Monday, August 15, 2016

Top Ten Book Set On Other Planets

 

 Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new Top Ten list will be posted. Everyone is welcome to join. Link back to The Broke and the Bookish so everyone can check out other bloggers' lists. It's a fun way to get to know fellow bloggers.

This week's topic is Ten Books with X Setting 

I'm going with Top Ten Books Set on Other Planets

I always like otherwordly art so this was a fun topic. A lot of these are older cover illustrations done by Michael Whelan. He's long been my favorite cover artist and he's done a ton of SF/F covers over the years. So here are books set on other worlds. And while some of these are favorites of mine, I picked these solely on the basis of the covers.  

A Princess of Mars (Barsoom, #1)Thuvia, Maid of Mars (Barsoom, #4)The Chessmen of Mars (Barsoom, #5)John Carter of Mars (Barsoom, #11)Planet of Exile Destiny's RoadThis Alien ShoreOld VenusThe Sky People (Lords of Creation, #1)Shades of Earth (Across the Universe, #3)World of Water (Dev Harmer Mission, #2)



A Princess of Mars (Barsoom, #1) 

I've included several of the John Carter of Mars books mainly for the cover art, although the first three are a pretty good story. 
Thuvia, Maid of Mars (Barsoom, #4) 

This is the fourth book where John Carter's daughter takes center stage. 
The Chessmen of Mars (Barsoom, #5) 

The highlight of this one is a living chess match - and there are even rules for the game in the back of the book (it differs from chess). 
John Carter of Mars (Barsoom, #11) 

The last book of the series, not very good, but a distinctive cover.  
Planet of Exile 

One of my favorite books. Interesting fact: there are a lot of similarities to A Song of Ice and Fire. Seasons last for fifteen years, there is an impending winter as the story opens, there's a barbarian migration (the wildlings?) and an eerie threat from the north- snowghouls- are coming south with the barbarians. Sound familiar? 

Destiny's Road 

This is a book about a lost colony and I haven't read it but the cover art got my attention. Once I saw the full version of the art I was impressed.  

This Alien Shore 

I haven't read this one yet but it's on my TBR. I think the cover scene is set on a space station.  

 

The Pern books have been hit or miss for me but this one is cover love.  
Old Venus 

An anthology of stories about Venus as depicted in the pulp days- a hot, humid planet teeming with life, or alternatively a water or swamp world inhabited by dinosaurs or strange aquatic beings. 

The Sky People (Lords of Creation, #1)

Another example of Venus teeming with life. 

Shades of Earth (Across the Universe, #3)


I haven't read this series yet but I plan to- I love generation ship type stories and I understand in this one they reach the planet, so I'm curious. 

World of Water (Dev Harmer Mission, #2)

This was a fun book set on a water planet. 
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38 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 16, 2016 at 12:00 AM

    I'm not familiar with any of these books! Fun list though. :-)

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  2. Christina TAugust 16, 2016 at 2:33 AM

    I've heard of the John Carter series thanks to the movie but the only one I've read is the Beth Revis series (the first book). I still need to finish the series. I thought that Across the Universe was pretty entertaining and liked that there was a murder mystery to solve as well. My topic this week is book set in other worlds so I incorporated science fiction and fantasy.

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    1. GregAugust 16, 2016 at 11:33 AM

      I want to read that story, I like generation ship books. Can't wait to see your post!

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  3. MellianeAugust 16, 2016 at 2:41 AM

    I don't think I know any but well I'm not that much into other planet books and sci-fi even if I read some from time to time

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    1. GregAugust 16, 2016 at 11:34 AM

      I don't read as much sci fi lately oddly enough- that's all I used to read. Now I read more broadly but still like a good sci fi once in a while. :)

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  4. Kit @ Metaphors and MoonlightAugust 16, 2016 at 3:12 AM

    Nice choice of setting! I've never read any of these, but I like Maid of Mars and Princess of Mars for their covers. And the full version of Destiny's Road is gorgeous. Shades of Earth is also pretty, in a different way.

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    1. GregAugust 16, 2016 at 11:35 AM

      Thanks! I like some of those MArs covers even if the stories don't read as well for me as they used to. :) And I agree about Destiny's Road- I love that art w/o all the lettering and stuff. Shaes of earth I want to read...

