Scifi Books reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 186 Reddit reviews across 6 subreddits and 16 posts to rank the best Scifi Books brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/printSF, r/suggestmeabook, r/scifi, r/booksuggestions, r/audible. Top-rated brands include Martha Wells (5.0/5), Robert A. Heinlein (4.5/5), Arthur C. Clarke (5.0/5).
Stats
Reviews186
Subreddits6
Posts16
Brands75
Products95
186 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Martha Wells
5.0
(10)
"_All Systems Red_ and its sequels, by Martha Wells"
"Murderbot Diaries"
"You’ll really like all of Martha Wells’ Murderbot stories."
"+1 for Murderbot. The most recent book can be skipped, but the rest are all bangers."
"The Murderbot Chronicles is a great series."
"Murderbot series is very good"
"The Murderbot Diaries (All Systems Red), it's a Sci Fi novella, when I picked it up I didn't know it was a novella, and was surprised how fast the story was progressing and I like how fast paced and engaging it was."
"Murderbot Diaries"
"Incredible series"
"Murderbot by Martha Wells"
#2
Robert A. Heinlein
4.5
(11)
"For us, the living by Heinlein... I enjoyed it and gave it five stars."
"Heinlein is near godlike status for many readers."
"Double Star described as the “if you only read one” of the heinlein catalog."
"Cat who Walks through Walls is a trippy classic."
"Yes double star is definitely peak Heinlein."
"Double Star is one of Heinlein's best"
"Double Star (the other Heinlein here) is quite good, possibly one of his best."
"Id snag the Heinlein, Anthony, Herbert and Harrison- but i'd recommend you check out their respective oeuvres."
"Double Star is sort of The Prisoner of Zenda. IN SPACE."
"If you're looking for a short classic, I would recommend Starship Troopers"
#3
Arthur C. Clarke
5.0
(9)
"My hit list: Rendezvous with Rama"
"The City and the Stars. Fountains of Paradise."
"Rendezvous with Rama."
"Arthur C Clarke fits this bill. 2001: A space odyssey."
"The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke. Creative, adventurous, only a subtle hint of romance, and an overall powerful story about human potential!"
"Childhood’s End"
"2001 A Space Odyssey"
"Childhood's end by clarke"
"“Rendezvous with Rama” by Arthur C Clarke."
#4
Andy Weir
4.9
(9)
"HANDS DOWN PROJECT HAIL MARY - It rekindled my love for reading."
"You’ll like The Martian a lot and also probably Project Hail Mary."
"I just finished Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary a couple weeks ago and I can't stop think about it and recommending it to people."
"Project Hail Mary (hard Sci-Fi)"
"Project Hail Mary - If you liked the Martian by Andy Weir then you will love this."
"The Martian"
"Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir"
"If you read The Martian and liked it, stick with Andy Weir and read Project Hail Mary. I loved it."
"Projrct hail mary"
#5
John Scalzi
4.4
(10)
"For less commitment his Red Shirts is awesome."
"Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. It’s good on its own and if you like it there another 5? In the series."
"Even less commitment Miniatures has great short stories."
"Old man’s war by John scalzi. Awesome romping fun with some very cool ideas"
"I also think you might enjoy John Scalzi's Redshirts, a loving satire of the original Star Trek."
"Old Man's War by John Scalzi is a more modern book I'd recommend."
"John Scalzi. He's got a pretty entertaining riff on the electric sheep story. and the last emperox trilogy is good. he's got a few other ones like red shirts and get fuzzy and agent to the stars. oh and the Old Man's War series"
"Anything Scalzi. I’ve yet to read outright bad Scalzi."
"Anything John Scalzi. His books are always a good read."
"Or Redshirts"
#6
Becky Chambers
5.0
(8)
"I think you might like the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers. It’s a space opera in a book form, touching on all those themes you mention."
"I recently finished A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet and A Close and Common Orbit. They were both great."
"For a lighter, more character driven option I recommend A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet; a character driven story that focuses on its relationships more than it does any hard science or battling!"
"Wayfarers series, Becky Chambers - book 1, A Long Way to an Angry Planet focuses on a ship building an interstellar super highway."
"Becky Chambers' 'A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet' is perfect light beach scifi. I think of it as comfort food in book form, it's just chill and cozy and enjoyable and a breeze to read."
