Which SF book from the past 12 years is the one for you?

[Longshoreman]

If you could only buy one recent SF book, last 12 years, which one would it be?

There are so many good books out there at the moment, but you can only read one at a time to really enjoy it.

If you prefer a more adventurous scenario;
                            You are on a space freighter, there is a split on the hull you are running out of time to escape, yet something has caught your eye. A crate spilling books onto the floor, but you can only fit one into your suit and therefore you escape pod. You could be trapped in that pod for a long time, which book could you read over and over again without becoming bored of it? What book could sustain you through your tireless adventures through the galaxy attempting to survive and return home? Which one will you quickly grab as you dash onwards to your salvation?

 - I know there are several flaws with my scenario, but I quickly wrote it to keep your attention.

[jrderego]

Escape Clause

[Umbrageofsnow]

I'd certainly pick one of the Best Short Stories of the Year collections (maybe a Datlow), or maybe the McSweeney's Amazing Stories, or maybe a single-author collection like Ian McDonald's Cyberabad Days or Paul Park's When Lions Speak. But something about the way you asked this question makes me think you're looking for novels.

Hmm.

Well I'm already dead, but if it wouldn't weigh me down, I'd go with Neal Stephenson's Ananthem, because that thing takes up some serious time and is amazingly good. It has enough depth to really interest on a reread. And in a pinch, it can be used as a weapon.

If I wanted something a bit less brick-like, I'd go with The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow, which is also pretty dense intellectually speaking, but much shorter.

[Scumpup]

I'd want something by Gene Wolfe.  His work, though it can be enjoyed in a single casual reading, reveals all sorts of intricacies on repeat readings.  He is one of very few authors about whom I believe you can truly say that every single thing in one of his stories is there for a reason and means something. 

[Cutter McKay]

I'm thinking I would go with one of the Writers of the Future anthologies. And since this is in the future, it's not too much to hope it would be the anthology I will one day be published in, right?

If I had to choose a novel, though, rather than an anthology, I'd probably have to go with Ender's Game. On a related note: So excited for the movie. Harrison Ford as Colonel Graff... It's like he was born for the role. Like Patrick Stewart for Professor X or Ian McKellen for Gandalf. Just sayin'.

[Ocicat]

Isn't it strange to think that Ender's Game is almost 30 years old now? 

The "from the last 12 years" part of this challenge is hard for me, especially focusing as it is on SF as opposed to fantasy.  Seems I've loved a lot more new fantasy novels than actual science fiction from the last dozen years.  Cutting out both Neil Gaiman and GRR Martin really cuts down on my list.

[Cutter McKay]

Isn't it strange to think that Ender's Game is almost 30 years old now? 

Thanks for the subtle hint that I blew the question, hehe. But you're right, it is strange that Ender's game is so old. I think that since it's been less than 12 years since I read it for the first time, I forget it falls well outside the parameters of this topic.

And you're right, there have been fewer memorable sci-fi novels in the last decade or more than memorable fantasy novels. At least, that I have read. If I was allowed to choose from sci-fi or fantasy, than I could easily choose Mistborn, by Brandon Sanderson. No other novel has been that satisfying for me since Ender's Game. But that's a whole new tangent that should probably be discussed in PodCastle's forums.

[eytanz]

I think the SF that really stands out to me from the last dozen years is Pandora's Star/Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton. But really, most of the best recent SF I've been reading has been in the form of short stories, not novels. I think practically all my favourite novels from the past dozen years were fantasy novels - and I haven't even read any of the GRR Martin books yet (except Fevre Dream, which is far older and I didn't even like that much).

[Listener]

I'd probably take a book I had to think about a lot.

Anathem by Neal Stephenson -- it's crazy long, full of math and science and a little adventure, and at the end all the proofs are explained so that if you can't figure them out yourself you have the answers.

Embassytown by China Mieville -- talk about high-concept sci-fi. Great stuff, if a little boring in the beginning.

[FireTurtle]

I'd probably take a book I had to think about a lot.

Anathem by Neal Stephenson -- it's crazy long, full of math and science and a little adventure, and at the end all the proofs are explained so that if you can't figure them out yourself you have the answers.

I second this. Love a book I can read multiple times and find something new to understand. It really was an epic science-y adventure. I'm such a sucker for that.