Best sci-fi books: modern masterpieces & all-time classics

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Explore the unknown from the comfort of your home, with the best science fiction books of all time.

As we move ever closer to a brand new year, it’s only natural for curious minds to yearn for something exotic and exotic, and science fiction literature is the answer. it’s the perfect accompaniment to any occasion, whether it’s finding the perfect transportation book or discovering a rare piece of jewelry to snuggle up with during these cold, dark days.

You are reading: Famous sci fi books

Science fiction comes in a plethora of varieties and flavors, and that’s what makes the genre so appealing to readers of all stripes, from enthusiastic military sci-fi, terrifying dystopian sagas, and revealing concept art issues. , to old fashioned Space Operas and terrifying alien encounters.

If you’re interested in learning more about the science behind some of these amazing sci-fi tales, check out our guide to the best space and astronomy books (opens in a new tab).

To cover more ground, we’ve divided our guide into three categories: recently published sci-fi books (within the last year), modern sci-fi books, and classic sci-fi books. Now sit back and enjoy our collection of the best science fiction books out there.

best new science fiction books

1. the simulated multiverse

author: rizwan virk
publisher: bayview books (2021)

mit, computer scientist, silicon valley video game guru, and bestselling author rizwan virk (“the simulation hypothesis”) explores the far-fetched notion of a complex multiverse that has spawned legions of believers over the last few years. decade.

here virk offers mind-boggling dissections of provocative topics such as parallel universes, infinite timelines, quantum computing, alternate simulated realities, twisted definitions of space and time, and the mandela effect (a phenomenon in which the minority of the population recalls memories of past events other than consensus). think of “the man in the high castle” atop the blue and red pill of “the matrix (opens in a new tab)”. is a fascinating explanation of our world that could shake the foundations of your digital reality, but it does so in a totally digestible style.

2. the art of star wars: galaxy’s edge

author: amy ratcliffe
publisher: abrams (2021)

This isn’t as exciting as an actual trip to Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World, but it costs much less and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the theme parks’ new Star Wars lands. Written by pop culture expert and theme park aficionado Amy Ratcliffe, this 256-page deluxe coffee table book showcases the incredible portfolio of preview art that inspired the creation of the fictional world of Galaxy’s Edge and its bustling black tower on the outer edge planet of batuu.

“We looked back at work that happened more than five years ago in some cases, but everyone remembered their thought processes and enthusiasm for working on the Star Wars galaxy,” Ratcliffe told Space.com. (opens in a new tab) “I think readers will not only get an idea of the immense amount of work that went into developing such an ambitious land, but also see how much care and consideration went into it.”

walt disney imagineering’s signature creative approach is brought to life with a constellation of vivid concept illustrations, sketches, ride plans, photos and exclusive interviews with the talented team of imagineers who helped build the illusion of a commercial star wars destination actual size.

Shop “The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” Now on Amazon (Opens in a new tab)

3. providence

author: max berry
publisher: g. p. sons of putnam (2020)

Quietly released during the height of the global pandemic panic, Max Barry’s novel (“Lexicon”) deserves a spot on our list as one of the best science fiction novels of the decade. It tells a compelling story about a strange race of amorphous, hive-shaped aliens who spit out miniature black holes as defensive weapons and the AI-powered battleship Providence Five and its small crew of four sent into deep space to annihilate them.

seven years after a tragic first contact event that left several astronauts dead, this hyper-aware spacecraft gradually travels deep into enemy territory where it becomes paranoid ala hal-9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey”, which results in some terrifying encounters broadcast back to earth to a wowed global audience. fans of the expansion will devour this book before another round of plasma goes off!

buy “providence” now on amazon (Opens in a new tab)

4. leviathan falls

author: james s. a. corey
publisher: orbit (2021)

as wise minds once said, all good things must come to an end, and so it is with the bestselling series of military science fiction novels “the expanse”. on nov The 30th, the ninth and final book in the immensely popular saga by Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham (written as James S. A. Corey) landed on Earth. the book was published just before the sixth and final season of amazon prime’s tv series “the expanse” began airing in december (psst…if you like this tv show, you might like others from best sci-fi tv shows based on books). After 2019’s “Wrath of Tiamat,” this climactic volume picks up after the Laconian Empire falls and 1,300 systems are free from the tyrannical rule of Winston Duarte.

