Books

The best science fiction novels, according to hackers

179 science fiction novels recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.

• Most recommendedProject Hail Mary by Andy Weir117 people recommend it
• Built to lastAccelerando by Charles Strossowners report a median of 20 years
• Least regretA Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.15 recommend, 0 criticize
• Free and lovedFrankenstein by Mary Shelley15 people recommend it

All science fiction novels

• Project Hail Mary by Andy WeirA fun, hopeful science-driven sci-fi story about friendship, with an acclaimed audiobook and a faithful film adaptation; critics find the plot too convenient and the movie simplified.117recommend
• There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntmRecommended for its strikingly original premise and brilliant opening, a page-turner full of twists; many feel the second half meanders and repeats the same gimmick.98recommend
• Blindsight by Peter WattsA dense hard SF first-contact novel recommended for its unsettling exploration of intelligence without consciousness; many find the prose hard to follow and the vampires and plot distracting.96recommend
• Dune by Frank HerbertInfluential science fiction admired for its deep world-building, fresh voice and ideas about power and machines. Critics find it long and dense, and say the later books decline.82recommend
• Accelerando by Charles StrossReaders praise its prescient ideas about digital minds, space travel and the future. Critics most often say the characters feel thin or unlikeable.71recommend
• Hyperion by Dan SimmonsFans praise its ideas, religion and prose as top space opera. Common caveat: it ends on a cliffhanger.66recommend
• Children of Time by Adrian TchaikovskyRecommended for its alien intelligences, especially its spider characters and sci-fi ideas. Some find the writing shallow or unengaging.62recommend
• Anathem by Neal StephensonFans praise its dense, idea-packed worlds, monastic setting and re-read value. Critics warn of an invented language, slow going and a rushed, deus ex machina ending.45recommend
• Snow Crash by Neal StephensonRecommended as a fun, inventive cyberpunk classic that stays memorable and feels prescient. Critics find it dated, overwritten and in need of editing.43recommend
• Foundation by Isaac AsimovAsimov's classic space opera, praised for its ideas and the first book. The Apple TV series is liked for its production and cast, but critics say it departs sharply from the novels.43recommend
• Hyperion Cantos by Dan SimmonsReaders praise its inventive world building, gripping storytelling and ideas about technology and AI. Caveats: religious themes can be off-putting, and later books are weaker.37recommend
• Neuromancer by William GibsonPraised for prescient, stylish cyberpunk world-building and iconic status; the common caveat is a difficult, uneven read that some find dated.36recommend
• Permutation City by Greg EganThought-provoking science fiction about consciousness and computation that readers find stimulating and unsettling. Common caveat: the premise and settings seem implausible to some.34recommend
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsPeople recommend it for its very funny, witty satire and its sharp philosophical ideas, and many reread it. Critics mostly fault the film and the game's puzzles.31recommend
• Daemon by Daniel SuarezReaders call Daemon a fun, prescient techno-thriller that feels topical with today's agentic AI. One critic found the writing hard to read.30recommend
• The Three-Body Problem by Liu CixinPeople recommend it as a mind-bending science fiction novel with striking concepts, though critics say its physics and sociology are implausible and the later plot is weak.28recommend
• A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor VingePeople recommend this science fiction novel for its ideas about alien intelligence, software and communication, and for being worth rereading.28recommend
• Cryptonomicon by Neal StephensonPraised as a funny, wide-ranging novel blending history, math and computing, with a memorable engineer's view of recency. Critics say it runs too long and its ending falls flat.28recommend
• Brave New World by Aldous HuxleyRecommended as a prescient dystopian novel that people say predicted the present better than 1984. Critics find the writing style hard to get into.24recommend
• Diaspora by Greg EganRecommended for its ambitious, mind-expanding take on post-singularity humanity and uploading. Critics say it is very dense and hard to follow.23recommend
• Fall by Neal StephensonStephenson's ambitious, big-idea novel about uploaded minds and the singularity; people praise its ideas and readable prose. Critics find its subplots uneven and disconnected.22recommend
• A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor VingeRecommended as a far-future science fiction novel with memorable alien characters and inventive ideas, praised as one of Vinge's best.21recommend
