10 Out-of-This-World Sci-Fi Books Packed With Futuristic Worlds, Daring Heroes and Mind-Bending Twists
7 days ago
Woman’s World has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
Admit it: You’ve dreamed of flying through space, wished you could travel to alternate timelines and pictured how the world would look 100 years from now. Making these aspirations a reality is much harder, but thanks to science-fiction novels, you can get one step closer.
Want to travel to a new planet? Try Dune , a classic story by Frank Herbert with various film adaptations. More interested in post-apocalyptic Earth? Pick up Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. From important missions to intriguing escapes from society, sci-fi books have something for every reader. Continue scrolling to see all of our recommendations. Happy reading!
After Duke Leto Atreides moves his family to the planet Arrakis (aka Dune) to oversee the mining of a spice that prolongs life, he’s quickly betrayed by his enemies. His wife and son, Paul, are forced to run for their lives, braving the harsh desert landscape with giant worms and wild natives.
What readers are saying: “ Genuinely one of the best sci-fi series you could get into. Great character development, well written and entertaining throughout.”
It’s safe to say that in 2024 we’d be lost without our devices, especially our phones. With email, maps and instant messaging right at our fingertips, there isn’t much our cell phones can’t do. The devices also make reading easier. You can read on the go (thanks to ebooks and audiobooks!) and use book apps […]
The story is told by a young British ministry employee who becomes part of a secret time-travel project that brings people from particular moments in the past to live in the present day. Her mission is to help a commander of an 1847 Arctic expedition acclimate to the modern world and record his progress. But she soon begins to have feelings for the man and learns there are many who would kill to see the project fail.
What readers are saying: “I’m a huge Dr. Who fan who also loves historical fiction, so this novel was right up my alley,” says Carey Ostergard, FIRST Executive Editor. “It was a fresh fusion of historical events, a fish-out-of-water perspective, romance and espionage...I couldn’t put it down.”
In 2045, reality is an ugly place. That’s why Wade Watts spends all his time in the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Just before the OASIS creator dies, he promises his immense fortune to any player who can solve puzzles based on 1980s pop culture.
What readers are saying: “Wow! That was one hell of a flashback to my childhood, or was it a glimpse into the future. Either way, Ready Player One is going down as one of my all-time favorites. Ernest Cline has taken his knowledge of '80s culture and woven it into a piece of sci-fi genius.”
After being abducted, Jason Dessen wakes up to a life that’s not his own: His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason isn’t just a college physics professor but a genius who has achieved the impossible. Now he has to fight to return to his reality...if he can.
What readers are saying: “ This book was significantly out of my comfort zone, but I absolutely loved it. It was so interesting and intriguing and so well-written at the same time. I loved all the quotes about identity and knowing or not knowing who you are, your purpose, etc. It was sci-fi but not so technical that I missed what was happening.”
One day, every adult in the world receives a box. Inside: a piece of string that tells them how long they’ll live. The book follows several people with strings of varying lengths and those who never check their strings.
What readers are saying: “This book kept coming up as a must-read in my ‘What Should I Read Next’ Facebook group, so I finally dove in!” says Patty Bontekoe, FIRST Executive Editor. “I was so invested in all of these characters. And it reminded me how we should live each day fully!”
Whether you're looking to fill your weekend, pass the time on a long travel day or you're just in the mood for an exhilarating escape, look no further than psychological thrillers. Extremely popular in the literary world right now, this riveting genre is a cousin to mystery books — and it targets a similar crowd. […]
Welcome to a city where the population is suffering from climate change and filled with robots called ‘hums.’ After May loses her job to artificial intelligence in a desperate attempt to pay her family’s debts, she soon becomes a guinea pig in an experiment that alters her face. While participating, she manages to get passes for her and her family to escape to the Botanical Garden. However, the garden is far from what she hoped and May is forced to put her trust in a hum to restore the life of her family.
What readers are saying: “ Fast-paced and anxiety-provoking, Hum is a perfect blend of problems in our current society and how they may look in the not-so-distant future. I am not often drawn to science-fiction novels, but I was drawn to Helen Phillips' exploration highlighting our society's deeply entrenched consumerism and judgment toward motherhood. I loved the main character, May, and could empathize with her hopes and fears related to her family.”
‘Average Joe’ Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a last-chance mission—and is now charged with the Herculean task of saving the planet from extinction, except he doesn’t know that. Hurtling along in space, Ryland awakens with no memory of who he is or what he’s supposed to do. Feeling out of control as his memory begins to return, Ryland musters up his courage as he tries to complete his mission (with the help of an unexpected friend), no matter the cost.
What readers are saying: “Best sci-fi book I’ve read so far! Exciting, funny, emotional, incredible imagination, wonderful relational moments, inspiring and just ‘out there’! Do read it, it’s very enjoyable. I only wish it was a bigger book and it went on for longer!”
Sonya Kantor, former poster girl for “the Delegation” regime, has been a prisoner for 10 years. Then, an old enemy comes to her with a deal: Find a missing girl who was stolen by the old regime and earn her freedom. Sonya accepts, but then she finds herself digging deeper into the past—and her family’s secrets— than she wanted to.
What readers are saying: “Every now and then, I escape into novels set in eerie, dystopian worlds—and this one wowed me,” says Melissa D’Agnese, FIRST Senior Editor. “I felt like I was on this journey with Sonya. A haunting page-turner!”
Sheriff Holston has unwaveringly upheld the strict rules of the “silo”—a society forced to survive underground due to a toxic, post-apocalyptic atmosphere—until he breaks the biggest rule of all: He asks to go outside.
What readers are saying: “I opened this book hoping to be whisked away,” admits Carey Ostergard, FIRST Executive Editor. “What an escape! Feeling the struggles, hope and triumphs of the people helped me see that my little stresses are actually blessings!”
Fifteen years after a flu pandemic wiped out more than 99% of the population, a small group of actors, musicians and artists join together to form a traveling symphony. The story is told in alternating viewpoints, travels back and forth in time and reveals how the symphony members’ lives intertwine.
What readers are saying: “What a beautiful, beautiful book. I loved every moment and I was captivated the whole time. It was unlike anything I've ever read before!”
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0