The 1990s were the best decade, not just in general but for many forms of entertainment. Television, movies, and even video games took off in a different way in the 1990s, giving fans stories and characters that stick with us even now. When it comes to unique genres, sci-fi was very successful in the 1990s along with other realistic works of film and television in development.
But movies, television, and video games weren’t the only forms of entertainment that thrived in the 1990s. Books, especially sci-fi books, were also very popular during the decade. Although sci-fi books are currently having another good time thanks to new and upcoming books, the 1990s should not be discounted as the best decade of sci-fi for readers. Here are five books from a decade that’s arguably the past — and you should read them if you somehow haven’t already.
5) Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)
Even if it is difficult to be far Giver from required school reading if you were a child growing up in the 1990s or 2000s, the truth is that Lois Lowry’s 1993 novel is undoubtedly one of the best sci-fi books for young adults ever written – and it holds up well as an older reader. The first book in a very loose quartet of books set in one universe (Collecting Blue, Messengerand A son are three more), The Giver is placed in a society that, on the surface, seems to be an unusual thing since the society has eliminated pain and suffering and has complete equality by converting to something called “Sameness”. One person, the Remembrancer, holds all the memories of the time before this Match. When a 12-year-old boy is chosen to be the new Memory Receiver, he struggles with emotions as he is introduced to them and the society is slowly revealed to be dystopian.
Giver not only is it a good book from start to finish, but it also has some interesting and profound themes. Ideology and religion are important themes in this book as is the idea of the absence of color as an important part of Sameness. There are also questions about eugenics and government control of the population that appear in the book, to do Giver it is complex and layered. It’s a masterpiece.
4) Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (1996)
If we’re being honest, both Sparrow and its 1998 sequel, Children of Godare on this list so consider this a double for one. Set in the future of 2019, The Sparrow follows Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit priest who is part of a mission to encounter extraterrestrial life after the SETI program discovers radio signals coming from Rakhat, a planet near Alpha Centauri. More than 40 years later, only Emilio returns, the only survivor of the journey, broken in body and mind.
Sparrow in many ways, it is a disturbing but surprisingly well-written book. Systematically presented in parallel plots that follow Emilio’s journey through space and his return to Earth, this book takes a deep look at faith, evil, what it means to be human, and how a person’s faith works – or doesn’t work – with the unknown when they really face it. Part sci-fi, part horror, this is a great book. Accordingly, Children of Godit continues the story when the Jesuits return to Rakhat and it is a very good book.
3) Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks (1990)
However Use of Weapons is the third book in the Banks Cultures series, you don’t need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one or to realize why many readers consider it the near perfect sci-fi novel. This book is written as if it were the life story of a man called Cheradenine Zakalwe, who was born outside Culture, but was hired by Diziet Sma, an agent of Special Circumstances, to work as an expert on undeveloped civilization.
It is difficult to explain in detail Use of the Tools – it’s one of those books that you just have to read – but this book has a very clear theme: it’s about weapons and how they’re used, but it also includes people as weapons. Zakalwe is used as a weapon by the people he serves even though he uses real weapons. The book has strong themes of despair and consequences. It’s not an easy read, but it’s well worth the time.
2) Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (1990)
Although many people only think about Jurassic Park about a blockbuster movie franchise, this is your reminder that it was really a science fiction book first – and one that doesn’t get enough credit for how good it really is. The story, as you might guess, is about a park on a remote island where the dinosaurs have been brought back to extinction thanks to genetic engineering. It seems cool, but when the management of this park fails, it becomes man against a powerful beast in a terrifying fight for survival.
This book has some amazing sound science, but that’s about it Jurassic Park is that it also makes you think about the idea of ”just because we can, does that mean we should?” Rather than just being a high octane sci-fi thriller, this book is also a powerful cautionary tale. It is also important to note that there are major differences between the book and the film (the latter of which Crichton co-wrote) so even if you think you know. jurassic park, you still need to check this out.
1) Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (1993)
Parable of the Sower is one of the books that often appears on “best of” sci-fi lists and for good reason. It is an amazing book. It also has a sequel, Comparison of Talents which was published in 1998. Set in a post-apocalyptic world brutally affected by climate change and social inequality, Parable of the Sower follows a young woman named Lauren who feels the pain of others. After Lauren is sent home, she goes with various others on a trip north with Lauren preaching about the religion she invented called Earthseed.
Both sophisticated sci-fi and timeless social meditation, Parable of the Sower it is an amazing book. Accordingly, Comparison of Talentsit is also beautiful. Unfortunately, although it was intended to have many books to Comparison The series, Butler struggled with writers later in life and died in 2006 before he could finish the series. However, Parable of the Sower it is read completely independently and is timed.
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