In this intense grand finale, elvi okoye leads a desperate search into the aerodynamic system to learn more about the enigmatic alien presence known as the gate builders and which long-lost nemesis ended their cosmic construction projects. Back aboard the Rocinante, Captain James Holden and his intrepid colleagues try to peacefully reunite humanity from the countless calamities that have come before.

“We’re going to keep the promises we made in the first eight books and complete the story,” abraham told space.com. “That’s all we can really promise. and it is the last. we won’t leave it open for sequels, prequels and side stories. we wanted to tell a complete story and have a satisfying ending, and hopefully that’s what we’re offering.”

buy “leviathan falls” now on amazon (opens in a new tab)

5. land fragments

author: adrian tchaikovsky
publisher: orbit (2021)

adrian tchaikovsky is arthur c. Clarke Award-winning author of “Children of Time” and if you’ve never read his tight, rhythmic prose, you’re in for a real treat.

The story is set after an 80-year war against angry aliens called architects. Idris Telemmier is a genetically modified soldier once used as a telepathic weapon in the battle of decades. Unable to age or sleep since the conflict ended, Idris now exists aboard a salvage spaceship called the God Vulture. Humans created these intimidating soldiers who could mentally connect with the enemy when the earth died.

half a century later, idris and his team stumbled upon a discarded object that is clearly the architects’ design. does this mean the resurgence of the aggressive race in this part of the galaxy? Pursued by criminals, fanatics, and politicians while guarding a rare alien object, Idris flies through the skies trying to evade his pursuers as he searches for the ultimate truth.

shop “earth fragments” now on amazon (Opens in a new tab)

6. at the mountains of madness: volumes 1 and 2

author: h. p. lovecraft
illustrator: françois baranger
publisher: design studio press (2020/21)

fans of h. p. Lovecraft’s unforgettable sci-fi horror novel will savor this stunning oversized hardcover adaptation showcasing the absorbing art of French illustrator François Baranger. the tale of a doomed miskatonic college expedition to subzero Antarctica, where specimens of an ancient alien species are discovered in a crumbling stone city, is now accompanied by icy landscapes of otherworldly terror.

baranger is well known for his work as an internationally recognized concept designer for popular movies and video games, and here he has accomplished the difficult task of re-imagining one of lovecraft’s most terrifying tales in pure nightmarish material. Volume 2 was released on December 22 to complete the set!

shop “at the mountains of madness: volume 1” now on amazon (opens in a new tab)
shop “at the mountains of madness” : volume 2” now on amazon (opens in a new tab)

7. Frank Herbert’s Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 1

author: frank herbert
adapted by: brian herbert and kevin j. anderson
illustrators: bill sienkiewicz (cover), raúl allén and patricia martín
publisher: harry n. abrams (2020)

With the success of director denis villeneuve’s epic take on the 1965 sci-fi novel last year, you might want to check out this stunning graphic novel version adapted by herbert’s son brian herbert and collaborator Kevin J. Anderson This pair of writers has greatly expanded the scale and scope of the original “Dune” with more than a dozen prequel and sequel novels in the last 22 years. This is the first time the masterpiece has been offered in a premium illustrated format (the debut release in a trilogy), now richly adorned with artwork by artists Raúl Allén and Patricia Martín, and an epic cover by the award-winning illustrator. Eisner Bill Sienkiewicz.

“His vast library didn’t include many comics or graphic novels, but in his journalistic career he was not only a writer but also a professional photographer,” Herbert told space.com, speaking of his father’s cinematic eye. “He used to tell me that he wrote scenes in his novels, and especially in “dune”, with a camera in mind, as if he was looking at each scene through the lens of a camera.

Buy “Frank Herbert’s Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 1” Now on Amazon (Opens in a new tab)

8. the empire strikes back: from a certain point of view

authors and artists: tom angleberger, sarwat chadda, s. a. Chakraborty, Mike Chen, Adam Christopher, Katie Cook, Zoraida Cordova, Delilah S. Dawson, Tracy Deonn, Seth Dickinson, Alexander Freed, Jason Fry, Hank Green, Christie Golden, Rob Hart, Lydia Kang, Michael Kogge, R. F. kuang, c. b. Lee, Mackenzi Lee, John Jackson Miller, Michael Moreci, Daniel Joseph Old, Mark Oshiro, Amy Ratcliffe, Beth Revis, Lilliam Rivera, Cavan Scott, Emily Skrutskie, Karen Strong, Anne Toole, Catherynne M. Valente, Austin Walker, Martha Wells, Django Wexler, Kiersten White, Gary Whitta, Brittany N. williams, charles yu and jim zub
publisher: del rey (2020)

To help celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Del Rey published a robust 576-page hardcover book featuring 40 short stories about unnamed Star Wars heroes, villains, droids, and aliens from the 1980 movie. . Have you ever wondered what it’s like to take care of the Tauntauns in the frozen world of Hoth? or about what happens in the dark depths of the city of clouds? Well now you can find out!

