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I'll search for highly-reviewed recent science fiction novels to give you the best current recommendations.Based on the recent reviews and awards, here are some excellent highly-reviewed science fiction novels from 2024 that would make great recommendations: ## Award Winners & Critical Favorites **Witch King** by Martha Wells - Ranked #62 on aggregated awards lists, this standalone novel from the creator of the beloved Murderbot Diaries series offers compelling worldbuilding and character development. **System Collapse** by Martha Wells - The seventh Murderbot Diaries book won the 2024 Locus Award for Best Sci Fi Novel. The series has incredible momentum with multiple Hugo and Nebula awards. **In Ascension** by Martin MacInnes - Won the 2024 Arthur C Clarke Award and was nominated for the Booker Prize, this literary sci-fi novel explores scientific exploration alongside family relationships and the wonder of biological life. ## Other Standout 2024 Releases Several novels stood out for their social commentary: one feminist work about an AI girlfriend questioning her programmed role, a military sci-fi novella about career-ending injuries and rule-breaking, a novel featuring a human-alien connection amid universe-spanning horror, and a climate fiction story set in Atlantic towers after rising sea levels. **The Transformative** by Malka Older emphasizes "there are other ways to live", while Andrea Hairston's latest novel follows festival organizer Cinnamon Jones with her Circus-Bots and Ghost Mall community in a joyful post-apocalyptic setting. Ann Leckie's complete short fiction collection includes masterful stories like "She Commands Me and I Obey" depicting political turmoil through a monk's perspective. For your friend, I'd especially recommend **In Ascension** if they enjoy literary sci-fi, **System Collapse** if they want accessible, character-driven adventure, or **Witch King** for standalone fantasy-tinged science fiction. What kind of sci-fi does your friend typically enjoy?