SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS ALTERNATIVE TO REFUNS

Science fiction shades into fantasy frequently, making it even more entertaining reading. As an alternative to summer reruns, choose from Jackson Public Library's collection. Here are a few to consider:

"Remnant Population" by Elizabeth Moon is the story of colonists on a distant planet sent to relieve pressure on a desperately overcrowded Earth. Their transportation and maintenance to this and other planets are a profitable enterprise by The Company, and when The Company loses the franchise on this planet, the colony will have to move to a different planet. Ofelia, the oldest woman in the colony, decides that she will not be moved again, and hides when the other settlers are herded onto space ships and put to sleep so that they will not age during the long journey. Ofelia knows how to use the very sophisticated machinery that The Company cannot carry away. This makes life easier for her, but it is her natural wisdom, humor and kindness that enable her to deal with the shock and surprise of encountering the creatures who are native to the planet, who have been able to avoid the colonists for years.

Anne McCaffery, who has been delighting readers for years, especially with her "dragon" books, has written the Freedom series which concern colonists on distant planets, also. However, these are penal colonies for species who object strongly to being enslaved by the Eosi, who seek to impose their control on this and any other universe they encounter. An unlikely mix from many different planets is deposited on the planet Botany, with surprising results. "Freedom's Landing," "Freedom's Choice" and "Freedom's Challenge" are all terrific reads.

"Rogue Star" by Michael Flynn is great science fiction piece with a wonderfully complicated plot, several of them, as a matter of fact. Mariessa van Huyten is an incredibly rich and powerful woman who has fixated on the strong probability of an asteroid striking Earth. Not that it interferes with her other concerns, but Mariessa is determined that there must be a station built in deep space to detect and destroy these hurtling bodies. Her life and the lives of the many characters who are touched by hers keep the novel moving at a fast pace.

For a picture of a very hard and dangerous world, read "The Game of Thrones." Pure fantasy created by George R. Martin, it is set in a mythical land eons ago. More than a little reminiscent of Europe just beginning to emerge from the dark ages, the small country has many kingdoms and royal houses, all of whom aspire to place one of the family on a supreme throne. This is a brutal world where possessions are held only by those with strong arms and private armies. Suspend disbelief and enjoy this fantastic "history," which features magic spells, curses, even dragons. The saga continues through several volumes.