The best science fiction novellas, according to hackers
5 science fiction novellas recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
All science fiction novellas
- Manna by Marshall BrainRecommended as a short, well-written speculative story that anticipated AI-driven labor automation and still reads as relevant. Critics find its proposed solution and some details unrealistic.28recommend
- Prime Intellect by Roger WilliamsRecommended as a classic science fiction novella that reads in a day. Critics warn that it has very explicit sexual and violent content, and that the ending is gratuitous.9recommend
- The Lifecycle of Software Objects by Ted ChiangRecommended as a compelling story whose themes feel timely given current AI progress. Critics find it long and slow, and some do not sympathize with its main character.6recommend
- Monk and Robot by Becky ChambersRecommended as a warm, optimistic science fiction story about a future where people still deal with everyday, human-sized problems.4recommend
- Malak by Peter WattsRecommended by three people on Hacker News, but no quotes were provided, so the reasons for the recommendations are not known.3recommend