So, you are looking at trying something new? Maybe you are a high fantasy lover, a young adult reader, or just testing the waters after having mainly read romantasy lately? Or maybe you are here only after having read factual stuff so far. Whatever it is, you arrived at the right place.
Here are the Top 5 SF books for beginners!
There is no secret Science Fiction can be daunting. I have heard it before: you need to know science in order to understand it! It is too boring, because it is way too factual! It is simply too nerdy, and nothing like literary fiction.
Let me disagree with you. There is plenty to choose from, and these are just a few!
These are, in my opinion, the BEST Science Fiction reads for someone who hasn’t read SF so far and want to start somewhere!
5. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card – SF Book for YA lovers
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card is an amazing first Science Fiction book to start off with. It is full of action, making it a gripping read regardless of your age. Fifteen or fifty, you are still going to enjoy it. It’s character centric, having the protagonist’s journey as its main focus. It is a “chosen one” book, but don’t discard it because of this! It is an absolute joy to read, especially if you are just fresh off YA books. I myself read it at 26 and there are few other books that left me in more awe than the ending of this one. Pick it up if you want to find out what that ending is!
4. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Adam Douglas – SF Book for Literary Fiction/Comedy lovers
Now, if you are looking for a funny, somewhat more mature yet silly book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is the perfect one for you. The setting is SF, yes, but the characters are so indubitably human that, if you only ever read literary fiction, you are still going to love reading it.
Ah, and remember! Don’t panic!
3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – SF Book perfect for Classic lovers
If you enjoy beautiful prose, the big romantics and would rather spend your time walking the Austenian Somerset, then SF doesn’t look like something you would ever want to come close to! It is, however, a huge genre that can accommodate anyone! Lo and behold, here comes Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly: an incredibly memorable classic science fiction, raising questions about human nature and society as a whole.
2. Exhalation by Ted Chiang – SF Book perfect for Short Story lovers (or just a busy person)
Are you a busy person? You keep thinking you’d love to start reading some SF but you just don’t have the time for it? Everyone knows SFs are huge, multiple-volume space operas. How do some people manage to enjoy that while still having a job and a family?
Well, I have good news! SF doesn’t have to be either long, nor daunting. If you want something highly enjoyable, thought-provoking and short, look no further than Exhalation by Ted Chiang. An anthology of short stories exploring themes like time-travel paradoxes, AI ethics, and our place in the universe, you will be awed by each and every story you come across. There is no better place to start your Science Fiction journey!
1. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir – SF Book perfect for everybody
There aren’t many books I recommend as highly as Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Regardless of the genre, regardless of who I’m speaking to, at a certain point in a conversation I will bring up this book and I. WILL. RECOMMEND. IT. It is one of my favourites. AND… It is a great introduction for anyone looking to start reading SF. Andy Weir has an easy-going writing style (you can find my review for another of Weir’s books HERE). He takes the most complex subject and delivers it in an easy to grasp and satisfying way. The plot is satisfying, the characters are memorable and there just as many suspensful moment as there are “awww” ones.
If you are interested in SF, regardless of who you are, pick this one up and I promise you will not regret it.
There are, of course, many many other good SF books out there. Don’t yell in case I didn’t mention your favourite! I didn’t even put some of my own all time favourites in here (hello, Adrian Tchaikovsky), but there are [in my opinion] the best introductory books out there.
Please, let me know what your recommendations may be in the comments below!
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