Subject
Technology -- Fiction Books
Best books
Cory Doctorow
Makers
"Makers" by Cory Doctorow is a novel published in 2009. Set in a near-future where the economy is collapsing, it follows two hardware hackers, Lester and Perry, who repurpose devices and 3D print products to survive. When a corporate CEO discovers their innovative work, their small operation transforms into something much larger. The story explores maker culture, business disruption, and living arrangements reimagined for uncertain times, culminating in an unexpected clash with Disney over an interactive museum.
George O. (George Oliver) Smith
Venus Equilateral
"Venus Equilateral" by George O. Smith is a series of science fiction short stories published between 1942 and 1945. Set at a massive space station positioned at a strategic point between Venus and the Sun, the stories follow communications engineers who solve extraordinary problems through ingenious inventions. Led by Director Donald Channing and his team, the station's crew faces incompetent managers, space pirates, communication crises, and technical disasters—all while maintaining the vital relay linking Earth, Venus, and Mars across millions of miles of space.
George O. (George Oliver) Smith
The Long Way
"The Long Way" by George O. Smith is a science fiction novel written during the early 1940s. The story centers around a group of engineers and scientists who work at a communication station on Venus Equilateral, where they make groundbreaking discoveries about power transmission technologies, particularly focusing on an alien transmission tube. The narrative reflects on themes of innovation, collaboration, and the bureaucratic challenges in scientific research. In the story, protagonist Don Channing and his team are excited about the arrival of the Martian power transmission tube and are determined to experiment with it despite the legal constraints imposed by the company that owns it, Terran Electric. As they attempt to unlock the potential of the transmission tube for various applications, they also conceive a daring plan to harness solar power directly from the Sun. As Channing's team engages in clever problem-solving and experimentation, they ultimately face off against corporate interests, leading to a tense negotiation that defines the future of their invention. The work intertwines technical jargon and a captivating plot, making it a thought-provoking exploration of the possibilities of technology and the ethical dilemmas faced by those who push boundaries in the name of progress.
Alexander Forbes
The Radio Gunner
"The Radio Gunner" by Alexander Forbes is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book follows the story of Jim Evans, a young man with a passion for science and radio technology, as he navigates his growth from a boy fascinated by a Memorial Day parade to a skilled radio operator during a significant naval conflict. The narrative interweaves themes of friendship, responsibility, and the pursuit of knowledge within the backdrop of historical events. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Jim Evans, a young boy who, during a Memorial Day parade, grapples with the meaning of his mother’s tears as she remembers her father, a war hero. Fast forward eleven years, Jim is now a student in boarding school, where he demonstrates bravery during a fire outbreak, prompting respect from his peers. As the story progresses, Jim's passion for science leads him to a successful naval career, where he becomes a proficient radio operator during World War I. His friendship with Sam Mortimer also plays a critical role, as Mortimer's political path intersects with Jim's scientific pursuits, setting the stage for their roles in the upcoming conflict with the rising powers in Europe.
Edward Shanks
The people of the ruins : $b A story of the English Revolution and after
"The People of the Ruins: A Story of the English Revolution and After" by Edward Shanks is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book explores tumultuous times in English history, likely during a revolutionary period, through the eyes of its main character, Jeremy Tuft. The opening sets the stage for Jeremy's personal struggles against a backdrop of broader societal upheaval, hinting at themes of conflict, adaptation, and the human experience during times of crisis. The beginning of the novel introduces Jeremy Tuft as he awakens disoriented in his London flat, reflecting on his life as a lecturer and his encounters with the onset of a significant strike. As he grapples with confusion and irritation at the absence of his charwoman, Mrs. Watkins, Jeremy's mundane concerns are interwoven with the political unrest brewing around him. The atmosphere quickly evolves as he observes the city in disarray, with print shops silent and streets eerily empty. When he ventures out, Jeremy witnesses the beginnings of violent chaos, including demonstrations and military presence, laying the groundwork for his harrowing experiences and the shifting realities he will face in the story.
Fox B. Holden
The Man the Tech-Men Made
"The Man the Tech-Men Made" by Fox B. Holden is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story centers around Jon Kane, a young Earth-descendant who is caught in a dystopian universe ruled by a powerful alliance known as the Intergalactic Technical Alliance (ITA). As he grapples with charges of heresy and technological rebellion, he finds himself pursued across worlds, grappling with themes of power, knowledge, and survival in a galaxy that fears innovation. The opening of the book immerses the reader in Kane's desperate escape through the harsh desert of Procyon, where he is apprehended by local authorities. The narrative quickly shifts to his trial, revealing his background and the technological aspirations that put him at odds with the oppressive regime of the ITA. Despite his age, Kane's intelligence and ingenuity shine through as he admits to creating forbidden tools and attempting to repair a malfunctioning vehicle, actions that label him a renegade. As he faces the grim prospect of execution, he is unexpectedly rescued by Majtech B-Haaq, who sees potential in Kane's skills. This encounter signals the beginning of a tumultuous journey through a galaxy in conflict, setting the stage for Kane's struggle against both the ITA and his own burgeoning identity as a creator and a rebel.
