My Top 5 Science-Fiction Books Ever!!

[@themangaculture]

I'll check out Exhalation, great video!

[@OverlyAverageBen]

I hope you enjoy!!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

I agree with Butler’s take of Kindred being more fantastical and Patternmaster being more scifi, especially when they explain the powers in Wildseed but also genres are whatever just what my brain decided to comment to give the video its much deserved engagement!

[@OverlyAverageBen]

That's a very interesting way of perceiving it. Yeah I think they're all such a blur between the lines that any view would be fine by me

[@tiffanycorsello1886]

Interesting list! I've had This is How You Lose the Time War on my shelf for a few years- you've inspired me to move it up on my TBR. And Ted Chiang is awesome! Though I am surprised you chose Exhalation over Stories of Your Life... And, no series sci-fi? No Expanse?! Hmpf.

[@OverlyAverageBen]

Exhalation was my first and I think they're of comparable quality. Also, yeah, I'm not experienced in sci-fi series at all!

[@cuppa.books.]

I've read Frankenstein & Restaurant - really enjoyed both. I've always avoided Flowers for Algernon because of how sad everyone says it is!

[@OverlyAverageBen]

Yeah, it is very sad lol

[@esmayrosalyne]

I mean, can one ever gush enough about Frankenstein? Also , HECK YES for Exhalation and Time War, I really need to reread those so badly 🤩

[@OverlyAverageBen]

A very valid question lol. I need to reread Exhalation!

[@esmayrosalyne]

@@OverlyAverageBen do I feel a buddy reread?

[@OverlyAverageBen]

@@esmayrosalyne I may make it November's Book Club pick if you'd be down for that?

[@esmayrosalyne]

@@OverlyAverageBen sounds perfect to me 🤝

[@AlinaTheGoblin]

Ah! Love that three of these are overlapping with my own topical interests lately. This is How You Lose the Time War - this book pioneered my first Twitch book club stream back in July, we had a blast discussing it and dissecting the themes. Frankenstein - been watching a lot of Frankenstein media in my sci-fi club this year (the original black and white movie, Re-Animator, Frankenhooker, Tammy and the T-Rex) AND I recently played french horn for a few rehearsals of the musicalized Young Frankenstein, a true hoot 📯 Exhalation - let me yell the excellence of Ted Chiang to the world! My high school english teacher had us read the titular short story in this and I've never read anything like it, I desperately need a reread. I also watched Arrival for the first time this year - Ted Chiang wrote the original short story that it's based on!

[@Shelf_Improvement]

I've heard such mixed things about Time War, it's been on and off my tbr so many times. But if it's in Ben's top 5, back on it goes. Looking forward to your top 50.

[@OverlyAverageBen]

Yeah, I think a lot of people overthink what they're going to get from the story, I just get a lot of fun lol. I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!

[@Aldrad215]

"Science is a myth" floored me

[@OverlyAverageBen]

@@Aldrad215 the truth can be a hard pill to swallow, but once you open your mind and soul, the truth will set you free