Dive into summer with the ultimate science fiction reading list, featuring stellar works from Becky Chambers, Blake Crouch, Dennis Taylor, Michael Crichton, Paulo Bacigalupi, Tade Thompson, John Scalzi, Andy Weir, and more. Whether you're lounging by the pool or soaking up the sun on the beach, these thrilling adventures are perfect for your summer escape. Discover the best in futuristic fiction and let your imagination soar! Here's a link to shop for all these titles in our store!
#20 - Ted Chiang
Chiang’s short stories are perfect to pick up and put down while also thought-provoking, and emotionally resonant!
Two options on where to start!
Stories of Your Life and Others - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
"Stories of Your Life and Others delivers dual delights of the very, very strange and the heartbreakingly familiar, often presenting characters who must confront sudden change—the inevitable rise of automatons or the appearance of aliens—with some sense of normalcy. With sharp intelligence and humor, Chiang examines what it means to be alive in a world marked by uncertainty, but also by beauty and wonder. An award-winning collection from one of today's most lauded writers, Stories of Your Life and Others is a contemporary classic.
Includes “Story of Your Life”—the basis for the major motion picture Arrival.”
Exhalation - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
"Nine stunningly original, provocative, and poignant stories—two published for the very first time—all from the mind of the incomparable author of Stories of Your Life and Others
Tackling some of humanity’s oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine, these stories will change the way you think, feel, and see the world. They are Ted Chiang at his best: profound, sympathetic, revelatory.
Ted Chiang tackles some of humanity’s oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine.
In “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate,” a portal through time forces a fabric seller in ancient Baghdad to grapple with past mistakes and second chances. In “Exhalation,” an alien scientist makes a shocking discovery with ramifications that are literally universal. In “Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom,” the ability to glimpse into alternate universes necessitates a radically new examination of the concepts of choice and free will.”
#19 - Catherynne M. Valente
Funny sci-fi with a silly premise. We love this book’s aliens and light-hearted approach. Perfect for a beach or pool read this summer.
Space Opera - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#18 - Andy Weir
Fast paced, funny, and hard to put down. Check out Project Hail Mary. Gosling is filming the movie adaptation right now!
Two places to start!
Project Hail Mary - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
The Martian - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#17 - Ray Nayler
Relatively recent release that presses the boundaries of where AI is taking us and explores what alien intelligence could look like!
The Mountain in the Sea - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#16 - John Scalzi
Light and easy to read. Grab any of these three and we know you’ll love ‘em!
Three places to start!
The Kaiju Preservation Society - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
Fuzzy Nation - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
Old Man’s War - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#15 - Iain M. Banks
Sometimes we put thing off until we’ll “have time” to do it. Stop putting off reading the Culture novels. They’re incredible!
We recommend you jump into the Culture novels with the first book but you certainly don’t have to!
Consider Phlebas - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
The Player of Games - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
Use of Weapons - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#14 - Arthur C. Clarke
The Songs of Distant Earth literally take place on a beach world. By one of the best sci-fi authors to ever do it.
The Songs of Distant Earth - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#13 - Lois McMaster Bujold
It’s hard to share how fun, well-written, and easy to read the Vorkosigan Saga actually is. You need Miles in your life. Any summer can be lifted by this adventure series. Bujold is a must read sci-fi author!
Shards of Honor - Here's a link to buy a new paperback collection of Vorkosigan stories and support our bookstore!
#12 - Alastair Reynolds
We’re biased. This might be our favorite sci-fi author. House of Suns is a giant adventure with crazy ideas, aliens, and action. Add this to your list!
House of Suns - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#11 - Brian Aldiss
Spend this summer navigating the halls of a giant generation ship!
Non-Stop - There is not an affiliate link option for this title at Bookshop.org at this time.
#10 - Fredric Brown
How about some sci-fi satire? Millions of green men invade Earth! Snag this fun one and smile your way through an alien invasion!
Martians, Go Home! - There is not an affiliate link option for this title at Bookshop.org at this time.
#9 - Stanislaw Lem
Enjoy this short sci-fi classic! Simply one of the best sci-fi books of all time!
Solaris - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#8 - Stephen Baxter
We’ve read this one on the beach and can personally attest it passes the vibe check! Absolutely stunning and great length for a vacation!
Raft - There is not an affiliate link option for this title at Bookshop.org at this time.
#7 - Sue Burke
Summertime is one of the best opportunities to meet one of sci-fi’s most slept on and incredible characters! We know you’ll love this one!
Semiosis - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#6 - Paolo Bacigalupi
Hot, brilliant, and fun. One of the more important pieces of climate fiction out there. Excellent world building and action!
The Windup Girl - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#5 - Tade Thompson
African futurism and alien contact. We loved this book. It’s hot, ugly, chaotic, and perfect for a summer adventure.
Rosewater - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#4 - Dennis E. Taylor
Hard to find an easier read. This book is funny, action-packed, and even tucks some brilliant ideas in along the way! Must read territory.
We are Legion (We are Bob) - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#3 - Michael Crichton
When it comes to light and fun techno thrillers, Crichton is that dude. Can’t go wrong with his work!
Here’s a couple places to start:
Sphere - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
The Andromeda Strain - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
Jurassic Park - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#2 - Becky Chambers
Great aliens. Fun story. Short. Easy to pick up and hard to put down. We love this series. Snag it and step up your sci-fi summer!
The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
A Closed and Common Orbit - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
Record of a Spaceborn Few - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
#1 - Blake Crouch
If you’re shopping for fun and fast sci-fi, crouch is easily the top pick. You can throw his books back like shots at the pool bar. Start wherever and thank us later!
Dark Matter - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
Recursion - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
Upgrade - Here's a link to buy a new paperback version and support our bookstore!
Make sure to follow our bookstore on social media to catch more book and movies recommendations and reviews! We’re an independent bookstore and you can support our efforts to elevate science fiction by using the included bookshop.org links or buying them directly from our site in used condition! Thanks for your time. Let us know if you’ve read any of these!
- Bryan, owner of Postmarked from the Stars Bookstore