George O. (George Oliver) Smith
Pandora's Millions
"Pandora's Millions" by George O. Smith is a science fiction novel likely written in the mid-20th century. The narrative explores a future society grappling with the consequences of a technological breakthrough that allows for the duplication of physical items, fundamentally altering economic principles. It examines themes of abundance, value, and societal structures in a world where the lines between want and necessity blur. The story primarily follows Keg Johnson, the chief executive of Interplanet Transport, and Don Channing, a scientist who has developed a matter transmitter that enables the duplication of objects. As the technology threatens traditional economic systems by making everything readily available, both men struggle to adapt to a new reality. Keg seeks to establish a new means of trade based on unique services rather than material wealth, while others, like lawyer Mark Kingman, aim to exploit the current chaos for personal gain. The plot unfolds as characters navigate societal upheaval, the devaluation of money, and the search for a medium of exchange that could give stability to their world. Ultimately, the narrative reflects on the implications of technology on human relationships, societal roles, and the nature of value itself.
George O. (George Oliver) Smith
The Catspaw
"The Catspaw" by George O. Smith is a science fiction novel written in the late 1940s. The story begins with the protagonist, Thomas Barden, who experiences recurring dreams that integrate an alien sentience communicating vital knowledge about space travel and technology into his consciousness. As he grapples with the challenges of proving his newfound understanding of a science critical to his world's advancement, the narrative explores themes of discovery, skepticism, and the race against time. The opening of the novel introduces Thomas Barden in a state of chaotic sleep, haunted by dreams that feel both strange and significant. He eventually learns that these dreams convey knowledge of advanced scientific principles from an alien race, which he recognizes could be mankind's ticket to interstellar travel. As weeks pass, Barden diligently works to conceptualize this newfound science amidst doubt and disbelief from societal and scientific institutions. This tension sets the stage for his struggle to validate his discoveries and protect humanity from an impending threat posed by the ambitious factions of the extraterrestrial world that initially shared their knowledge with him.
Charles L. Fontenay
Conservation
"Conservation" by Charles L. Fontenay is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The narrative explores themes of technological regression and human survival in a post-apocalyptic Earth, where vast advancements in power and technology are present but largely unutilized. The story is set after a period of catastrophic warfare, presenting a society that has adopted stringent conservation measures to guard against potential threats while neglecting to fully harness their technological capabilities. The plot follows a crew led by Executive Officer John Gray as they return to Earth after a 258-year absence due to their mission to colonize a planet elsewhere in the galaxy. Upon landing, they encounter a military society that lives amidst advanced machinery yet chooses to use a rudimentary lifestyle reminiscent of earlier centuries. The crew grapples with local customs, governance, and a poorly understood legal system focused on conservation. As they uncover the motivations behind the society's apparent technological hostility, they learn that the Earth has been occupied and had a long struggle against alien invaders. Ultimately, their knowledge and skills from the Deneb III colony may offer a path to rebuilding Earth’s lost technological prowess and help restore a more sustainable future.
Algis Budrys
Firegod
"Firegod" by William Scarff is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around themes of power, deception, and the allure of godhood, exploring how ambition can lead to a person's downfall and the disconnect between perception and reality. The narrative follows D'hai Merssu, who rises from being a revolutionary to the Emperor of All the Suns. As he grapples with rebellion within his empire from Earthmen, Merssu concocts a plan to escape and establish himself as a god on a primitive planet. He travels through hyperspace to bring civilization to a new world while simultaneously setting himself up to be worshipped. However, upon his return, he discovers that his plan has backfired as the inhabitants do not recognize him as the divine being he sought to become. Ultimately, despite his grand ambitions, he is rejected and killed, leaving behind a legacy of worship that persists in his absence, illustrating the ironic nature of seeking divinity through deception.
Stephen Marlowe
Es Percipi
"Es Percipi" by Stephen Marlowe is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The book explores themes of reality, perception, and the nature of existence through the diplomatic challenges faced by Earth in dealing with alien cultures, particularly the Targoffians, who sell seemingly miraculous products that challenge human understanding of authenticity and value. The narrative centers around Bryan Channing, an under-secretary of the Earth Embassy, as he navigates interplanetary relations complicated by the ambiguous ethics of the Targoffian Ambassador, Qui Dor. The story follows Channing as he grapples with the implications of Qui Dor's alien technology that can create food and even human-like beings that are, in some philosophical sense, "not real." As Earth faces a surge in divorces and social unrest attributed to the allure of Targoff's products, Channing's personal life is thrown into turmoil when his wife, Ellen, becomes enamored with the idea of a perfect husband created by Qui Dor's enterprises. The tension escalates as Channing confronts his copy, the profound realities of love, identity, and existence, culminating in an exploration of what it means to be "real." Through clever dialogue and intriguing philosophical questions, Marlowe crafts a narrative that challenges the reader’s perception of reality and the complexities of human relationships against a backdrop of interstellar diplomacy.
Charles Minor Blackford
The Valley of the Masters
"The Valley of the Masters" by Charles Minor Blackford is a science fiction novel written during the early 1960s. The story explores themes of curiosity, societal stagnation, and the pursuit of knowledge in a world where progress has been forsaken. It delves into the life of the protagonist, Henry Callis, who seeks to understand the mechanisms of his society and the reasons behind the decay of their once-functioning world. The narrative follows Henry as he navigates a community of superstitious individuals who have forgotten the technology and understanding that once sustained their lives. Tiring of the ignorance that surrounds him, he embarks on a journey of discovery with Theta, a girl who admires him. As they confront the shadows of their civilization's past, they unveil the truths about the technology that their ancestors once wielded. Henry's pursuit ultimately leads him to stand against the collective apathy of his society, advocating for knowledge and urgent action to prevent their impending collapse—a struggle that resonates with the themes of empowerment and rebellion against ignorance. Through Henry's journey, the reader is prompted to consider the significance of knowledge and the dangers of complacency in the face of declining societal relations.
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