Beth Krippel's blog

Today, io9 wrote a blog about "10 Books you Pretend to Have Read." Looking over the list, I realized that, while I've not pretended to read books that I have not actually read, there were several books out there I do need to read.  Lists like this are a good way to grasp the history of the genre, see what has changed, and what ideas we are still exploring.

Here are the top SF reads in Harris County Public Library for 2014.  The influence of TV and movies shows up strongly this year.  Because of that, I’m combining all of the Song of Ice and Fire books as one and giving it the top spot.  After that are the rest of the top ten.  There are a few other titles that belong in the same fictional universe, but as they are not entire series, I kept them separate.  

 I had the privilege of reading Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb recently, due to be published in August 2014.

Novelist, poet, essayist, editor, agent – Frederik Pohl (November 26, 1919 – September 2, 2013) was a pioneer and champion of science fiction.  Not only did he create worlds for which he won many awards, including six Hugos as well as a Grand Master from the Science Fiction Writers of America, but he also guided and encouraged other writers.  With 75 years of influence in the genre, here are a few items worth checking out.  You can also look at the extensive summary on Frederik Pohl on the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.

The progression of Steampunk from fringe subgenre to mainstream has taken a few decades.  You could say it has taken a little over a century if you want to throw in H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, and we really should.  While those two authors are often relegated to the “classics” section of the library, their incorporation of the bizarre, anachronistic engineering, and influence from the possibilities of science put many of their stories clearly in the Steampunk category.