Ever since the release of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein back in 1818 and The Last Man in 1826, science fiction has become one of the world’s most popular genres, going on to spawn countless sci-fi movies and TV shows across the globe. And it's fair to say that science fiction has never been as popular as it is today, so, we thought it was time to take a look at one of our favourite genres and put together a list of 25 of the best sci-fi books ever written.
What do you think of when you think of science fiction? (sci-fi), if you're like most of us then the first thing that comes to mind is probably starships and aliens, with examples like Star Wars and Star Trek. Of course, you would be correct, space adventures have their place in the science fiction genre, but really, the sci-fi genre encompasses a huge range of subject matter from post-apocalyptic adventures to alternate realities.
So, without further ado let's jet off and explore the best 25 sci-fi books to read.
Synopsis: Published in 1949, George Orwell’s 1984 is widely regarded as one of, if not, THE best science fiction book ever written. 1984 tells of a man's nightmarish journey in pursuit of a forbidden love in a war-ravaged world ruled by totalitarian states. In George Orwell's fictional war-torn world, the oppressive regimes running the show control not only the law but individual thought and memory as well. Seen as a stark reflection of the modern world, 1984 changed the world of literature.
Synopsis: Described as one of the founding members of modern fiction, Jules Verne takes the reader on a journey into the unknown with this nautical tale of adventure and intrigue. The story focuses on French Oceanographer Pierre Aronnax and his loyal assistant Conseil as they find themselves being inducted into the crew of a mystery submarine that has been causing chaos to the global shipping lanes.
Synopsis: Next on our list of the best sci-fi books ever written is Altered Carbon. Set several hundred years into the future, when humankind has taken to the stars and now inhabits a region of space inherited from an alien species discovered on Mars. Humans have also developed a way to download a human's consciousness and transfer it from body to body, effectively achieving immortality.
Synopsis: First in N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy, The Fifth Season tells the unfortunate story of Essun after her family is ripped apart and she is forced to travel a broken land to pick up the pieces. Filled with tragedy, adventure, and peril, The Fifth Season is a grim reflection of a future ravaged by frequent geological and climatic catastrophes.
Synopsis: Dark matter pushes the boundaries of what is real and what is a dream. The story follows Jason Dessen as he wakes up after being kidnapped, to find himself in a seemingly alternate reality where the woman whom he married is not his wife, and his son was never born. In this new life, Dessen is no longer an ordinary physics college professor but a distinguished genius who has achieved great things.
Synopsis: Seen by many fans of science fiction as one of the all-time sci-fi greats, Dune takes place in the desert world of Arrakis and tells the story of a young Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family. The only thing of value on Arrakis is a “Spice” a drug that is coveted throughout the known universe because of its ability to enhance and extend life. Atreides’ life takes a turn when his family is betrayed and he is forced to begin a journey full of challenges and self-discovery.
Synopsis: Labelled as the forefather of the science fiction genre, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein tells the story of how the gifted scientist Victor Frankenstein succeeds in giving life to a creation of flesh and bone. However, Frankenstein’s creation doesn’t turn out to be the perfect specimen he had hoped it would be. Abandoned by his creator and the rest of society, Frankenstein’s Monster is left to survive on his own in a foreign world.
Synopsis: combing harrowing detective work and extra-terrestrial travel, Tom Sweterlitsch’s The Gone World follows Shannon Moss, who is part of a secretive division within NCSI (Naval Criminal Investigative Service), when she is tasked with solving the murder of a Navy SEAL’s family. Eventually her investigation proves to be a small part in a much larger conspiracy that threatens humanity itself.
Synopsis: With just seconds to spare before planet Earth is demolished to make way for a space freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked from the planet’s surface by his friend, Ford Prefect. The two of them go on to travel the universe aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the many friends they meet on the way. The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a bizarre and entertaining read for any fan of science fiction that likes a little bit of something weird.
Synopsis: Solaris tells the story of a team of humans based on a space station tasked with uncovering the secrets of a mysterious living ocean on the planet Solaris. Throughout the book, the crew continues to poke and prod in their search for answers but end up revealing more about themselves than the ocean they are studying. Stanislaw Lem’s Solaris explores the futility of mankind and our attempts to understand otherworldly things.
Synopsis: Soon after becoming one of the first people to walk on Mars, Mark Watney finds himself stranded alone on the planet’s surface when the rest of his team is forced to evacuate because of a massive sandstorm. Andy Weir’s The Martian explores themes of resilience and adaptability as Watney finds himself facing insurmountable odds unless he can find a way to sustain himself while surviving the hostile conditions of this inhospitable planet.
Synopsis: In this sci-fi classic Matt Haig writes of a place that exists between life and death called the Midnight Library. When you arrive in the Midnight Library you get the opportunity to relive and adjust moments in life that you regret. It's here that Nora Seed finds herself after living a life full of misery and regret. She soon discovers that by reading the books she can amend the regrets she had in life but not everything is as it seems and soon both she and the Midnight Library are thrown into jeopardy.
Synopsis: On the face of it, Hailsham appears to be just a pleasant English boarding school, it's only when students Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy eventually get a bit older and leave that they realise the truth about the school that they have called home for most of their lives. Now living in the outside world, they are forced to survive with little to no knowledge or experience of how to. Never Let Me Go is an honest critique of human nature and does a great job of exposing the potential consequences of humanity's past indiscretions.
