Science Fiction Book Recommendations
Hi friends! Today I’m coming at you with some science fiction book recommendations! In my opinion, sci-fi is a criminally underrated genre. Especially in YA. So I’ve decided to recommend some sci-fi books that are easy to read and fun to get into. Let’s go!
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A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna
This book is one of my favourite books of all time. I read it in one sitting, it’s THAT good. A Spark of White Fire is a beautifully written science fiction/fantasy novel that blends together sci-fi and fantasy in a way I’ve never seen before.
Raised alone and far away from her home on Kali, Esmae longs to return to her family. When the King of Wychstar offers to gift the unbeatable, sentient warship Titania to a warrior that can win his competition, she sees her way home: she’ll enter the competition, reveal her true identity to the world, and help her famous brother win back the crown of Kali.
It’s a great plan. Until it falls apart.
Seriously, this book is a must-read. It’s easy to follow, the characters are neither good nor bad, and there are space gods!
Goodreads | Review
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
You’ve probably seen me mention this series before, but that’s because it’s so good! All Systems Red is the first novella in the murderbot diaries. Murderbot is a snarky robot with social anxiety tasked with protecting his human friends.
On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid—a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.
But when a neighbouring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.
I highly recommend the audiobooks for this series. They’re short and easy to understand, plus they’re a great introduction to sci-fi. Why read 800-page space operas when you can read 200-page ones?
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djeli Clark
It’s no secret that P. Djeli Clark has become one of my favourite authors. His first full novel will be coming out later this year and I cannot wait. In the meantime, you can read The Haunting of Tram Car 015.
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 returns to the alternate Cairo of Clark’s short fiction, where humans live and work alongside otherworldly beings. The Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities handles the issues that can arise between the magical and the mundane. Senior Agent Hamed al-Nasr shows his new partner Agent Onsi the ropes of investigation when they are called to subdue a dangerous, possessed tram car. What starts off as a simple matter of exorcism, however, becomes more complicated as the origins of the demon inside are revealed.
If you want something less to do with space and more to do with a steampunk alternative world, this is it. The story is beautifully woven and really packs an emotional punch (I may have almost cried at a certain part).
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Okay, hear me out. This isn’t exactly a beginner book, and some people do find this book confusing. But IT IS SO GOOD. It is so good it makes me want to run away and join the Ninth House cult. Tamsyn Muir is a genius and I will probably never stop screaming about this book.
Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.
Of course, some things are better left dead.
It’s LESBIAN NECROMANCERS IN SPACE. What’s not to love? And while the first book is great, Harrow the Ninth is even better. I also recommend the audiobook for this one. The narrator delivers Gideon’s snark so perfectly. I wish she would narrate my life.
Skyhunter by Marie Lu
This book is criminally underrated and I am on a mission to change that. I knew from the first few chapters that this would be a five-star read and that Marie Lu could step on me. Seriously, just look at the cover!
The Karensa Federation has conquered a dozen countries, leaving Mara as one of the last free nations in the world. Refugees flee to its borders to escape a fate worse than death—transformation into mutant war beasts known as Ghosts, creatures the Federation then sends to attack Mara.
The legendary Strikers, Mara’s elite fighting force, are trained to stop them. But as the number of Ghosts grows and Karensa closes in, defeat seems inevitable.
Still, one Striker refuses to give up hope.
Robbed of her voice and home, Talin Kanami knows firsthand the brutality of the Federation. Their cruelty forced her and her mother to seek asylum in a country that considers their people repugnant. She finds comfort only with a handful of fellow Strikers who have pledged their lives to one another and who are determined to push Karensa back at all costs.
When a mysterious prisoner is brought from the front, Talin senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. Is he a spy from the Federation? Or could he be the weapon that will save them all?
How can you not want to read this book after that description? It’s also not a science fiction novel set in space. But the technology and the state of the world is very science-fiction-y. I highly recommend this book!
Science Fiction Book Recommendations
And there you have it! Some of my favourite science fiction book recommendations! There are many more I could list off, but I have a whole other post planned for all the books on my sci-fi TBR! Stay tuned!
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I find I struggle with Sci-Fi books if they are too scientific as the talk goes over my head. Great post. Thanks for sharing.
I’m more of a contemporary reader now as I confess to being far too lazy for all the world-building of sci-fi, but I enjoyed it when I was younger.
Not my favourite genre to read but this is a nice selection.
Fabulous post. I confess that I am not generally a reader of Science Fiction but this looks like a great selection.
I am not generally a reader of sci-fi but I am intrigued by The Muderbot Diaries.
While I do make exceptions, this isn’t my usual genre. But I’m going to remember this post for when I am craving it!
SciFi is one of my favorite genres and I generally choose these to review when they are on offer at the sites where I review. I enjoyed your list and was familiar with most but your first recommendation was new to me and is now on my Wishlist!
I’ve been looking to get into reading more sci-fi for a while now so this was a great list! I think I’m going to start with Murderbot 🙂
Murderbot is an excellent place to start!
I’m trying to read more sci-fi this 2021 so this post is perfect!
These are some good beginner books. I hope you give them a try! 🥺