"All by Becky Chambers and both very nice and fun: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers series)"
"All by Becky Chambers and both very nice and fun: A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot series)"
"If you need something light in tone and are into solarpunk, then A Pslam for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers is ideal."
#7
James S. A. Corey
5.0
(6)
"Amazing series!"
"So many good options for this! SF: The Expanse series by James S A Corey"
"Just finished the expanse. Holy shit. I wish there were more books."
"The expanse. All of them. They go further than the show. And are so much better."
"The Expanse by James S A Corey"
"Dude, The Expanse is what you need. You got 9 credits, and there is 9 books and it a 10/10 sci Fi franchise."
#8
Frank Herbert
4.8
(6)
"DUNE (Frank Herbert)."
"The Dune books are a very obvious suggestion, IMO."
"For your points in Sci-Fi - Dune is the go to for complexities and intricate world building."
"I'd probably say Hyperion or Dune"
"“Dune” by Frank Herbert."
"Destination: Void by Frank Herbert"
#9
Iain M. Banks
4.7
(6)
"Seconding the Culture series, it's exactly what you're looking for."
"My two favourites are "Use of Weapons" and "Matter." Consider Phlebas and Player of Games are good starts."
"People usually recommend Player of Games as a good entry point - I started with Excession, which has the benefit of giving a pretty decent overview of the Culture as well."
"The Culture Series - Iain banks"
"Read consider phlebas (or however you spell it) but don't start with it even though it's the first one. Id recommend Player of Games to start. It's my favorite so far."
"When I started reading the series, I read Player of Games as that is generally considered to be a good entry point into the series. I really liked it, probably my favorite from the entire series."
#10
Adrian Tchaikovsky
5.0
(5)
"Have you read children of time? It does have a war but it’s very much focused on the effects of future technology and environments."
"Children of Time by Arkady Tchaikovsky has a lot of interesting ideas"
"Final Architect is such a solid traditional space opera."
"The Final Architect series, Adrian Tchaikovsky - the universe is under siege by a race of giant sentient ships."
"Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky"
#11
Harry Harrison
4.6
(5)
"Stainless Steel Rat is a fun start. Light sci-fi heavy on jokes and puns."
"Yeah, all of the Stainless Steel Rat books are great."
"I'm on team Stainless Steel Rat."
"I’m with the Stainless Steel Rat all the way."
"SSR Is Born is not indicative of what makes this series great."
#12
Dan Simmons
5.0
(4)
"Hyperion. 100%."
"Hyperion by Dan Simmons"
"Hyperion dan simmons"
"I'd probably say Hyperion or Dune"
#13
Cixin Liu
5.0
(4)
"Three Body Problem (or better, the whole trilogy: In Remembrance of Earth's Past, by Cixin Liu) is a very very special hard scifi story."
"I loved 3body."
"Also agree with three body problem, a favorite of mine"
"Three Body Problem"
#14
Anne McCaffrey
5.0
(4)
"The Pern series is a deep world, and you’ll find it has a complete history."
"Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series is one my favourites."
"The Dragonriders of Pern series was one of my all time favorites."
"The Dragon Riders of Pern series by McCaffrey is superb."
#15
Dennis E. Taylor
5.0
(4)
"We are Legion by Dennis Taylor is the first book for the bobiverse series which is sooo good."
"Space/sci-fi: Bobiverse (4 books), Expeditionary force (c18 books)"
"We Are Legion, We Are Bob by Dennis E. Taylor"
"We Are Legion (We are Bob) and the following three sequels in the series by Dennis E. Taylor"
#16
Peter F. Hamilton
4.8
(4)
"Pandora's Star"
"I loved Pandora's star by Peter Hamilton. The story is so intricate, multi-faceted, action packed and awesome that it's by far my favorite book, trilogy and universe."
"Yeah I second this. Pandora's Star is a great starting point."
"Pandora's Star by Hamilton."
#17
S.A. Barnes
4.7
(3)
"Second Dead Silence. One of my favorite reads."
"For sci-fi and horror combined, Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes"
"Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes is sci-fi horror set in space"
#18
Jules Verne
4.7
(3)
"20,000 leagues... is probably his best known work."
