I read Martin McInnes’s In Ascension recently. What I loved about it is that it felt both intimate and sweeping. Intimate in the sense of going deep into the protagonist’s thoughts and feelings; sweeping in the nature of the things she thinks and does. Discovering and investigating things beyond all human knowledge, monologuing about the cyclic nature of life… The former keeps it grounded, the latter makes it exciting.
Another book that made me feel a similar way is Jeff Vandermeer’s Annihilation, although it’s a very different kind of awe. Being a horror book and all.
What are other books that can make me feel that way again?
Ursula LeGuin
Are you trying to summon her or something? At least say her name 3 times in front of a mirror bro
Way of Kings is over a thousand pages and I read the whole thing in like a week. At the end I was literally in awe. Mistborn is much shorter and gave me a similar experience, but not as profound. Oh! Necromancer might be up your alley. It’s the grandfather of cyberpunk. The craziest sci-fi series I’ve read is definitely Hyperion. There’s quite a lot to be amazed at in that series, and it is very original. The absolute most original series I have ever read is the Fifth Season & the Broken Earth series. There is nothing else like it, and the scale of the plot is immense.
If you want something that’s not sci-fi or fantasy, and you haven’t read it yet, 1984 is the most excellent book. There were times when I’d just stop reading to think about what an amazing wordsmith Orwell is. It is pretty dark and hopeless though, so I don’t recommend it if that sort of stuff is bad for you.
Klara and the Sun. Told completely from the view of an android who strives to understand her world, her place in it, relationships gained, lost and changes.
If you like new non-human perspectives like that one I have a few more suggestions.
I just read Ancillary Justice and I have to say it’s written in a way that truly gives you insight into a new perspective from a not exactly human perspective. An ancillary (human body as an extension of a Ship AI) who is coping with being alone (when she’s used to having hundreds of eyes, tasks, conversations all at once). Dealing with her limitations, feelings and also driven towards a goal decades in the planning.
Finally just funny and short would be the Murderbot Diaries series. A machine/cyborg made to be a soldier or security apparatus… who breaks free and really just wants to watch dramas and be left alone. Touching and funny.
The Imperial Radch (ancillary justice, sword, mercy) trilogy may be one of my favourite reads in recent years, very highly recommended.
If you liked Annihilation, you might enjoy Leech, by Hiring Ennes. It’s not the same at all, but kind of has a similar feel. Very unusual plot, very well told story.
Arthur C. Clarke’s Rendezvous with Rama gave me a real feeling of awe. It doesn’t have much in the way of characterization; the amazing part is the setting, the mystery of the incomprehensible.
The Library at Mount Char is a bit like what you’re describing - quite intimate in getting to know the characters but as the story develops there’s a huge “holy shit” awe to it for me.
I also second the Ursula le Guin recommendation.
Mount Char is perfect if OP liked Annihilation, big agree
I’ve not actually read Annihilation but if it’s anything like Mount Char I’m in, as that’s one of my favorite books period.
Jeff Vandermeer in general is a fantastic author, I think the Area X books are my favorite but the Ambergris books and Borne are also great
I’ll check some of those out, thanks!
Prelude to the Foundation then read Caves of Steal. Isaac Asimov was great at writing from the protagonist’s perspective.
Kingkiller chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss. Its a trilogy that only has 2 books, so beware. The way he writes about music, Kvothes time in Tarbean and earlier in the forrest is extremely intimate.
Moreso the “in universe” novella “The Slow Regard of Silent Things”
Rothfus took a lot of ideas from Wheel of Time for book two. So, if you want more of the Adem, you can get your fill with the Aiel in WoT. But it’s a colossal 14 book series that tends to wander at times. I still loved it though, despite Jordan’s tendency to describe the stitching on a woman’s dress for 5 pages. It is probably the most epic series I’ve ever read.
You should enjoy Italo Calvino’s Mr Palomar then.
Being an honest observer of the world outside, Mr Palomar seeks patterns in everything and is always torn between constantly emerging contradicting perspectives. He strives to attain transcendent understanding and fails; he also strives to connect with mundane everyday things and fails. He can’t even decide which of the two is a nobler goal, and that indecision is also something he analyses.
It’s a short beautiful book, give it a try.