Book Recs

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

This reccomendation is for the book series specifically, my thoughts on the new series may eventually be added elsewhere on the site. There are so many different appeals to The Murderbot Diaries, but what comes immediately to mind is that the series is so innately cozy without having any right to be. By all accounts it is a sarcastic, dystopian space opera filled with action, peril, and hacking. And yet, it has that same strange comfortability I find in The Long Goodbye and in Star Trek: TOS episodes. The narration has the wit and charm and perfect amount of saltiness to make you feel right at home. The characters are so organic, it isn't hard to think of friends as bubbly as Ratthi or formidable as Pin Lee, nor to relate to poking fun at the innacuracies of a show with a friend. Its all written so naturally that it isn't hard to pick up on deeply layered subtext. You can tell what the narrator doesn't want to talk about and when they're lying to themselves, you really feel like you know them, sometimes better than they know themselves. An overwhelming sense of humanity saturates the pages as these characters explore what that word really means. I know as I write this that I don't have the ability to describe to you what it is this series does to your brain. In that light, I can at least tell you that if you enjoy stories where clever characters solve problems and work together to do the impossible, if you enjoy sci-fi settings that breathe with life, if you sometimes stare into the middle distance at work and wish you were at home watching your favorite stupid show, do yourself a favor and give this series a try. The Murderbot Diaries is best enjoyed on a subway, or when slacking off at work, or on a late night when you finally have time to yourself.

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

There are two authors I recommend when attempting to revive hope in humanity or even just in general, and those two are Terry Pratchett and J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkein's unparalleled ability to paint a gripping epic history of a legendary world is almost a given with his background and dedication to literature the likes of Beowulf. What caught me by surprise, however, was his ability and willingness to let scenes of domesticity, reprieve, and personal connection drive and ground the story. It is this quality that makes The Fellowship of the Ring a constant companion in my schoolbag the last few months. This series is really what taught me that hopelessness is a weapon of the enemy and that stubbornness and spirit really do make a difference against overwhelming darkness. I would recommend this series really to anyone willing to try it, but especially to people yearning to interact with art that is raw and real and yet fundamentally wholesome. It is best read on a rainy morning in a cozy nook, or on a break from a long walk, or in your darkest moment.

Night Watch by Terry Pratchett

As I've mentioned above, Terry Pratchett is one of two authors I recommend reading if you are looking for a grounded and unflinching sense of hope. Night Watch is not the first in his city watch series, but it is the first one I read following a chance encounter and remains my favorite. This particular story is a sort of fantasy noir novel rife with comedy and featuring troublesome time travel. The main character Sam Vimes is your typical hard-boiled detective with a heart of gold, and we get to see his character put under a microscope when he finds himself tasked with keeping the peace in tumultuous times as captain of a city watch force that includes his younger self. Pratchett paints a nuanced, mature picture of what it means to protect and serve as Vimes is forced to be his own role model under seemingly impossible circumstances. The action is cartoonish and quintessentially noir, the comedy is immaculate, and the wizards are fresh out of highly specific and incomprehensible grad programs. Night Watch is best enjoyed on a smoke break in a moonlit alley, in the back of a meandering old town taxi, or with a mug of hot chocolate in a cluttered office.