swap_horiz Imago Alternatives

1

Roadside Picnic

Arkady and Boris Strugatsky’s Roadside Picnic presents a stark vision of humanity's encounter with extraterrestrial visi...

Russian Classic Zone Aliens

9.1 Excellent

2

The Fall of Hyperion

Dan Simmons’ The Fall of Hyperion expands upon the epic saga initiated in *Hyperion*. This science-fiction novel follows...

Space Opera Literary Sequel War

8.9 Great

3

The Obelisk Gate

N.K. Jemisin’s *The Obelisk Gate* continues the epic saga begun in *The Fifth Season*. This science-fiction novel expand...

Sequel Apocalypse Science Fiction Novel Hugo Winner

8.9 Great

4

The Dark Forest

Liu Cixin’s *The Dark Forest* explores a chillingly plausible future where humanity encounters other intelligent civiliz...

Hard SF Sequel Trilogy Science Fiction Novel

8.8 Great

5

Parable of the Talents

Octavia E. Butler’s *Parable of the Talents* continues her complex vision of a near-future Earth ravaged by climate chan...

Sequel Religion Dystopia Science Fiction Novel

8.8 Great

6

Speaker for the Dead

Orson Scott Card’s Speaker for the Dead continues the story of Ender Wiggin decades after his military triumphs. The nov...

Card Sequel Anthropology Aliens

8.7 Great

7

Parable of the Sower

Octavia Butler’s *Parable of the Sower* presents a stark near-future vision of California ravaged by environmental disas...

Race Near Future Dystopia Science Fiction Novel

8.7 Great

8

The Stone Sky

N.K. Jemisin’s *The Stone Sky* continues the epic saga of the Stillness series within the Broken Earth universe. This sc...

Sequel Apocalypse Science Fiction Novel Hugo Winner

8.7 Great

9

Nemesis Games

The Nemesis Games is the fifth installment of James S. A. Corey’s acclaimed *Expanse* science fiction series. It centers...

Space Opera Thriller Sequel Science Fiction Novel

8.6 Great

10

A Fire Upon the Deep

Vernor Vinge’s *A Fire Upon the Deep* presents a complex science fiction narrative set across a vast, multi-layered gala...

Space Opera Aliens Science Fiction Novel Vinge

8.5 Great

11

Gateway

Frederik Pohl’s *Gateway* presents a compelling narrative concerning a group of American prospectors investigating a der...

Classic Mystery Aliens Science Fiction Novel

8.5 Great

12

Ancillary Justice

Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie, is a space opera exploring themes of identity and empire through the story of an AI co...

Space Opera AI Gender Science Fiction Novel

8.5 Great

13

Barrayar

Lois McMaster Bujold’s *Barrayar* continues the saga of Miles Vorkosigan. This 1991 novel chronicles his formative years...

Space Opera Sequel Science Fiction Novel Hugo Winner

8.5 Great

14

Death's End

Liu Cixin’s *Death’s End* is a sprawling hard science fiction novel forming the concluding part of his Remembrance of Ea...

Hard SF Sequel Trilogy Science Fiction Novel

8.4 Great

15

Tiamat's Wrath

James S. A. Corey’s *Tiamat's Wrath* continues the acclaimed Expanse saga. This 2019 novel represents the series’ eighth...

Space Opera Sequel Science Fiction Novel Corey

8.4 Great

16

The Uplift War

The Uplift War, a 1987 science fiction novel by David Brin, explores humanity’s complex relationship with its evolved al...

Uplift Hard SF Aliens Science Fiction Novel

8.3 Great

17

Dawn

Dawn is a 1987 science fiction novel by Octavia E. Butler that begins the Xenogenesis trilogy, detailing humanity's forc...

Body Horror First Contact Aliens Science Fiction Novel

8.2 Great

18

Ancillary Sword

Ancillary Sword is a 2014 science fiction novel by Ann Leckie and the sequel to Ancillary Justice, continuing the story...

Space Opera Sequel Gender Science Fiction Novel

7.9 Good

19

Adulthood Rites

Adulthood Rites is a 1988 science fiction novel by Octavia E. Butler and the second book in the Xenogenesis trilogy, exp...

Hybrid Sequel Aliens Science Fiction Novel

7.8 Good

20

Xenocide

Xenocide is a 1991 science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, the third book in the Ender's Game series, exploring theme...

Card Philosophy Sequel Genetics

7.0 Good