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If you’re looking to send some highly‑reviewed, recently published science fiction novels to a friend, here are four standout picks from the past couple of years — each with different tones and strengths, so you can tailor your choice to your friend’s taste. 1. In Ascension by Martin MacInnes (2023/2024) Premise: A young scientist, Leigh, moves from ocean‑deep exploration to space travel, grappling with scale, scientific discovery, and personal meaning. Wikipedia +1 Why it’s highly regarded: It blends literary ambition with speculative science‑fiction elements; reviewers praise its “vistas between the cellular and the cosmic.” The Guardian +1 Best for: A friend who likes slow‑burn, thought‑provoking SF with strong writing and emotional/ontological depth. 2. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (2023) Premise: In a future post‑Earth war setting, humans integrate into alien society, and a few human survivors resist assimilation. Wikipedia Why it stands out: Won the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Novel and was shortlisted/awarded in other major SF prizes. Wikipedia +1 Best for: Someone who loves big ideas, space‑opera scale, and a fresh voice (it’s the author’s first full‑length novel) with strong acclaim. 3. Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2024) Premise: A biologist exiled to a brutal alien planet (Kiln) discovers strange symbiotic species and uncovers a revolt against a fascist Earth government. Kirkus Reviews Why to pick it: Kirkus called it “a savagely satirical take on the consequences of repressive doctrine and the power of collective action.” Kirkus Reviews Best for: A reader who enjoys hard/high‑concept SF, alien worlds, political subtext, and a somewhat darker tone. 4. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (2024) Premise: A near‑future Britain uses time travel to recruit people from past eras; a civil servant becomes the “bridge” to a Victorian explorer. Romance, time travel, bureaucracy, post‑colonial themes all mixed in. The Washington Post +1 Reception: Called by one reviewer “a rare thing: a literary time‑travel romance that’s funny, moving, and profoundly, precisely strange.” Best New Authors Best for: Someone who likes genre‑mixing, time travel with emotional stakes, and doesn’t mind a slower pace (notes some readers found the pace deliberate). Goodreads +1 If you like, I can pull together 10 more excellent recent SF novels (2023‑2025) with a wider variety of themes (hard SF, climate SF, AI‑driven SF) and include short blurbs so your friend can pick what suits them best. Would that be helpful?