Battle: Los Angeles

The novel is set in a near-future New England in the Republic of Gilead, a patriarchal, totalitarian state that has overthrown the United States government. Offred, the narrator, is one of the 'Handmaids', women who are forcibly assigned to produce children for the ruling class, known as 'Commanders'. The story explores themes of powerless women, loss of female agency and individuality, and the suppression of women's reproductive rights. Offred's life is marked by her restrictive routine, her memories of her past life, and her interactions with the Commander, his wife Serena Joy, and other Handmaids, including her friend Ofglen who is part of an underground resistance movement. The novel is a scathing satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense[3][4][5].

In 'A Fire Upon the Deep', Vernor Vinge explores a vast universe divided into 'zones of thought' where the potential of intelligent life varies greatly. The story begins with a human expedition that awakens a destructive artificial intelligence, the Blight, which threatens to destroy entire civilizations. Two children, Jefri and Johanna Olsndot, escape the initial destruction but are captured by the Tines, an intelligent dog-like alien species with a hive mind. Meanwhile, Ravna Bergsndot, an intergalactic librarian, and her companions embark on a perilous rescue mission to save the children and recover an artifact that could stop the Blight. The novel is renowned for its complex world-building, unique alien cultures, and blend of hard science fiction and high drama[1][2][5].