Book Tag - Science Fiction Invaders

This book tag was penned by blogger K J Mulder of www.worldsinink.blogspot.com who is currently running a Science Fiction Invaders book challenge. All these questions are on SF and if you want to do this please remember to link to our spacefaring mastermind!

Q1 – Blast Off!

Which Book Got You Interested In Or Hooked on Science Fiction?

This would be a Doctor Who novelisation I read as a kid in the 1980s Doctor Who And The Daemons written by the awesome Barry Letts (not Terrance Dicks who I long misremembered) this tale I read multiple times before I ever saw the episodes mixes soldier, aliens, satanists and for me is where I learned you can have SF, fantasy and horror in one tale but also is probably the first book I always came back to. My first blurred boundary tale and one that reminded me SF isn’t just Buck Rogers!

Q2 – Engage Targeting Systems!

What type of science fiction that you enjoy the most? Any specific tropes or sub-genre that makes something a must read?

Ooooh I think its social sciences., I want to see how people are affected by changes. Be that evolution of spiders in Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky; cultural impacts of time travel as in The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz or the impact of culture and empire as in A memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. That’s my catnip more than hard science and how FTL works

Q3 – Prime Your Weapons Systems

What’s Your Favourite Science Fiction book series?

Oh lets give you three (rules are for humans) The Culture Series by Iain M Banks shows a series can explore ideas and be loosely connected even with many different worlds, times and characters; The Wayfarer series by Becky Chambers does something similar but is focused on communities and co-operation plus they give you hope for humanity. Lastly, I already mentioned Rosewater but the Wormwood trilogy by Tade Thomspson does something amazing in how I switched sides as to what should happen with every book. All well worth your time

Q4 – Disengage Safeties

What would you like to see more of in the genre?

Stop treating planets as one single entity/community. I think factions, different groups and mindsets are far more likely.

Q5 – Weapons Free

What is your favourite adaptation of a science fiction work?

Arrival – it’s a work of genius and explores the power of communication.

Q6 – Torpedoes Away

Share an unpopular opinion which other sci-fi fans might judge you for

I will share two! Star Wars is no longer the centre of the SF universe and no one really cares if the made-up science is right

Q7 – Victory

What’s the one science fiction book you always recommend to someone? Why?

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky – blows your mind discussing evolution and makes you like spiders. Its brilliant!