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  5. Elza ReadsAugust 16, 2016 at 4:05 AM

    I always stand (okay, sit) in amazement on the books you list. WHERE do you find them? Have to be honest - when I saw the theme, two things popped in my mind: 1. My own TTT (have a look please) and Greg and Kristen will choose fantasy settings!!! So yea!! Your post looks great! Here's my TTT: http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/2016/08/top-ten-tuesday-find-x.html

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    1. GregAugust 16, 2016 at 11:37 AM

      Thank you- ha ha I've been doing a lot of these topics lately, I'll need to pick something else soon. :) I'm glad you like the picks- a lot of these are older and are stuff I read as a kid or found in used bookstores.

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  6. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzAugust 16, 2016 at 4:40 AM

    Great list!

    I love the idea of books set on other planets. I wonder if I could find a book set on each of the planets in our solar system....

    Here's my Top Ten!

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  7. Lindsey @ Lindsey ReadsAugust 16, 2016 at 5:21 AM

    Great list! I love books set on other planets but I haven't read any of these books yet. Shades of Earth has been on my TBR for a long time though, so I should definitely get to that :)

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    1. GregAugust 16, 2016 at 11:38 AM

      Shades of earth and that whole series I need to read soon.

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  8. MarielaAugust 16, 2016 at 8:09 AM

    This week's is a very nice topic because I saw a lot of books I haven't before.
    Nice list Greg!
    My TTT.

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  9. KajaAugust 16, 2016 at 9:42 AM

    These covers are fantastic! Now that I think of it, I haven't read that many books set on other planets. The last one was The Martian, that's all I remember. Okay, Illuminae was another but I didn't like it as much ... Great list, Greg! :)

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    1. GregAugust 16, 2016 at 11:39 AM

      Illuminae would have been a great choice! I should have used it. :) A lot of these are older, but I got carried away. :)

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  10. AnonymousAugust 16, 2016 at 10:31 AM

    I obviously need to read more sci-fi! I haven't read any of these but many of them look good. I'll have to check a couple of these out from the library.

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    1. GregAugust 16, 2016 at 11:39 AM

      A lot of these are older and found in used bookstores- I love a good used bookstore with a great sci fi section!

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  11. La La in the LibraryAugust 16, 2016 at 1:42 PM

    I have not read any Edgar Rice Burroughs. Is that something I should do? I have always meant to read Planet Of Exile, but never got around to it. I need to add it to Goodreads while I am still thinking about it. I have six to eight of the McCaffrey books in hardcover. I love the art and I want to collect them all, but I don't know if I will read them all because I started getting bored after the fifth one. Ha ha. The stories started to all sound the same to me after awhile. You should read the Across the Universe books. I really enjoyed them. I didn't like her The Body Electric standalone though. I had intended to read the next book she was working on (which I think came out recently?), but she went on this long, pretty radical, tirade about Feminism, which I am a strong supporter of, on her blog and it was borderline "we need to hate men", and I hate that. I wonder how her husband feels about it? She argued with me on Twitter about it too. So, yeah, I am not into reading anymore of her books. I will say I would like to do a reread of Across the Universe now that I know this, to see if I pick up any hint of that sentiment in her writing. Thanks for finding and including some of the full artwork. I loved it.

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    1. GregAugust 16, 2016 at 2:10 PM

      Edgar Rice Burroughs is hit or miss! The first three Mars books are good- quick, short and action packed. Keep in mind they were written early in the 20th century so the writing style is wordy, and they're not entirely politically correct- but there's nothing bad in them.

      Planet of Exile is VERY short- only about 124 pages. I reviewed it a while back. It's short and a good look at her early writing

      I want to read Beth Revis but that's funny about her tirade! I may have to go read it. :) And more Twitter fun huh? lol you always seem to get into the fun- but I like that you speak your mind.

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  12. UnknownAugust 16, 2016 at 1:45 PM

    I can see what would draw you to those covers! I haven't read any of these but I love the art for the Edgar Rice Burroughs books. This is clearly a talented artist. And it's fantastic that you highlighted them.