• The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le GuinRecommended for its believable anarchist society and its use of science and technology to tell its story.21recommend
• The Diamond Age by Neal StephensonPeople recommend it for its ideas about interactive, self-directed learning and its prescient take on AI, plus its excellent writing. Critics say it is showing its age.21recommend
• The Martian by Andy WeirGripping, humorous survival story about an astronaut stranded on Mars, with careful science that people say is well done. Critics find the technical detail makes parts dry.21recommend
• The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le GuinPraised for its prose and exploration of cultural and sociological ideas; critics call it slow, dated, and light on technology.20recommend
• Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. ClarkePeople recommend it for its vivid, truly alien vision and its grand, evocative scenes. Critics often say the plot goes nowhere and the characters are thin.19recommend
• Starship Troopers by Robert A. HeinleinPeople recommend it for its thought-provoking ideas on democracy and government and its readability. Critics say its militarism and right-wing tone undercut its satire.18recommend
• The Murderbot Diaries by Martha WellsReaders recommend it as a fun, easy-to-read comfort series with a distinctive narrator; critics find the ideas not especially new.17recommend
• Profession by Isaac AsimovPraised for its take on regimented societies, education and knowledge, and Asimov's writing. Critics find its sexism and racism hard to ignore.17recommend
• We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. TaylorReaders call this a fun spacefaring adventure series and many plan to keep reading the later books.17recommend
• Player Piano by Kurt VonnegutRecommended for its prescient take on automation and work, and for how closely it matches current AI debates. Critics find it weaker than Vonnegut's other novels.16recommend
• Bobiverse by Dennis E. TaylorReaders praise this goofy, creative science fiction series for its exploration and premise, and many read it through more than once.15recommend
• Seveneves by Neal StephensonAdmired for its ambitious scope and detailed engineering; critics cite loose science, slow pacing and an ending that arrives too late.15recommend
• A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.Post-apocalyptic science fiction praised for its striking writing, religious and intellectual themes, and unsettling ending that stays with readers.15recommend
• Frankenstein by Mary ShelleyPeople recommend this 1818 novel as readable, beautifully written science fiction that still feels relevant today. Critics mostly object to how the Guillermo del Toro film adaptation handles the monster.15recommend
• Starfish by Peter WattsRecommended as a dark, prescient near-future novel that feels close to current events, with a hopeful ending. Caveat: it is very dark and hard on the reader.15recommend
• Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley RobinsonPeople love this series for its anarchist culture and memorable moments. The most common caveat is that it can feel boring.14recommend
• The Book of the New Sun by Gene WolfeRecommended for its inventive language, tone and prescient visions of the future; one caveat is that it can be confusing.14recommend
• Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris StrugatskyPeople recommend it as a masterpiece of haunting, excellent science fiction. Some find it depressing, and one critic calls the central concept only ok.13recommend
• The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. HeinleinPeople recommend it as a prescient, influential science fiction novel about lunar society and machine intelligence. Critics call it ridiculous, and find its libertarian ideals naive.13recommend
• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel KeyesPeople recommend this novel for its emotional story of a man's changing intelligence, often calling it sad and moving; one critic found it a weepie for its own sake.13recommend
• The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley RobinsonRecommended for its sobering, hopeful take on the socioeconomic barriers to climate action. Critics find the writing uneven and the plot too optimistic.12recommend
• Echopraxia by Peter WattsRecommended as a sequel to Blindsight for its inventive ideas on consciousness and intelligence; critics find it rushed, under-edited and hard to follow in places.11recommend
• Service Model by Adrian TchaikovskyPraised as quirky, delightful and one of Tchaikovsky's finest, with dark humour and contemplation; critics find its outlook bleak and some plot parts implausible.11recommend
• The Three-Body Problem trilogy by Liu CixinPraised for original ideas and as some of the best sci-fi; the most common caveat is xenophobia at the societal level.11recommend
