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10 Novels Every Sci-Fi Fan Should Read


Science fiction is one of the more exciting genres in literature. Not only does it seek to investigate humanity's biggest questions, but it often does so while also containing elements of action, drama, romance, adventure, and mystery. It allows us to look through a crystal ball to see society’s imagined reactions to new technology, races, or strange new worlds. Basically, what it all comes down to is that sci-fi is a genre that can truly have something for everyone.

It’s hard to pick just a few essential sci-fi novels, considering the size of the genre. However, there are some that stand out among the rest; some by an inch, others by a mile. When it comes to which ones make the cut, your mileage may vary, but in any case, here are 10 novels every sci-fi fan should read:

  1. Dune

    Author: Frank Herbert

    Published in 1965, Dune is the first installment in Frank Herbert’s Dune saga, as well as the winner of the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel. Set in the distant future, Dune plays out similarly to an interstellar version of Game of Thrones, with a feudal society of noble houses, each of which controls individual planets whom all owe allegiance to the power-hungry Padishah Emperor.

    While Dune might not be revolutionary by any means, it did lay the foundation for a great deal of the themes and constructs in modern science fiction. However, even though Herbert is an intrinsic part of the genre, his style of writing can feel dated at times, making Dune a laborious read for some. Still, by the time you reach the end of this book, you realize that Herbert achieves the pinnacle of what a sci-fi author aspires to rise to; authentic world building.

  2. I, Robot

    Author: Isaac Asimov

    I, Robot isn’t technically a novel, but rather a collection of nine science fiction short stories, which originally appeared in the Super Science Stories and Astounding Science Fiction magazines between 1940 and 1950. The stories were then compiled and published as a standalone book in December 1950. While each of the stories can be read separately, they’re all tied together by the fictional character Dr. Susan Calvin, who relates the respective tales to a reporter in the 21st century. Additionally, each story is linked by the common theme of interaction between humans and robots, and the often misplaced unease that results.

    Overall, I, Robot is clever fiction that’s becoming ever more relevant as progress towards the thinking machine takes huge strides and robotic development hits some big milestones. With thought-provoking ideas about morals and ethics, the inherent nature of humanity, and how much control an individual really has over their life, it remains an important piece of classic literature to this day.

  3. Contact

    Author: Carl Sagan

    Written by American scientist Carl Sagan, 1985’s Contact tells the story Eleanor "Ellie" Arroway, who grows up to become the director of Project Argus - a radio telescope array in New Mexico dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Naturally, this eventually leads to humanity’s first contact with a technologically superior extraterrestrial life form.

    Part of what makes Contact so successful is that Sagan is able to merge all of his factual scientific knowledge with strong theories and very plausible science fiction, adding a compelling sense of realism to the story. Science, alone, can’t tell a story, though; it’s Sagan’s dynamic characters and the realistic way in which they deal with the impact of learning that they’re not alone in the universe anymore that keeps this intelligent, science-heavy tale relatable and approachable.

  4. 2001: A Space Odyssey

    Author: Arthur C. Clarke

    Arthur C. Clarke’s 1968 novel 2001: A Space Odyssey is unique in that it was developed concurrently with Stanley Kubrick's film version, and wasn’t published until after the film’s release. Based in part on various short stories by Clarke, the book’s many plot points include: the black monolith, whose appearance converts primitive man into a tool-using creature; an identical object unearthed on the moon that sends a signal towards Jupiter; two spacemen contending with a computer gone rogue; a psychedelic journey through the stargate that ends in what appears to be a Belle Epoque palace, and the final mysterious appearance of the Star Child.

    It’s a lot to take in, but in order to get the full meaning and understand the full weight of why 2001 has been called "the perfect science fiction story," you can’t rely on the movie, alone. Clarke marries science, mysticism, theory, and fantasy in ways like no other, with clear and descriptive prose that results in a truly thought-provoking story.

  5. The War of the Worlds

    Author: H.G. Wells

    Published in 1897, H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds is notable for being one of the earliest stories detailing a conflict between mankind and an extraterrestrial race. Taking place in London, these Martians arrive on our planet in huge cylinders, from which they escape as soon as the metal is cool to massacre curious spectators with their Heat-Rays.

    The War of the Worlds goes beyond the of-the-time popular military invasion fiction, which took away the standard protagonist/antagonist arc of single characters and popped whole countries or tribes in their place. The story itself, if put in perspective - removed from its time period and thought of solely as a novel - is nothing special, as the excitement of the scientific exploration of futures is not to be found here. Still, the imagination of Wells is so beyond almost everything else that was around at the time, and coupling it with popular militarist fiction means that this is an extremely important novel in the progression of English fiction.

