Every first Friday of May is national Space Day. On this national holiday we honor space exploration; all of its achievements and hope to push younger generations to study the great universe. In order to celebrate this holiday, here are some books that are out of this world.
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Set in the year 2380, a new batch of cadets of Aurora Academy are about to graduate. Upon graduation each new cadet and leader are put together in squads to keep order in the galaxy. On the night of graduation and when star pupil Tyler Jones will get first to pick of his squad, he sets out for a late night star cruise. There he finds a girl in a pod in a ship that disappeared hundreds of years ago.
Because of his heroism, Tyler is late to the ceremony and gets the last picks for his squad. This rag tag group gets requested to run a simple errand, and yet, they still find themselves in trouble; the kind of trouble that could change the universe. This is a fun novel that explores space in order to celebrate National Space day.
2. Exhalation 
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This collection of stories by Ted Chiang is an original look at some of humanities oldest asked questions. In “Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom,” the ability to see into alternative universes calls to question the concepts of choice and even free will. In “Exhalation,” an alien scientist makes a shocking discovery with consequences that affect the whole universe, literally. In “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate,” a fabric seller in ancient Baghdad is forced to face past mistakes and second chances because of a portal through time.
3. Dune
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This book is a classic Sci Fi read, but I added this to the list because soon they will be making it into a live action movie. What better way to get ready for a new adaptation and appreciate the universe by reading Dune.
The story is set on the desert planet Arrakis, an inhospitable world but this is where a drug with the capabilities to extend life and enhance consciousness arises. Paul Atrieides is heir to a noble family and is now tasked to rule over this world filled with a drug that the universe is fighting over.
4. War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi
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Set in the year 2172, two sisters, Onyii and Ify, are living in a world ravaged by nuclear disaster. With the Earth unlivable, only the lucky ones can escape to space colonies in the sky. While some are safe in the sky, in a war-torn Nigeria battles are raging with flying mechs and soldiers outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs ,who are meant to protect them from the harsh, radiation-heavy climate. Survival quickly becomes the only way of life.
5. Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
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Noemi and Abel are enemies in an interstellar war, forced by chance to work together as they embark on a daring journey through the stars. Their efforts would end the fighting for good, but they’re not without sacrifice. The stakes are even higher than either of them first realized, and the more time they spend together, the more they’re forced to question everything they’ve been taught.
These Science Fiction novels set in space are a great way to dive deep into new worlds and the crazy unknowns. So, find a book set in the stars and celebrate the curiosity and passion that have inspired the real study of space.
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