Have You Read the 25 Best Science-Fiction Books of All Time?

“Frankenstein,” by Mary Shelley

If you’re ranking the best science fiction books, where else can you start but with the novel that started the entire genre? The fact that it was written by a teenage Mary Shelley tripping on opium with Lord Byron in an overcast Lake Geneva only adds to the mythic appeal of this romanti-gothic novel. Before Jules Verne took us “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” or H. G. Wells introduced his invisible man, Shelley introduced the world to Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, an unholy abomination that broke new ground in our collective imagination. The early 19th century was a time of great change, and Shelley turned these changes into a gruesome tale of science gone horribly wrong. Clearly, it took a woman to write the definitive story on the folly of man.

“The Martian Chronicles,” by Ray Bradbury

Some of the greatest works of science fiction are actually short stories or novellas. During the Golden Age of Science Fiction, authors like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Poul Anderson, Theodore Sturgeon,  L. Ron Hubbard (yes, that L. Ron Hubbard), A. E. van Vogt and Robert A. Heinlein published countless short stories and serials in science fiction magazines. That’s one reason that many of the best science-fiction books of all time are structured more like short story anthologies than traditional novels (see also: “Foundation,” “Hyperion” and “I, Robot”). The same is true of “The Martian Chronicles,” a prime specimen from sci-fi’s Golden Age.

The stories that make up “The Martian Chronicles” were originally released in science-fiction magazines before being published as a single volume, also known as a “fix up” in 1950. These strange stories follow the exploits of human beings as they colonize the red planet, home to a race of strange Martians.

“Foundation,” by Isaac Asimov

“Foundation” is a miracle of storytelling. It’s the first book in the Foundation Trilogy, which also includes “Foundation and Empire” and “Second Foundation.” The books are structured like an anthology, but each individual section tells a much larger, interconnected story about the rise and fall of an entire galactic civilization. Even though there’s no single protagonist, the trilogy still feels like a cohesive work of art. Only a writer of incredible talent could pull off this daring adventure in storytelling, and of course Issac Asimov was up to the challenge. If you’re at all interested in the Golden Age of Science Fiction, then Foundation should be at the top of your reading list.

“Neuromancer,” by William Gibson

Published in 1984 by Canadian-American author William Gibson, “Neuromancer” was an early example of the cyberpunk genre. Years before the internet became a part of our daily lives, Gibson wrote about a virtual-reality cyberworld where criminal hackers lead double lives in the net. This novel won the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for its dark vision of a technological dystopia. Fans of The Matrix can thank Gibson for this forward-thinking book.

“Dune,” by Frank Herbert

“Dune” is one of the all-time greatest achievements in science fiction. While the plot isn’t particularly original, Frank Herbert’s world-building is first-rate. Published in 1965, this Hugo and Nebula-winning novel has legions of die-hard fans even half a century later. While it’s been the subject of some questionable adaptations, a new movie adaptation will be released in December 2020. The novel is absolutely worth reading, and fans of Game of Thrones will find a lot to love here. Set on a harsh desert world, Dune tells an epic story of revolution and revenge. There’s magic, giant monsters, political intrigue and exciting action sequences.

“The Left Hand of Darkness,” by Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin is one of the all-time greatest science-fiction authors, and this book helped establish her reputation when it was published in 1969. “The Left Hand of Darkness” also helped establish the feminist science-fiction genre, and the book explores concepts like androgyny, sex and gender through a sci-fi lens. However, you don’t need to have a special interest in gender studies to enjoy this novel, which is a great read for all sci-fi fans. The book tells the story of an earthman who is sent as an envoy to an ambisexual alien race, and its reputation is well-deserved.

“The War of the Worlds,” by H. G. Wells

English author H. G. Wells wrote some of the science-fiction genre’s greatest early works at the turn of the 20th century. In addition to “The War of the Worlds,” Wells also gave readers “The Time Machine,” “The Island of Doctor Moreau” and “The Invisible Man.” “The War of the Worlds” helped inspire countless alien invasion stories over the years, and the classic tale had a lasting impact on pop culture and the public imagination.

“Journey to the Center of the Earth,” by Jules Verne

Jules Verne is one of the most popular and influential authors in Western literature, and he’s often been called the “Father of Science Fiction.” If H.G. Wells helped inspire a generation of sci-fi authors, Verne helped inspire Wells in the first place.

It wasn’t easy picking one Jules Verne novel for this list. While most critics would probably pick “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” my personal favorite would be “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” the wildly implausible yet thrilling tale of an oddball professor who hypothesizes that the earth is hollow, then sets off on a fantastic voyage to the earth’s interior via volcanic tunnels. First published in 1864, this adventure novel is still thrilling readers over 150 years later.

“The Three-Body Problem,” by Liu Cixin

Modern American literature is full of classic science fiction and fantasy — Isaac Asimov, H.P. Lovecraft, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Octavia E. Butler and so many more. However, Chinese literature has its own science-fiction greats, and this incredible body of work is being translated for American audiences for the first time.