• Shroud by Adrian TchaikovskyPeople praise it for a convincing, truly alien intelligence and vivid ideas, and call it an easy recommendation. Some find the ending unsatisfying and the characters thin.11recommend
• The Quantum Thief by Hannu RajaniemiRecommended as unique science fiction with plausible weirdness, and readers call it some of the best sci-fi they have read.11recommend
• Ubik by Philip K. DickRecommended as a mind-bending, layered Philip K. Dick novel that feels more prescient now; one critic finds it campy and tacky.10recommend
• Rainbows End by Vernor VingeReaders recommend it for predicting today's AI and internet trends and for its augmented reality interface ideas. Critics say it lacks a gripping pull and paints technology too rosily.10recommend
• Ender's Game by Orson Scott CardPeople recommend it as a classic science fiction novel that they call timeless and prescient on tech and social topics. Critics say the main character gets little real development.10recommend
• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. DickPeople recommend the original novel as richer, more logical and more interesting than the Blade Runner adaptation. Critics say it reads as dry and boring.10recommend
• Revelation Space by Alastair ReynoldsPeople recommend it as a far-future space opera with autonomous ships and an intelligence-driven universe. Critics say Reynolds writes flat, unconvincing human characters.9recommend
• Stand on Zanzibar by John BrunnerPeople recommend it as a prescient, chilling science fiction novel that anticipated the future well. Some readers find it hard to get into and rate it below Dune.9recommend
• The Mountain in the Sea by Ray NaylerRecommended as a strange, well-built near-future science fiction novel that engages with consciousness, AI and corporate power. Its world building is praised as sophisticated without being overwhelming.9recommend
• The Forever War by Joe HaldemanRecommended as a science fiction novel that shows the futility of war, and readers who like Asimov tend to enjoy it too.8recommend
• I, Robot by Isaac AsimovPeople recommend Asimov's short story collection for its thoughtful mapping of robot issues and subtleties, and for being a great read as a teenager. Critics mostly object to the 2004 film adaptation rather than the book.8recommend
• The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le GuinRecommended for its thought-provoking premise about dreams that change reality and its lasting impact on readers.8recommend
• Star Maker by Olaf StapledonReaders recommend it for its vast cosmic scope and philosophical depth. The most common caveat is that it is exhausting to read.8recommend
• Contact by Carl SaganPeople recommend the novel and its audiobook and rate the 1997 film above Interstellar. The most common caveat is that the film misses the novel's ending punchline.8recommend
• Ilium by Dan SimmonsPeople recommend it as a gripping, hard-to-put-down science fiction novel, and fans of Simmons' Hyperion books say they enjoyed it too.8recommend
• Fall of Hyperion by Dan SimmonsDan Simmons' sequel to Hyperion, praised for its AI themes and deeper background, though critics find it slow, jarring after Hyperion, and in need of trimming.8recommend
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray BradburyPeople recommend it as a prescient novel about censorship and distraction that still feels relevant to them today.7recommend
• Colossus by D. F. JonesFew quotes discuss the novel itself; one calls it enjoyable though dated, and another says the film is better than the book.7recommend
• The Peripheral by William GibsonWell-liked Gibson novel and TV adaptation; people praise the show and book but say the series was cut short.7recommend
• Maelstrom by Peter WattsSecond book of Peter Watts's Rifters trilogy, praised as incredible and well-executed, and different in feel from Starfish.7recommend
• Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeerReaders recommend this weird, gripping science fiction novel for being hard to put down and for its unsettling mood, though some find the ending disappointing.7recommend
• Termination Shock by Neal StephensonReaders recommend this novel for its timely take on climate geoengineering fallout and its strong world building.7recommend
• Foundation by Isaac AsimovRecommended as an early classic that anticipated current AI and forecasting debates, with psychohistory at its core. Critics say it feels dated and the later sequels muddy the original.7recommend
• Player of Games by Iain M. BanksRecommended as the usual first Culture novel, an easy and fun read that prompts introspection. One reader found the first 50 pages heavy on description.7recommend
• Children of Ruin by Adrian TchaikovskyPraised for laying out how different creatures think and learn; some find it darker and weaker than Children of Time.7recommend
• Children of Time by Adrian TchaikovskyRecommended as good, interesting science fiction that explores different intelligences, with a lot of depth across the series.7recommend
