Science fiction is a genre that truly captivates the imagination like no other. Whether it’s stories of alien invasions or fantastical events set in different worlds, reading a work of fiction in this genre is always a worthwhile experience.
Not everyone enjoys watching a fictional movie for an hour or two in front of a screen. Sometimes we need more than that; nothing satisfies this need more than a book.
However, can a book offer true science fiction that’ll have your mind wandering in space? To answer this question, we’ve compiled a list of the 20 best science fiction books that will expand your horizons.
The Martian
Mark Watney, in a few moments, goes from joy to despair. After celebrating that he’s the first man on Mars, Mark soon realizes he could also be the first to lose his life on Mars. As to how he got to that stage, we can thank a dust storm for forcing his crew to evacuate, leaving him behind.
Stranded with limited supplies and no way to signal Earth for rescue, all hope seems lost for our astronaut. However, Mark is not one to admit defeat easily, and we get to see him put his engineering skills to good use. But will that be enough, or is a permanent stay on Mars inevitable?
The Stand
We’ve all seen this script before; a man gets a virus, gets into an accident, and like wildfire, the virus instantly spreads worldwide. But despite how familiar the genre is, we still enjoy a good apocalyptic story with a mix of horror and feeble dreams.
But with Stephen King’s The Stand, we get a little bit more. Here, we also learn of the warning of the coming of an entity darker than a country-threatening virus. Chills.
Jurassic Park
Who hasn’t heard of the famous Jurassic Park? You know, the same island theme park that didn’t go as planned. We all, at some point, enjoyed the thrilling movie, but for some, it wasn’t enough.
Well, now we have a novel that offers a more detailed backstory to give readers a better knowledge of what they’ve been intrigued by on big screens.
This book treats you to additional scenes, dialogues, and explanations. At the same time, you still experience the complete Crichton package of thrills and chills.
I, Robot
Fast forward to Earth in Asimov’s novel, and we discover that our planet is now ruled by robots. However, it’s not all gloomy, as there are rules in place to ensure order and peace. With the robots sticking to these rules, their existence and the safety of humans are surprisingly both plausible simultaneously.
But of course, there’s always a rogue lurking, and soon enough, we get to see if this robot’s different ideas are worth going against the three laws of robotics.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
As hard as we try to stay and do good, there’s no denying that within us lies unprecedented darkness. What matters, however, is if we can suppress it. Also, we all know the power that lies in stories told and heard. And Neil Gaiman has made it his mission to point them out to readers in the most imaginative way possible.
So, you can grab a copy to learn everything you didn’t know about magic and survival.
A Desolation Called Peace
If the Hugo award-winning debut titled A Memory Called Empire wasn’t enough, Martine returns with a more intense sequel. This novel teaches about diplomacy and conspiracy in ways we never thought we could. Here, we find a complex battle between individuals seeking peace and those who bask in bloodshed.
As complex as the novel, readers are also promised a thrilling tale of colonization, cultural violence, and assimilation. Will Mahit and Three Seagrass accomplish their mission to aid alien relations? Or will the factions seeking endless war have the final say? Only a flip through the pages will tell us.
Ender’s Game
What happens when the world is at risk of destruction by the alien race? We simply gather the world’s leaders and create the most extraordinary military ever. But there’s one problem; who’s going to lead this army? And so, there’s also the task of training Earth’s mightiest military leader.
However, with such high stakes, Ender Wiggin has a lot of harsh training in front of him. And passing this training is the only way to prove he’s worthy of leading Earth’s defense against the alien forces. The question is, will a new hero be created, or will Earth end up with its own monster?
2001: A Space Odyssey
Remember when landing on the moon was still a wild dream? That dream was fueled by Clarke’s publication of A Space Odyssey. This novel shows that a single monolith’s discovery leads to a journey deep into space. And our adventurers also seek to make contact with alien species along the way.
It’s all good until a significant setback puts the mission at risk. And this setback promises disaster if not dealt with.
Outland: Quantum Earth
When a volcanic eruption occurs, and the planet is jeopardized, who do you call? If it happens to be the Yellowstone super volcano, then the answer is 6 college students. That’s right, it’s up to 6 college kids to get as many people as possible across an interdimensional portal into an alternate earth.
Volcanic eruption, quantum physics went wrong, alternate universes, an outland that could save half of Earth’s population from volcanic ash; this novel definitely has it all.
Dune
At this point, we don’t need to talk so much about this fictional work of art. Dune has made a name for itself as one of the best imaginative pieces to ever hit the big screen. And if you’re into novels, you can also experience the magical story from the paperback pages.
