When looking for brain-teasing prose to soothe your fatigued mind this summer, skip the New York Times bestseller list.

Forget the cliché romance novels and generic thrillers, and pick up something a little more original in science fiction, classic literature or nonfiction.

Science Fiction lovers may enjoy “The Lost Fleet: Dauntless,” by Jack Campbell. The 2006 novel offers the captivating tale of Captain John “Black Jack” Geary, a legendary hero thawed from 100 years of hibernation to win a century-old war and save his fleet from annihilation.

Strategy and intrigue make this book unique. Battles are fought using jump points – locations in space which allow entire fleets to travel great distances. Captain Geary must use innovative tactics, risk the lives of his own descendants and avoid mutiny in a time when every major military decision must be voted upon. “The Lost Fleet” is a six-book series and “Dauntless” is the first in the series.

From the future into the past, great adventure awaits regardless of the era.

“The Hound of the Baskervilles,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, will bring you to the edge of your seat with suspense. The classic tale has withstood the test of time and has been reinvented by modern artists, such as in the BBC hit TV show “Sherlock.”

Written in 1901, the novel follows world-famous sleuth Sherlock Holmes as he uncovers the mysteries of the moors and a diabolical, murdering hound. With his trusty sidekick, Doctor Watson, Sherlock traverses the English landscape from London to Baskerville Hall and the nearby Grimpen Mire. There, the duo strives to save an heir from a family curse that threatens to end his life.

The work is one of many tales written by Doyle, who authored four books and 56 short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes. The Hound of the Baskervilles can be read for free at Google Books and Project Gutenberg.

If fiction is not what you are looking for this summer, consider “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik.

This clever biography showcases the life of the 86-year-old U.S. Supreme Court Justice from her pre-court days and family life to her famous scathing dissents. While educational, the book’s unique format makes the hard-hitting material easy, fun reading.

All of these books may be found at various locations locally and online such as Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, IndieBound, Audible and Books-A-Million.