• The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect by Roger WilliamsPeople recommend it as a terrifying, thought-provoking story about AI and conquered death, fit for programmers and surprisingly accurate about AI for a 1994 book.7recommend
• Artemis by Andy WeirAndy Weir's Moon-set heist novel, recommended as a fun read and one of the best books people read this year.7recommend
• Alien Clay by Adrian TchaikovskyRecommended for giving an intuitive grasp of a difficult scientific concept and for being very alien. One critic found it too similar to Tchaikovsky's other work.7recommend
• The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. DickRecommended as a dark, compelling alternate-history read, though some readers find its premise far-fetched and its ending lacking.7recommend
• Rifters trilogy by Peter WattsRecommended for Watts's fantastic writing and the interesting technology in the series; some readers find parts of it less palatable.7recommend
• Old Man's War by John ScalziRecommended as a series with a strong opening sentence that readers devour. Critics say the characters sound alike and it is only good, not great.7recommend
• High-Rise by J.G. BallardPeople recommend it as a sharp, prescient novel about how modern society and its class divides can break down, with a fast, unsettling read. No recurring caveat appears in the quotes.7recommend
• VALIS by Philip K. DickPeople recommend it for its deeply personal, semi-autobiographical take on Dick's life and psychology, with a strange, shifting narrative that rewards rereading.6recommend
• Count Zero by William GibsonPeople recommend it for vivid cyberpunk scenes and strong openings, and some think it is better than its reputation. Critics say parts are dull, with long descriptions.6recommend
• The Shockwave Rider by John BrunnerPeople recommend it for how realistically it predicts the future decades ahead, and for Brunner being an important author worth reading.6recommend
• The Dark Forest by Liu CixinRecommended as a strong, idea-driven sequel in the Three-Body Problem series, with its dark forest theory of cosmic survival being the main draw. Critics find the characters flat and the writing weak.6recommend
• Tau Zero by Poul AndersonRecommended as one of the best sci-fi novels, about a spaceship doomed to accelerate at 1G, and loved by readers for decades.6recommend
• The Sparrow by Mary Doria RussellReaders call Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow very compelling, and one says it has stuck with them strongly long after reading.6recommend
• The Algebraist by Iain M. BanksRecommended as the best of Iain M. Banks's books, by readers who enjoy his writing style and fun, space-opera storytelling.6recommend
• Terra Ignota by Ada PalmerRecommended as an ambitious, unique science fiction series that readers call great, with one critic finding the writing did not gel.6recommend
• Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. HeinleinRecommended as a Heinlein novel, often listed alongside The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Starship Troopers; one critic finds it has not aged well.5recommend
• A Memory Called Empire by Arkady MartinePeople recommend it for thoughtful worldbuilding about societies disrupted by new technology and for its distinctive take on science fiction. One critic found it less engaging than others did.5recommend
• Southern Reach trilogy by Jeff VanderMeerPeople recommend it for its cosmic, unknowable atmosphere and call it well worth reading. One critic doubts it meets the standard of good.5recommend
• The Light of Other Days by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen BaxterClarke and Baxter's science fiction novel about a wormhole that lets people look back at any point in time, with readers praising its take on privacy and surveillance.5recommend
• Parable of the Sower by Octavia ButlerPeople recommend it for its powerful, floor-the-reader vision of societal collapse, which many feel captures the broad direction of where things are heading. The main caveat is that it is very bleak.5recommend
• The Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter WattsRecommended by Hacker News readers as a more approachable Peter Watts novel, and one with a strong AI theme, though it is less well known than Blindsight.5recommend
• Red Mars by Kim Stanley RobinsonPeople recommend it as a deep, cautiously hopeful story about settling Mars, too rich for a movie. Critics find it dry and slow, with a lot of space politics.5recommend
• Pushing Ice by Alastair ReynoldsA standalone science fiction novel by Alastair Reynolds, recommended as an easy entry point to his work and as a fun, fairly unique read.5recommend
• Delta-V by Daniel SuarezRecommended as an excellent series, with one reader calling its ideas very advanced. One critic is not impressed with its science.5recommend
