The Best Science Fiction Novels
Science fiction novels have been enthralling people all over the world for generations with their mind-bending plots and thought-provoking themes. Science fiction is the kind of genre that whisks you away to a new world, a distant future, or out into the cosmos. The genre is filled with era-defining classics and boundary-pushing newer works. Science fiction is one of the most wide-ranging and diverse literary genres there is. So if you're just getting into these novels, let this list of the best science fiction novels around be your trusty guide into hyperspace.
The Expanse Boxed Set
Expand your horizons
The Expanse is a fairly recent sci-fi literary offering from writer James S. A. Corey. Since its release, The Expanse has become a global phenomenon, both in its critically acclaimed book series and must-watch television show. The books take elements from detective and war novels and effortlessly place them over complex intergalactic settings. The Expanse is the name of the trilogy, but each book has a different name. This is the perfect pick for someone a little new to the genre and looking for some familiar Earth-bound elements to ease them into the cosmos nice and slow.
Pros:
- Contains elements from other genres
- Also a popular TV series
- Part one of a trilogy
Cons:
- It has a bit of a slow beginning
Ready Player Two
Ready, set, go
Ready Player One took the world by storm. First, as an engaging YA novel that eventually caught the attention of adults. Then it became a box-office barnstormer directed by the one and only Steven Spielberg. Now, author Ernest Cline presents the highly anticipated sequel to the modern classic, Ready Player Two. Ready Player Two is a highly engaging, competently written follow-up that tells the rest of Wade’s journey after winning Halliday’s grand tournament. Ready Player Two is an excellent choice for burgeoning sci-fi fans of all ages. If you loved the first installment, you very well might like this one even more.
Pros:
- The follow-up to the extremely popular Ready Player One
- Great intro to the genre
Cons:
- The book can be exposition-heavy at times
The Atlantis Gene
To the depths and back
If you’re on the lookout for a more adult science fiction novel, The Atlantis Gene might be the ideal choice for you. The Atlantis Gene is a fairly new book that has sold an extraordinary amount of copies in a very short time. As the first book in an epic trilogy, this book takes place in a world where it has been recently revealed that there is an entirely new species of humans that have been hiding in plain sight for centuries. You can follow along with geneticist Kate Warner as she uncovers stone after stone, unveiling shocking new facts and secret political schemes at every turn. The Atlantis Gene effortlessly weaves themes about political oppression with what it truly means to be a human being.
Pros:
- A sci-fi book with a little more to chew on for adult readers
- Explores multiple different themes
Cons:
- The plot can be complicated to follow at times
The War of the Worlds
When aliens attack
The War of the Worlds is one of the most important and influential science fiction novels of all time. HG Wells’ masterpiece frightened and enthralled readers back at the turn of the 20th century and continues to do so well into the 21st. The book follows an unidentified narrator and his family as they experience the first alien encounter Earth has ever seen. Unlike many other science fiction novels, these aliens did not come to negotiate or play nice. What ensues is the emotional and harrowing story of mankind’s attempt to thwart the invaders and one family’s attempt to reach safety.
Pros:
- Considered one of the best sci-fi novels of all time
- An engaging and quick read
Cons:
- Some of the dialogue may feel a bit dated for some readers
Dune
An outer space epic
There’s a good reason why Dune has multiple blockbuster film adaptations under its belt. It’s because it’s one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved science fiction novels ever. Dune takes place in a solar system far away, on a planet where the entire economy revolves around the harvest and production of one particular spice. When a dangerous faction splits away from the planetary government, it’s up to young Paul Atreides and his comrades to save his planet from the clutches of human greed and violence. The story eloquently expands on themes of environmental consciousness and politics. Dune is just the first book in a series of 14, so if you like this one, there’s a whole lot more where that came from.
Pros:
- One of the most critically acclaimed books in the genre
- It weaves important themes into the plot seamlessly
Cons:
- The story takes a while to get moving in the beginning
Frequently Asked Questions
What characteristics make up a science fiction novel?
Science fiction is one of the most varied and wide-ranging literary genres there is. The genre’s definition is being expanded and changed with each new release, but one can still pinpoint a few classic staples of science fiction. Outer space settings, futuristic civilizations, impossibly advanced technology, alien lifeforms, and post-apocalyptic struggles are the ideas most often returned to in the genre.
How long has science fiction been a genre?
The book that is considered to be the first in the genre is Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic novel, Frankenstein. Since then, authors from all over the world have taken the baton from Shelley and ran to some very interesting places. Any of the books we’ve chosen for this list would be an excellent place to dive into the genre.
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