"Jules Verne is considered by many to be the father of science fiction."
"The Cat Who Walked Through Walls, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"
#19
Robert Silverberg
4.0
(3)
"Roma Eterna by Robert Silverberg. It's an absolutely awesome collection of short stories."
"You can’t really go wrong with any Silverberg."
"I love Silverberg"
#20
Richard K. Morgan
5.0
(2)
"Altered carbon by morgan"
"“Altered Carbon” by Richard Morgan."
#21
Pierce Brown
5.0
(2)
"Red Rising series by pierce brown."
"I liked the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown. 6 books."
#22
Craig Alanson
5.0
(2)
"Expedition Force series by Craig Alanson read by RC Bray is hands down better than any suggestion so far."
"For sci-fi, 9 credits will get you a good number of the Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson."
#23
Brandon Sanderson
5.0
(2)
"The cosmere books by Brandon Sanderson. The Stormlight Archive a... I can not even begin to explain how amazing these series are."
"I strongly second Sanderson's Stormlight Archive. The series is one of my favorites."
#24
Philip K. Dick
5.0
(2)
"UBIK by Philip K. Dick."
"Ubik by Philip K. Dick is scary and weird, and there are several other Dick novels that impart a similar for of ontological terror."
#25
Poul Anderson
5.0
(2)
"Very much enjoyed Brain Wave. Love most from Poul Anderson."
"*Brain Wave*! I forgotten the name, read it as a kid & remember it having an interesting central concept."
#26
Mary Doria Russell
5.0
(2)
"The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. This book absolutely blew my mind."
"Try The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Very different from your average scifi story. I loved it."
#27
Blake Crouch
5.0
(2)
"Dark matter by Blake crouch"
"Dark Matter by Blake Crouch"
#28
Alfred Bester
5.0
(2)
"It's my favorite Alfred Bester book."
"Stars my destination by bester"
#29
Hugh Howey
4.5
(2)
"Wool by Hugh Howey"
"Hugh Howey's Wool is the first of a series, but stands alone."
#30
Peter Watts
4.5
(2)
"Blindsight by Peter Watts"
"Blindsight by Peter Watts has a LOT of interesting ideas albeit being a little edgy"
#31
Isaac Asimov
4.5
(2)
"Isaac Asimov's Foundation is set toward the col..."
"If you're looking for a short classic, I would recommend ... The Gods Themselves"
#32
Catherynne Valente
4.0
(2)
"Space Opera by Catherynne Valente. 3.46 rating, but i loved it."
"Space Opera - 3.46 on GR, Eurovision in space, light-hearted and fun."
#33
Steve Perry
4.0
(2)
"The Man Who Never Missed by Steve Perry"
"The Man Who Never Missed by Steve Perry if you can find it."
#34
Piers Anthony
3.5
(2)
"I enjoyed both early Piers Anthony and Jack Chalker."
"I've read 20+ others and they are all fun reads. Nothing INCREDIBLE but always a good time."
#35
Fredric Brown
3.5
(2)
"The Lights in the Sky are Stars by Fredric Brown has a 3.52 rating."
"Rogue in Space by Fredric Brown has a 3.30 rating. It's a fun book about an outlaw on Mars."
#36
Matthew Stover
5.0
(1)
"Hereos Die by Matthew Stover. It's a fantasy/sci-fi action political commentary about the power of love and family."
#37
David Brin
5.0
(1)
"From the same authors, try the best colony vs alien monster movie that's never been made. Legacy of Herot. It's excellent, inventive, a large cast of characters, and is just begging to get a film adaptation."
#38
Gideon the Ninth
5.0
(1)
"The Locked Tomb series starting with Gideon the Ninth has it all- space, magic, humor, complex relationships and unforgettable characters."
#39
Greg Egan
5.0
(1)
"I love Egan (Quarantine: A Novel Of Quantum Catastrophe is still my favorite)"
#40
Jeremy Robinson
5.0
(1)
"Infinite by Jeremy Robinson. It is a mind bending book about intergalactic space travel, AI, psychology, and has a lot of different very powerful themes in it."
#41
David Weber
5.0
(1)
"Sci-fi - Honor Harrinton series by David Weber. Around 15 books in the main series, with offshoot series and short story compilations."
