Reviews

I think this is the best thing that has come out of Disney Star Wars, probably ever. It is the prequel series to Rouge One (which is also a prequel technically), following Cassian Andor, and his journey into the rebel spy seen in the movie. Although it focuses on a cast of four or five main characters, it manages to develop each of them into complex individuals. Their decisions feel real, with real consequences, and they act consistently throughout the show (besides character development, which of course changes their actions). The visuals are extremely realistic, with a minimal use of CGI, instead using mainly real sets (which makes it look so much better compared to some other Disney Star Wars stuff). The soundtrack is great, and the cast fits very well with the story. In terms of the plot, it feels very down-to-earth, with it being driven by the characters and their actions (rather than the other way around), and you can feel the tension building as the story advances. The 3-episode arcs of both seasons make it far more enjoyable, allowing you to focus on a smaller narrative, while the overarching story still develops.

This book is probably my favorite sci-fi novel I've ever read. It tells the story of a scientist with amnesia stranded on a spaceship. It manages to balance humor and some intense moments incredibly well. The science seems quite realistic, and is described extremely well for someone interested in science without all of the background knowledge for some other books. It is arranged into sections of real-time problem solving, while flashbacks give both the reader and the character background on the world, the situation, and Grace's life. While the characters are not incredibly deep or developed, they are an improvement from The Martian's characters, and in my opinion the plot makes this novel amazing. The story feels mostly realistic, and is a lot of fun to read, while still being hard to put down.

I really enjoyed both book and its movie adaptation. It follows Mark Watney, an astronaut who gets trapped on Mars. It is a hard (meaning mostly real science-based) sci-fi story based in (mostly) realistic science. Weir makes the story interesting with a single main character, and while the movie drops a few plot points, it stays almost entirely faithful to the book's narrative, which I appreciate. Both versions of the story certainly feel (and look, in terms of the movie) like Mars, and I think give a pretty good representation of the challenges, both physically and mentally, to be fully isolated on another planet. They are still quite funny (mainly because of how Weir writes Watney and how well Matt Damon plays him), with much less of the world-ending intensity (literally) of Project Hail Mary.

This is definitely one of the most interesting books I've read. It follows Hickam's time growing up in a coal mining town, and the amateur rocketry he delves into. I'm generally not very interested in nonfiction books or memoirs, but Hickam manages to tell his story in a captivating manner. There is a good balance of personal stories and rocketry adventures, which keeps it interesting. Especially as someone who does amateur rocketry now, it is fascinating to hear about the methods they used, and challenges they faced. He also includes some personal moments, such as describing his relationship with his father and brother, which is also quite absorbing.

I don't think anyone who loves sci-fi could not include the Guide in a list of their favorite books. It is an incredible story following Arthur Dent, a human from Earth who tries to navigate the destruction of Earth, with his friend Ford Prefect. I'm not entirely convinced I need to say much about this book (mainly because I think if you would like this book, you probably would've already read it), but if you haven't, go read it!! While it is somewhat odd (about what's expected for 70s sci-fi), it is really funny and builds a world that is worth reading about.

I think this book has a really great premise, and executes it well. While it takes place in the generic sci-fi setting of a beachhead colony, there are many aspects to the world building that make it a fascinating (and somewhat disturbing) place. The conflict is extremely clever and keeps you really absorbed in the book. I saw the movie adaptation (called Mickey 17) in theaters, and although I enjoyed it, it felt much less of a sci-fi story than the book did (and more akin to a political drama).