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Great — here are three highly-reviewed, recently published science fiction novels you could suggest. They each offer different vibes, so your friend can pick based on what kind of story they’re in the mood for. 1. In Ascension by Martin MacInnes 6 Why it stands out: It won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for best science fiction novel. The Guardian +2 Goodreads +2 The story moves from deep-sea biology to space exploration: it follows a marine scientist whose work pulls her from the ocean’s depths to the edge of the cosmos. New Book Recommendation +1 Reviewers praise it as “richly atmospheric… brilliantly evoked detail” and bridging “the cellular and the cosmic.” The Spectator +1 Good for: Readers who like ambitious, hybrid literary/science-fiction works with strong world-building and emotional depth. Note: It’s somewhat expansive and might require attention to follow the scope. 2. Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky 6 Why it stands out: Published in 2024, and widely reviewed as a standout recent release. Fantasy-Hive +1 The plot: A biology researcher is exiled to a brutal labor-camp on an alien planet (“Kiln”) where human and alien life merge in strange ways. SFBook +1 Reviewers highlight its “savagely satirical take on the consequences of repressive doctrine” and excellent alien world-building. Kirkus Reviews +1 Good for: Readers who like hard-science-fiction with alien ecology, prison/camp settings, and themes of resistance. Note: It leans heavier on speculative biology and world-building than some more character-driven SF. 3. Annie Bot by Sierra Greer 6 Why it stands out: A more recent entry (2024/2025 timeframe) and already receiving strong critical attention. Kirkus Reviews +1 The story centres on an AI companion robot (“Annie”) designed to please and serve a human owner – and then she begins to question her role, autonomy, and what it means to be human. The Reader Life +1 Reviewers call it “provocative and powerful,” “a deeply unsettling and challenging sci-fi with strong feminist themes.” www.kathleenhaagenson.com +1 Good for: Readers who want something more intimate, a bit darker, focused on identity, autonomy, technology and power rather than space travel. Note: It deals with heavy themes and is more dystopian/personal than epic in scope. If you like, I can pull together a longer list of 8–10 recent sci-fi novels (2023-2025) with short blurbs & reviews — would you like that?