The 5 Sci-Fi Books That Everyone Needs to Read

Whenever I need to get lost in a good book, I turn towards science fiction books and read some of the classics. Classics such as Dune and Hyperion come to mind and that leads to us thinking about the 5 sci-fi books that everyone needs to read. Keep reading to find out which books made out list!

If you are like me, then you try to read sci-fi novels often. From Isaac Asimov to Arthur C. Clarke, you are always adding sci-fi books to your reading list. That leads us to wonder what the best sci-fi novels are that everyone needs to read. And 5 novels come to mind that we have to talk about. You can see the full list below!

The 5 Sci-Fi Books Everyone Needs to Read

• Dune by Frank Herbert, 1965
  Hyperion by Dan Simmons  
  The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
  Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke
  Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick  

Dune

There might not be another sci-fi novel that is more popular than Dune by Frank Herbert. The novel and the series are beloved by millions and rightfully so. Herbert’s sci-fi and fantasy series is well written and the plot is thought out and intriguing. Many authors would have made it too technical to read and enjoy but Herbert is able to avoid that mistake.

Even years after reading it, I find myself thinking about this novel often 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.

Hyperion

A sci-fi novel that we believe gives 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 for us.

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.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

The sci-fi novel that has gone down as our 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 frequently. 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.

Childhood’s End

If you haven’t read a novel by Arthur C. Clarke, then I recommend starting with Childhood’s End. You will end up falling in love with his style of writing and want to dive in and read his other novels. In this novel, Clarke imagines what would happen if Earth is conquered by aliens. And there is little resistance when their technology is so much more advanced.

Few novels have left me as wonderstruck at the end of the novel but this was one of them. I had to read the ending a few times to digest what I just read. Sci-fi novels are really out there and Clarke is not afraid to go there. It may come as little surprise that there is a sci-fi award named after Clarke for the best science fiction book of the year in the United Kingdom.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

One of the first sci-fi novels to get me to enjoy the wild side of science fiction books was Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. This novel feels like a fever dream and yet, it raises many important questions and what it means to be human.

This is a novel that I have as a must read if you are a fan of sci-fi novels. Few novels have stuck with me as much as this novel and that is the brilliance of Philip K. Dick. Not many novels can include androids and actually make the reader care about them knowing they aren’t human. And while there were a couple of other novels that could have replaced this novel as the fifth and last pick, I think this is the novel I would recommend to anyone that wants to see what is special about sci-fi books.

Conclusion

These are the five sci-fi books that everyone needs to read according to Books of Brilliance. If you haven’t gotten around to reading any of them, them this should be your motivation to do so now. What other sci-fi books are must reads? Let us know in the comments below!

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