Finished one of my favorite series on Christmas this year!

To be honest, I wasn‘t a fan of how the story wrapped up. I thought the ending was just too rushed, but hey, it‘s been quite the adventure that I definitely recommend going on.

Lots of love to ya Mr. Clarke ◾️🖤

“There are problems in this universe for which there are no answers.”

Felt like I was on Arrakis sitting in the sunshine on my back porch today...

I love the mystical universe Herbert imagined and the story he tells within it. Kinda wish it had a glossary too 😅 but it sure leaves you with a lot to think about...

“As terrifying and painful as reality can be, it‘s also the only place where you can find true happiness, because reality...is real. If that makes any sense...”

A reallyyyyy fun book to read or listen to and a million times better than the movie in my opinion.

Really good book to binge read.

I saw the movie first and I‘m still shocked how different the book is. Not too mad though, because it‘s like a new (and better) adventure!

I‘m such a big fan of 70s and 80 sci-fi/fantasy/video game artwork like this...and y‘all know I geeked out at all the sci-fi references in this book.

This book was the first step I took in my sci-fi journey 2 years ago, so it holds a special spot in my heart!

I thought this was an epic journey which questions everything about our current social structure from the perspective of a true outsider. I loved following Michael through his earthly adventures and the implications it made of life thereafter.

P.S. I finally found the edition i wanted in a used bookstore after 2 years of searching!!

Lots of love for this series. It‘s everything I want out of a science fiction novel. Clarke is a creative genius who has taken me beyond my wildest dreams with his imagination. He seamlessly ties the past into the future making his universe feel all the more real. I can‘t wait to finish the series with 3001. 🖤◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️

You can truly feel the immense time, effort, love and crafting that Herbert put into creating this expansive universe and all its rich cultures. It‘s no wonder this book stands the test of time.

I also found the 1984 movie really charming and that it actually compliments the book unlike most movie adaptations.

“Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.”

Yes, yes, yes. If it wasn‘t obvious already, I absolutely adore this series. I love everything about it, the writing, the plot, the theories, the aliennnnnnnsssss...okay I admit, I‘m a little blind to anything wrong with this book because aliens.

Overall, I found this sequel just as enjoyable as the first!!

“And maybe no such bridge is possible and that two such alien forms of consciousness can never coexist. If this is so, then only one of them can inherit the solar system. Which it will be, not even the gods know...yet.”

Happy calendar page flip day!

What a funny coincidence it is that this month is ”Extraterrestrial Eruptions” with a large blurb on Io, because it‘s one of the major settings in 2010 which I‘m reading right now! 😁

I just love Clarke‘s descriptions of Io‘s nightmarish volcanic landscape in the book. Just imagining it gave me chills!

10 chapters in and unsurprisingly loving the adventure. Still not sure if I agree with changing the setting to Jupiter but I understand why. However, I‘m still a big fan of the overwhelming presence of the Great Eye of Iapetus and the Saturn imagery in the first book 💔

Only a few more things left to unpack after my big move. With this new place, I‘m expecting a lot more free time to be able to read! Soon!

Also, very curious about this...movie??

✨“Those who had begun that experiment so long ago had not been men or even remotely close to human, but they were flesh and blood and when they looked out across the deeps of space, they had felt awe and wonder and loneliness.” ✨

Photo from babaktafreshi on Instagram!!!

#scifi

“Free at last from the tyranny of matter”

I. ADORE. THIS. BOOK.

I didn‘t expect to like it as much as I did. Came in with low expectations since I had already seen the movie and enjoyed it...fell asleep to it...thought it was weird...as ya do.

However, I literally just finished it and I already want to read it again. I may have a new favorite book.

Personally? Not a fan of this book, although I can see why people may like it. It‘s a really easy sci-fiy read

Pros: really loved the universe she built and all the unique aliens and like the two pages she had of extraterrestrial biological theory.

Cons: none of the characters developed & have annoying personalities & predictable plot

Ultimately, this story would have translated better as a tv show in my opinion. It Reminded me a lot of firefly

Happy calendar page flip day!

