8 great books to read if you're new to science fiction

Sprawling, passionate, tragic and comedic at turns—author Abraham Verghese upends all of our expectations again and again in his long awaited follow-up to Cutting for Stone.

Sprawling, passionate, tragic and comedic at turns—author Abraham Verghese upends all of our expectations again and again in his long awaited follow-up to Cutting for Stone.

Megan E. O’Keefe’s The Blighted Stars has one of the most fascinating sci-fi premises of the year: People upload their consciousnesses into 3D-printed bodies.

Megan E. O’Keefe’s The Blighted Stars has one of the most fascinating sci-fi premises of the year: People upload their consciousnesses into 3D-printed bodies.

This space station-set mystery stands out thanks to its endearing characters, both human and alien.

This space station-set mystery stands out thanks to its endearing characters, both human and alien.

In Eddie Robson‘s sci-fi mystery, aliens and humans can communicate‘but translating telepathic thought into speech makes a human translator rip-roaring drunk.

In Eddie Robson‘s sci-fi mystery, aliens and humans can communicate‘but translating telepathic thought into speech makes a human translator rip-roaring drunk.

Feeling trapped? Go to another Earth and take care of some monsters in John Scalzi’s totally endearing new sci-fi novel, The Kaiju Preservation Society.

Feeling trapped? Go to another Earth and take care of some monsters in John Scalzi’s totally endearing new sci-fi novel, The Kaiju Preservation Society.

S.A. Barnes’ spaceship-set thrill ride will shock you out of your reading rut.

S.A. Barnes’ spaceship-set thrill ride will shock you out of your reading rut.

In addition to its all-the-feels poignancy, Ryka Aoki’s Light From Uncommon Stars is also very, very funny.

In addition to its all-the-feels poignancy, Ryka Aoki’s Light From Uncommon Stars is also very, very funny.

Infused with beauty and optimism, this sci-fi novella abandons large-scale conflict in favor of a whimsical celebration of personal growth.

Infused with beauty and optimism, this sci-fi novella abandons large-scale conflict in favor of a whimsical celebration of personal growth.

The latest from Andy Weir is just so gosh-darn hopeful; one can’t help but smile the whole way through.

The latest from Andy Weir is just so gosh-darn hopeful; one can’t help but smile the whole way through.

Sign Up

Stay on top of new releases: Sign up for our newsletter to receive reading recommendations in your favorite genres.

Trending Features