This entertaining anthology showcases the contributions of best-selling authors and well-known artists including Austin Walker, Hank Green, Tracy Deonn, Delilah Dawson, Alexander Freed, John Jackson Miller, Anne Toole, and many more. Participating writers generously donated compensation for their stories, with proceeds going to First Book, a nonprofit organization that provides learning materials to educators and organizations serving children in need.

Buy “The Empire Strikes Back: From a Certain Point of View” now on Amazon (Opens in a new tab)

9. star trek: the art of dan curry

authors: dan curry and ben robinson
publisher: titan books (2020)

for star trek addicts and tech fanatics who want to delve deeper into the sensational special effects and world building of the star trek franchise, there is no bolder release than this lavish volume written by the supervisor and director of visual effects seven times emmy award winner. They give curry. For three decades, Curry has contributed concept art, title sequences, matte paints, spaceship design, and practical weapons to numerous series and spin-offs, including The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, The Voyager, and The Enterprise. Written by Curry and Ben Robinson, this is a 204-page treasure trove of rare sketches, concept art, behind-the-scenes stills, and never-before-seen storyboards that celebrate the achievements of one of Star Trek’s most acclaimed craftsmen.

“The illusions that created the Star Trek universe were the result of many talented and dedicated artists,” Curry told space.com. “There wasn’t a single hero of his visual effects. I was very fortunate to design and create many things that became part of the Star Trek franchise. I feel like it was a decent legacy to leave behind when I finally transition into the non-biological phase of existence.”

Buy “Star Trek: The Art of Dan Curry” Now on Amazon (Opens in a new tab)

10. the last watch

authors: j. yes dewes
publisher: tor books (2021)

here is an exciting space adventure from author j. yes dewes chronicling the watchful crew of the argus as they stand guard against an alien threat in the far reaches of the universe. This impressive debut in the series is part of a two-book project called “The Divide” and features a motley menagerie of soldiers led by Commander Adequin Rake, who strives to protect his crew and humanity from a cosmic anomaly that collapses.

best modern science fiction books

1. delta-v

authors: daniel suárez
publisher: dutton (2019)

In “delta-v,” an unpredictable billionaire enlists an adventurous cave diver to join the first effort to mine an asteroid. The crew’s target is the asteroid Ryugu, which in real life the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 has been exploring since June 2018.

From the use of real space trajectories and scientific precision, to the title itself, delta-v (the engineering term for exactly how much energy is expended when performing a maneuver or hitting a target), Suárez extracts realistic details . describe the exciting and dangerous mission. the reward for successful asteroid mining is incredible, but the cost could be devastating.

2. the astronaut lady series – the calculating stars/the fated sky/the implacable moon

author: mary robinette kowal
editor: tor books (2018-2020)

what if space exploration was not an option but a necessity, driven by the knowledge that the earth would soon become uninhabitable and fueled by international coalitions created after a catastrophic meteorite impact? That’s the alternate history that novelist Mary Robinette Kowal explores in Ella’s Lady Astronaut series.

The books follow World War II mathematician and pilot Elma York, who dreams of becoming an astronaut. kowal intricately blends the true story with her fictional plot to create a series that is both hopeful and pragmatic. the female astronaut offers a powerful insight into how spaceflight could be a positive force in society.

3. red moon

author: kim stanley robinson
publisher: orbit (2018)

Red Moon, the latest novel from legendary science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson, blends realism and drama in a way that instantly transports the reader to the lunar surface. Taking place 30 years in the future, the book begins with the journeys of Fred Fredericks, an American quantum engineer working for a Swiss company, and Ta Shu, a poet, feng shui expert, and famed moon travel reporter. where they are traveling to work. In the book world, China has become the first political and technological entity to seriously and long-term inhabit the moon.