I‘m finishing up a book today and boy do I have a lot of opinions 🤔

I absolutely love this little picture book I received on Christmas. It never ceases to make me smile and feel all the lovey feelings. The authors Giger dedication even brought some tears to my eyes.

Here are the most “ME” pages 🙃

#alien #xenomorph

Hello, yes, I am Mulder.

The sweet and lovely @JessNevertheless gave me this absolutely adorkable book! Beautifully illustrated and a fun little story! I‘ve got the best big sis 😊

#thexfiles

#20thingsaboutme
23 in July
Lefty
Ravenclaw
Cosette the papillion❤️
Environmental Science BS
Work with mapping software
Want to run a sci-fi book club in the DC area
Love:
HR Giger‘s work, X files, Snow, Thrift shopping, All beer types, Insects, Bitter coffee and tea, Hiking
Struggled with reading when I was younger
I‘ve been audiobooking for almost a year
Slowly getting better at physically reading
Moving in 4 weeks
I‘m bad at socializing on here

Just started Dune...Thank goodness for the glossary, because I need to study up! 😭📚

I just finished my second book of the year this weekend after deciding to switch things up a bit.

All I can say is that it‘s been a disturbing rollercoaster of a read. This book had me either laughing or speechless. There was no in between 😅

Starting off the year right with some existential crises 👍🏼

*Starring at the ocean*
“It makes me feel as though,” he hesitated searching for words with which to express himself, “as though I were more of me, if you see what I mean...more of my own...not so completely a part of something else...not just a cell in the social body.”

Me too pal, me too...

📸Photo of the Canary Islands by babaktafreshi on Instagram

Anyone who has made it this far will most likely enjoy this satisfying conclusion. While not as profound as xenocide, it sure was a great adventure riding alongside so many characters and aliens I‘ve grown to know and love.

I‘ve completed a childhood goal of mine, finding out what happens after Enders game and I‘m just filled with lots and lots of love for this universe.

Photo from the speaker for the dead comic. I can‘t wait to collect these!!

Picked these two up at a used bookstore during a visit with @JessNevertheless a couple weeks ago. Book browsing is one of our favorite things to do together. Also snagged this picture of them against her infamous massive bookshelves for that litsy aesthetic.
Should I start one of these next? Looking for a short easy read..

So much to say! So little space here!
LONG story short, I wish I read this before Fire. I think I would have liked this more without constantly comparing the two. For me, it felt like this story just had (ironically)”the deepness” missing that Fire had with its characters and how they grew on you.

Alien rating: Vinge kills it again with his aliens! They were the best part of this story! Loved how their culture was so heavily shaped by OnOff

Found this in the attic, July 1990! Such a fun read comparing the articles to what we know now. It‘s amazing how far we‘ve come.
✨Personally? I don‘t think I believe in parallel universes. There‘s just too much we don‘t know about our current one to even comprehend thousands of others! It‘s also why I tend to shy away from stories (comics)in multiverses, too confusing!! (Says the girl who reads 800pg hard sci-fi most would say are quite confusing)

✨Lately I‘ve been reading more on the non-fiction side of the universe! I visited my old college town this weekend and picked up this book from the local used bookstore. I couldn‘t resist! It‘s a really fun, good and easy read on all astronomical topics with beautiful pictures too! When I saw the detailed star maps of each month, I was sold!

This is the first sci-fi book I ever read! It‘s such a fun adventure on a unique planet! The series addresses societal structures, authority and the value of another sentient species. It has so many characters you‘ll watch grow and villains you‘ll love to hate. It definitely shaped my view for future sci-fi novels I picked to read. The story and characters have stuck with me all this time ❤️
And who doesn‘t love a well written strong female lead?

It‘s a good day to drink lots of coffee out of my favorite space mug and listen to an audiobook at work! All while wearing this super cool sticker 🇺🇸

#ivoted #showmeyoursticker

Finished this book about a week ago now and wow. I had my doubts at first, but I am still completely overwhelmed. I‘ve written so many notes and quotes and thoughts and questions because of this creative story. My brain is absolutely buzzing with scientific and theological philosophy! I am happy 😁

alien rating: a masterpiece

#aliens #scifi

Had a great time in Philadelphia this weekend at the Franklin Institute. I especially loved the planetarium show and the optical illusion section of the brain exhibit! ✨

#Philadelphia

“I have tasted the heat of many stars and all of them were sweet.” -The Hive Queen speaking to the Father Trees

I love this quote. I love the overwhelming sense of ancient depth it gives her species. What a life like hers must be like...

