book review

Books reviews of the best science fiction stories, texts, educational texts, and journals.

According to neuroscientists, this typical nightly ritual significantly enhances sleep.
It has been demonstrated that reading a book in bed improves sleep quality more than immediately turning out the lights. That straightforward practice simultaneously activates the systems of memory, language, and emotion, and that consistent concentration can facilitate the transition to sleep.
By Francis Dami4 days ago in Futurism
Her Name Was Written in Rain. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
Her Name Was Written in Rain The first time I saw her, it was raining. Not the violent kind of rain that breaks umbrellas and floods streets—but the soft, patient kind that falls like memory. I was standing beneath the rusted shelter of a bus stop, watching water blur the city into watercolor. People rushed past me, collars raised, shoes splashing through shallow puddles.
By Samaan Ahmad8 days ago in Futurism
10 Mind-Blowing Space Stories School Never Told You
For many of us (especially if you grew up watching Star Trek), space truly feels like the final frontier. Sure, school taught us about planets, gravity, and maybe a little about rockets. But what we got was just a glimpse of the safe, simplified version.
By Areeba Umair10 days ago in Futurism
AI as a Reflective Surface
Much of the confusion surrounding artificial intelligence comes from treating it as an agent rather than a surface. When people speak about AI “doing the thinking,” “creating the ideas,” or “speaking for someone,” they are often projecting agency onto a system that does not possess intention, belief, or understanding. This projection obscures what is actually happening in many real-world uses. In those cases, AI is not acting as a source of meaning, but as a surface that reflects, redirects, and reshapes what is already present.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast14 days ago in Futurism
Secrets Between Walls. AI-Generated.
Secrets Between Walls The old mansion at the end of Willow Street had always been a source of whispered rumors in the neighborhood. Children dared each other to peek through its wrought iron gates, adults steered clear, and even the bravest teens swore they heard strange sounds echoing from within. To anyone looking from outside, it was a decaying relic of a bygone era—its paint peeling, windows clouded with dust, and shutters hanging at odd angles. But to Mara, who had just inherited the mansion from her late great-uncle, it was home.
By Samaan Ahmad16 days ago in Futurism
Why Time Freedom Matters More Than Money in the Modern World
On a quiet Tuesday morning, Adam found himself sitting in his car, engine off, staring at the entrance of a glass building he had entered thousands of times before. His phone buzzed with a notification: “Meeting rescheduled to 7:00 PM.” He sighed, not because he disliked his job, but because he had promised his daughter he would help her ride her bike that evening. Again, time had slipped through his fingers. Adam was not poor. In fact, by most modern standards, he was successful. A steady income, a respectable title, a comfortable apartment, and a calendar so full it barely had room to breathe. Yet in that moment, he realized something unsettling: despite having money, he had very little control over his own life. This quiet realization is becoming increasingly common in the modern world. While society continues to glorify wealth, luxury, and financial milestones, a deeper truth is emerging beneath the surface. Time freedom — the ability to control how you spend your time — has become more valuable than money itself.
By olxia10 about a month ago in Futurism
Another New Hope, Nope
Abstract In the Star Wars saga the Old Republic maintained peace without strong centralised rule for thousands of years, yet ultimately collapsed not because of a lack of ideals but because of corruption, inflation and financial capture. Over the long arc of galactic history, whoever controls money controls the galaxy. A New Jedi Order that ignores the power of the Banking Clan is structurally doomed, regardless of its moral aspirations. This article argues that Rey’s project, as imagined in the 2026 narrative horizon, cannot survive as a purely compassionate, decentralised pedagogical movement. If the new Jedi are to build a durable peace, they will be forced into alliances that lead them towards the ‘grey’ side of the Force. Rey’s realistic options narrow to two archaic yet resilient traditions: the Mandalorian creed, embodied by Grogu, and the matriarchal religion of the Witches of Dathomir. In a parallel to the Bene Gesserit in Dune, the text explores the provocative thesis that Rey’s only viable solution is not the restoration of monastic celibacy, but the creation of a hereditary aristocracy of Force users. Blood, not intentions, has always structured power in the galaxy. Luke was the son of a queen; Rey is the heir of Palpatine. ‘New Hope’ thus ceases to mean moral rebirth and comes to signify newborns, bloodlines and dynasties. The ultimate irony is that the House of Palpatine–Skywalker may be the only institution capable of surviving a millennium. Palpatine may have lost the war, but his principle – that blood outlives ideals – may yet rule for eternity.
By Peter Ayolovabout a month ago in Futurism
"Poor Beth": A Modern Mystery Reimagines a Literary Fate. AI-Generated.
A Classic's Quietest Ending Becomes a Modern Starting Point For over 150 years, Beth March’s death in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women has been framed as a tender, tragic, and inevitable event. She is the "good" sister, whose quiet decline serves as a moral lesson and a catalyst for the others’ growth. In Beth Is Dead, author Katie Bernet seizes on this narrative fixture and turns it into an open question. What if Beth’s death in a modern setting wasn’t a gentle fading away, but a sudden, unexplained event? By shifting Beth’s fate from a consumptive nineteenth-century passing to a mysterious death on New Year’s Eve, Bernet does more than update the setting. She actively challenges the original narrative’s acceptance of Beth’s passive role, transforming a closed ending into an open case.
By Saad about a month ago in Futurism
How Online Searches Redefine a Book's Lifespan. AI-Generated.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros continues to rank just behind Regretting You on Google’s “most searched” lists, helped by the popularity of her fantasy universe and ongoing buzz around the series. Evergreen titles like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and It Ends With Us also maintain strong, consistent search traffic year-round due to their persistent presence in online reader communities.
By Saad about a month ago in Futurism
The Era of Agentic AI
For the past three years, we’ve been smitten with "prompt engineering." We’ve interacted with AI as we would an oracle in an "answer cave": we came before its text box, articulated a question thoughtfully, and then waited for an answer. However, as we find ourselves in 2026, so is the passing of the era of "static prompts." We are now in the "Age of Agentic AI."
By Artical Mediaabout a month ago in Futurism
Saudi Arabia Stearic Acid Market: Downstream Industries & Opportunities. AI-Generated.
According to IMARC Group's latest research publication, Saudi Arabia stearic acid market size reached 0.09 Million Tons in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach 0.14 Million Tons by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.15% during 2025-2033.
By Abhay Rajput2 months ago in Futurism
Why Not Everyone Can Succeed with Side Businesses (And Why That's Alright)
Why Not Everyone Can Succeed with Side Businesses (And Why That's Alright) Introduction: We're All Sold on the Side Hustle Dream
By Farida Kabir2 months ago in Futurism