finding a woman named Alice who was thought to be dead when the vessel on which she was a crew member crashed a little over a decade prior to the events in the novel. Zero World is a high-concept SF thrill-ride that just about lives up to the author’s lofty ambitions.
And that’s it for Part 2.
Next up: Film & TV.