Photo from ESA/Hubble & NASA

“Xenocide must be built into the universe. No mercy not even for the greatest players in the game...
...Why should intelligent species be immune to the threat of extinction that looms over every species that has ever came to be?”
——
Wow. I‘m only a couple chapters in and wow this book is dense. A complete 180 from the beginning of Speaker! Cliffhangers feel unnecessary though...

#ender #sciencefiction

“But who shall dwell in these worlds if they be inhabited?...Are we or they Lords of the World?...And how are all things made for man?”
-Kepler, The Anatomy of Melancholy
——-
I‘m in love with this cover artwork and this first page quote! It really encompasses all my thoughts about life into one sentence. A perfect used bookstore find ❤️

This book is a light hearted easy read. I really enjoyed it, even though it was a bit jumpy at times. I recommend this book for younger people or those who want to try a little bit of sci-fi without getting too in over their heads.
In the end, Heinlein played with some fantastic thematic elements of slavery and freedom all wrapped up nicely in a fun adventure.
Alien rating 7/10 more time spent explaining cultural difference than physical

sooo I can‘t get over this terrifying audiobook cover

#sciencefiction #heinlein

Sometimes you gotta treat yourself and picking up an alien comic from the used bookstore is the way to go. Any book with a beautifully drawn xenomorph and I‘m the happiest gal 😍

A great retelling of the classic tale along with some awesome artwork.
100/10 alien rating

#alien #xenomorph #sciencefiction #scifi

My lovely sister @JessNevertheless gave me this beautiful sci-fi themed post card and I put it up in my office today! It always makes me smile and functions as a good “to read” checklist 😁

Is it any surprise that I absolutely love this book? It means an awful lot to me. It was one of the first science fiction stories that touched me in a way that no other book has. It was the realization of my love for this genre.
10/10 alien rating

#sciencefiction #orsonscottcard
#ender

Spent a lovely afternoon reading on the greenery next to the Portland waterfront last week. Unfortunately, this book will probably take me about a month to finish!
#stayingdedicated #forthealiens

LOVED spending a couple hours browsing Powell‘s during my travels in Portland! I‘ve never seen a bookstore so busy at odd hours of the day 💕

Really wishing we had flying cars today...I‘m TRYING to get to Portland, Oregon but it‘s already been quite the chaotic adventure after a 6am original flight, delayed in the plane for an hour, deboarded, delayed another hour, changed our connecting flight, changed terminals, and reboarded. At least I have a great partner and a good book.

Sooooo excited to finally start this book. I‘ve only heard good things!

“After thousands of years of searching, humans stand on the verge of first contact with an alien race. Two human groups: the Qeng Ho, a culture of free, innovative traders, and the Emergents, a ruthless society based on the technological enslavement of minds...”

#sciencefiction #scifi #vernorvinge #zonesofthought

Just some lighthearted reading before bed 💤🛸

(Actually this book is “Life in Space” by the same author but it wasn‘t an option in the search..)

*10/10 alien rating*
I wanted to like this book so much.
It was very frustrating to get through overall. I just about bailed a dozen times because of the strange writing style (& audiobook readers). There was so much build up, so much confusion and I couldn‘t tell if it was intentional. Read it if you want to know what happens to Ender. That‘s all

p.s. what is the front cover supposed to be?

#scifi #ender

Thanks google images for helping me daydream at work (Yes that is a 3D printed alien head, my pride and joy)

Also aiming to finish speaker today, and boy do I have some OPINIONS

Rolling hills and thick greenery: my favorite place to daydream
Chapter 35 page 483
“...look out on the universe. It does not care, and even with all our science there are some disasters that we can not avert. All evil and good is petty before Nature. Personally, we take comfort from this, that there is a universe to admire that cannot be twisted to villainy or good, but which simply is.”
#sciencefiction #scifi #vernorvinge #universe