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I'll search for some highly-reviewed recent science fiction novels to give you the best current recommendations.Based on the search results, here are some excellent recent science fiction novels to recommend: ## Top Picks from 2024: **The Ministry of Time** by Kaliane Bradley This debut novel is described as a playful twist on time-travel romance with elements of workplace comedy, roommate drama, espionage, and temporal physics. It was a Goodreads Choice Awards favorite and has been highly praised. **Translation State** by Ann Leckie This complete collection of Leckie's short fiction includes both SF and fantasy stories, featuring works ranging from flash fiction to creation myths from the Imperial Radch world. Leckie is known for her Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning work. **In Ascension** by Martin MacInnes This novel explores existence itself as "the impossible adventure full of wonder and awe" and offers a glorious take on what it means to be human. **Master Slave Husband Wife** by Ilyon Woo (if they enjoy historical sci-fi) This feminist work follows Annie, who was designed to be the perfect girlfriend but begins questioning her role as she grows, offering sharp commentary on autonomy and relationships. **Absolution** by Jeff VanderMeer The surprise fourth volume in the Southern Reach series plunges readers back into that universe with three new expeditions, providing long-awaited answers while raising new questions. **Redwood and Wildfire** by Andrea Hairston This joyful novel reminds us that even if the world ends, people will find each other, make art, and move forward, featuring Cinnamon Jones running the Next World Festival with help from Circus-Bots trained on her ancestors' memories. These books span different subgenres—time travel, space opera, climate fiction, and AI ethics—so there should be something that matches your friend's tastes!