Answer Details

I'll search for some highly-reviewed recent science fiction novels to give you current recommendations.Based on my search of recently published and highly-reviewed science fiction, here are some excellent recommendations for your friend: ## Standout Recent Releases: **The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley** - This debut novel combines time-travel romance with workplace comedy, roommate drama, espionage, and temporal physics. It was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for 2024. **In Ascension by Martin MacInnes** - A glorious novel that explores humanity's existence as "the impossible adventure full of wonder and awe". It's received widespread critical acclaim. **Redwood and Wildfire by Andrea Hairston** - This novel features a former coder running a festival with help from AI creations trained on ancestral memories, demonstrating that science fiction isn't just aliens and space but also the technology of living and community. **Translation State by Ann Leckie** - This story follows a sentient crustacean searching for answers about its world and existence, showcasing Leckie's masterful storytelling. **The Ferryman by Justin Cronin** - A thought-provoking novel full of big ideas and twists that blends non-genre fiction with science fiction, nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award. These books span different subgenres—from time travel to space opera to near-future speculation—so there should be something that matches your friend's particular tastes!