SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I need a recommendation on a sci-fi book that grabs you at page 1 & won’t let you put it down. I’m in serious need of some escapism right now, but (because of the issues I’m seeking to escape) I’m having a hard time picking one from the many on my shelves. Space opera & hard sci-fi are my preferences, but I’m open to all. Suggestions?

What about Pushing Ice?

My go to would be The Collapsing Empire. Intense but not in a way that is likely to feel too close to home. Laugh out loud bits, high drama, delightful characters and a big "oh shit" from the gate. Definite space opera.

If you haven't read it, Ninefox Gambit starts weird and gets great. Come for the bananas magic/science system, stay for the wacky plotting.

Hope everything works out for you!!

You say you like hard sci-fi, and Seveneves is on your to-read list, so that's what I'd jump to.

It's a love-it-or-hate-it sort of book, but your shelves suggest you like Stephenson, so... It's probably his hard-sci-fi-est book, and his most intense book that I've read.

I would second SEVENEVES. Hard to imagine a more thrilling beginning than the explosion of the Moon!

I would also say that LEVIATHAN WAKES (Expanse #1) is pretty thrilling.

And ANCILLARY JUSTICE starts off pretty quickly but then slows down.

I think Reynolds is the master of the slow intense build.

Richard K. Morgan’s ALTERED CARBON starts pretty quickly too...

Lots of good books mentioned and I would add Ian McDonald's fantastic New Moon which is basically game of thrones on the moon. Fantastic worldbuilding, tech and characters, it's raw, gritty and just fun.

1) A Choice of Treasons. 2) Poor Man's Fight. 3) I Am Pilgrim. 4) Orphan X. 5) Red Country.... here you go, a couple Space Operas, a couple thrillers and grim dark fantasy.

Sometimes a body is ready for a genre change but the mind don't know it.... and now for something completely different !
"News of the World" and "Trustee from the tool room".

don't worry about me, I've been Nope'd before.

Not a hard sci fi but I was hooked to Dark Matter just from the explanation of the book :)

Not exactly sci-fi but going into YA/space opera

Among the recent ones I have read, Children of Time had this effect on me. So recommending that.

David wrote: "You say you like hard sci-fi, and Seveneves is on your to-read list, so that's what I'd jump to.

It's a love-it-or-hate-it sort of book, but your shelves suggest you like Stephenso..."

I agree with every inch of this.

I can’t think of another recent book that started off with such a massive hook as Seveneves first line: “The moon blew up without warning and for no apparent reason.”

Wow.

I ended up closer to the “hate it” end of the spectrum mostly because even at nearly 900 pages it felt too short for all the ideas it presented, and I just didn’t buy into some of the assumptions he made. But man, that hook.

If you don't mind something a little older, you might the The Integral Trees by Larry Niven.

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I’ve already read a few & will be adding several to my list. I think I’ll be going with Children of Time. It’s been staring at me from my bookshelf for a while, now...

Children of Time really is a great read

"Children of Time" good choice. it is unique.

Agreed CHILDREN OF TIME is pretty stunning.

I had a hard time with that book because of (view spoiler)[spiders (hide spoiler)]

Some good choices I am going to add:
We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

Most of my life I have read non-fiction, but I have had some interest in sci fi books, movies and TV shows. As for sci fi books, I have a taste for some of the classics, such as:

War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
1984 by George Orwell
I Robot by Isaac Asimov
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne

Have you already read the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold? That's a favorite series of mine to get lost in.

I would second The collapsing empire if you like space opera.

Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein and Battle for the Stars
by Edmond Hamilton open pretty strong, pure simple escapism.