Science fiction books are some of the best books that you will ever read. They are unlike anything else and will pique your interest. Keep reading for our list of the 30 best science fiction books that you must read!
With countless science fiction novels to choose from, making this list was difficult. People forget just how influential sci-fi novels are. Many of these books have been adapted into movies and that trend will continue. That is because sci-fi novels have some of the best plots ever written. You can see the full list below!
The 30 Best Science Fiction Books That You Must Read
- 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
- 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
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
- The Children of Men by PD James
- Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
- The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
- 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
- The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
- The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
- Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke
- Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
- Kindred by Octavia Butler
- Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
A classic sci-fi novel that is beloved by millions of readers is Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. The novel is about 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
One of the most popular dystopian novels must be The Handmaid’s Tale. Some people may have read it in school while others read it for fun but either way, it is an impactful novel. Another classic dystopian novel that is up there is 1984. They both tackle serious issues and make us imagine the worst-case scenarios.
The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
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 novel changed the way I saw sci-fi novels and became a lifelong fan after reading the series.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
When talking about must read sci-fi novels, then Frankenstein has to be included in that conversation. Not only because it is the first but because it is a great novel. Even two centuries later, readers still flock to this novel as Mary Shelley makes us wonder who is right; Frankenstein or his monster?
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Even if you aren’t always reading books, there is still a good chance you have 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.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
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.
Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke
Earth is visited by aliens and humans surrender peacefully after witnessing the superior technology of the Overlords. Now, mankind is peaceful, poverty is no more, and there are no more wars. Humanity is peaceful but the cost may be much more than anyone expected. Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End is a beloved sci-fi novel that anyone who loves science fiction has to read!
Conclusion
That concludes our list of the 30 best science fiction books that you must read. How many of these novels have you read? What novels would you have included on the list? Let us know in the comments below!
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I’ve read most of these, so time to fill the gaps.
Not one book by Stanislaw Lem?!
Speaker for the Dead, the sequel to Ender’s Game is a much book, also very different. Really explores cultural differences, misunderstandings and discrimination ala Becky Chambers who is a glaring omission from this list. Also M. John Harrison’s Light is an absolutely brilliant classic. All in all I think this list is too weighted to older books and ignores some better, brilliant newer works.
I’ve read about half of these.
Never quite sure how 1984 makes SF lists; this is not the first time.
And while ‘Blade Runner’ is one of the great SF movies, particularly the original, do not be fooled, ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’ is one of the worst. A poor story, poorly written.
Reading books all my life, especially Sci-Fi for decades. Must mention few, which one left a mark:
Vorkosigan Saga, Killdozer by Theodore Sturgeon, Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
Nothing by Iain M Banks? Nothing by William Gibson? Nothing by Theodore Sturgeon? Really?
Brave New World is on every single one of these lists – it is a fairly average story which wasn’t particularly original even when it was written. I suspect the people who compose these lists haven’t actually read it, but think it belongs there because it’s on every other list. Heinlen seems to be the marmite of sci-fi, I hated Stranger In A Strange Land. Clockwork Orange isn’t sci-fi in any real way, and as others have said, Do Androids Dream is just rubbish.
For a book that will leave you gasping, try The Hair Carpet Weavers.
I read quite a few of these in my teenage years in the late 60s/ early 70s, but my favourite writer at the time gets no mention. John Wyndham was a wonderful author, with much of his writing dealing with post-apocolyptic issues, many being made into popular films and TV series, even in recent years. The Midwich Cuckoo’s, The Day of the Triffids, Trouble with Lichen, and others, my favourite being The Chrysalids, written at a time when nuclear war was a perceived threat. All of his work is still worth reading
Nothing by John Brunner?
The dystopian predictions of his The Sheep Look Up and The Shock-wave Rider are amazingly close to the mark today.
You might be excused, as both (and most of his work) are very hsrd to find.
I agree also with Anonymous about John Wyndham.
Can any one please tell me what are the qualifications of Ahaqir to name these books ??