• Pandora's Star by Peter F. HamiltonPeople recommend it for its realistic look at the consequences and benefits of advanced technology and its immersive world building.5recommend
• Dark Matter by Blake CrouchRecommended as a thoughtful, well made story that some readers rank above Recursion. Few caveats appear in the quotes.5recommend
• A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. DickPeople recommend it as a tragic, very funny drug-themed novel with a high-concept, ersatz-reality feel, and one commenter singled out the Suntup edition's bindery as exceptional.5recommend
• Ready Player One by Ernest ClineRecommended as a fun read, though critics say it lists pop references at length and call the premise ludicrous fiction.5recommend
• Consider Phlebas by Iain M. BanksRecommended as the best and favourite of Iain M. Banks's books. Critics find it boring, dated, and off-putting as an entry point to the series.5recommend
• The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky ChambersWarm, character-driven science fiction that people call lovely and a top young author in the genre; some find it less technical and space-themed than expected.5recommend
• The Drowned World by J. G. BallardPeople recommend it as a fantastic, unusual entry in the genre, with very interesting ideas, and praise Ballard's wider ambiguous apocalypse trilogy.5recommend
• The Andromeda Strain by Michael CrichtonPeople recommend it as an intelligent medical thriller that still holds up and warns about unintended consequences, and they find the film adaptation a decent watch.5recommend
• Daemon and Freedom by Daniel SuarezPeople recommend it as a fiction take on AI and crypto DAOs that feels different from most AI singularity novels, and it still reads well when revisited years later.5recommend
• Press Enter ▮ by John VarleyRecommended by readers as a favourite by an author praised for both short and long fiction, and it holds up well on technology despite its age.5recommend
• Red Dwarf novels by Grant and NaylorPeople recommend these tie-in novels as good in their own right, with jokes that fit prose better than the TV show could carry.5recommend
• Walkaway by Cory DoctorowPeople recommend it as fun speculative fiction with techcentric utopian ideas, especially for nerds. The most common caveat is that its 3D printer technology is unrealistic.4recommend
• Little Brother by Cory DoctorowPeople recommend it as an engaging, prescient novel about surveillance and privacy, and it is free to read online.4recommend
• Remembrance of Earth's Past by Liu CixinRecommended as a life-changing masterpiece whose bleak third book deepens the experience. No recurring criticism was raised.4recommend
• Dragon's Egg by Robert L. ForwardPeople recommend it as a fantastic read with an unusual premise about intelligence living on a neutron star. No critics raised a common caveat.4recommend
• Children of Memory by Adrian TchaikovskyRecommended for its big philosophical questions and as a strong entry in its series; critics find it slow and weaker than the first two books.4recommend
• The Sirens of Titan by Kurt VonnegutRecommended for its beautifully simple, graceful passages. Some readers note it is not a comedy and not funny.4recommend
• Ringworld by Larry NivenFans of the Ringworld series call it fantastic, though a few note its portrayal of women and furry content.4recommend
• That Hideous Strength by C. S. LewisRecommended because its criticism of today's trends still feels relevant and farsighted. Caveat: a slow start before it gets going.4recommend
• Fiasco by Stanisław LemPraised for nailing genre-focused role-playing sessions; one mixed comment says its aliens are too alien.4recommend
• The Invincible by Stanisław LemPeople recommend it as a terrifying story about the endgame of an AI arms race, and as a nice novel on a similar concept.4recommend
• Eon by Greg BearReaders recommend it for its interesting ideas about space and time travel. No criticisms were recorded.4recommend
• Mona Lisa Overdrive by William GibsonRecommended as a good start alongside Neuromancer and Count Zero in Gibson's cyberpunk books. Critics find the prose dense and the book can become a slog to finish.4recommend
• Hard to Be a God by Arkady and Boris StrugatskyRecommended as a brilliant, gorgeous and monumental science fiction novel that is enjoyable and makes readers want to read more by its authors.4recommend
• Translation State by Ann LeckiePeople recommend it as a strong standalone science fiction novel with unusually strange aliens, and it works even for readers new to Leckie's books.4recommend
• Children of Strife by Adrian TchaikovskyReaders who followed the Children of Time series call this instalment one of the best in the run, with several saying it may be their favourite.4recommend
• Spin by Robert Charles WilsonReaders say it stays with them long after finishing, and one links it to what they liked in The Culture series.4recommend
• Feersum Endjinn by Iain M. BanksPeople recommend it as a Banks novel that starts out difficult but becomes easy to follow by the end; one reader found it too hard to finish.4recommend