At first, as a reader, you may find yourself adjusting to the character’s clumsy movements in lunar gravity and anticipating what life on the moon might really be like, but the story takes a shocking twist and life on the moon turns out be be very different from what you may have expected. “red moon” does an amazing job of immersing the reader in a captivating, yet still familiar, alien world, while at the same time staying grounded in a reality we might actually face one day.

4. before mars

author: emma newman
editor: ace (2018)

Emma Newman’s latest book set in her “Planetfall” universe, “Before Mars,” follows a geologist who arrives at a small base on Mars after a long journey and realizes that things are not what they seem. the base ai is unreliable, the psychologist seems sinister, and the main characters find a note for themselves that they don’t remember writing. In a world of perfectly immersive virtual reality, can he trust what he sees? Or did the long journey affect his sanity? “Before Mars” takes place on a brooding and largely empty Mars after a giant corporation buys the rights to the planet.

It’s a thrilling read but, like Newman’s other books about the fall of the planet, it’s also a deep dive into the psychology of the protagonist as she grapples with what she discovers on the red planet. “before mars” and the other books in the same universe (“planetfall (opens in a new tab)” and “after atlas (opens in a new tab)”) can be read in any order, but space.com recommends giving them everyone a look.

5. mugwort

author: andy weir
publisher: crown (2017)

In “The Martian (Opens in New Tab)” (Corona, 2014), first-time author Andy Weir voiced the wry and witty botanist Mark Watney as he struggled to survive stranded on Mars. In his second novel, Artemis, he follows Jazz Bashara, a porter (and smuggler) on the moon who becomes involved in a criminal plot.

weir brings similar meticulous detail to his descriptions of the moon as the ultimate tourist destination as he did to watney’s misadventures on mars, but his jazzy characterization doesn’t play to his writing strengths the way the log entries did. by watney. Still, “Artemis” is an entertaining ride through a really intriguing future moon base, with plenty of 1/6th gravity action and memorable twists. it’s worth reading. In addition, there is an audiobook version read by Rosario Dawson (Opens in a new tab).

6. provenance

author: ann leckie
editor: orbit (2017)

A young woman conspires to find stolen artifacts in “Provenance,” which takes place in the same universe as author Ann Leckie’s award-winning trilogy of “Ancillary” books, but introduces readers to a new selection of future human cultures. with a simpler and less conceptual adventure story.

Don’t let that fool you, though: the book’s exploration of multicultural, multispecies conflict (with aliens called gecks) works just as intriguing worldbuilding into the mix as its previous books. Plus, there are mind-controlled robots, stolen alien spaceships, and a tri-gender society.

7. leviathan awakens: the expansion series

author: james s.a. corey
publisher: orbit (2011)

200 years in the future, humanity has colonized the solar system and is divided into three factions on the brink of conflict: Earth, Mars, and the asteroid belt, which includes the spinning asteroid colony Ceres. As characters with multiple viewpoints get caught up in a system-wide mystery, the scope of the story slowly widens to reveal the full complexity of the novels’ sci-fi world. The books, co-written by Dan Abraham and Ty Franck, originally grew out of the idea of a tabletop role-playing game, and are shown through detailed world-building and exploration of a solar system remade in the image of humanity. In addition, it is a set of fun and well-argued space adventure stories.

The series is slated for nine books and has consistently appeared one a year between 2011 and 2015 for a total of five so far (plus a few tie-in novels). They are also the basis for Syfy’s television show “The Expanse,” recently renewed for a 13-episode second season. book six, “the ashes of babylon”, will be published in December 2016.

See here and here for Q&As with the series’ authors describing the start of the book and the development of the TV show (plus, the best sci-fi in the series).

8. dawn

author: kim stanley robinson
publisher: orbit (2015)

After numerous novels and short stories exploring mankind’s trials in the near future, the far future, and the distant past, sci-fi maestro Kim Stanley Robinson offers his own highly detailed spin on the challenge of travel. interstellar stars in his new book “aurora” (orbit, 2015).

Humanity’s first voyage to another star is incredibly ambitious, impeccably planned and executed on a massive scale in “aurora”. The novel begins near the end of a 170-year mission aboard a spacecraft carrying approximately 2,000 humans to the apparently Earth-like moon of a planet orbiting a nearby star, Tau Ceti.

