swap_horiz Soft Apocalypse Alternatives

1

The Sirens of Titan

The Sirens of Titan is a science fiction novel by American author Kurt Vonnegut, originally published in 1959. The narra...

Space Opera Classic Satirical Determinism

9.2 Excellent

2

The Expanse: Tiamat's Wrath

Tiamat's Wrath is a science fiction novel published in 2019 by James S. A. Corey, the pen name used by collaborators Dan...

Modern Space Opera Series Resistance

9.1 Excellent

3

Diaspora

Diaspora is a hard science fiction novel written by Australian author Greg Egan and published in 1997. The narrative is...

Modern Hard SF Far Future Greg Egan

9.1 Excellent

4

Foundation and Empire

Foundation and Empire is a science-fiction novel by Isaac Asimov, first published in 1952 as the second book in the orig...

Classic Sequel Isaac Asimov Galactic Empire

9.1 Excellent

5

Permutation City

Permutation City is a science fiction novel by Australian author Greg Egan, published in 1994. It explores questions of...

Modern Simulation Hard SF Identity

9.0 Excellent

6

The Expanse: Nemesis Games

Nemesis Games is a 2015 science fiction novel by James S. A. Corey, the pen name for writers Daniel Abraham and Ty Franc...

Action Modern Space Opera Series

8.9 Great

7

The Expanse: Leviathan Falls

Leviathan Falls is a science fiction novel published in 2021 by James S. A. Corey, the pen name of co-authors Daniel Abr...

Modern Space Opera Series Conclusion

8.9 Great

8

Second Foundation

Second Foundation is a science fiction novel by Isaac Asimov, originally published in 1953 as the third book in the Foun...

Classic Series Psychohistory Isaac Asimov

8.8 Great

9

The Sparrow

Published in 1996, "The Sparrow" is a science fiction novel by American author Mary Doria Russell. The narrative follows...

Modern Literary First Contact Jesuit

8.8 Great

10

Wild Seed

Wild Seed is a 1980 science-fiction novel by Octavia E. Butler and the fourth published book in her Patternist series. T...

Historical Immortality Octavia Butler Patternist

8.8 Great

11

The Expanse: Persepolis Rising

Persepolis Rising is a science fiction novel by James S. A. Corey, the pen name of writers Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck,...

Modern Space Opera Series Empire

8.6 Great

12

Dragon's Egg

Dragon's Egg is a 1980 hard science fiction novel by American physicist Robert L. Forward. Set on the surface of a neutr...

Classic Hard SF Neutron Star Robert Forward

8.6 Great

13

Schismatrix

Schismatrix is a 1985 science-fiction novel by Bruce Sterling and the first novel-length work set in his Shaper and Mech...

Post Human Cyberpunk Shapers Bruce Sterling

8.6 Great

14

The Speed of Dark

The Speed of Dark is a 2002 science fiction novel by American author Elizabeth Moon, winner of the 2003 Nebula Award for...

Modern Literary Autism Near Future

8.5 Great

15

Slade House

Slade House is a speculative fiction novel written by British author David Mitchell, first published in 2015 by Sceptre....

Modern Series Literary David Mitchell

7.9 Good

16

Inversions

"Inversions" is a 1998 science fiction novel by Scottish author Iain M. Banks. The narrative is set on a planet with a R...

Modern Culture Literary Undercover

7.7 Good

17

The Waste Tide

"The Waste Tide" is a science fiction novel written by Chinese author Chen Qiufan, originally published in 2013 and late...

Modern Cyberpunk Near Future Chinese SF

7.7 Good

18

Saturn Run

Saturn Run is a hard science fiction novel published in 2015 and co-authored by John Sandford and Ctein. The plot center...

Hard SF First Contact Near Future John Sandford

7.5 Good

19

Great North Road

Great North Road is a science fiction novel written by Peter F. Hamilton and published in 2012. The narrative combines a...

Modern Detective Hard SF Near Future

7.3 Good

20

Existence

Existence is a 2012 hard-science-fiction novel by American author David Brin. Its story begins with the discovery of an...

Modern Hard SF First Contact Near Future

6.9 Fair