• Ancillary Justice by Ann LeckieRecommended as a clever, thought-provoking science fiction novel with a striking premise about spaceships with transferable personalities. No recurring criticism appeared in the quotes.4recommend
• Lexicon by Max BarryPeople recommend it as a sci-fi thriller with a strong anti-memetic component. No critical quotes were found.4recommend
• Halting State by Charles StrossRecommended as a science fiction novel whose Rule 34 idea still holds up, though some readers find it a bit dated.4recommend
• Glasshouse by Charles StrossPeople recommend it for its far-future humanity setting and its ideas about war, identity, memory and infohazards.4recommend
• Childhood's End by Arthur C. ClarkeRecommended for its sweeping time scale and Clarke's take on a similar subject; one reader found it dated.4recommend
• The Stars My Destination by Alfred BesterReaders who have finished it recommend it, and a book YouTube channel also recommended it. Few comments were posted, so the recommendations are limited.4recommend
• Always Coming Home by Ursula K. Le GuinReaders recommend it for its rich, varied and humane writing and for how deeply it stays with them years later. One critic found it misandrous.4recommend
• Blood Music by Greg BearPeople recommend this science fiction novel for its premise of biological cells acting as computers and for its strong opening.4recommend
• Rama sequels by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry LeeReaders who enjoyed them find Gentry Lee's wilder imagination enjoyable on its own terms, though critics call the sequels awful.4recommend
• A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky ChambersRecommended as a cozy science fiction novel by a leading young author in the genre. One reader found some sentences ambiguous.4recommend
• Crash by J.G. BallardRecommended as the best novel from its period, with a less difficult structure than similar works. Some readers find it hard to get through.3recommend
• City by Clifford SimakA science fiction classic that commenters urge others to read. No critic of the book appears in the quotes.3recommend
• The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry PournelleCommenters recommend the novel and its much later sequel, and no criticism was recorded in the discussions.3recommend
• The Martian Chronicles by Ray BradburyPeople recommend it for Bradbury's atmospheric, emotionally resonant writing, and some readers buy new copies after losing their own.3recommend
• Some Desperate Glory by Emily TeshPeople on Hacker News recommend it as an enjoyable science fiction read with an interesting take on worldbuilding.3recommend
• Schild's Ladder by Greg EganRecommended for its science fiction premise of a physics experiment creating an expanding bubble of new physics, and as a good novel similar to Diaspora.3recommend
• Incandescence by Greg EganPeople recommend it as a hard science fiction novel, comparable to Diaspora, and some count it among their favourite novels.3recommend
• The Crystal World by J.G. BallardRecommended as a unique, weird science fiction novel and part of J.G. Ballard's ambiguous apocalypse trilogy with The Drowned World and The Burning World.3recommend
• Saturn's Children by Charles StrossCommenters suggest it as fitting reading on AI and robot themes, calling it an especially odd book, and one praises its tentacles.3recommend
• Neptune's Brood by Charles StrossRecommended for its detailed treatment of interstellar trade and finance between colonies, with a sense of humor about tentacled aliens.3recommend
• House of Suns by Alastair ReynoldsA wild ride that stays consistent with physics and logic, and is recommended alongside The Expanse and Children of Time. No recurring criticism.3recommend
• Desolation Called Peace by Arkady MartinePeople recommend it as a thoughtful depiction of societies, and it is part of a pair of Hugo-winning books. One critic felt the series lost strength by this installment.3recommend
• Dune Messiah by Frank HerbertRecommended as one of the strongest books in the first three Dune novels, with praise for its action. The main caveat is that it is hard to read.3recommend
• Children of Dune by Frank HerbertReaders who finished the Dune series call the early books, including Children of Dune, among the best of the saga.3recommend
• Closer by Greg EganRecommended by three Hacker News commenters, but the only available quote mentions the 2003 film Closer, so the reasons for the recommendations are not shown.3recommend
• Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott CardReaders who liked Ender's Game recommend this follow-up for its speaking-for-the-dead concept and memorable characters, and some rank it above Ender's Game.3recommend
• The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl and C. M. KornbluthPeople recommend this science fiction novel as still very relevant, though one reader notes it is a bit old.3recommend
