18 books like Children of the Mind

What to read after Children of the Mind — books similar to it, matched on shared themes.

A Desolation Called Peace Arkady Martine · 2021 · ★ 4.4 · 496p · ≈ 16h · Moderate Sequel to A Memory Called Empire. An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space. No one can communicate with it, no one can destroy it, and Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus is running out of options. In a desperate attempt at diplomacy with the mysterious invaders, the fleet captain has sent for a diplomatic envoy. Now Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass—still reeling from the recent upheaval… Shares: Human-alien encounters, Extraterrestrial beings, Imaginary wars and battles, Life on other planets

Starship Troopers Robert A. Heinlein · 1959 · ★ 4.0 · 368p · ≈ 12h · Moderate Starship Troopers takes place in the midst of an interstellar war between the Terran Federation of Earth and the Arachnids (referred to as "The Bugs") of Klendathu. It is narrated as a series of flashbacks by Juan Rico, and is one of only a few Heinlein novels set out in this fashion. The novel opens with Rico aboard the corvette Rodger Young, about to embark on a raid against the planet of the… Shares: Space Warfare, Extraterrestrial beings, Science Fiction

Blood of the Cosmos: The Saga of Shadows, Book Two Kevin J. Anderson · 2015 · ★ 4.0 · 608p · ≈ 20h · Moderate Second in the Saga of Shadows trilogy from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Dark Between the Stars and coauthor of Sisterhood of Dune.The titanic conflict continues between galactic civilizations and the life-destroying force of sentient shadows . . . After the events in the Hugo-nominated The Dark Between the Stars, the humans and Ildirans have narrowly escaped annihilation… Shares: Human-alien encounters, Space Warfare, Life on other planets, Science Fiction

Dark intelligence Neal L. Asher · 2015 · ★ 4.1 · 412p · ≈ 13h · Moderate After awakening one hundred years after his death at the hands of a haywire AI, Thorvald Spear vows revenge on the machine intelligence and marshalls Isobel Satomi, former criminal and part AI herself, to his cause. Shares: Human-alien encounters, Space Warfare, Artificial Intelligence

On the Razor's Edge Michael Flynn · 2013 · 349p · ≈ 11h · Moderate In Michael Flynn's thrilling space opera, On the Razor's Edge, the secret war among the Shadows of the Name is escalating, and there are hints that it is not so secret as the Shadows had thought. The scarred man, Donovan buigh, half honored guest and half prisoner, is carried deeper into the Confederation, all the way to Holy Terra herself, to help plan the rebel assault on the Secret City. If… Shares: Space flight, Space Warfare, Life on other planets, Science Fiction

Babylon’s ashes James S. A. Corey · 2016 · ★ 4.1 · 544p · ≈ 18h · Moderate The Expanse Saga continues in the 6th installment. The Free Navy – a violent group of Belters in black-market military ships – has crippled the Earth and begun a campaign of piracy and violence among the outer planets. The colony ships heading for the thousand new worlds on the far side of the alien ring gates are easy prey, and no single navy remains strong enough to protect them. James Holden… Shares: Human-alien encounters, Space Warfare, Imaginary wars and battles, Life on other planets

The Ganymede Takeover Philip K. Dick · 1971 · ★ 3.3 · 192p · ≈ 6h · Moderate The Ganymede Takeover is a 1967 science fiction novel by American writers Philip K. Dick and Ray Nelson. It is an alien invasion novel, and similar to Dick's earlier solo novel The Game-Players of Titan. Dick later admitted that The Ganymede Takeover was originally going to be a sequel to his alternate history novel The Man in the High Castle with the Japanese occupying the United States not… Shares: Human-alien encounters, Extraterrestrial beings, Science Fiction

In the Lion's Mouth Michael Flynn · 2012 · ★ 3.9 · 303p · ≈ 10h · Moderate It's a big Spiral Arm, and the scarred man, Donavan buigh, has gone missing in it, upsetting the harper Mearana's plans for a reconciliation between her parents. Bridget ban, a Hound of the League, doubts that reconciliation is possible or desirable; but nonetheless has dispatched agents to investigate the disappearance. The powerful Ravn Olafsdottr, a Shadow of the Names, slips into… Shares: Space flight, Life on other planets, Science Fiction

Triplanetary Edward E. Smith · 1948 · ★ 3.7 · 272p · ≈ 9h · Challenging Lensman series, Book 1 of 7 Even back before the first bits of this story hit the newsstands, the folks who published it in Amazing Stories (January through April, 1934) knew they were on to something special. "We are sure that our readers will be highly pleased to have us give the first installment of a story by Dr. Smith. It will continue for several numbers and is a worthy follower of the… Shares: Human-alien encounters, Space Warfare, Science Fiction

