Books
Red Rising
Pierce Brown provides a great example of what a future society of interstellar travelers who rule with rules, lies, and deceit that Hunger Games attempted to do. However, it is highly predictable, boring, and plot hole ridden book.
Science Fiction
Books
The Martian
Andy Weir is masterful in his first novel that writes in small segments of immense imagery. I don't know of another book that is told in a log type format. While this is true, for a new reader, that it can be difficult to read and get into. I know, I first read it while stationed overseas.
Books
Level Six
This book continues the story that was unique in the onset, but fails to continue the story in any meaningful manner. The book only provides new characters and a singular new event that sets up the third book but nothing else.
Movies
Mad Max: Fury Road
I have never seen the Mel Gibson Mad Max films, I know the story thought, and I won't after this. It is a very stylistic driving movie that he some really cool action, but lacks in any real substance as far as the movie. I know that that last statement is a VERY hot take as this movie is beloved.
Books
Altered Carbon
Altered Carbon is what you want in a Cyberpunk novel and the world created is so well presented, I wish that CDProjektRed had used this as their template rather than the CyberPunk RPG. The characters make for a well loved world and the story makes sense, with one very notable exception.
Books
Children of Memory
Tchaikovsky is one of the authors out there. This book is a disappointing finale to a weird series of books that ends with a pointless story, world building, but a storyline that otherwise doesn't fulfil the promises of the previous books.
TV
Raised by Wolves
Travis Fimmel is honestly a completely underrated actor. He dives into his roles so far that you can't see him as anything else. His performance is what stands with me more than anything else in this show other than the weird Android having babies that are snakes. Like I said, its a weird show.
Movies
Tenet
Christopher Nolan. I am not sure if this dude thinks in the same manner as other humans. From this to Interstellar, Inception, or Batman, these movies are so crazy that you have to pay attention to them. No watching your phone. So, put down your phone, turn off the lights, and watch this movie.
TV
The Rig
It is a UK show, so a FULL 1 hour episode, not the typical 45-minute ones that you see in the US, so be ready for some longer, slower, and more story driven parts. If you want to compare this to Dr. Who or Sherlock, don't. This is not the same caliber as those, but it is worth watching.
Books
Artemis
Andy Weird admittedly missed the mark on this book. The overall story is well told, but the characters just constantly make stupid decisions and never make an effort to correct their thinking even after they say they are going to make changes. The book also feels just a little too long.
Books
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
A sleeper of a book. A read that keeps you entertained with vivid imagery and great science. Paolini does a great job of expanding on true theoretical physics. He does a fantastic job of take what should be an inanimate parasite and giving it life. Pun intended when you read the book.
Books
Children of Ruin
These books start off the worst book of all time. Full of confusion, inconsistent voice issues, as well as straight up poor story construction makes it very hard to jump into the book. This is all saved by the end where all the bits make sense, that frustratingly makes you look forward to more.