Synopsis: The year is 2044 and the world has fallen into decline, the gap between the rich and the poor has grown, and people like Wade Watts find themselves looking for an escape from the real world through the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade is so fed up with his real-world life that he has devoted himself to solving the puzzles hidden within the OASIS by its creator because it’s rumoured that whoever solves them will be rewarded with immense fortune and power. Wade eventually manages to solve the first puzzle, but even then, it only turns out to be the tip of the iceberg, and soon countless other players join the race to win the prize.
Synopsis: Before it became the world-renowned cinema classic, Jurassic Park was a gripping and thought-provoking novel that explored the dangers of playing God. As the name suggests Jurassic Park describes a theme park that has used genetic engineering to recreate living dinosaurs and goes on to eventually play out the inevitable disaster that befalls it.
Synopsis: Based on a future where mankind’s reliance on technology has gone beyond what was thought to be possible, Neuromancer changed the way the sci-fi and literary community speculated about the future. The story follows Henry Dorsett, a master data thief whose career in crime was cut short after former employees of his crippled him in a vicious attack. Henry, however, finds himself with one last chance to get back in the game when he is hired to target an immensely powerful Artificial Intelligence that is orbiting Earth.
Synopsis: First published in 1978, Stephen King’s The Stand is a dark and gripping tale of humanity's descent into chaos. It all starts with the outbreak of a lethal strain of the influenza virus which quickly spreads to claim the lives of approximately 99.4% of Earth's population. What follows is a tale of the struggles faced by the survivors, of how the remains of humanity are divided into good and evil, locked in a constant battle for survival.
Synopsis: The War of the Worlds takes you on an epic journey of survival when planet Earth is invaded by aliens. After weeks of constant fighting, it’s clear that humanity's defences are no match for the invading aliens, faced with imminent annihilation, it's every man for himself in a struggle to survive for as long as possible. As the book winds to a close salvation comes not in the shape of guns and bullets but in the shape of something a lot smaller.
Synopsis: Ted Chiang’s Exhalation is comprised of a collection of 9 profoundly original stories, each seeking to answer some of humanity's oldest questions. The stories contained in Exhalation cover a wide breadth of subjects and themes including an ancient fabric seller who travels through time, an alien scientist who makes a universe-changing discovery, and a glimpse into an alternate reality that raises questions about the concepts of choice and free will.
Synopsis: In a future where the land that used to be owned by the United States is now ruled over by the totalitarian theocracy known as the Republic of Gilead, Offred, the main protagonist of the story, finds herself living a new life as a handmaid. Once a mother and a wife with a full-time job, she is now Handmaid, merely a servant, existing to satisfy the needs of her masters and bear their children. In this fictional future, fertility and birth rates have rapidly decreased meaning that women in the new Republic of Gilead, with the ability to bear children, are prized and kept as Handmaids by the rich and powerful.
Synopsis: Kindred by Octavia E. Butler begins in the year 1976 as Dana, a modern black woman, is celebrating her 26th birthday with her new husband when she is suddenly dragged back in time to the early 19th century and thrown into a life of slavery. She is eventually brought back to 1976 but this time-travelling phenomenon isn’t just a one-off event, it continues to happen and each time she gets stuck in the past for longer until she faces the very real possibility that her life could be cut short, years before she is even born.
Synopsis: The Long Earth is the first book in a collaborative science fiction series The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. The first book in the series sets the scene when a small device is discovered that allows the bearer to travel to one of a potentially infinite number of planets that are almost identical to Earth. Each of these new worlds is the same as Earth with some slight differences with one major difference being a complete lack of humans whatsoever.
Synopsis: From the award-winning author Kim Stanley Robinson comes a tale of exploration and the conquering of new frontiers. The Red Mars trilogy follows a crew of brave and ambitious astronauts who are sent on a terraforming mission to Mars to conquer its hostile surface and eventually make it habitable to humans. With giant mirrors orbiting above, a plan to cover the poles in black dust, and the means to drill giant holes down into the mantle, the daring crew mean to tailor the atmosphere of Mars to be able to accommodate life.
Synopsis: Aldous Huxley’s milestone in the genre of science fiction, Brave New World, speaks of a world where humans are genetically bred with the sole purpose of upholding the values and society of the authoritarian ruling class. Written in 1931 and published 2 years later in 1932, Brave New World is set in a dystopian future where technology has made some great leaps forward yet classical conditioning is at the forefront of society. Brave New World is considered by many as one of the best novels ever written.
Synopsis: Set in a crumbling galaxy on the eve of Armageddon, Hyperion tells the tale of 7 pilgrims and their journey towards a common goal on the planet of Hyperion. The book follows multiple different storylines, each for a different pilgrim. The Planet of Hyperion itself is outside the influence of galactic law, and residing on its surface is a creature that goes by the name of Shrike – an entity worshipped by some, feared by many, and hated by others.
So, that brings our list of the best sci-fi books to a close. We have tried to include a little bit of everything from intergalactic space travel to alternate realities. If we have missed any of your favourite science fiction books, let us know and we can add it to the list!
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If you enjoyed reading this article, you can discover a whole treasure trove of literature related content over on our blog; see how many of the top 100 books you have read with the 100 Books to Read Before You Die article, or figure get to know the health benefits of reading with the Is Reading Good For You? article.