Tides of Light Gregory Benford · 1989 · ★ 3.5 · 365p · ≈ 12h · Moderate From the back cover: Onboard an ancient starship, Killeen and the Bishop tribe escape the mech-ruled world of Snowglade. Seeking refuge on a faraway planet, they discover vast wonders -- an organic life-form as large as a world, a planet-coring cosmic string, a community of humans ruled by a brutal tyrant, and ultimately an alien race more awesome than any they have encountered. As they battle… Shares: Human-alien encounters, Artificial Intelligence

Seeds of Earth Michael Cobley · 2009 · ★ 3.6 · 650p · ≈ 21h · Moderate More than 150 years after an alien race destroyed Earth, the planet Darien hosts a thriving human settlement, but this settlement is soon to become the focus of an intergalactic power struggle that dates back to an apocalyptic battle fought between ancient races at the dawn of galactic civilization. Shares: Space Warfare, Life on other planets, Science Fiction

Transcendental (The Transcendental Machine) James Gunn · 2014 · 304p · ≈ 10h · Moderate The Transcendental Machine trilogy in one volume!Like many trilogies, the Transcendental trilogy may best be viewed as one continuous story--so here they are!Riley, a veteran of interstellar war, is one of many beings from many different worlds aboard a ship on a pilgrimage that spans the galaxy. However, he is not journeying to achieve transcendence, a vague mystical concept that has drawn… Shares: Space flight, Human-alien encounters, Artificial Intelligence, Science Fiction

The Long Cosmos Terry Pratchett · 2013 · ★ 3.9 · 448p · ≈ 14h · Moderate The Next--the hyper-intelligent post-humans--realize that the missive they received from the center of the galaxy contains instructions for kick-starting the development of an immense artificial intelligence knows as The Machine. But to build this computer the size of an Earth continent, they must obtain help from the more populous and still industrious worlds of mankind. Shares: Space flight, Artificial Intelligence, Science Fiction

The Voyage of the Space Beagle A. E. van Vogt · 1950 · ★ 4.5 · 192p · ≈ 6h · Moderate One of the great original classics of modern SF returns! An all-time classic space saga, The Voyage of the Space Beagle is one of the pinnacles of Golden Age SF, an influence on generations of stories. An episodic novel filled with surprises and provocative ideas, this is the story of a great exploration ship sent out into the unknown reaches of space on a long mission of discovery. They… Shares: Human-alien encounters, Extraterrestrial beings, Life on other planets, Science Fiction

Redshirts John Scalzi · 2012 · ★ 3.9 · 320p · ≈ 10h · Moderate Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It's a prestige posting, with the chance to serve on "Away Missions" alongside the starship's famous senior officers. Life couldn't be better...until Andrew begins to realize that 1) every Away Mission involves a lethal confrontation with alien forces, 2)… Shares: Human-alien encounters, Space Warfare, Science Fiction

Earthborn Orson Scott Card · 1995 · ★ 3.9 · 439p · ≈ 14h · Moderate On board a starship above Earth, Shedemai sleeps. As lone survivor of the Children of Wetchik, the Oversoul periodically wakes her to watch over her descendants. Despite years of searching, the Oversoul still hasn't located the Keeper of Earth; the only thing that can repair it's damaged programming. Shares: Life on other planets, Artificial Intelligence

The Short Victorious War David Weber · 1994 · ★ 4.3 · 376p · ≈ 12h · Moderate Novel 3 of the Harrington Series. Follows "The Honor of the Queen". After almost a year to recover from the injuries suffered in the previous book, Honor is returned to command of a brand new battlecruiser. She now has to face an overwhelming force as open warfare with Haven breaks out. This novel is followed by "Field of Dishonor". Shares: Space Warfare, Imaginary wars and battles, Life on other planets

The Wreck of the River of Stars Michael Flynn · 2004 · ★ 3.6 · 480p · ≈ 16h · Moderate Winner of the Robert A. Heinlein award, "a far-future, spacefaring universe packed with action. . . . is good challenging reading" (Booklist).In the days of the great sailing ships, in the mid-twenty-first century, when magnetic sails drew cargo and passengers alike to every corner of the solar system, sailors had the highest status of all spacemen, and the crew of the luxury liner the River of… Shares: Space flight, Science Fiction

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