I love reading all kinds of sci-fi novels, and I plan on reading even more in 2026. While sci-fi isn’t always as popular as other genres, it consistently delivers some of the most creative and thought-provoking stories out there. With the right recommendations, it’s a genre more people should be paying attention to.
Finding great sci-fi novels isn’t always easy. There are so many books to choose from that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and not know where to start. But once you dig a little and find stories that match your taste, sci-fi becomes incredibly rewarding.
This list features three sci-fi books I read recently that I still can’t stop thinking about. They were easily some of my favorite reads of the past year. Two of them are part of ongoing series, which I’m especially happy about because it means there’s more story waiting to be read.
These are the three sci-fi novels that immediately come to mind when I think about must-reads. Maybe I’m a little biased, but I genuinely think every sci-fi fan should experience them at least once.
You can find the full list of must-read sci-fi books below.
Top 3 Must-Read Sci-Fi Books for 2026
Saltcrop
Besides having a beautiful book cover, Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei is a beautifully written novel that touches on a ton of topics. After having read a previous novel by Kitasei, I became a fan of her storytelling. That was enough for me to read any new novel by her and I am glad that I did.
Saltcrop tells the story of three sisters in the near future that have to come together to fight against a corporation with dirty secrets. Skipper and Carmen journey on a boat across the sea and find their missing older sister, Nora.
They haven’t heard from her in months and from what they can tell, she is in trouble. But when they receive a cryptic message, they know that they are Nora’s only hope of escaping the powerful corporation that she works for.
Besides the fun plot, the novel does a wonderful job of capturing the bond of sisterhood and siblings. This is a novel about the future of our planet as well as about family and growing up. I really loved this novel and how well Kitasei juggles all of these themes.
Annihilation
When I picked up Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer, I did not know that I was going to read one of the best books I have read in a while. This sci-fi, horror, and fantasy novel is full of mystery and will leave you with more questions than answers. But that is what makes this novel so good.
A group made up of four women are headed to Area X, an area that has been reclaimed by nature. Their mission is to map the area and to avoid being contaminated. As soon as they arrive, the group finds a massive topographic anomaly that changes the course of their mission.
But secrets and withheld information lead the group to question each other. As they try to find out the truth surrounding Area X and the expedition, they realize that they are not alone.
I did not think that sci-fi and horror would go as well as they did in the novel. Jeff VanderMeer wrote this novel after a hike in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. And it makes sense because nature is terrifying, especially an unexplored one. This novel will send chill down your spine and you still won’t be able to put the novel down.
The Murderbot Diaries.
Trying to choose my favorite sci-fi novel and series that I read in 2025 is not easy. But if I had to choose one, it would be The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. The series is filled with a bunch of novellas and a couple of longer novels. Once you pick up this series, be prepared to binge it because it is impossible not to.
On a planet in the distant future, a group of scientists are working when one of them is attacked by a worm-like creature. It is up to Murderbot, a self-aware SecUnit to save them. Unnbeknownst to them, Murderbot has hacked its governor module and doesn’t have to listen to orders anymore.
Murderbot is a shy robot that prefers to be left alone to watch TV shows all day. But the humans cannot help themselves from getting in trouble. When a nearby group goes dark, it is up to the scientists to find out what happened. And Murderbot’s responsibly to keep them alive while hiding its own secret from them.
It is hard to admit that one of my favorite characters of the past year was a robot. Martha Wells does an amazing job making Murderbot likable and relatable. Like many people, sometimes we just want to be left alone and watch our favorite shows.
This was my favorite series that I read in 2025 and I can’t stop raving about it. Not only is this a fantastic sci-fi adventure novel, it is also funny. If you only had to read one sci-fi series this year, then this is the one I would ultimately recommend.
Conclusion
These three sci-fi novels are very different and showcase how diverse this genre is. And they are all amazing novels that excel in storytelling. Whether you want a dystopian novel, a horror novel, or a space adventure, this list has it all.
I am lucky that I discovered these three books last year. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut feeling. Luckily for you, I have already read them and you don’t have to go through a trial and can read them as soon as possible.
Novels like this reignite my love for this genre. I am grateful to these authors and optimistic about the future of sci-fi novels. I will be reading many more sci-fi books this year and anything that these authors release. Until next time, happy reading!
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