Welcome to the New Scientist Book Club, a place to find out about the very best science and science fiction writing out there, and to talk about them with your fellow book lovers.
Every six weeks, we select a new title to read and then discuss. Once we’ve got to grips with our latest choice, we interview its author and dig into why and how they wrote it.
We also bring you extracts from our chosen books and insights into our authors’ favourite reads and inspirations.
Love reading? Come and join our friendly group of fellow book lovers. Every six weeks, we delve into an exciting new title, with members given free access to extracts from our books, articles from our authors and video interviews.
New Scientist book club
We are currently reading Tade Thompson’s award-winning novel Rosewater, set in a future Nigeria. Its focus is a community (the titular Rosewater) that has grown up around a mysterious alien biodome with strange healing powers. We don’t know much about the aliens, but they have also created a “xeno-sphere” that certain “sensitive” human psychics can access. Kaaro, our protagonist, a former criminal turned government agent, is one of these sensitives – and he’s looking for answers.
You can read an extract from Rosewater, and Thompson has also written us an essay about how he came to write it.
If you want to catch up on some of our past Book Club reading, our picks are listed in reverse chronological order below, along with extracts, articles and videos from our authors. Happy reading!
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Read an extract from All Systems Red
Martha Wells on what a machine intelligence might want
Nuclear War: A scenario by Annie Jacobsen
Read an extract from Nuclear War: A scenario
Annie Jacobson on the “shocking truths” about a nuclear attack
In Ascension by Martin MacInnes
Read an extract from In Ascension
Martin MacInnes: ‘It is all but impossible life exists, and yet it is here’
The Future by Naomi Alderman
Read an extract from The Future
Naomi Alderman on why she explored the corrupting power of tech billionaires in The Future
Read our review of The Future
Julia by Sandra Newman
Read an extract from Julia
Sandra Newman on retelling 1984 from a female perspective
The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
Read an extract from The Seventh Son
Sebastian Faulks: ‘Homo sapiens is a very odd creature’
Bridge by Lauren Beukes
Read an extract from Bridge
Lauren Beukes on why she tackled the multiverse in Bridge
Read our review of Bridge
Pod by Laline Paull
Read an extract from Pod
Laline Paull on why she wrote Pod from the perspective of a dolphin
Watch a video interview with Laline Paull
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
Read an extract from The Ferryman
Justin Cronin on the books and films that inspired The Ferryman
Read our review of The Ferryman