At BEA, it was clear that YA sci-fi was definitely an up-and-coming genre. Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta was featured in the YA Author focus panel, The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey was all the rage and ARCs of Rush by Eve Silver (review) and These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner were making the rounds. But taking a look at YA releases for 2014, I can’t help but notice an overwhelming amount of intergalactic travel.
And it makes me nervous.
Some 2013 Sci-Fi YA novels that got a lot of buzz at BEA.
See, while I’ve had great success reading apocalyptic YA, vampire YA, zombie YA, you-hadn’t-even-heard-of-this-monster YA… I haven’t had too much success with Sci-Fi YA. Let me clarify: it’s spaceship Sci-Fi YA is what I’ve had trouble with. I tried reading Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan and Across the Universe by Beth Revis and couldn’t stand either of them. Both seemed like bad action/romance novels that just happen to be set in space.
No, really. They sucked.
Upcoming 2014 Sci-fi YA releases.
On the other hand, I’ve got my overwhelming desire to love anything with a big ol’ spaceship in it. I’m a big trekkie and browncoat, and really really want to see what I love brought out in YA. But most of the time, the books turn out to be like Star Trek: Into Darkness: complete fiascos that miss the entire point of science fiction.
That said, maybe things are turning around? I recently completed The 5th Wave and Rush – and while I found neither to be absolutely spectacular, they were certainly enjoyable. I’m also a few dozen pages into the sci-fi YA novel, These Broken Stars, and while it is still too early to say for sure, I am really enjoying it. The writing is surprisingly solid and I have a feeling the characters will be too. So… maybe things are looking up?
Out of the 2014 books, there are a couple that look of interest (I’m talking about Salvage by Alexandra Duncan)… but I have to say that Alienated by Melissa Landers sounds like it will either be an epic fail or an epic win. That one will really depend on execution.
So, what do we think of this new trend? Will more books mean more good books… or do I have a lot of mediocre to look forward to?
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I recommend These Broken Stars. It’s wonderful and solid, just the way a book should be (at least for me). The plot twists are kind of weird, but they work within the frame of the story. I’m going to reread it later and I’m buying a finished copy.
I am about 50 pages away from finishing THESE BROKEN STARS and totally agree with you! I don’t want it to end!!! I am also desperate for a finished copy (although, that’s mostly because the cover is so damn stunning).
Kay recently posted…Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
I second Mara on this one: These Broken Stars is completely amazing. I think you will find it change your opinion of Science Fiction YA! (Though, like you, I read The 5th Wave and Across the Universe and was not too impressed)
Not sure if THESE BROKEN STARS has changed my opinion of SFYA, but I really have loved it! Completely living up to the hype 🙂
Kay recently posted…Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
We’ll have to agree to disagree 😉 I hated the GLOW characters, but still rather enjoyed the story and setting of that and SPARK.
Going to THESE BROKEN STARS’ book launch tomorrow night – will meet the authors 🙂 Haven’t read the book yet, though – hopefully my NetGalley hasn’t expired.
Not sure about RUSH – it’s on my wishlist, but I thought it was more futuristic than space.
No interest in THE 5TH WAVE. Have heard it’s a love-or-hate book, which means I’ll probably not be a fan.
I get the feeling ALIENATED will be too romancey, but I’ll give it a try.
LANDRY PARK sparked my interest with the word “nuclear”, but haven’t added it to my wishlist, because the nuclear bit doesn’t sound like a big enough part of the story.
SALVAGE. Won’t lie to you: I added it to my wishlist based on cover alone – and the story sounds pretty cool, too.
But that’s okay – I’m sure you love some books that I wouldn’t dare read 😉
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Not two days after posting this, I am going to have to eat my own words: THESE BROKEN STARS is absolutely amazing. Apparently YA sci-fi can work. Seriously, you NEED TO READ IT NOW. It gave me so many Grimspace feelings with an added dose of historical romance.
I think my… reluctance for sci-fi YA is the same one Urban Fantasy fans felt when vampires burst onto the scene in YA. If you only read the Twilight and House of Night series, you’re bound to think they’ve completely missed the point of the genre.
But I guess we need the bad books… These Broken Stars is probably just the result of quantity leading to quality. So, while I am not default-buying everything that comes out… I may be willing to give more books a shot.
GLOW: Congrats on stomaching that thing. I just… couldn’t. Only wish I had finished the bloody thing as then I could have reviewed in to shreds.
RUSH:Don’t go out of your way to get a copy. It’s OK, but nothing special. (though the creepy aliens definitely bring it into the sci-fi category)
THE 5TH WAVE: If you made it through Glow, you can make it through anything. 😉 Just kidding. It’s a decent book – and what it lacks in emotion is made up for in writing quality. Rick can write, he just can’t make me give a damn.
ALIENATED: Funny how we’ve both dismissed this one as “romancy”. I blame the cover!
SALVAGE: You’re totally right about the cover. FIERCE is the word I’d use.
Kay recently posted…Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry