swap_horiz Footfall Alternatives

1

Hyperion

Hyperion is a 1989 science fiction novel by Dan Simmons, structured after The Canterbury Tales, following seven pilgrims...

Space Opera Classic Literary Pilgrimage

9.3 Excellent

2

The Martian Chronicles

A collection of interconnected science fiction novellas by Ray Bradbury, expertly narrated for a captivating listening e...

Classic Literature Adaptation Science Fiction

9.2 Excellent

3

Exhalation

Exhalation is a 2019 collection of science fiction short stories by Ted Chiang that explores profound themes regarding f...

Philosophical Hard SF Short Stories Hugo Winner

9.2 Excellent

4

A Canticle for Leibowitz

This 1959 post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by Walter M. Miller Jr. won a Hugo Award and explores Catholic monastic...

Classic Religion Hugo Winner Post Apocalypse

9.1 Excellent

5

Roadside Picnic

Roadside Picnic is a 1972 Soviet science fiction novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky about the aftermath of an alien vi...

Russian Classic Zone Aliens

9.1 Excellent

6

Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon is a 1966 science fiction novel by Daniel Keyes about a man whose intelligence is dramatically incr...

Classic Literary Intelligence Social SF

9.0 Excellent

7

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is a 1966 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a lunar colony's revolt against...

Classic AI Libertarian Revolution

8.9 Great

8

Rendezvous with Rama

Rendezvous with Rama is a 1973 science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke about humanity's encounter with a mysterious al...

Classic Hard SF Space Exploration First Contact

8.3 Great

9

Ringworld

Ringworld is a 1970 science fiction novel by Larry Niven about explorers investigating a massive artificial ring-shaped...

Classic Hard SF Hugo Winner Niven

8.3 Great

10

The Mote in God's Eye

The Mote in God's Eye is a 1974 science fiction novel by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle detailing humanity's first cont...

Classic Hard SF First Contact Niven

8.3 Great

11

The City and the Stars

The City and the Stars is a 1956 science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke set in a billion-year-old city, exploring the...

Classic Hard SF City Clarke

8.2 Great

12

Tau Zero

Written by Poul Anderson and published in 1970, this hard science fiction novel follows a crew traveling at near-light s...

Classic Hard SF Time Dilation Anderson

7.9 Good

13

Lucifer's Hammer

Lucifer's Hammer is a 1977 science fiction novel by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle about a comet's devastating impact o...

Survival Apocalypse Niven Pournelle

7.8 Good

14

Eon

This 1985 hard science fiction novel by Greg Bear depicts humanity's discovery of a mysterious, seemingly abandoned aste...

Classic Hard SF Space Exploration Alternate History

7.7 Good

15

Mission of Gravity

Mission of Gravity is a 1953 science fiction novel by Hal Clement set on a rapidly rotating planet with extreme gravity,...

Classic Physics Hard SF Clement

7.6 Good

16

Protector

Protector is a 1973 science fiction novel by Larry Niven set in his Known Space universe, exploring the life cycle of th...

Classic Evolution Hard SF Niven

7.6 Good

17

Blood Music

Published in 1985 by Greg Bear, this science fiction novel explores biotechnology and nanotechnology, expanding upon his...

Classic Hard SF Biotech Nanotechnology

7.5 Good

18

Forge of God

Published in 1987 by Greg Bear, this hard science fiction novel depicts the destruction of Earth by an unknown alien int...

Classic Hard SF Alien Invasion Apocalypse

7.5 Good

19

The Integral Trees

The Integral Trees is a 1984 science fiction novel by Larry Niven set in a gas torus around a neutron star where life ev...

Classic Hard SF Zero Gravity Niven

7.3 Good

20

Brain Wave

Brain Wave is a 1954 science fiction novel by Poul Anderson exploring the consequences of Earth moving out of a region o...

Classic Evolution Hard SF Intelligence

7.3 Good