  6. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

    Author: Philip K. Dick

    Another science fiction novel published in 1968 is Philip K. Dick’s classic, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The story is set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, where a large portion of life on Earth is now endangered or extinct due to large-scale nuclear war. Meanwhile, a bounty hunter named Rick Deckard is tasked with “retiring” six escaped androids, which are human in appearance but are said to lack any sense of empathy.

    This book is a thrilling exploration of man’s struggles with ideas such as real vs. unreal, intelligence vs. mental deficiency, and the value of religion (real or imagined). There are some segments that don't seem to make sense, like the operation Garland had set up, or Mercer manifesting himself at certain occasions. Nevertheless, the "nightmare" feel of the book is part of what makes it so great, and these fluid elements in the story where there are unexplained shifts between dream worlds and reality are part of what constitutes the nightmare experience. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is insane, ingenious, and heartbreaking, and above all else, well worth your time.

  7. Ender’s Game

    Author: Orson Scott Card

    Ender's Game is a 1985 military science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, and it’s the first installment in the larger Ender’s Game series. Set in a future where Earth is awaiting a third, deadly invasion by the insectoid alien species known as the buggers, the story’s primary protagonist is a young boy named Ender Wiggin. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in the war against the buggers, but he and other young children must first undergo rigorous training and take part in “simulated” war games to prove their worth.

    This book dives deeply into the harsh realities of war, leadership, and the qualities that make someone a powerful or admirable individual (which aren’t always the same thing). It explores the cruelty of children placed in adult situations, though some characters still manage to retain a certain amount of innocence. While Ender’s Game is definitely suited for science fiction purists, it’s also a highly engaging exploration of the philosophies of human nature and war, making it equally appealing to a wide array of readers.

  8. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

    Author: Douglas Adams

    Published in 1979, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the first of five books in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy comedy science fiction series. Seconds before Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect take off on a journey through space, aided by a galaxy full of fellow travelers.

    Adams' wit and wisdom still baffle with their greatness. By showing a universe that makes no sense and having his characters constantly question it, Adams is subtly hinting that this is the natural human state, and the fact that we laugh and sympathize shows that it must be true. This episodic account of several random adventures in the cosmic space almost immediately lures you in, and before you even realize it, you’re probably already laughing. Additionally, Adams introduces some highly intriguing ideologies, making this book both laugh-out-loud funny and vastly entertaining.

  9. 1984

    Author: George Orwell

    1984 is a dystopian novel written by George Orwell and published in 1949. Set in a province of the superstate Oceania, 1984 is a story, omnipresent government surveillance, public manipulation, and a world engaged in perpetual war. Under the dictatorship of the "Ingsoc" regime and the privileged elite of the Inner Party, those who express any sort of individualism or independent thinking are persecuted for their "thoughtcrimes.”

    Orwell’s tale is startlingly original and haunting, creating an imaginary world that is completely convincing. Working, eating, drinking, sleeping, talking, thinking, procreating...in short, living, are all controlled by the state. Any hint of disobedience can be detected by various state apparatus, such as the Thought Police, telescreen, or even your children, who will not hesitate to betray you to the authorities. Simply put, George Orwell's 1984 is unquestionably the most memorable and most disturbing vision of a world gone mad, and no other author has done a better job showing the potential danger of a society without basic civil liberties, and a government with complete and unchallenged control.

  10. Ready Player One

    Author: Ernest Cline

    The most recent entry on this list is Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One, which was published a mere 6 years ago in 2011. Set in the year 2044, the story takes place in a world that has been gripped by an energy crisis due to the depletion of fossil fuels and the consequences of global warming, causing widespread socio-economical hysteria. To escape these harsh realities of life, people turn to a virtual reality simulator known as OASIS, as the virtual society proves to be more stable than their own. However, hidden within OASIS is an Easter egg, left behind by the program’s creator, and the first person to find it will inherit the man’s massive fortune.

    The main strength of the book lies not within its plot or characters but within the concepts and tributes to every single popular entertainment media in the 80’s and 90's. Cline’s passion for gaming truly shines through, and he goes to great lengths to justify the replacement of the real for the virtual. This is Willy Wonka meets The Matrix in the near future online game age and Cline makes an intelligent, humanistic observation about where our world is now and where it is heading with the loneliness and isolation that comes when the cyber-world is more interesting - and more vital - than the real world. 

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