It’s that time of year again when school starts up and fall routines begin again.
It has been an eventful summer with floods, fires and solar eclipses and I for one am ready to get back to some semblance of normalcy.
We begin the school year with Science Literacy Week, a weeklong nationwide celebration of science, Sept. 18 to 24.
I have to admit reading a nonfiction book about science might not be top of my to-do list but I am a fan of science fiction.
For many people when they hear the term science fiction it conjures up images of little green men and Captain Kirk saying “beam me up, Scotty.” It can be perceived as strange or weird to some.
There is however so much more to this misunderstood genre. It encompasses imaginative concepts such as futuristic science and technology, space travel, time travel, faster than light travel, parallel universes and extraterrestrial life.
I read lots of fiction designed for teens and have recently found myself gravitating more and more towards the fantasy and science fiction titles. They have me addicted.
I am transported into a dystopian future, a far off galaxy, or sometimes even an alternate history of the earth. It is the epitome of escapism. I love the incredibly creative nature of sci-fi.
The author paints a picture of a world or technology that is unknown to us. The possibilities for this genre are only as limited as the imagination of the writer.
This is not just for kids and teens. The storylines are gripping, intense and often heart-wrenching. Sci-fi is not for the faint of heart.
I have always been a lover of sci-fi movies. I am a self-confessed geek and will happily settle down to watch a Star Wars movie marathon or binge watch Star Trek reruns.
Discovering a love of sci-fi novels has expanded my horizons even more. The selection is so diverse that I never get bored.
If you want to dip your toe into this genre there is a wide selection but some of our favourites include Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.
These three titles show the variety that is encompassed by the little term sci-fi, from funny to terrifying.
Next time you are stuck for something to read or just feel like trying something new, why not check out our science fiction section you never know where it might take you.
If your appetite for all things out of this world has been wetted later this month we will have special guest Colleen O’Hare of the Royal Astronomical Society giving us a “Tour of the Universe.”
This funny and informative presentation is a must for any prospective astronomers so join us Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 1:15 p.m. right here at the Summerland Library.
Adele Meadow is an Assistant Community Librarian at the Summerland Branch and self-confessed geek.