The Three-Body Problem is the first novel in the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy by Chinese author Liu Cixin. It’s a masterful work of science fiction that’s full of heady, philosophical mind-benders. For anyone looking to add something a bit more contemporary to their bookshelf (or Kindle), this is one of the best science fiction books of the 21st Century.

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” by Douglas Adams

Douglas Adam’s hilarious science-fiction novel is one of the funniest stories about the end of the world you’ll ever read. The story begins with protagonist Arthur Dent narrowly surviving the total destruction of earth, the result of a zoning dispute with an alien construction fleet. Dent and his alien best friend become galactic hitchhikers. On their journey they meet President of the Galaxy Zaphod Beeblebrox, a depressed robot, some mice, and discover the meaning of life, the universe and everything. Full of dry British wit and interstellar hilarity, this delightful comic novel is perfect for anyone who appreciates the lighter side of science fiction.

“I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov

When listing the all-time great science-fiction authors, the list has to start with Isaac Asimov. The author’s brilliant “Foundation” trilogy also earned a spot on our list of the best science fiction books of all time, but “I, Robot” is perhaps the author’s best-known work. “I, Robot” didn’t just inspire legions of sci-fi stories about killer robots; this novel fundamentally changed the way mankind thinks about robots. This collection of stories contains Asimov’s famous “Three Laws of Robotics,” and it’s a timeless classic of the genre.

“Ender’s Game” and “Speaker for the Dead,” by Orson Scott Card

That’s right, it’s a sci-fi double billing. To understand why “Ender’s Game” and its sequel “Speaker for the Dead” are such monumental novels, I need to make a comparison outside of literature. Think of the movies Alien and Aliens. If you’ve ever snoozed through a lackluster blockbuster sequel, you know that sequels almost always disappoint. But Aliens was the rare sequel that was actually as good as, if not even better, than the original, and so it is with “Ender’s Game” and “Speaker for the Dead.”

The rest of the novels in the Ender’s Game universe have seriously diminishing returns, but these two novels are incredible works of art. These books won Card back-to-back Hugo and Nebula Awards, a feat that will probably never be repeated. They’re also very different books.

While “Ender’s Game” is a fantastic example of military science-fiction, “Speaker for the Dead” is a more imaginative and character-driven story.

“A Scanner Darkly,” by Philip K. Dick

“A Scanner Darkly” follows an undercover police officer as his mind is destroyed by a very addictive and very hallucinogenic drug. Like so many of the best books about drug addiction, “A Scanner Darkly” is a dark tragedy. It’s also a heady dose of science fiction. Philip K. Dick is undoubtedly one of the greatest science-fiction writers of all time, and “A Scanner Darkly” is an unforgettable read.

Dick is best known for his novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?,” which was adapted into the classic sci-fi movie Blade Runner. That’s another epic science-fiction book to add to your reading list, but if I could only recommend one book from Dick’s bibliography, it would be “A Scanner Darkly.”

“I Will Fear No Evil,” by Robert A. Heinlein

Robert A. Heinlein is another sci-fi master that rose to prominence in the Post-War era of science-fiction. His works regularly anticipated future technology by several decades (from the cell phone to the water bed), and he wrote thrilling adventure stories that tackled big questions about life, religion and society.

“I Will Fear No Evil” is a strange, gender-bending story about an elderly billionaire whose brain is transplanted into the body of his beautiful young secretary Eunice. There are a lot of Heinlein novels that could have earned a spot on this list, but “I Will Fear No Evil” is one of my favorite books from this hugely influential author.

“Orphans of the Sky,” by Robert A. Heinlein

Only three authors have two books on this list: Orson Scott Card, Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein. While any number of Heinlein books could have appeared here, “Orphans of the Sky” is classic science fiction at its best. The book helped introduce the concept of the interstellar “generation ship,” a plot device that’s still a common trope in sci-fi.

Many generations after a colonization ship sets sail through the stars, the ship’s residents have completely lost touch with reality. They no longer realize there is a universe outside the ship at all, and the ship’s operational manual has become a religious text. When a passenger begins to question the nature of his reality, he must fight for control of the ship and the future of his lost tribe. It’s the kind of “What If?” premise that makes science fiction such a compelling genre, and it’s told by a sci-fi great at the height of his considerable literary powers.

“Slaughterhouse-Five,” by Kurt Vonnegut

The best science fiction books of all time aren’t just for nerds. Some of the genre’s greatest works also include modern literary classics like “Slaughterhouse-Five.” We also picked this novel for our list of the 25 Best Books for Men, and American author Kurt Vonnegut wrote a lot of great science-fiction novels (“Cat’s Cradle” and “The Sirens of Titan” are two more classics). As a POW in World War II, he survived the firebombing of Dresden, which is the subject of “Slaughterhouse-Five.”