Told largely from the perspective of the ship’s computer, “Aurora” emphasizes the fragile unity of all living and non-living parts aboard the starship as it hurtles through space. As the landing story unfolds, the narrative doesn’t shy away from science or the incredible complexity of a multi-generational ship of 2,000 people. the spaceship is portrayed as an organism that may have conflicting interests or be thrown off balance, but ultimately has to work together to reach its destination intact.

best classic science fiction books

1. the martian chronicles

author: ray bradbury
publisher: doubleday (1951)

In case you haven’t heard of him, Ray Bradbury is an icon of science fiction writing (opens in a new tab). In “The Martian Chronicles,” Bradbury explores the gradual human settlement of the Red Planet, through a series of loosely connected stories. Bradbury paints the Martian landscape and its inhabitants with masterful brushstrokes, but equally powerful is his portrayal of the psychological dangers that await the human colonists who arrive there.

This, as well as the space-themed stories in Bradbury’s other classic collection, “The Illustrated Man,” moved me when I was young and dreamed of traveling to the stars. Reading his work today, it is striking to see that although Bradbury is writing from a time when human space travel had not yet begun (the book was first published in 1950), the issues and questions his stories raise remain. relevant as humanity takes its first steps towards that great frontier.

2. ender’s game

author: orson scott card
publisher: tor books (1985)

This classic science fiction novel by orson scott card should be a staple in any space fan’s library. Card’s novel follows the life of Ender Wiggin as he learns to fight the Formics, a hideous alien race that nearly killed all humans when they attacked them years and years ago.

wiggin learns the art of space warfare aboard a military space station built to help train young people to fight cosmic invaders. Basically, this book is a coming of age story that makes you want to fly into space and also forces you to think about some serious social issues that are presented in its pages. (The book is the first of a quintet, and inspired a much larger body of work that takes place in the same universe.)

3. the martian

author: andy weir
publisher: random house (2014)

“the martian” by andy weir is a really great science fiction book that has a lot of science in it. Weir tells the story of Mark Watney, a fictional NASA astronaut stranded on Mars, and his difficult mission to save himself from possible doom in the harsh environment of the Red Planet. watney seems to have everything against him, but weir deftly explains not only what watney’s survival needs are, but also how he tries to make them work. “The Martian” was also made into a movie, which was released in 2015. The movie stars Matt Damon as Watney and is directed by space movie veteran Ridley Scott.

4. dune

author: frank herbert
publisher: chilton books (1965)

In “Dune,” Frank Herbert imagines a vast and intricate future universe ruled by an emperor who sets the Atreides and Harkonnen families at war over the desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. the arid world harbors the only source of the spice mixture, necessary for space travel. Scattered across star systems, “Dune” is packed with savage characters: human computers (mentats), tribal fighters (fremen), mind-controlling “witches” (Bene Gesserit sisterhood), and humans ranging from the corrupt Baron Harkonnen to Paul “muad’dib atreides, whose journey from a sheltered childhood anchors the story.

At first, says the Baron, “see the plans within the plans within the plans,” summarizing the adversaries’ cautious analyzes of each faction’s complex motivations. This cerebral speculation is balanced by epic action throughout the book, focusing on perhaps the most well-known feature of the Duniverse: the monstrous spice-producing sandworms. The best-selling novel elevated science fiction literature to greater sophistication by including themes of technology, science, politics, religion, and ecology, though the burgeoning Dune franchise remains less popular than Star Wars (which was heavily inspired by “dune”).

5. hyperion – series of hyperion ridges

author: dan simmons
publisher: doubleday (1989)

Part space epic, part “canterbury tales,” “hyperion” tells the story of seven pilgrims who travel the universe to find their destiny, and the unspeakably evil shrike, who guards the planet’s tombs of time. hyperion.

Along the way, each pilgrim tells their own story, and each world is so exquisitely created that it’s hard to believe it all came from the mind of one author. the story of the scholar whose daughter ages backwards after her visit to the tombs, and her quest to save her when she returns to childhood, is my favorite – she’s heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time.

6. gateway

author: frederik pohl
publisher: st. martin press (1977)

“gateway” is the first sci-fi book I read, because my father, a long-time sci-fi addict, loved it. is an intense read that explores why we make the choices we do and how we deal with the consequences of those choices in the black void of space. In “Gateway,” those with the money to leave the dying earth can travel in a starship that will either make them rich beyond their wildest dreams or lead them to a grim and possibly violent death. Or, as our hero, you could end up in the grip of a massive black hole and have to make tough decisions that land you on an electronic shrink’s couch.

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