Answer Details

Here are five **highly-reviewed and recently published** science fiction novels I'd recommend sending to your friend — each with a different flavour, so you can pick based on what kind of SF they like (space opera, hard-SF, heist/quest, etc). --- ### 1. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (2023)       * Premise: After Earth is destroyed in an alien war (the “Majo War”), humanity’s survivors integrate with alien species, while a faction remains in separatist isolation. ([Wikipedia][1]) * Why it stands out: It won the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Novel. ([Wikipedia][1]) It’s been praised for its mature, nuanced take on war, identity, and survival. * Good for: Someone who likes deep themes, big ideas, and fresh voices. --- ### 2. The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei (2024)       * Premise: Maya, a retired art thief, undertakes one final heist to save an alien species. What starts like a caper evolves into a cosmic space-quest involving alien artifacts, biology, and identity. ([Wikipedia][2]) * Why it stands out: Received starred review in *Kirkus* (described as “wondrous, new, and altogether alien”). ([Wikipedia][2]) Also featured on “Best Sci-Fi of 2024” lists. ([Parade][3]) * Good for: A reader who enjoys a blend of adventure, heist-style story + big cosmic stakes. --- ### 3. Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2024)       * Premise: A biologist rebel on Earth is exiled to a labor camp on an alien planet. The story explores evolutionary hubris, biology, and resistance. ([Wikipedia][4]) * Why it stands out: Finalist for major awards (e.g., Hugo for Best Novel). ([Wikipedia][4]) * Good for: Someone who enjoys smart, hard-SF elements, challenging ideas, and big conceptual scope. --- ### 4. Starter Villain by John Scalzi (2023)      * Premise: Charlie Fitzer finds herself drawn into the weird world of “supervillains” when she inherits a villain’s lair — complete with intelligent dolphins (yes, seriously). ([Wikipedia][5]) * Why it stands out: Winner of the 2024 Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. ([Wikipedia][5]) It’s lighter in tone but still clever and fun. * Good for: A reader who’d appreciate something less heavy, more playful, maybe a bit meta or humorous. --- ### 5. The Object by Joshua T. Calvert (2024)       * Premise: Scientist Mel Adams at a NASA base in Hawaii discovers a strange object near Pluto, initially assumed a comet. The mystery grows into a hard-SF first-contact scenario. ([Wikipedia][6]) * Why it stands out: Not yet widespread recognition like the others, but fits the “recent release + interesting premise” criteria. * Good for: A reader who prefers hard science, realistic extrapolation, and slower build of mystery. --- If you like, I can **pull a longer list** (10 or 15) of freshly-published sci-fi from 2023-2025 with a range of tones and styles (space opera, near-future, climate-sf, etc.), and we can pick based on which sub-genres your friend tends to enjoy. Would you like me to do that? [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Desperate_Glory_%28novel%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Some Desperate Glory (novel)" [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stardust_Grail?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The Stardust Grail" [3]: https://parade.com/books/best-science-fiction-fantasy-sci-fi-books-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The 51 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2024 - Parade" [4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_Clay?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Alien Clay" [5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starter_Villain?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Starter Villain" [6]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Object_%28novel%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The Object (novel)"