What in the world?

Superhumans, starcrossed lovers, intergalactic hotels - these sci-fi novels make us want to switch universes

- Christalle Fernandes

1 I'm Waiting For You (2021).

A starcrossed romance, in the literal sense. Korean author Kim Bo-Young puts an unnamed couple on opposite sides of the universe. They time their travel so they can meet in time to wed. They end up spending light years apart, only able to communicate through letters that arrive years after they were sent. The story was commissioned as a proposal by a Korean man for his girlfriend. Aww.

Genocide of One (2011).

A rare genetic 2 mutation causes three-year-old Akili to become the smartest human on the planet.

The world's top scientists are figuring out ways to kill Akili, worried that it's the start of a race of superhumans that will wipe out Homo Sapiens.

The part that feels eerily real is the book's social and political setting - a US administration similar to George Bush's government, which is conducting sinister biochemical research and secretly surveilling the whole world.

3 Floating Hotel (2024).

Debut author Grace Curtis's novel is about the world of the future. A travelling hotel in space (a kind of intergalactic cruise liner) offers the finest views of the galaxy. But staff witness new things every day guests with secret pasts, imperial spies from distant planets, and mysterious conferences held on-board. It's like Star Trek, but there's delicious space food and drinks too. No, Scottie can't beam you out of a mess.

4 Acts of God (2024).