• A Logic Named Joe by Lewis PadgettPeople recommend this 1946 story as a short science fiction novel that anticipated the internet and AI long before they existed.3recommend
• Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory DoctorowRecommended for provocative, interesting science fiction ideas about how practical immortality might work for people and society.3recommend
• Signal to Noise by Eric NylundRecommended for its take on biotech and self-modification singularities and its handling of the dark forest concept, which readers call strange and great.3recommend
• A Signal Shattered by Eric NylundRecommended by readers who enjoy Eric Nylund's sci-fi, especially for its take on the dark forest concept and its singularity themes.3recommend
• Hardwired by Walter Jon WilliamsPeople recommend it as an amazing cyberpunk novel, and one reader found parts of its future very prescient.3recommend
• Fine Structure by qntmReaders call it great and praise its interesting ideas, though one critic says the author struggles to write endings.3recommend
• Time Enough for Love by Robert A. HeinleinReaders call it a phenomenal, still-good read and say it beats Stranger in a Strange Land, though it is a long, sprawling novel.3recommend
• God Emperor of Dune by Frank HerbertRecommended as a good Dune book, though it is less enjoyable than the trilogy and leans more conservative.3recommend
• Shikasta by Doris LessingRecommended as an incredible, unexpected science fiction novel that mixes politics with a more spiritually influenced take on the genre. No recurring caveat appears.3recommend
• Hominids by Robert J. SawyerRecommended as a Hugo Award-winning novel and the start of a trilogy readers call great, though one critic called it the worst of the group.3recommend
• Klara and the Sun by Kazuo IshiguroPeople recommend it as a beautiful, haunting novel about AI and society that appeals to both humanists and technologists.3recommend
• Use of Weapons by Iain M. BanksReaders praise its Memento-like storytelling and say it holds up well within the universe's novels, with strong recommendations.3recommend
• Surface Detail by Iain M. BanksRecommended as a harrowing, vivid science fiction novel by Iain M. Banks, often singled out as a standout among his novels.3recommend
• The Word for World Is Forest by Ursula K. Le GuinPeople recommend this Ursula K. Le Guin novel as criminally underrated and a great read. No critics or recurring caveats appear in the quotes.3recommend
• Olympos by Dan SimmonsRecommended for its considerable action, though one critic found it forgettable and another warned of odd post-9/11 material.3recommend
• Excession by Iain M. BanksRecommended as a top science fiction novel, praised for its optimistic take on AI and for Iain Banks's enduring standing in the genre. No recurring criticisms appeared.3recommend
• The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. WellsPeople recommend it as a disturbing, terrifying read that still holds up for its era. The main caveat is that Wells's writing feels dated to some readers.3recommend
• The Big U by Neal StephensonRecommended as an enjoyable early novel by Neal Stephenson, with commenters calling it really good and worth tracking down.3recommend
• The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy ZahnPeople recommend this Star Wars book trilogy for its fun, memorable stories that have stayed with readers for decades.3recommend
• Mickey7 by Edward AshtonPeople recommend it as a short, fun science fiction book with dark humor. No complaints recur among the quotes.3recommend
• The Dead Past by Isaac AsimovRecommended by Hacker News readers as a worthwhile Asimov read, with its idea of lost privacy seen as relevant today.3recommend
• The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky ChambersReaders recommend it for its humor, including a scene where characters talk about how horrifying the concept of cheese is.3recommend
• Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague de CampRecommended by three Hacker News commenters, but no supporting quotes were captured describing why they recommend it.3recommend
• Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. ClarkeReaders who love this Clarke novel praise it and think it would make a good movie. Some mention the Mike Oldfield album with the same name.3recommend
• Colossus and the Crab by D. F. JonesSecond book in the Colossus series, where Colossus spends much of its time testing the rationality of various humans.2recommend
• Dune by Frank HerbertRecommended as a series for readers who enjoyed the first book to keep going through at least God Emperor of Dune.2recommend
• Wizard by John VarleyOne reader found it pretty good as a standalone book, so it can be read without needing other books first.2recommend
• Zones of Thought by Vernor VingePeople like its fun premise for a story. One commenter doubts that the premise actually holds up.2recommend