Rather than write an autobiographical story about his wartime experiences, Vonnegut tells the story of Billy Pilgrim, a POW who also lived through the Dresden bombing. Pilgrim believes he was kidnapped by a race of fourth-dimensional aliens who place him in an alien zoo on their planet Tralfamadore. Due to his experiences, Pilgrim becomes “unstuck in time” and jumps between various events of his life at random.

This disassociative effect allows Vonnegut to explore the lingering effects of trauma, long before post-traumatic stress disorder was well understood. This moving novel explores the horrors of war with black humor and irony, and it’s a powerful reading experience you won’t soon forget.

“Leviathan Wakes,” by James A. Corey

For fans of hard science fiction, it doesn’t get much better than “Leviathan Wakes,” which was recently adapted into the TV series The Expanse. This novel was co-authored by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck under the pen name James A. Corey, and it’s the first novel in “The Expanse” series. This epic space opera has it all: a noir-style detective story, space politics, corporate intrigue, shifting military alliances, rebellion, mysterious alien weapons and epic space battles. It even has a zombie space ship, which is every bit as awesome as it sounds.

“A Wrinkle in Time,” by Madeleine L’Engle

This young adult novel serves as the perfect introduction to science fiction and fantasy for many young readers. The science-fantasy novel won the Newbery Medal after its publication in 1962, and like other novels on this list, it was the subject of a so-so movie adaptation. The novel follows a group of children on a perilous adventure through space and time as they try to rescue their missing father (and save the world, of course).

“Hyperion,” by Dan Simmons

“Hyperion” is yet another Hugo Award-winning novel. While this list is mostly concerned with novels, many of the greatest works of science fiction are actually short stories. And in “Hyperion,” Dan Simmons has merged the two story forms in a brilliant work of science fiction. Like the Canterbury Tales, “Hyperion” is a frame tale. Set in the 29th century at a time when mankind has colonized the stars, a group of pilgrims sets out to the Time Tombs, a mysterious artifact moving backward through time. Each pilgrim tells their own story, allowing Simmons to explore a variety of genres within this memorable science-fiction book.

“Brave New World,” by Aldous Huxley

“Brave New World” isn’t just one of the greatest dystopian novels of all time, it’s also one of the greatest novels of all time, period. While George Orwell’s dystopian nightmare “1984” explores the grim and absurd realities of fascism, “Brave New World” explores the grotesque possibilities of consumerism. While many pundits have said that our current timeline is resembling “1984” more and more each day, Huxley’s prescient vision is actually much closer to the mark.

“Watchmen,” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

If you still haven’t read “Watchmen” (or even opened a graphic novel before), then you should know this going in: “Watchmen” is a work of art unlike anything you’ve read before. This meta-reflection on the superhero genre and graphic novel medium follows a group of masked adventurers as they try to stop the world from ending. Set in an alternate version of the Cold War, this graphic novel is beautiful and haunting. Time magazine named “Watchmen” one of the 100 greatest novels ever written, and it really is that good.

“Rendezvous With Rama,” by Arthur C. Clarke

The Golden Age of Science Fiction produced a lot of great authors, but the “Big Three” includes Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. Along with Stanley Kubrick, Clarke gave the world 2001: A Space Odyssey, one of the greatest works of science-fiction in any medium. However, Clarke also wrote many classic science-fiction short stories and novels. He’s been called The King of Science Fiction, and his best books are generally considered to be “Rendezvous With Rama” and “Childhood’s End.” Both are compelling reads, but I like the ambiguity and mystery that comes with the former.

In “Rendezvous With Rama,” a group of human astronauts explore a strange – and abandoned – alien craft as it passes through the solar system. Rather than chasing a MacGuffin or fighting off an alien invasion, this is a more imaginative book that invites you into a bizarre alien world.

“Never Let Me Go,” by Kazuo Ishiguro

Hard sci-fi fans may prefer epic space operas or tales of alien invasion (and you’ll find many such tales on this list), but Kazuo Ishiguro’s heartbreaking novel “Never Let Me Go” reminds us that the science-fiction genre can do so much more. This British novel follows a group of teenagers as they come to grips with their place in the world. To say anything else would spoil this beautiful coming of age novel, which won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Honorable Mention: “The Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins

I know that hard-core science-fiction nerds might scoff at this young adult novel being included on this list, which isn’t a great look for a genre that has historically ignored stories about young women. This dystopian sci-fi novel is best known for the Hollywood adaptation starring Jennifer Lawrence, but it also inspired a legion of dystopian imitators in the young adult genre.

The original novel in the series is a perfectly structured action-thriller just begging for a movie adaptation. It’s also a compelling page turner and a great example of young adult science fiction. Set in a distant future where children are selected at random to fight to the death in an insane battle arena, “The Hunger Games” has more in common with Stephen King classics like “The Long Walk” than it does with “Twilight,” to which it is often compared.

At the end of the day, it’s an extremely entertaining read — and sometimes that’s all you need from a great science fiction-book.