The 3 Sci-Fi Books That Everyone Needs to Read

Getting lost in an amazing sci-fi novel is one of the greatest feelings ever. When the writer is talented and has a fresh plot that makes you think about the novel weeks after you have read it, then you know you found an amazing read. That is why we will be talking about the 3 sci-fi books that everyone needs to read!

Science fiction and fantasy novels are two of my favorite genres out there and for good reason. These novels build new worlds and new technology and use them to tell a story that will keep you hooked for years, no matter how many books are in the series. We never want these series to end and will be following any news about the series or prequels.

This article is solely going to focus on the 3 sci-fi books that everyone needs to read according to Books of Brilliance. Choosing only three sci-fi books was not easy but there were standout novels that came to mind. You can check them out below!

The 3 Sci-Fi Books That Everyone Needs to Read

• Dune by Frank Herbert
• Hyperion by Dan Simmons  
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Dune

Maybe the biggest sci-fi novel there is, Dune by Frank Herbert is a novel that has come to define the genre. The book and the Dune series is a sci-fi and fantasy novel that everyone who loves sci-fi books needs to read. Even if you aren’t a fan of sci-fi books, you should still read it because of how well thought out they are.

Even years after reading it, I find myself thinking about this book and how fascinating the Dune world is. Herbert’s novels helped push sci-fi to the mainstream with their success and highlight what makes sci-fi novels worth reading. You can’t call yourself a sci-fi fan without giving this novel a read.

One of my favorite stories relating to Dune is the one about how J.R.R Tolkien was not a fan of this series. He once received a copy from a fan and in Tolkien responded that he was not a fan of Dune. You can see his full response below.

“Thank you for sending me a copy of Dune,” Tolkien writes back. “I received one last year from Lanier and so already know something about the book. It is impossible for an author still writing to be fair to another author working along the same lines. At least I find it so. In fact I dislike DUNE with some intensity, and in that unfortunate case it is much the best and fairest to another author to keep silent and refuse to comment” 

Tolkien did not say that the series was not good, just that he wasn’t a fan of it. But Tolkien also declined to publicly review it because he didn’t want to hinder Dune’s success. It has been speculated the anti-religious themes of Dune might be the reason why Tolkien didn’t like the book but we will never really know.

Hyperion

A sci-fi novel that can give Dune a run for its money as one of the best sci-fi novels is Hyperion by Dan Simmons. Unlike Dune, Hyperion is more character focused and their stories make Hyperion one of my favorite reads of all time. The world building alongside memorable characters make Hyperion a must read.

I think Hyperion, like most of Simmons novels, is a heavy read. You get a lot of lore and information thrown at you and it can overwhelm some readers. That may be why Dune has always been more popular because quality wise, Hyperion is just as good as Dune.

I think Hyperion is the best sci-fi book ever written and I don’t say that lightly. The writing, plot, story structure, and the various characters made me realize in real time how incredible this book was. If you are fan of sci-fi novels, then this has to be a novel you read once in your lifetimes.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Lastly, the sci-fi novel that has gone down as my favorite sci-fi novel of all time is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. The humor of this novel and the whole series is brilliant and will have you laughing often. You won’t even realize you are reading a sci-fi novel and that is the magic of Adams.

Novels like this one showcase the vast potential of sci-fi novels when written by talented authors. Adams may not be Herbert or Simmons but his novels are clever and witty and a punchline that is worth waiting for. Even if you prefer serious novels, this novel will have you smiling and wondering just how Adams came up with this amazing idea for a series.

If It wasn’t for this novel and series, I do not think I would have gotten into sci-fi when I did. I found myself laughing throughout the whole novel as well as enjoying the sci-fi elements of it. Adams is a brilliant storyteller and one I would recommend to anyone that is curious about reading sci-fi books.

Conclusion

When I think of the best sci-fi books of all time, this three novels always come to mind. They are three of many amazing sci-fi novels but these are the three I would recommend to anyone looking to get into sci-fi genres. And I know these novels will make most people seek out even more sci-fi books. I know because it made me curious and check out even more sci-fi books as a result.

Some amazing sci-fi novels had to be left put unfortunately. Hopefully, these three novels lead to fans seeking out other sci-fi books and exploring hundreds of amazing sci-fi books that will continue their love of science fiction books. What are your favorite sci-fi books? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!

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