(Drivebycuriosity) - Soon we will finish the first quarter of the 21rst century. Being a connoisseur of science fiction I wonder who are this century`s most important scifi writers of the genre so far - the heirs of Jules Verne, the father of the genre (driveby). I focus on authors who began publishing serious scifi stories & novels after the turn of the millennium - those who turn speculative science into entertaining tales.
There are at least 3 authors. My favorite is Chinese author Cixin Liu. His novel "The Three Body Problem" is the start of the trilogy "The Remembrance Of Earth`s Past" (my review ). Liu Cixin`s trilogy defines what science fiction is capable to. "Remembrance" plays with the laws of physics and mathematics and translates relativity theory, astrophysics, string theory, quantum physics and much more science into speculative & fascinating fiction, often apocalyptic and bizarre.
Liu`s novel "Ball Lightning" toys with physics and mathematics and translates quantum physics, string theory and more science into speculative & fascinating fiction.
The Chinese-American author Ted Chiang impresses with slick stories based on sharp logic and analysis which gained him already four Nebula awards, four Hugo awards, the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and four Locus awards. His novelette "The Story of Your Life" - used for the Hollywood movie "Arrival" - focuses on the science of language & communication. In other stories he speculates about AIs and their role in the near future or deals with entropy, multiverse theory, cosmology, mathematics and more. Chiang uses contemporary physics - including quantum mechanic phenomena, probability & many-worlds theory - to create fascinating tales.
The American writer Andy Weir became famous with the movie version of his novel "The Martian", where a man is stranded on Mars and is forced to use his skills and scientific knowledge (biology, chemistry, physics) to fight for survival. The "Martian" is a statement pro science, pro technology and pro progress. His novel "Project Hail Mary" is built around tons of sciences (evolution, micro-biology, genetics, chemistry, quantum physics, cosmology etc.), and the author knotted them together into original & astounding but plausible ideas. Weir created a classic!
Adrian Tchaikovsky`weaves complex & fascinating plots, based on logic, biology, evolution & technology .
James L. Cambias dives deep into the evolution, sociology, psychology & economy.
QNTM - the pen name for the British author Sam Hughes - translates mathematics, information theory, astrophysics and more into bizarre and entertaining plots.
And more 21rst century authors got my attention with science based fables: Kishore Tipirneni; Olga Werby; Kevin Schillo; Rich Larson & Dave Hutchinson.
Enjoy!
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