As a kid, every week I’d go to the library to check out a new batch of Star Trek books, then come back the next week for more. Then, on one such visit, as I was checking out, the librarian stared me down and said, “You’re ready for more than this.” She took me upstairs, to the full science fiction section and gave me a tour of Isaac Asimov, John Barnes, and Robert Heinlein. I shifted my attention from Star Trek to these new galaxies and futures. I loved all of it, but especially loved anythi...