📚 The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge

35/2022 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1981 Hugo Best Novel

Science fiction that somehow reads like fantasy (that’s not a complaint, to be clear). At times almost feels like a alternative take on Asimov’s Foundation universe, with a galaxy-spanning empire crumbling, and a repository of knowledge meant to rebuild civilization, only going in a somewhat different direction.

Michael holding The Snow Queen

📚 The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke

33/2022 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1980 Hugo Best Novel

The story of the construction of humanity’s first space elevator, tied to the history of the (semi-fictional) island that serves as its base. An easy read, concerned primarily with exploring how such an engineering feat might happen, and without any real antagonist or great interpersonal dramas.

Michael holding The Fountains of Paradise

📚 Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre

26/2022 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1979 Hugo Best Novel

Neat tale of a woman traveling across a far-future post-apocalyptic earth, healing others with the help of her snakes while searching for an alien snake to assist her, and finding more people to help along the way. Adventuresome, but quiet, with some interesting hints at the wider world that go unanswered as the story unfolds. Really enjoyed the (somewhat groundbreaking at the time, apparently) feminist reworking of the hero’s journey, where conflict is solved by caring and healing rather than combat.

Michael holding Dreamsnake