Seveneves
In Neal Stephenson's captivating novel, Seveneves, the Moon is shattered by an inexplicable event, resulting in the disintegration of its structure and the creation of a catastrophic debris field. This event, known as Hard Rain, sends shockwaves through humanity, as the Moon's fragments threaten to plunge into Earth's atmosphere, potentially causing an extinction-level disaster.
Science fiction is one of my favorite genres of both novels and films. Neal Stephenson is famous for his science fiction writing. From inventing the term “metaverse” in Snowcrash to conceiving a giant gun that launches canisters of sulfur into the upper atmosphere, Stephenson’s imagination and application of scientific plausibility make for great reads. In Seveneves, when the moon is destroyed in a freak event that will destroy all life on Earth, the only surviving humans are the ones that make it into orbit. This number, of course, is direly slim, and so are their chances of keeping humans from going extinct. Using plausible science, Stephenson crafts a thrilling adventure of humans on the brink. The aperture of scientific plausibility steadily opens as the story continues, keeping the reader engaged. If you’re a fan of Andy Weir’s The Martian or Project Hail Mary, you’d definitely dig this book.