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Some of the most highly-reviewed and recently published science fiction novels from the past few years include works by bestselling authors like Andy Weir and Adrian Tchaikovsky, as well as award-winners like Emily Tesh and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. Your choice will depend on whether your friend prefers hard sci-fi, space opera, cozy sci-fi, or a mix of genres. Standalone novels and series starters Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2022) Best for: Fans of hard sci-fi and survival stories with humor. Synopsis: A lone astronaut wakes up with no memory of his mission and must use his scientific ingenuity to save the world. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (2024) Best for: Readers who enjoy imaginative stories about time travel and romance. Synopsis: A civil servant joins a new government program that rescues "expats" from the past, only to find herself falling for a Victorian naval officer. Annie Bot by Sierra Greer (2024) Best for: Those interested in psychological stories about artificial intelligence. Synopsis: The story explores the inner life of an advanced domestic AI as she processes the world around her and her relationship with her human partner. The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler (2023) Best for: Thought-provoking, first-contact stories. Synopsis: This book follows a marine biologist who makes a stunning discovery: a species of hyper-intelligent octopuses. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (2023) Best for: Fans of military sci-fi and intense, character-driven narratives. Synopsis: A young warrior, raised to seek vengeance on the aliens who destroyed Earth, learns her reality isn't what she was taught. Eversion by Alastair Reynolds (2022) Best for: Readers who enjoy speculative stories with a mysterious, unsettling tone. Synopsis: The story follows a doctor on a sailing ship expedition who keeps reliving the same journey, only to discover something is wrong. The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz (2023) Best for: Found family stories that explore complex sociological themes. Synopsis: A team of terraformers discovers indigenous life on a supposedly empty planet, derailing their plans and forcing them to grapple with the consequences. From ongoing or recent series The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells (recent books: Network Effect [2020], System Collapse [2023]) Best for: Fast-paced, character-driven adventure stories with a charmingly cynical AI protagonist. Synopsis: An introverted security android with a secret past must navigate deadly corporate conspiracies while trying to keep its humans safe. The Final Architecture by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Lords of Uncreation [2023]) Best for: Readers who enjoy large-scale, high-stakes space opera. Synopsis: The finale of this trilogy sees humanity at the brink of extinction, with one man's discovery being the key to either salvation or total destruction. The Southern Reach by Jeff VanderMeer (Absolution [2024]) Best for: Those who love surreal, mind-bending ecological and psychological horror. Synopsis: A surprise fourth installment revisits the mysterious Area X, a coastal region cut off from humanity where nature has twisted into something new.