Answer Details

Here are **five standout science fiction novels** from recent years—each with strong reviews and distinctive voices—perfect for suggesting to a friend. If you share a bit about their tastes (pace, subgenre, tone), I can tailor some picks further. --- ### 1. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (2023)       **Why it’s worth recommending:** * A bold space-opera set after Earth’s destruction, with an outpost of humans training to fight alien species. ([Tar Vol on][1]) * Praised for its character arc: the protagonist Kyr is unlikable at first but undergoes real transformation. ([Chicago Review of Books][2]) * It won the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Novel. ([Wikipedia][3]) **Best for someone who enjoys:** large-scale sci-fi, moral complexity, strong character journeys. --- ### 2. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (2024)       **Why it stands out:** * A fun, genre-blending debut: time travel meets romance meets thriller set in near-future London. ([The Guardian][4]) * Recognized widely: winner of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards for Science Fiction. ([New York Post][5]) * Reviewers called it “razor-sharp wit, workplace banter and a dreamy romance all wrapped up in time travel shenanigans.” ([Fantasy-Hive][6]) **Best for someone who enjoys:** lighter-toned but smart sci-fi, romance elements, time-travel fun. --- ### 3. In Ascension by Martin MacInnes       **Why it’s a strong pick:** * A novel that moves from the ocean’s mysteries to outer space, blending hard sci-fi with literary sensibility. ([The Wall Street Journal][7]) * It won the 2024 Arthur C. Clarke award for best science-fiction novel. ([The Guardian][8]) **Best for someone who enjoys:** more literary, contemplative sci-fi with scientific depth and big ideas. --- ### 4. Lake of Darkness by Adam Roberts (2024)       **Why it’s compelling:** * Hard sci-fi thriller: starships orbit a black hole, psychological breakdowns, giant questions about consciousness and physics. ([BEFOREWEGOBLOG][9]) * Among the top-ranked new sci-fi novels of 2024 according to some round-ups. ([BEFOREWEGOBLOG][9]) **Best for someone who enjoys:** tough sci-fi with cosmic scale, technical ideas, philosophical weight. --- ### 5. Your Utopia by Bora Chung (2024)       **Why you might suggest it:** * A collection of speculative stories exploring utopia/dystopia, humanity and alienness, translated and acclaimed. ([Esquire][10]) * Offers shorter form but deeply imaginative content. **Best for someone who enjoys:** story-collections, reflective speculative fiction, less traditional or high-octane plots. --- If you like, I can **pull together 10 or 15 more titles**, sorted by *style* (e.g., space opera, near-future, dystopia) with brief blurbs—so you have a full list to pick from. Would you like me to do that? [1]: https://www.tarvolon.com/2024/06/20/sci-fi-novel-review-some-desperate-glory-by-emily-tesh/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Sci-fi Novel Review: Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh" [2]: https://chireviewofbooks.com/2023/04/24/some-desperate-glory/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Revising Worlds and Worldviews in \"Some Desperate Glory\"" [3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Desperate_Glory_%28novel%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Some Desperate Glory (novel)" [4]: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/may/03/the-ministry-of-time-by-kaliane-bradley-review-a-seriously-fun-sci-fi-romcom?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley review - a seriously fun sci-fi romcom" [5]: https://nypost.com/2024/12/31/shopping/shop-the-goodreads-choice-awards-2024-winners-top-books/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Shop the 14 winners of the Goodreads Choice Awards 2024: Top books" [6]: https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2024/04/the-ministry-of-time-by-kaliane-bradley-book-review/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley (BOOK ..." [7]: https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/in-ascension-review-the-cosmos-and-the-deep-c2b63131?utm_source=chatgpt.com "'In Ascension' Review: The Cosmos and the Deep" [8]: https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/jul/24/martin-macinnes-novel-wins-arthur-c-clarke-award-in-ascension-science-fiction?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Martin MacInnes wins Arthur C Clarke award for 'intense trip' of a novel" [9]: https://beforewegoblog.com/top-five-science-fiction-novels-of-2024/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Top Five Science Fiction Novels of 2024 - BEFOREWEGOBLOG" [10]: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g60078949/best-sci-fi-books-2024/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The 30 Best Sci-Fi Books of 2024 - Esquire"