#42
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
5.0
(1)
"Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. (1972)"
#43
China Miéville
5.0
(1)
"Embassytown by Mieville blew my mind. Took a bit to understand what was going on, but it was fantastic!"
#44
Matt Dinniman
5.0
(1)
"Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. The entire series is about the friendship between Carl and Donut."
#45
James Tiptree, Jr.
5.0
(1)
"Brightness Falls from the Air by James Tiptree, Jr. The entire second half of the novel is white knuckle tension."
#46
Kurt Vonnegut
5.0
(1)
"Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. Sci-fi with no "science parts" and matches most of what you desire."
#47
Ada Palmer
5.0
(1)
"The Terra Ignota series by Ada Palmer. It's scifi but very much more focused on the political and social consequences of the futuristic setting."
#48
Ursula K. Le Guin
5.0
(1)
"The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin for sure, you'll get your clash of ideals and complexity there without too much science there for sure!"
#49
Cordwainer Smith
5.0
(1)
"A Planet Named Shayol by Cordwainer Smith."
#50
J.G. Ballard
5.0
(1)
"The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard. Excellent writing with a really vividly described post-apocalyptic world."
#51
Stephen Baxter
5.0
(1)
"“The Flood” by Stephen Baxter. No scary aliens or anything. Just the certainty that the world as we know it is ending."
#52
Tom Sweterlitsch
5.0
(1)
"The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch. I read a lot of sci-fi and couldn't believe I'd missed this. I thought it was an incredible book and weeks after reading it I'm still thinking about it every day."
#53
Douglas Adams
5.0
(1)
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a classic"
#54
James Islington
5.0
(1)
"The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington. Well written and hard to put down series."
#55
Patrick Rothfuss
5.0
(1)
"The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Never read anything like it."
#56
Liu Cixin
5.0
(1)
"3 Body Problem trilogy (Remembrance of Earths Past) by Cixin Lui"
#57
Lois McMaster Bujold
5.0
(1)
"So many good options for this! SF: The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold"
#58
Robert Boyczuk
4.0
(1)
"Some books by Robert Boyczuk, notably Nexus: Ascension."
#59
Dean Koontz
4.0
(1)
"This probably skirts between more pure horror and sci-fi but Phantoms by Dean Koontz fits the bill for me."
#60
K.B. Spangler
4.0
(1)
"Stoneskin by K.B. Spangler (which I’m currently reading; almost finished)"
#61
Laura Jean McKay
4.0
(1)
"The Animals in that Country by Laura Jean McKay, winner of the 2021 Arthur C. Clarke Award."
#62
Stephen King
4.0
(1)
"The Dark Tower series by Stephen King, Read The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three as one book and you will be hooked."
#63
Nick Cutter
4.0
(1)
"The Deep. By Nick Cutter."
#64
Mur Lafferty
4.0
(1)
"Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty."
#65
Brian Niemaier
4.0
(1)
"Soul Cycle trilogy by Brian Niemaier."
#66
Rudy Rucker
4.0
(1)
"Software by Rudy Rucker"
#67
Jack Whyte
4.0
(1)
"Sector General series by Jack Whyte"
#68
James White
4.0
(1)
"The Sector General series by James White"
#69
John Sanford and Ctein
4.0
(1)
"For sci-fi give Saturn Run by John Sanford and Ctein a try. Sanford writes thrillers and Ctein adds some technology."
#70
Jeff Long
4.0
(1)
"The Descent by Jeff Long. "We are not alone…In a cave in the Himalayas, a guide discovers a self-mutilated body with the warning--Satan exists."
#71
Jake Bible
4.0
(1)
"Out of the Earth series by Jake Bible has some pretty good bunker moments."
#72
Joshua
4.0
(1)
"Omega Force series by Joshua mostly fits this. It's basically Guardians of the Galaxy."
#73
George R. R. Martin
4.0
(1)
"Nightflyers and Other Stories by George R. R. Martin, a collection of short sci fi horror stories."
#74
R.A. Lafferty
4.0
(1)
"Anything by R.A. Lafferty. He has a freewheeling tall tale kind of prose that is good for vacation."
#75
Joanna Russ
4.0
(1)
"The SF Masterworks classic The Female Man by Joanna Russ."
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