This list ranks the best science fiction novels ever written, as voted on by sci-fi readers. Anyone can add their picks to this list of sci-fi books, making it an accurate, real-time ranking of the best sci-fi books of all time by the people who live and breathe Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury, and Clarke.
Vote up the novels that you think best represent the greatest science fiction books ever written in order to determine the most popular science fiction books on the shelves. It doesn't much matter they're classic or modern, utopian or dystopian; if they're popular sci-fi books, this list is the place to rank them.
If you see a good book that's missing, add it whether it be a lesser-known classic or a new sci-fi book fellow readers need to try. Vote up your favorite literary slices of sci-fi. And for maximum impact, make your own list by reranking this one your own way, so that everyone can see whether your top rated sci-fi novels take place on Arrakis, Mars, or even Earth. Then, check out the best new science fiction books, many of which will become the next generation's classics.
1
6,6831,896Nineteen Eighty-Four
George OrwellFirst Published: 1949-06-08
Subjects: Brainwashing, Literature, Classics, English Language, English Literature
Genres (Book): Utopian and dystopian fiction, Social science fiction, Political fiction
Original Language: English Language
Nineteen Eighty-Four, sometimes published as 1984, is a dystopian novel by English author George Orwell published in 1949. The novel is set in Airstrip One, a province of the superstate Oceania in a... more
2
7,5102,648The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas AdamsFirst Published: 1979-10-12
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Comic novel, Comic science fiction, Humour, Science Fiction
Original Language: English Language
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the first of five books in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy comedy science fiction "trilogy" by Douglas Adams. The novel is an adaptation of the first four... more- 35,3411,534
Fahrenheit 451
Ray BradburyFirst Published: 1953
Subjects: Bibliophilia, American science fiction, Literature, Book burning, Classics
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Utopian and dystopian fiction, Children's literature, Dystopia, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel by Ray Bradbury published in 1953. It is regarded as one of his best works. The novel presents a future American society where books are outlawed and "firemen"... more - 44,4661,566
Frankenstein
Mary ShelleyFirst Published: 1818-01-01
Subjects: Science, Love
Genres (Book): Romance novel, Speculative fiction, Suspense, Horror Film, Romanticism
Original Language: English Language
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley about the young student of science Victor Frankenstein, who creates a grotesque but sentient creature in an... more - 54,5271,597
The Time Machine
H. G. WellsFirst Published: 1895
Subjects: Literary, Education, Literature, Classics, Adventure
Genres (Book): Romance novel, Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Dystopia, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
The Time Machine is a science fiction novel by H. G. Wells, published in 1895. Wells is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel by using a vehicle that allows an... more - 65,8242,265
Ender's Game
Orson Scott CardFirst Published: 1985
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Ender's Game is a 1985 military science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. Set in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperiled mankind after two conflicts with the "buggers", an... more - 77,2582,864
Dune
Frank HerbertFirst Published: 1965
Subjects: Galaxy, Space opera, Adventure
Genres (Book): Philosophy, Planetary romance, Military science fiction, Conspiracy fiction, Psychological thriller
Original Language: English Language
Dune is a 1965 epic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert. It won the Hugo Award in 1966, and the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel. Dune is the world's best-selling science fiction novel and is... more - 83,8681,437
I, Robot
Isaac AsimovFirst Published: 1950
Subjects: American science fiction, Film
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Fiction, Short story, Science Fiction
Original Language: English Language
I, Robot is a collection of nine science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov. The stories originally appeared in the American magazines Super Science Stories and Astounding Science Fiction between... more - 93,8181,457
The War of the Worlds
H. G. WellsFirst Published: 1898
Subjects: Literary, Education, Motorcycles, Performing arts, Adult
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Fiction, Scientific romance, Science Fiction
Original Language: English Language
The War of the Worlds is a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells. It first appeared in serialized form in 1897, published simultaneously in Pearson's Magazine in the UK and Cosmopolitan... more - 103,2071,448
The Martian Chronicles
Ray BradburyFirst Published: 1950
Subjects: American science fiction, Literature, Classics, Drama
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, Utopian and dystopian fiction, Fiction, Short story
Original Language: English Language
The Martian Chronicles is a 1950 science fiction short story collection by Ray Bradbury that chronicles the colonization of Mars by humans fleeing from a troubled and eventually atomically devastated... more - 114,0281,861
Brave New World
Aldous HuxleySubjects: Literary, Technology, Brainwashing, Literature, Classics
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Utopian and dystopian fiction, Children's literature, Dystopia, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Brave New World is a novel written in 1931 by Aldous Huxley and published in 1932. Set in London of AD 2540, the novel anticipates developments in reproductive technology, sleep-learning,... more - 124,4202,047
