swap_horiz Roadside Picnic 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

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

4

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

5

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

6

The Forever War

The Forever War is a 1974 military science fiction novel by Joe Haldeman depicting a soldier's experience in an interste...

Classic Military SF Haldeman Time Dilation

8.8 Great

7

Ubik

Ubik is a 1969 science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick blending reality distortion and corporate dystopia in a surreal n...

Classic Paranoia Reality Dick

8.7 Great

8

Speaker for the Dead

Speaker for the Dead is a 1986 science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, serving as the sequel to Ender's Game and winn...

Card Sequel Anthropology Aliens

8.7 Great

9

The Stars My Destination

The Stars My Destination is a 1956 science fiction novel by Alfred Bester noted for its revenge plot and its influence o...

Classic Revenge Noir Bester

8.7 Great

10

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a 1968 science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick exploring empathy and artificiali...

Android Classic Empathy Dystopia

8.6 Great

11

A Fire Upon the Deep

A Fire Upon the Deep is a 1992 space opera novel by Vernor Vinge, notable for its layered universe and exploration of hi...

Space Opera Aliens Vinge Zones Of Thought

8.5 Great

12

Gateway

Gateway is a 1977 science fiction novel by Frederik Pohl, winner of multiple major genre awards, about prospectors explo...

Classic Mystery Aliens Hugo Winner

8.5 Great

13

The Demolished Man

The Demolished Man is a 1953 science fiction novel by Alfred Bester that won the inaugural Hugo Award for Best Novel and...

Classic Mystery Hugo Winner Bester

8.5 Great

14

Lord of Light

Lord of Light is a 1967 science fiction novel by Roger Zelazny that won the Hugo Award and features colonists on a plane...

Classic Hinduism Hugo Winner Zelazny

8.5 Great

15

The Lathe of Heaven

The Lathe of Heaven is a 1971 science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin about a man whose dreams alter reality, adapted...

Classic Reality Dreams Social SF

8.5 Great

16

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

17

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

18

The Uplift War

This 1987 science fiction novel by David Brin is set in his Uplift universe and won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.

Uplift Hard SF Aliens Hugo Winner

8.3 Great

19

Stranger in a Strange Land

Stranger in a Strange Land is a 1961 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a human raised on Mars who transf...

Classic Satire Aliens Heinlein

8.1 Great

20

The High Crusade

Published in 1960 by American author Poul Anderson, this satirical science fiction novel involves medieval English knigh...

Classic Medieval Comedy Aliens

7.1 Good