Science Fiction Books That Inspire a Sense of Wonder
By: Hidden Gems on January 12, 2021
Imaginative and creative, readers love science fiction books for their ability to inspire a sense of wonder. Whether it’s space exploration, time travel, extraterrestrial life or the unknown these five sci-fi novels were highly rated and loved by Hidden Gems readers who got to read them for free.
Termination Shock by Gillian Andrews
Termination Shock is the first book in the Interstellar Enforcement Agency series written by Gillian Andrews, and in addition to epic battles and super heroes you’ll find humor.
Evelyn writes in her 5-star review, “This fiction series is addressed to a general audience but it is really interesting for lovers of superheroes. Part fantasy thriller and part drama, Termination Shock is about Ryler Mallivan, an upstanding freighter captain who has to save the world from a weapon that has the power to destroy the entire universe.
This book has every element a good one should have: a solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
The writing is impeccable, with meticulous descriptions that do not border in boring. The dialogues feel real, and the setting is amazing. I can’t wait to look more into what the author has to offer.”
“What did I love about this book? Basically, EVERYTHING!” writes Wander in their 5-star review. “The characters are varied and very relatable. Rye, Sammy, Sayeh, Lenzie, and the others are all excellent characters. There are a few typos that need to be corrected, but they do not take away from the story. The story is one catastrophe after another for a group of various alien species who are thrown together by chance, yet somehow manage to make a cohesive group that work well together. Each species has its own strengths and weaknesses and they work together to build a future. So, if you like underdog stories and cool aliens as well as lots of action, then you will love this story, just as I did. I would highly recommend this story.”
Preons: Alpha by F.T. Stevens
Newly released, and already with over 50 Amazon reviews, Preons: Alpha was a favorite amongst Hidden Gems ARC readers. This book is made for readers who love action-packed adventure stories with characters who are brought into a space stage performance.
“It was fast paced and thrilling, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat throughout. It is quite obvious that there is far more to come from this series! Great start!” writes Stainless Steel in their 5-star review. “This book is set well into the future where earth is no longer how we knew it to be and hostile alien life are trying to control the human race and planet. The war was swift in its beginning but life was lost, like sadly all wars, one of the survivors is our lead character David. He witnessed his friends Emily & Christian killed, however battered and bruised David repairs his injuries the best he can. With an unexpected visitor offering him a different path to take, David finds himself on a mission to recruit hostile aliens and a dangerous prisoner. The only way to recruit the dangerous prisoner is to get himself thrown into jail, just so he can get the prisoner on side. Along the way his path collides with Princess Hanla, although they are completely different with complete opposite agendas until they both get justice, they must learn that their end results are the same.”
“The premise of Preons: Alpha really drew me in, and I wasn’t disappointed,” writes Mercedes D. in her 5-star review. “Not only do I love a good story about vengeance, but essentially we follow David through his journey to learn that vengeance isn’t the only aim. He’s lost significant family, and has refocused his entire life on training, infiltrating, fighting and ultimately, bringing down everything that ruined his life. Now if that were just the story, it’d be pretty dry. Of course there’s more.”
Einstein’s Raven by Fred G. Baker
With an impressive 4.7 average star rating on Amazon, this science fiction book has it all— time travel, mystery, danger, humor and some romance.
“Einstein’s Raven is an awesome book!” says Kathryn F. in her 5-star review. “I am currently taking some IT classes and was super thrilled that the setting of this book was in a computer lab. Lots of action and an amazing hacker takedown are all part of this tale.
I have not read anything by this author before and I cannot wait to dive into more he has written. Derek is the protagonist in the story, a programmer with a slight attitude problem who works with more programmers with attitude problems. Throw in some security clearances (or lack thereof) and some interagency rivalry, along with a woman who appears to know little about the society she is in but has mad programming skills.
Derek is initially intrigued by the newcomer, which over time turns to attraction, but then when she hits him with a few things that shouldn’t be impossible in his world, Derek has a definite dilemma. Is she really what she seems? Or is she just a crazy hacker trying to get him to steal information for her?
You won’t regret reading this book. My only regret was that I wanted more! I literally read this in just a few hours and went to bed way past my bedtime. I also enjoyed recognizing concepts that I am going to school to learn, which also went a long way in understanding some of the computer jargon and processes. However, even those with limited knowledge of IT will find this interesting and hard to put down!”
“I loved this book and could not put it down,” says Keri K. in their 5-star review. “I was engaged from the start and just when I thought the story would go one way, it would go another, which kept me on my toes the whole time I was reading it. I thought the characters were well done and I just love the idea of time travel! The author did a great job of including multiple layers of conflict for the characters to work through and overcome. Further, I saw nice character growth and development as a result. For all of these reasons, I have rated this book 5/5 and I would definitely recommend this book to others to read!”
HAWK: Hellfire by Mark Waller
With an average 4.6 star review on Amazon, award-winning author and independent publisher Mark Waller brings readers an engaging and imaginative science fiction book that Hidden Gems ARC readers devoured.
“It was hard to put it down at times and had me guessing where it would go next,” writes Literary Titan Review in their review. “The story of HAWK: Hellfire was an adrenaline-pumping action piece, complete with drug lords, cops and corrupt government officials. The effects of the ‘hellfire’ were intriguing and well implemented, and it was interesting to see what people did under the influence and how our characters had to deal with it. It all comes together with an extremely satisfying ending to an exciting, but ultimately uplifting novel. Perfect for science fiction fans looking for a gritty and entertaining space opera.”
BookViral writes in their review, “Far too many Military Science Fiction novels are long in the telling, with overly complicated plots and in this respect, Waller has pitched HAWK: Hellfire just right. Creating a vivid sense of time and place that wholly transports us to Scenna, a world that feels alive and lived in whilst managing to engage our imagination to the fullest. Characters are well nuanced and multi-layered whilst battle scenes are succinctly crafted without being repetitious.
As is most often the case with Science Fiction novels, it’s the journey that matters more than the destination and it’s certainly true of Mike Waller’s novel. Yes, the familiar genre tropes are evident but he never allows them to spiral into unearned sentiment though his masterstroke is the character of Hawk himself as he struggles with the implications and consequences of his past and present actions. Original and compelling science fiction from Mike Waller, HAWK: Hellfire is highly recommended!”
A Nebulous Crime by Eric Warren
First in series, and highly rated on Amazon, A Nebulous Crime is perfect for fans of The Expanse, Firefly or Deep Space Nine.
“Highly recommended,” writes Doug W. in his 5-star review. “This is a space opera story with sort of an undercover detective feel. The story is well written and easy to read with a well developed setting and lots of characters. The characters are well developed and have distinct personalities, including the good and the bad. That attention to detail is what helps bring the story to life and keeps things interesting. It also doesn’t hurt that the plot has several twists to it that keep things moving. Overall, an excellent start to a series and I look forward to seeing where this one is going.”
Laurence W. writes in his 5-star review, “A true space age cloak and dagger mystery. Great new characters. Great character development. Just enough descriptions of alien species appearances and abilities. The only problem is you can’t go to sleep until you finish the book, and then you start searching for sequels. No rest for the weary.”
If you can’t get enough of these imaginative science fiction books, remember that subscribers to Hidden Gems receive invitations to read books like these – plus titles from any of up to 15 other genres – for free. All we ask is that you consider leaving an honest review of them on Amazon when you’re done reading! Sign up today!
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