    Liselle @ Lunch-Time Librarian

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    1. GregAugust 16, 2016 at 2:11 PM

      I do love spotlighting the art! It was a fun post to put together. :)

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  13. Suzanne @ The Bookish LibraAugust 16, 2016 at 4:59 PM

    Great list and those covers are amazing! The first title that popped into my head when I read your topic was Andy Weir's The Martian, which is another great read.

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  14. Katherine PAugust 16, 2016 at 5:59 PM

    I think the only book I've ever read that's taken place on another planet is Ender's Game and that's really only the end. Oh wait! I forgot about Hitchhiker's Guide. I love all the vintage-y looking covers on these! I'll have to give Burroughs a try.

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  15. RudejasperAugust 16, 2016 at 7:53 PM

    I love books in space but haven't read any of these! I did read the first book in the Beth Revis series but didn't continue with the series - it was interesting but one of the main characters irritated me.

    The artwork on the Michael Whelan covers is incredible! Also very interesting about the parallels between the LeGuin and TSoIaF - hmmm... are there really any original ideas left? Good thing there are so many interesting ways to use all these common ideas!

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  16. Grace @ RebelMommyBookBlogAugust 17, 2016 at 2:55 AM

    I have read a couple on another planet - The Martian and These Broken Stars. The ones you have listed are all new to me but I agree some have great covers!! Great list!

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  17. MichelineAugust 17, 2016 at 5:32 AM

    Eeep! I haven't read ANY of these D: And as much as I adore sci-fi, I haven't read many books set on other planets! I need to fix that soon :)

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  18. RissiAugust 17, 2016 at 12:20 PM

    I've not read many books on other planets but have heard Melissa Landers are good and do remember reading These Broken Stars which was good. Also, I've read about Beth's novels, but never read one. Thanks for visiting Finding Wonderland. :)

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  19. Annemieke | A Dance with BooksAugust 18, 2016 at 4:08 AM

    Interesting topic! I have only heard of the Beth Revis book out of this list. Those other covers look so retro, I love it, haha. Planet of Exile sounds really cool.

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  20. Lauren StoolfireAugust 18, 2016 at 9:24 AM

    I hope you like the Across the Universe books, they're so good!

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  21. Angel Erin's Book ObsessionAugust 18, 2016 at 12:28 PM

    Great setting pick! Why the heck haven't I read any of these??? :/

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  22. AnonymousAugust 21, 2016 at 4:03 AM

    That's a great TTT Greg - may I pinch your idea? I've got one or three suggestions of my own:)). Yes - I enjoyed Across the Universe and would like to read the other books in the series. And I do dimly recall reading one of the Edgar Rice Burroughs books in this series a long, long time ago and very much enjoyed the earlier Pern stories - I particularly liked the twist that turned it from a fantasy to a sci fi story. Thank you for sharing the amazing artwork - which the covers don't remotely do justice to. I'm going to suffer Olympic withdrawal symptoms, having become thoroughly addicted! Have a great week. My Sunday Post - https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2016/08/21/sunday-post-21st-august/

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  23. AnonymousAugust 21, 2016 at 4:31 PM

    I survived 6th grade on Dragonrider of Pern books from the school library. The other book all these covers bring to my mind is The Martian Chronicles, which I LOVED when I read it, also in middle school.

    I don't read much sci fi, so a few years ago when I was participating in a Giving Tree thing at work, and the dad in our family requested sci fi, I picked up The Left Hand of Darkness and Ender's Game, two sci fi novels I really really enjoyed. Then I asked my nephew, who's a fan of the genre, what he'd recommend, and he started by naming those two! (It just now occurs to me that the authors are pretty much political opposites.)

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  24. Got My BookAugust 21, 2016 at 6:23 PM

    Michael Whelan & Rowena Morrill were both a big part of my childhood.

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  25. Melissas Eclectic BookshelfAugust 22, 2016 at 9:06 AM

    The Across The Universe Series was good but I think the first book in the series was the best.

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  26. Literary FelineAugust 22, 2016 at 2:30 PM

    I love your approach to this past week's topic, Greg! So many new to me titles, although I am familiar with some of these authors. I've read LeGuin and McCaffrey before and enjoyed their work.

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