Top Ten Best Selling Science Fiction Books of 2008

The best, best-selling science fiction books of 2008 are an eclectic mix of hard sci-fi, with a dash of the near-fantastical, and the re-emergence of one of the deans of the genre with two novels on the list.

No. 1 - "Immortality" by Kevin Bohacz capitalizes on the theme of impending environmental collapse and the rapid extinction of species that we read about daily in the national news. Following in the wake of the Hugo-award winning novel "Darwin's Radio" (Greg Bear), Bohacz keeps the reader riveted with a tale of how the rules of evolution when being crushed by environmental factors could create new species that are "hidden" amongst us - including fellow members of the human race.

No. 2 - "Dark Matter" by S.W. Ahmed continues the long-standing tradition of "what if we could travel faster than light" in science fiction, mixing in theory on dark matter, alien abduction, and galactic warfare. More than a simple adventure story, Ahmed has managed to create a unique first novel.

No. 3 - "The Ship Who Searched" by Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey puts two of science fiction's preeminent authors into a collaboration which is flawlessly presented. Originally released in 1992, this novel set in a McCaffrey's universe where interstellar ships are operated by the living personalities of human beings, and tells the tale of a paralyzed girl and her "shipmate" Alex as they discover a mystery - and search out its secret.

No. 4 - "The Prometheus Project: Trapped" by Douglas E. Richards brings to mind the classic young reader's novel "A Wrinkle In Time" by Madeline L'Engle, with two precocious siblings discovering that their scientist parents have a secret - and they want in on it, too. An adventure story for young and old alike, "The Prometheus Project: Trapped" has made its way into classroom reading lists.

No. 5 - "Nature of the Beast" by Richard Fawkes is part of the military subgenre of science fiction, resembling a blend of Robert A. Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" and Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game." Unfortunately, the novel can be a dull read for those not enamored with this splinter subgenre, since Fawkes has focused much of the novel on the details of space battle.

No. 6 - Another militarily-oriented novel, "Cross the Stars" by David Drake is a re-telling of Homer's "Odyssey" set in space, with characters who are both heroic - and flawed. Set within Drake's 'Hammer's Slammer' universe, this is possibly the best of Drake's work to-date.

No. 7 - "The Exile Kiss" by George Alec Effinger is the third in his series set in the far-future Saudi Arabian city of Budayeen - with the exile of Marid Audran and his boss (who is normally the most-feared man in Budayeen) into the great sand sea known as Rub al-Khali - a virtual death sentence. The duo escape certain death - but at what price?

No. 8 - "The Second Virgin Birth" by Tommy Taylor deals with the controversial subject of technology gone amok, and asks the question "Should we do this, just because we can?" and deals with the potential fallout of "what if" a second virgin birth occurs - and how the world tears itself apart over whether this is the Second Coming - or something more sinister.

No. 9 - "Worlds of Tomorrow: The Amazing Universe of Science Fiction Art" was put together by science fiction editor/fan/historian Forrest J. Ackerman and author Brad Lindweaver, featuring some 300 pieces of the fantastic "pulp fiction" art that graced the covers of science fiction in the early years of the 1930, '40s, and '50s.

No. 10 - "The Time Cavern" by Todd Fonesca is aimed at the youth market, but the story of a city-boy moved to Amish country - and the mystery that he and his Amish friend Jake - is gripping for the adult reader as well. Fonesca creates characters you want to care about - and who are multi-dimensional human beings, not cutout kids that many youth novels seem to want to portray.