What is Charming Sci-Fi?
From the Archives: Taking a break from writing while my shoulder recovers from a bit too much backpack-carrying!
Dear Cozy Reader,
I’m dipping into the archives again this week. Since arriving in Portugal, I’ve been walking a lot more and with a heavy backpack. I haven’t carried a backpack like this in, oh, 25 years? Since college?? And yesterday, I woke up with a super stiff, aching shoulder.
So I’m doing my best to avoid anything that might make it worse—like unconsciously hunching over my computer screen.
Fingers crossed, I’ll be back to writing next week, when I’ll share a list of tea-focused, charming sci-fi novels!
In the meantime, here’s a favorite from the Sleuth Hero Alien archives about how I define “charming sci-fi.”
—Emma
What is a charming sci-fi novel?
When I originally conceived of Sleuth Hero Alien, I knew I wanted to write about cozy mysteries and cozy fantasies. These are my favorite kinds of books, and I have so much to say about them!
But as I dreamed and schemed about this newsletter, other books kept popping into my head. Like Becky Chambers’ amazing sci-fi Monk & Robot duology and Claudia Gray’s compelling Star Wars novel, Bloodline. I knew I wanted to talk about these books, too! So, I decided to include sci-fi on the list of books I would discuss here.
What I didn’t know was how to describe the kind of sci-fi novels I love. They aren’t exactly cozy, because they don’t always have the cozy vibe with small towns, soft fabrics, and tea. But they always leave me with a good, optimistic feeling.
I went down the thesaurus rabbit hole, and eventually I landed on the word I was looking for: charming.
One of the best examples of a charming sci-fi is The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. In this story, we follow a cast of mostly love-able characters as they travel to a distant part of the galaxy to do a job.
Along the way, they have both low and high stakes adventures, while dealing with technological, societal, and relational issues. This story will bring you to alien ports, distant outposts, and into the heart of communal living.
And that’s a charming sci-fi.
It’s a story set in a world that is different from our real world, but the differences come from science & technology instead of magic.
There are love-able, often charming characters who you root for along the way.
There will be problems to solve and adventures to go on, but there won’t be graphic descriptions of horrible things.
There is a foundation of optimism. As opposed to dystopian fiction, charming sci-fi is set in a world moving towards a brighter future.
Here are a few I love:
The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis. Francie definitely does not believe in aliens, until she’s abducted by one in Roswell, NM. And then she’s taken on a bonkers road trip around the desert. I was charmed by fast-paced silliness, found-family vibes, RVs, weddings, and adorable aliens.
Star Wars: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray. In this story, we follow two young imperial officers as they experience the highlights of Star Wars movies IV, V, and VI (the ones with young Mark Hamill). The characters eventually go their separate ways, and there are discussions about life, love, and fighting fascism. Though things get hard sometimes in this story, I was charmed by the long term friendship and behind-the-scenes view of these much loved movies.
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older. It’s the distant future, and Jupiter has been colonized by humanity. For the setting, imagine a sci-fi version of 1800’s London, with fog, tea, and scones. The story is a Holmesian mystery, where we follow a detective and her ex-girlfriend as they solve a murder. I was charmed by the moody vibes, quiet romance, and interesting technology.
The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz. It’s 50,000 years from now, and Destry works on Sask-E, a planet in the middle of being terraformed. Everything is going as planned, until a secret is discovered she can’t ignore. This story tends towards harder ecological sci-fi, but it made it on the list because of the love-able characters and optimistic view of long-term activism. I was charmed by the talking moose, sentient train, and underground communities.
Have a charming sci-fi recommendation? Let us know in the comments!
Cozy book recommendation: Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers
During the Pandemic, Becky Chambers released this quiet, beautiful novella. It’s about a monk on a distant planet, who realizes they’re done with their vocation, so they decide to leave the city to become a tea monk. Through a series of decisions and serendipities, the monk eventually encounters a robot in the wild, and the real adventure begins.
I love how this novel is set in a world with a culture who has thought through their impact on each other and the planet. And even in this seeming utopia, there is still so much to discuss about who we are, what we’re doing here, and what we need.
If you read this one, you can expect to be charmed by:
A long walk in nature
Philosophical discussions about life
Tea
Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and just a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.
You might also enjoy my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society—a welcoming space where books, personal growth, and magic intertwine, nurturing your soul one page at a time. Read the most recent post: It’s Never Too Late
Curious about life abroad? Check out Reading in Portugal to follow my adventures—starting with My First Week in Portugal!