The Best Books of 2021

Last year was not easy for publishers. Expensive paper, paper shortages, rising costs… Many new releases were delayed or cancelled. Still, a number of titles hit the market that you definitely shouldn't miss. We can still congratulate ourselves that so much quality reading is being published in our little country.

Andy Weir - Project Hail Mary

Andy Weir became a superstar among contemporary sci-fi authors almost overnight. His novel The Martian became an instant hit, which also received a great film adaptation. In his second novel, Artemis, he moved away from the diary format and gave us a decent sci-fi story set on the Moon. In his latest novel, Project Hail Mary, he returns to the proven diary format and serves up another gripping story full of wit, science, and an ordinary-looking hero who performs miracles thanks to his knowledge. It works. The hero, Ryland, has exactly what he needs at his disposal, and as luck would have it, he is always an expert on everything required. Just like Mark Watney in The Martian. Maybe even more so. But who would mind when it's this much fun! Project Hail Mary is once again a beautifully readable and clever book that you'll easily devour in one sitting.

John Wyndham - The Day of the Triffids

The Day of the Triffids is not exactly a new release. Every sci-fi fan worth their salt must have heard of it by now. But this long-unavailable classic has finally received a beautiful new edition with a stunning new cover and, for the first time, the complete and uncensored text. Mysterious flashes in the sky blind most of the Earth's population. That is definitely a problem. But to make matters worse, nature goes wild, and mobile poisonous plants attack the poor survivors. John Wyndham prepared a cruel fate for humanity and wrote himself into the history of literature in golden letters. The Day of the Triffids is a book that should not be missing from the library of any lover of good sci-fi.

Walter Tevis - The Man Who Fell to Earth

Thomas Newton is an alien. He comes to our planet with a mission to save his dying people. He immediately realizes that he will need one thing to do it - a big pile of money. So he uses his knowledge and dives into business. However, he soon discovers in the world of big business that humanity is also headed for destruction. The Man Who Fell to Earth was originally published in 1963 and is a classic work of science fiction. It is surprising that it has only now received a Czech edition, despite the fact that the book had a successful film adaptation starring David Bowie. But the wait was worth it. Eager readers now get their hands on a story that is still relevant even after all this time. And even more so today…

Michael Swanwick - The Iron Dragon's Daughter

In this case, I have to be honest and say that The Iron Dragon's Daughter is not a book for everyone. You will either love it or hate it. However, if it hits your taste, you will experience a gripping story somewhere on the border of fantasy, cyberpunk, and fairy tale. A story full of violence and sex. A story in which dragons are definitely not pets. The story of teenage Jane in a hostile world of alchemy and technology. Michael Swanwick created an original story that doesn't coddle its heroes or its readers. That alone is why it made it into our selection.

John Garth - The Worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien

This richly illustrated publication is a no-brainer. Do you like Tolkien? You must have it in your library. John Garth has created an engaging guide to the life of J. R. R. Tolkien and the places where he lived and which inspired his work. It is amazing how much one's surroundings influence the life of those who live in them. How much can manifest in their work. The book radiates the love and care with which it was created. You will learn many interesting details and perhaps get to know and understand the king of world fantasy better.

author Karel Krajča