Summer 2026 Reading Update
Summer 2026 Reading Update
Summer’s here again, and what a busy one it’s been so far. Recently, I’ve been polishing my debut novel Singularity, working on an upcoming academic paper, doing research and teaching (additional updates coming soon). I wanted to focus this update, however, on what I’ve been reading recently.
Lately I’ve been focused on principally two forms of literature: sci-fi classics and research on utopianism. On the sci-fi and speculative fiction side of things, a few particular titles and series have jumped out at me. For instance, I recently read through William Gibson’s Sprawl Trilogy, which is often considered to be the genre-defining cyberpunk series. I’ll admit that the trilogy was a bit challenging due to its very heavy world-building and shifting POV, but what I found particularly compelling and strong were Gibson’s excellent and detailed scene descriptions. Also, the iconic cybernetic assassin Molly Millions was also a hoot.
I also read through Arthur C. Clarke’s Space Odyssey series. Casual readers/viewers may not realize that Stanley Kubrick’s famous 2001: Space Odyssey was developed simultaneously alongside of Clarke’s novel adaptation, and was followed by three sequel novels (and a sequel film). I also did some behind the scenes research to learn about the creative process behind the simultaneous development of the first film and book (2001). It was insightful to learn how Clarke and Kubrick regularly bounced ideas off one another, which lead to changes in both mediums of the story. I was nervous about how one could write a sequel to the first instalment, 2001, but I honestly quite enjoyed the sequels, especially 2010: Odyssey Two and 3001: The Final Odyssey. I found it fascinating to see how Clarke did not consider himself to be overly beholden to the details of previous instalments in the series as he wrote the sequels. For example, the mission’s destination is to Saturn in the 2001 book, not just Jupiter, as in the film; however, in Clarke’s 2011 novel, he sort of ‘retcons’ his first book and says that the mission was only to Jupiter, creating a famous discrepancy between books one and two. I found this approach to Clarke focusing on just the books themselves and not worrying too much about continuity between the books rather refreshing.
I’ve been reading through several other classic sci-fi works recently, such as those by Margaret Atwood, Philip K. Dick, Ursula K. Le Guin, Mary Shelley, Jules Vernes, etc. However, I wanted to provide a special spotlight on Dan Simmons Hyperion series. This is a series that I’ve long had on my reading list, but never been able to get to … until now. I’m particularly impressed by Simmons’ adaptation of the structure from the medieval Canterbury Tales, i.e. having an overarching plot with pilgrims telling their own backstories. The retelling of these smaller narratives in Hyperion serve to set up a vast and complicated world that converge on the planet Hyperion and the Shrike. I also love how the book doesn’t provide an abundance of heavy world-building exposition at the outset; rather, the reader is just immediately immersed into the story. This read has been highly reinvigorating and hard to put down. I’m very excited to read the sequels.
Reading a lot of sci-fi, including several featuring utopianism, I’ve recently become intrigued by the academic, thematic and structural elements behind utopianism. Note that utopianism refers to both the practice of writing utopian literature (including dystopias) and studying utopian literature. While the term ‘utopia’ was famously coined by Thomas More in his 1516 work Utopia, the concept far predates the medieval work. You can find a diversity of utopian literature in the ancient world, and today Utopian Studies has become its own veritable area of academic study. I’ve been focusing lately on reading several of the ancient classics in this genre, as well as familiarizing myself with the major scholars, such as Lyman Tower Sargent, Ruth Levitas, Darko Suvin, etc. What has particularly struck me as fascinating is the relativity of what constitutes a utopia for different communities. One community’s utopia can quickly be identified as another community’s dystopia. This has become a bit of a theme for me recently in both my research and fiction reading. I’m excited to continue exploring this literature over the summer.
That’s it for now. Please check back soon for new posts.
AK-M