Science fiction books have always been popular with readers. A well-written sci-fi novel is impossible to put down. That is why we will be looking at the bestselling science fiction books of all time. Keep reading to find out which books made our list!
There have been many amazing science fiction books over the decades. This list includes old classics as well as newer books that have made some of these authors into a household name. You will recognize most of the books on the list as well as see some books that you never got around to reading. You can see the full list below!
The Bestselling Science Fiction Books of All Time
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – 100+ million copies sold
- 1984 by George Orwell – 30+ million copies sold
- Dune by Frank Herbert – 20+ million copies sold
- Foundation by Isaac Asimov – 20+ million copies sold
- The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide by Douglas Adams – 15+ million copies sold
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – 10+ million copies sold
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – 8+ million copies sold
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – 8+ million copies sold
- Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein – 5+ million copies sold
- 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke – 3+ million copies sold
- The Martian Andy Weir – 3+ million copies sold
The Biggest Sci-Fi Books Out There
This list includes many classics, new and old. The book to top the list is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins with over 100 million copies sold. When the novel first came out, it was inescapable. The success of the books translated into a successful movie franchise that many other books tried to copy to some success.
Coming in second is George Orwell’s 1984 with over 30 million copies sold. The dystopian novel is as popular today as it has ever been. In third place is Dune by Frank Herbert with over 20 million copies sold. It is considered one of the best sci-fi fantasy novels and is getting more attention with the recent movie adaptations.
Foundation by Isaac Asimov is the fourth bestselling sci-fi book of all time with over 20 million copies sold. Asimov helped shape this genre of fiction so this is to be expected. Rounding up the top five is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams with over 15 million copies sold. It is a great combination of sci-fi and comedy and is a personal favorite of mine.
Conclusion
That is all for this list of the bestselling science fiction books of all time. What book are you surprised that didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments below!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
Discover more from Books of Brilliance
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
“Battlefield Earth”, by L. Ron Hubbard, is a classic…I read it in just under a week while deployed.
Excellent story.
I think I read it in a week or less.
I think that anne mccaffery’s Dragon Rider’s series should be on this list!
I totally agree it is a brilliant in-depth look at the history of a colony ship left on the planet Pern. from its landing to hundreds of years into its future each story and book gives you more and more and has since been continued by both her son and now her daughter. I would love to see these made in to a film franchise the source material is already there and with cgi as advanced as it is given the right director I believe they could be as big as GoT or Lotr
Nice.
All were good reads.
Somewhat surprised to not see Ringworld.
At least two of those are classic high school reading list books. Which is going to skew their numbers.
Most older books have a disadvantage in smaller print runs, less mass market advertising, and a smaller population base.
That Foundation and Stranger in a Strange Land made the list is impressive, considering all of the others have had movies or television shows made based upon them. Some multiple versions, or at least sequels.
I’m surprised to see The Hunger Games comparring and winning against masterpieces as 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Fundation, Dune and others. It’s written as it’s a summer story for school of a 10 years boy. No style, no nothing, just a story. This is just another example of what marketing can do and how trends are running us today. Sad, very sad 😥
I think Im lucky.
My 19 yo daughter has read a few of all time favs…
Dune , I Robot ,The Number of the Beast.
Most kids today dont even know that books are meant to be read.
Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement
Data source for these numbers?
Correct – I don’t believe a word of it – none of this makes sense.
Please, please, can people stop calling The Handmaid’s Tale science fiction? It is nothing of the sort, outside of marketing choices made by the publisher. Speculative, yes. Science, no.
Seeing the Movie “2001 a Space Odyssey” is impossible to understand without reading the book First.
If they did the movie so it would be understood then it was claimed they’d have to double the budget and the time too.
Do android dream of electric sheep
If you haven’t read Tau Zero you don’t know science fiction. or Baby Makes 3 or Hyperion, or Downbelow Station or Merchanter’s Luck, or The Dreaming Jewels or Dangerous Visions, or anything written by Alastair Reynolds or Dahlgran or Babel 17 or the Martian Chronicles or 1000 other books that are science fiction not and poorly written propaganda especially first person nonsense with a cynical above it all narrator that poses as writing these days. Even Stephen King writes propaganda now and what his coming from him is poorly written trash. Try finding the best selling science fiction in 2024 – it is impossible because all you find is articles telling you what you should be reading, what is the “best,” and the list is the worst kind of poorly written crap. The internet has become focused on way leading the sheep to the slaughterhouse and the sheep follow right along and are blind to their soon being transformed into mutton.
Apologize for the typos – it is late and I am tired.
Interesting comments, “food” of a sorts for thoughts