Foundation
Isaac AsimovFirst Published: 1951
Subjects: Milky Way, Scientist, Spaceflight
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Fiction, Novel, Science Fiction
Original Language: American English, English Language
Foundation is the first novel in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. Foundation is a collection of five short stories, which were first published together as a book by Gnome Press in 1951 which,... more - 133,7861,487
A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'EngleFirst Published: 1962
Subjects: Classics
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Young adult literature, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
A Wrinkle in Time is a science fantasy novel by American writer Madeleine L'Engle, first published in 1962. The story revolves around a young girl whose father, a government scientist, has gone... more - 143,2711,482
Flowers for Algernon
Daniel KeyesFirst Published: 1959
Subjects: Literary, American science fiction, Mental retardation, Young adult, Surgery
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Fiction, Novel, Science Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Flowers for Algernon is a science fiction short story and subsequent novel written by Daniel Keyes. The short story, written in 1958 and first published in the April 1959 issue of The Magazine of... more - 152,201995
The foundation trilogy
Isaac Asimov - 163,5741,703
2001: A Space Odyssey
Arthur C. ClarkeFirst Published: 1951
Subjects: Computers
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Science Fiction
Original Language: English Language
2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke. It was developed concurrently with Stanley Kubrick's film version and published after the release of the film. Clarke and... more - 172,5871,205
The Andromeda Strain
Michael CrichtonFirst Published: 1969-05-12
Subjects: Espionage, American science fiction, Adventure, Arizona
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Techno-thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
The Andromeda Strain, by Michael Crichton, is a techno-thriller novel documenting the efforts of a team of scientists investigating the outbreak of a deadly extraterrestrial microorganism in Arizona.... more - 183,4651,763
Stranger in a Strange Land
Robert A. HeinleinFirst Published: 1961-06-01
Subjects: Consumerism, Classics, Mars
Genres (Book): Fiction, Science Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Stranger in a Strange Land is a 1961 science fiction novel by American author Robert A. Heinlein. It tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human who comes to Earth in early adulthood after... more - 193,0661,294
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Jules VerneFirst Published: 1870
Subjects: Literary, Literature, Classics, Adventure
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Fiction, Novel, Scientific romance, Adventure fiction
Original Language: French Language
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is a classic science fiction novel by French writer Jules Verne published in 1870. It tells the story of Captain Nemo and his submarine Nautilus, as seen from... more - 203,2871,665
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Philip K. DickFirst Published: 1968
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Dystopia, Fiction, Science Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a science fiction novel by American writer Philip K. Dick. First published in 1968, the book served as the primary basis for the 1982 film Blade Runner. The... more - 211,580715
A Journey to the Center of the Earth
Jules VerneFirst Published: 1864
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Fiction, Scientific romance, Adventure fiction, Science Fiction
Original Language: French Language
Journey to the Center of the Earth is a classic 1864 science fiction novel by Jules Verne. The story involves German professor Otto Lidenbrock who believes there are volcanic tubes going toward the... more - 223,2571,712
Starship Troopers
Robert A. HeinleinFirst Published: 1959-12
Subjects: Military
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction, Philosophical fiction
Original Language: English Language
Starship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and published hardcover in December 1959. The... more - 233,6891,770
Jurassic Park
Michael CrichtonFirst Published: 1990-11
Subjects: Espionage, Dinosaur, Cloning, Adventure, Dinosaurs
Genres (Book): Romance novel, Speculative fiction, Techno-thriller, Children's literature, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Jurassic Park is a science fiction novel written by Michael Crichton, divided into seven sections. Often considered a cautionary tale on unconsidered biological tinkering in the same spirit as Mary... more - 242,9591,555
Slaughterhouse-Five
Kurt VonnegutFirst Published: 1969
Subjects: Literary, American science fiction, Classics, Prisoner of war, World War II
Genres (Book): Philosophy, Speculative fiction, War novel, Black comedy, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death is a satirical novel by Kurt Vonnegut about World War II experiences and journeys through time of a soldier named Billy... more - 252,2931,114
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Robert Louis StevensonFirst Published: 1886-01-05
Subjects: Medical, Literary, Supernatural, Education, Literature
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Drama, Children's literature, Horror Film, Thriller
Original Language: English Language
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the original title of a novella written by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson that was first published in 1886. The work is commonly known today as... more
