BookRank
Where to start

Science fiction books to read

Not sure which science fiction books to read? We ranked 200 of them using 239,684 reader ratings; the average is 8.3/10. Below: three books to start with, then short reads, series starts, new books, and classics.

If you read only one, make it Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (9.0/10). If you prefer a series: The Murderbot Diaries starts with All Systems Red.

Start here

Three science fiction books that many readers rate highly — each one a first volume or a book that stands alone.

  1. Project Hail MaryAndy Weir · 2021 · 496 pages9.0/10 · 8,300 ratingsThe steady drip of mystery makes this very hard to stop reading.
  2. DuneFrank Herbert · 1965 · 605 pages8.8/10 · 6,680 ratingsDune · book 1 of 6
  3. Ender's GameOrson Scott Card · 1985 · 336 pages8.8/10 · 4,910 ratingsEnder's Saga · book 1 of 7

Short reads: under 300 pages

For a weekend or a commute. 35 of the rated science fiction books are this short; these score best.

  1. Flowers for AlgernonDaniel Keyes · 1966 · 274 pages8.8/10 · 2,493 ratings
  2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyDouglas Adams · 1979 · 216 pages8.6/10 · 6,138 ratingsThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy · book 1 of 6
  3. KindredOctavia E. Butler · 1979 · 287 pages8.6/10 · 800 ratings
  4. A Psalm for the Wild-BuiltBecky Chambers · 2021 · 160 pages8.5/10 · 1,008 ratingsMonk and Robot · book 1 of 2

Series worth starting

The first volume of each series, with the full reading order one click away.

  1. All Systems RedMartha Wells · 2017 · 168 pages8.3/10 · 3,986 ratingsThe Murderbot Diaries · book 1 of 11 · Reading order →
  2. Leviathan WakesJames S. A. Corey · 2011 · 592 pages8.6/10 · 3,174 ratingsThe Expanse · book 1 of 9 · Reading order →
  3. Red RisingPierce Brown · 2014 · 468 pages8.4/10 · 4,193 ratingsRed Rising Saga · book 1 of 7 · Reading order →
  4. The Fifth SeasonN. K. Jemisin · 2015 · 512 pages8.7/10 · 1,971 ratingsThe Broken Earth · book 1 of 3 · Reading order →

New in 2025 and 2026

The best-rated new books with at least 50 reader ratings.

  1. Isles of the EmberdarkBrandon Sanderson · 2025 · 496 pages8.7/10 · 481 ratings
  2. The NamesFlorence Knapp · 2025 · 352 pages8.2/10 · 139 ratings
  3. We Burned So BrightT. J. Klune · 20268.1/10 · 72 ratings
  4. ShroudAdrian Tchaikovsky · 20258.0/10 · 209 ratings

Classics from before 1976

Still read, still rated: the older books that hold up best.

  1. Nineteen Eighty-FourGeorge Orwell · 1949 · 318 pages8.5/10 · 9,320 ratings
  2. Rendezvous with RamaArthur C. Clarke · 1973 · 256 pages8.3/10 · 1,224 ratingsRama · book 1 of 4
  3. The End of EternityIsaac Asimov · 1955 · 255 pages8.2/10 · 357 ratings
  4. The Forever WarJoe Haldeman · 1974 · 272 pages8.2/10 · 1,221 ratingsThe Forever War series · book 1 of 3

Liked this? Try that

Pairs from our similarity data: the same kind of story, a different author.

If you likedtry
The Hunger GamesSuzanne CollinsMore like this in “Find a book” →ScytheNeal Shusterman · 8.3/10
Ender's GameOrson Scott CardMore like this in “Find a book” →HyperionDan Simmons · 8.6/10
Leviathan WakesJames S. A. CoreyMore like this in “Find a book” →We Are Legion (We Are Bob)Dennis E. Taylor · 8.4/10
The RoadCormac McCarthyMore like this in “Find a book” →Station ElevenEmily St. John Mandel · 8.1/10

How long are the rated science fiction books?

Under 300 pages35
300–499 pages85
500 pages or more65

185 of 200 rated titles with a known page count. Largest group: 300–499 pages.

Narrow it down with “Find a book”

“Find a book” holds 449 science fiction books. Pick a shortcut — the filters are already set:

Science fiction books in a series188Standalone science fiction books263Short science fiction books (under 220 pages)65New science fiction books16Science fiction books, mood: adventurous289Science fiction books with a film or series50
All science fiction books in “Find a book” →

Questions readers ask

What science fiction books should I read first?

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir: 9.0/10 from 8,300 ratings, and it needs no earlier book. Next on our list: Dune and Ender's Game.

What is a good science fiction book under 300 pages?

Flowers for Algernon (274 pages, 8.8/10) is the highest-rated one under 300 pages.

Which science fiction book series should I start?

The Murderbot Diaries: begin with All Systems Red, the first of 11 books. The reading order page lists every volume.

What are the best new science fiction books?

Isles of the Emberdark (2025) leads the recent titles at 8.7/10 from 481 ratings.

How are these books chosen?

Only books with enough reader ratings to be ranked (at least 50) are picked. The score is a weighted average across independent rating sources, pulled toward the category average when ratings are few.

Go further

Other genres: where to start

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