A list of books I recommend specifically because their ideas are mind-bendingly brilliant:
I have not assigned any novels as readings for this class simply because they take so much time and energy to absorb. Given the choice, I prefer to give you a lot of different reading experiences rather than focusing all your attention on a single piece. However, the following list contains a few of my favorite way-out-there, super-inventive books in a number of genres.
Kelly Robson, GODS, MONSTERS & THE LUCKY PEACH
Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR
Annalee Newitz, THE FUTURE OF ANOTHER TIMELINE
Tamsyn Muir, GIDEON THE NINTH (and sequels)
Lyda Morehouse, FALLEN HOST (and sequels)
Vernor Vinge, A FIRE UPON THE DEEP, A DEEPNESS IN THE SKY
Peter Watts, STARFISH (and sequels), plus BLINDSIGHT and ECHOPRAXIA
Poppy Brite, LOST SOULS
Caitlin Sweet, THE PATTERN SCARS
Steven Barnes, LION'S BLOOD
Kurt R.A. Giambastiani, THE YEAR THE CLOUD FELL (and sequels)
Louise Marley, THE CHILD GODDESS
Joan Sloncewski, BRAIN PLAGUE
Harry Turtledove, HOW FEW REMAIN
Jonathan Lethem, GUN, WITH OCCASIONAL MUSIC
Maureen McHugh, CHINA MOUNTAIN ZHANG
Connie Willis, LINCOLN'S DREAMS
Dan Simmons, HYPERION (and sequels)
Nalo Hopkinson, THE MIDNIGHT ROBBER