Journey into the desert planet Arrakis to discover the hurdles of ruling a world with little value. However, within this planet lies a spice with tremendous capabilities, which makes this inhospitable desert more attractive to outsiders and readers.
Project Hail Mary
We have a second entry from Andy Weir’s collection. And just like the first, it’s an outer-worldly adventure with significant risks and impacts. We discover that the fate of the Earth lies on the shoulders of an astronaut named Ryland Grace.
However, the problem is that everyone except the astronaut knows this plan. And that’s because Ryland has been asleep for a long time before he eventually wakes up with amnesia.
Warriors: Dawn of the Clans: Path of Stars
You’ve been missing out if you’ve never heard of the Dawn of the Clans series. Path of Stars is the 6th book in this series, but despite its number, it offers a background story of the warrior clans. This novel takes us back to when the cats settled and established the warrior code.
Fast forward to the present day, and we have a rogue threatening this way of life. It’s up to the 5 different forests cat forces to ensure their way of life is not destroyed.
The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira
Okay, let’s say you had a Romeo and Juliet kind of romance mixed with the thrill that Lord of the Rings offers. And then you take these two genres and throw a Star Wars theme in the, what do you get? The answer is The Tinderbox.
This novel follows the story of Everson, who gets stranded on an enemy planet after a horrible war. He finds love here, but this love soon proves to be a significant risk to their homes. Or could it put an end to the war?
Robot Dreams
Isaac Asimov blessed the 1940s and 1980s with his intriguing fictional stories. Not only did he tap into the great potential of our technology, but he also portrayed what the future of human growth would look like. And now, we who had no chance to witness these stories can relieve them in this amalgamation of fictional stories.
With 21 different short stories, readers can enjoy the best works of Asimov, including The Feeling of Power, Little Lost Robot, and many more.
The Caves of Steel
Still, we have a novel from the ROBOT series on the list of stories we were blessed with by Isaac. Here, we see as robots continue to shape the growth of artificial intelligence. It all boils down to how well they follow the three laws of robotics.
In this novel, we learn what it’s like for a man and a robot to work together to resolve a case. It will surely be awkward, given that robots now govern the Earth.
Exhalation
Once in a while, we need to challenge how we think. It’s necessary for us to examine how thoughts process and raise questions that help us understand ourselves better. This is where Ted Chiang comes up tops.
Exhalation combines short stories that seek to answer humanity’s biggest questions. Through these stories, we are made to think more and look for ways to feel more human. From understanding the nature of the universe to the very bane of our existence, we need to think about many things, and Ted Chiang is here to point them out.
Akira
After suffering the effects of a disaster that brought Tokyo to the ground, you can be sure that there’s an agency behind the scenes ensuring that that never happens again. However, the threat of another city-leveling catastrophe is on the horizon, and things begin to heat up.
This single, most-feared, unfathomable danger goes by the name Akira. Grab a copy and help yourself to a thrilling fiction brought to life by Katsuhiro Otomo.
Neuromancer
If you’re a cyberpunk fan, you may have wondered what brought about the revolution in the cyberpunk movement. This novel is credited as the inspiration behind thrillers like the matrix and cyberpunk 2077. This futuristic novel even bagged multiple awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Awards; simply excellent.
The plot revolves around what the 20th-century folks predicted for the future. It’s an evergreen classic that embodies modern science fiction and tickles your fancy.
A Wrinkle in Time
Think of any magical fiction you’ve read and the features that made it stick with you. Whether for the sake of science and magic or for the thrill of darkness and light, this novel fits the bill for the next fantasy novel to pick up during your free time.
It also promises a story looking deep into the link between friendships, fears, and the magical experience. A Wrinkle in Time was so good that Disney had to gather prominent names to reenact the classic. And it’s also a favorite for the kids.
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Imagine the planet you’ve spent your entire life on is about to be blasted to smithereens, and right before it happens, your friend drags you out. That’s precisely who Arthur Dent is, and now we get to see as he embarks on endless journeys with his friend Ford Prefect and their unique companions.
Now, Arthur and Ford are nothing short of galaxy travelers, meeting fellow travelers along the way. From three-armed hippies to the president of the galaxy, there’s no dull day when these two travel the universe.
Conclusion
So many books to choose from and so many adventures waiting for you. These science fiction books have all the elements to transform regular reading sessions into mind-boggling experiences.
But if you prefer other genres to science fiction, feel free to check out lists like the best Japanese books, the best historical fiction books of all time, psychological thriller books, or best old romance books.
