Science is a way of understanding the world, but to what degree can it be used to understand oneself? These books all deal with the intersection of science fiction and identity.
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
How would you feel if someone you loved stole from you? What if it was your life’s work? What if it was also your face?
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
As more women enter scientific careers, the definition of what a scientist looks like has changed. Lab Girl explores themes that include mental illness and interconnectedness in the context of a part memoir, part scientific treatise on the human-plant connection.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
What is someone meant to do when they have become the best in their field? This is the question Dex, a tea monk has had to ask. Twice. A cozy novella that explores what it is to change and why.
Annie Bot: a Novel by Sierra Greer
Annie is a highly advanced humanoid robot whose purpose is to please her owner, Doug in all ways. Yet, as Annie’s code evolves and becomes more human, it becomes increasingly more difficult to know what will displease Doug.
Sybil: The True Story of a Woman Possessed by 16 Seperate Personalities by Flora Rheta Schreiber
In a significantly darker turn from other books on this list, this book originally published in 1973 details the diagnosis and treatment of a young woman with 16 distinct personalities. Since its publication, both psychiatrist, patient, and author have drawn controversy for the events detailed in the book.