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To suggest some of the best and most acclaimed science fiction novels published in the last few years, a good approach is to draw from books that have won or been nominated for major industry awards, such as the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards. Here are some highly-reviewed, recently published science fiction novels to recommend to your friend. 2024 Award winners and nominees Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (2023): Winner of the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Novel. Raised to be a warrior on a last refuge of humanity, Valkyr is trained to hate the aliens that destroyed Earth. When she is denied her chance at combat, she begins to question everything she has ever been taught. The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (2023): Winner of the 2024 Nebula Award for Best Novel and a finalist for the Hugo and Locus awards. In an oppressive society, a man who has been trained since birth to take revenge on his father must reject his destiny and navigate a world where nothing is as it seems. System Collapse by Martha Wells (2023): Winner of the 2024 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. The seventh installment of the popular Murderbot Diaries series follows the awkward security android, Murderbot, as it navigates a new series of complex threats. Translation State by Ann Leckie (2023): A finalist for the 2024 Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards. A stand-alone story set in the author's Imperial Radch universe, the book follows a diplomat tasked with finding a missing alien translator who vanished more than two centuries ago. Starter Villain by John Scalzi (2023): A finalist for the 2024 Hugo and Locus awards. A comedy about a man who inherits his estranged uncle's supervillain business, complete with an island lair, genetically enhanced cats, and a host of rival enemies. Other highly-reviewed recent titles The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz (2023): Explores the future of terraforming and indigenous life on a planet targeted for change. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2022): A popular and gripping story of a sole survivor with amnesia on a mission to save Earth. The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler (2022): This novel tells a compelling story of first contact with a sentient species of octopus, exploring themes of communication and consciousness. Eversion by Alastair Reynolds (2022): A mind-bending novel involving a ship's surgeon who experiences repeated journeys through different settings, all while trying to uncover the truth behind his mission. Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2023): A sequel to the novel Children of Time that expands on the story of a human colony interacting with intelligent, alien life.