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Scientifically Accurate Sci-Fi for High-Schoolers?

Posted by Cliff on from the diamond-hard-suggestions dept.

Raul654 asks: "A member of my immediate family is a biology teacher at an all-girls high school. For some years, she's been giving her students the option to earn extra credit by reading a science-related book. What scientifically accurate science fiction books would you recommend for high school readers?"

2 of 268 comments (clear)

  1. David Brin - MSc Physics, PhD Phil., Hugo, Nebula by Cordath · · Score: 4, Interesting

    David Brin is one of the very rare sci-fi authors out there who actually has the background to deal with hard science and the ability to write compelling characters and plots. He has several award winning books (Hugos, Nebulas, etc.) under his belt, but even his lesser works are good reads. While "Startide Rising" is a classic and an absolute no-brainer, a lesser work like "Glory Season" might hold special interest for an all-girl class. (The book is set on a isolated colony where humans tinkered with biology a little and created a female dominated society, but it's done a bit differently than most other attempts at the same sort of story.)

  2. And Greg Egan by Malfourmed · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As well as Brin, and I guess Bear, Benford and Forward (some of the better-known "hard SF" authors around), I recommend Australian writer Greg Egan. Heck he even supplies technical notes to his books on his home page.

    Though my favourite Egan works tend to be more philosophical than scientific (eg the short story "Learning To Be Me").

    --
    a world in progress...