UPDATE: Additional book suggestions can now be found in Scifi for Summer Reading 2.

So I was listening to NPR’s Weekend Edition this morning doing a story called “Summer Books That Make The Critics’ Cut.” The question was asked: “Just what is a summer book, anyway?” with the response that the material ought to offer a change of weather, an opportunity to be “carried away to a far off place,” and to provide a mental vacation escape even if you’re not going anywhere for the Summer. I agree completely, so why did they completely ignore science fiction recommendations?

The NPR segment suggests international thrillers, a trip to 19th century America, and historical fantasy set in China, but books with just a travel feel don’t offer escape to everyone even when set in exotic locations.  If the goal is the experience of something completely different from the day-to-day, some form of speculative fiction would be the obvious solution.

NPR should have suggested Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl that takes you to a future Thailand where calories are a commodity, and new food sources exist to be exploited. Genetic modifications are common, but the world’s paid a heavy price. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest offers Civil War–era steampunk adventure with strong female characters…and zombies! This cross-genre book is blended so effortlessly you’ll think you’re reading a new genre altogether. Or for something truly out of this world check out Alastair Reynolds’ House of Suns set 6.4 million years in the future. You really can’t “get away” much farther than that.

NPR featured nine books, which I think offered plenty of room for a mix of genre suggestions. Science fiction is very mainstream these days, so its absence was pretty glaring. As a regular listener, I do hope NPR can do better next time.