Answer Details

Here are five highly-reviewed, recently published English-language science fiction novels your friend might enjoy — each with a different flavour, so you can pick based on what kind of SF they prefer: 1. Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2024) This novel follows Arton Daghdev, a biologist exiled to an alien planet under a fascist Earth government. On the world Kiln, he navigates alien ecologies and oppressive politics. Wikipedia +2 Reddit +2 Why it's worth sending: Strong world‐building and philosophical stakes about evolution and humanity's place. Tone & audience: Deep, somewhat hard SF / speculative thriller. Heads-up: Some complex political and scientific ideas. 2. The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey (2024) A space-opera epic: humans are conquered by an alien race (the Carryx) on a distant settled planet, and one human is living under their rule trying to adapt and survive. Wikipedia +1 Why it's worth sending: Big scale, high stakes, strong characterization and world building. Tone & audience: Outer-space, epic, alien-encounter – good if your friend likes sweeping SF. Heads-up: It’s first in a trilogy, so potential for follow-ups. 3. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (2024) A time‐travel novel/romcom hybrid: in near-future Britain a government department recruits historical “expats” (people who would have died) via time-door technology, and the story interweaves a romance, identity and ethics. The Guardian Why it's worth sending: Fun and thoughtful, mixing genres in a fresh way, good for someone who likes a mix of romance + SF. Tone & audience: Lighter in places, accessible; good for readers who might prefer character over purely technical SF. Heads-up: Some reviewers say the SF mechanics are weaker than the character work. Tar Vol on +1 4. Annie Bot by Sierra Greer (2024) Told from the perspective of a highly advanced robot girlfriend, initially designed to serve, who begins to question her existence and autonomy. Explores themes of personhood, autonomy, abuse and AI. What Is Quinn Reading? +2 Strange at Ecbatan +2 Why it's worth sending: Contemporary, provocative, thematically rich—great for someone who enjoys SF + social commentary. Tone & audience: Intimate and intense rather than cosmic; good for adult readers. Heads-up: It deals with issues around control, emotional abuse, and feminism. Trigger-warning wise, it might have some heavier themes. 5. The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei (2024) An art-heist SF with alien species and cosmic intrigue: a retired art thief takes on one last job to save an alien race, in a universe connected by “nodes” built by an ancient species. Wikipedia Why it's worth sending: A less typical SF premise—blends heist, intimacy, alien contact and thriller elements. Tone & audience: Stylish, somewhat speculative, maybe great for readers who like genre-blend. Heads-up: If the friend prefers hard-science only, this leans more speculative/genre-hybrid. If you like, I can pull 10 or even 15 suggestions, sorted by sub-genre (hard-SF, space opera, near-future, AI/robot themes, etc.) so you can pick based on what your friend is into. Would you like that extended list?