Science fiction novels are some of the most fascinating books out there. They can be about anything from time travel to aliens and anything in between. But not every science fiction book is equal. That is why we decided to list the 25 best science fiction books of all time to see which ones are the best of the best! Keep reading to find out which ones made our list.
There are many classics and modern novels that are page turners. With thousands of science fiction books released each year, it makes it hard to find ones that will keep you reading late. Choosing 25 feels like a good amount because it gets most of the classics as well as newer books that deserve recognition.
The 25 Best Science Fiction Books of All Time
- Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
- Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
- Foundation by Isaac Asimov
- The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
- The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide by Douglas Adams
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- The Martian by Andy Weir
- Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- Hyperion by Dan Simmons
- Ringworld by Larry Niven
- I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
- Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
- The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
- A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
A sci-fi novel that is beloved by millions of readers is Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. The novel is about a Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, a six-year-old boy who is sent to training camp to play simulated war games where he faces off against aliens. The plot, writing and questions about morality make this a novel unlike any other.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
One of my favorite books on this list is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. It is a brilliant novel that will have you thinking a lot. It is must read sci-fi and the questions in the novel are more relevant today than ever before. The movie adaptation was given the title The Blade Runner and is considered a classic movie that fans of the novel are sure to love!
Dune by Frank Herbert
A novel that jumps out from the sci-fi genre has to be Dune by Frank Herbert. Whether or not you have read much sci-fi books, there is a good chance that you heard about this novel. It is a sci-fi novel that has amazing world building and has resonated with many readers. Many critics consider this the best sci-fi book ever written.
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
A sci-fi novel that has risen to popularity in modern times is 1984 by George Orwell. When some ideas in this sci-fi and dystopian novel came true, people’s interest in the novel rose. The novel touches on issues such as mass surveillance, a controlling regime, and disinformation. It has become more relevant in this day and age where technology has made privacy almost nonexistant.
The Time Machine
The concept of time travel by a vehicle moving forward or purposely travel forward or backward in time was first introduced in The Time Machine by H. G. Wells. This was Wells first novel and it has become memorable for its invention of time travel, a term Wells is credited as creating. While this novel does leave a lot to be desired, its influence on the science fiction genre cannot be ignored.
The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide by Douglas Adams
One of my all-time favorite novels and series on the list has to be The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The writing is brilliant and the humor is timeless. The fate of planet Earth is at stake yet Adams has the reader laughing throughout the book. This series changed the way I saw sci-fi novels and became a lifelong fan after reading the series.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Frankenstein is a classic novel that is a must read no matter what your favorite genre is. It is a sci-fi novel that is also thought provoking. The novel is considered the first sci-fi novel and holds up well even centuries later. Few monsters become mainstream yet Frankenstein has, despite many people never reading the novel behind it.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Even if you aren’t an avid book reader, there is a good chance you read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. It is taught in most schools across the United States. The brilliant dystopian novel tackles heavy themes which has made it one of the most censored books in the world. The popularity of the recent TV show of the same name has made fans and new readers revisit this classic novel.
Hyperion
A sci-fi novel that you will get immersed in is Hyperion by Dan Simmons. It follows a group of people who travel to Hyperion, and the travelers share their stories of how they were chosen for the pilgrimage. The writing, storytelling, and world building make this one of the best sci-fi books out there.
Conclusion
What did you think of the 25 best science fiction books of all-time list? Which books should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!
I Robot is one of my cult favorites. However, Contact by Carl Sagan can be added in this list. It is a classic science fiction best seller published in 1985.
Iain m banks series should be on this. List
I think you’re too heavily weighted with books written more than 30, even 50 years ago. Sci-fi literature has progressed markedly since the space race and even in the new Millennium. Scientific progress has sparked the imaginations of authors as never before. Some listed perhaps were good foundations, but, frankly, seem anachronistic today.
Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, as well as Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes IMO.
Flowers For Algernon, Daniel Keys
John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War,
Dennis E Taylor’s Bobiverse
are books (series) that I liked and admire.
They definitely deserve a mention.
Great list. Heinlein’s (kind of) inaptly named Starship Troopers should be required reading, too, as well as Orwell’s Animal Farm.
It was on military reading lists for decades.
Finally, a top SF list that includes Altered Carbon!!! Brilliant book!!!
… writen by man. Wow… not even Ursula makes this list and she has become the token female author in this “best of…”
Interesting list, with — obviously — many great books. Completely vitiated by the absence of Alfred Bester’s The Stars My Destination, certainly one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written. It would be like having a list of the hundred best films of all time without Citizen Kane or the Godfather.
I have read all the books in your list (and many others).
The 3 folloing books are by far much better than most books in your list:
Zenna Henderson: Ingathering
Cordwainer Smith: Norstrilia and The Rediscovery of Man
You also don’t have any of the great Clifford Simak’s books:
City
Time is the simplest Thing
SUE BURKE!
Bold to not include Neuromancer
Check out The Culture series by Iain Banks. Each book is stand alone in the same universe. Consider. Pleobas is great.
Glad to see two of my all time favorites on the list – Stranger in a Strange Land and a Canticle for Liebovitz. Although not strictly speaking S.F., I would add The Lord of the Rings to the list.
Where are Vonnegut and Peter F Hamilton? Your Heinlein selection was too conformist. Why not try best 100, or best 1000.
Anyone who puts Brave New World on a list of best books has never read it
Lol… Huxley ain’t for everyone, e.g. Delta Gamma Semi-Morons – “Soma! Soma!”
Ender’s Game? Someone has set the bar very low to let that onto the list.
No “Neuromancer”? Hogwash. Rubbish.
Planet of the Apes. Forget the movies, read the book. And nothing by Gregory Benford? Hmm.
No lord of the rings ? That’s ridiculous !
I can’t believe that not even one of the Perelandra series was included.
STARS MY DESTINATION Alfred Bester, CHILDHOODS END, Arthur C Clarke, MORE THAN HUMAN, Theodore Sturgeon, ROGUE MOON, Algis Budrys, major omissions!
“Solaris” by Stanislaw Lem.
“Picnic on the Roadside” by A.B.Strugatsky
I would add Neromancer by William Gibson
I think, the Moon is a Harsh Mistress, is Heinlein’s best work. Stranger is more iconic, but not in the same league.
Childhoods End. Top 5!
No Ursula LeGuin, Octavia Butler, or N.K. Jemison? Hmmm.
List has a stunning lack of Le Guin, Butler, Wolfe and Strugatsky.
Ringworld is terrible and Ender’s Game is incredibly mediocre.