Answer Details

Here are five **recently published, highly-reviewed** science-fiction novels you could suggest to your friend. I’ll note strengths and caveats so you can pick which best match their taste. --- ### 1. Annie Bot by Sierra Greer (2025)       **Why it stands out:** * Won the 2025 Arthur C. Clarke Award for best UK science-fiction novel. ([The Guardian][1]) * Critics praise its disturbing and novel take: an AI companion (“Annie”) tells the story of the relationship with her human owner, exposing power, autonomy and identity. ([Samantha Kilford][2]) * The voice is tightly focused and unnerving in the best sense. ([Kirkus Reviews][3]) **Caveats:** * It is thematically heavy: issues of control, misogyny, identity. If your friend prefers lighter or more “fun” sci-fi, this might feel intense. * It leans more introspective than grand space-opera. **Good for a friend who** enjoys AI/robot themes, speculative near-future, strong ethical questions, and doesn’t mind discomfort for the sake of insight. --- ### 2. Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2025)       **Why it stands out:** * Published early 2025 and getting strong positive reviews for world-building and alien environment. ([Writings of a Doomscribe][4]) * One review calls it “epitomical… Tchaikovsky again proves himself a master of his craft” in creating utterly alien terrains. ([Mijnsite][5]) * Another review highlights the imaginative setting and non-human characters. ([Norbert Haupt][6]) **Caveats:** * Some reviewers suggest that, while excellent, it may not feel entirely fresh or surprising compared to his prior work. ([Norbert Haupt][6]) * The tone is survival/first-contact, which may be more “hard” than “soft” sci-fi. **Good for a friend who** loves planetary/alien landscapes, survival narrative in hostile environments, deep world-building and isn’t afraid of more intense science-driven sci-fi. --- ### 3. The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (2025)       **Why it stands out:** * A near-future dystopian novel where a Moroccan-American woman is detained by a government agency that assesses her “propensity to commit crimes” upon return from abroad. ([Wikipedia][7]) * Critics call it “chillingly original” and “all too plausible.” ([Wikipedia][7]) **Caveats:** * It is more speculative near-future social-science-fiction than space epic; if your friend prefers grand scale, might feel more intimate/political. * The ending has been critiqued by some as abrupt. ([Wikipedia][7]) **Good for a friend who** likes socio-political sci-fi, questions of rights/privacy, tension with current-day issues extrapolated into near future. --- ### 4. Infinite Archive by Mur Lafferty (2025)       **Why it stands out:** * Published July 2025, third in the “Midsolar Murders” series; review says “fast pace … still leaves room for continuing character subplots and snappy dialogue.” ([Wikipedia][8]) * It blends mystery + sci-fi (space station, murder, alien influencers) which may appeal beyond just “pure” sci-fi fans. **Caveats:** * Because it’s a sequel (third in series), a reader who hasn’t read the first two may feel a bit behind. * If your friend prefers standalone novels, this might require prior reading. **Good for a friend who** enjoys genre-mixes (mystery + science fiction), doesn’t mind series, likes lighter (or at least more plot-driven) reads. --- ### 5. Dissolution by Nicholas Binge (2025)       **Why it stands out:** * Highly praised: described as “mind-blowing” by Library Journal, “twisty, absorbing thriller” by The Guardian. ([Wikipedia][9]) * Explores memory erasure, time loops, identity – strong speculative concepts. **Caveats:** * Some readers found the complexity/structure dense. * It leans much into thriller territory; if your friend prefers more traditional “space adventure,” this might feel off-beat. **Good for a friend who** likes cerebral, twisty science-fiction, puzzles about memory/time, and is open to novel structures. --- ### Recommendation Summary If I had to pick **top two** for general appeal: * *Annie Bot* (for its strong thematic resonance + award credential) * *Shroud* (for more classic hard-sci-fi with strong world-building) If you know your friend’s preferences (e.g., more social sci-fi vs space epic; standalone vs series; lighter vs heavy), I can tailor a few more suggestions accordingly. Would you like me to pull **10 more** (so you have a broader list) and perhaps categorize by sub-genre (space opera, cyberpunk, near-future)? [1]: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jun/25/arthur-c-clarke-science-fiction-award-annie-bot-sierra-greer?utm_source=chatgpt.com "'Intense' novel about robot abused by her boyfriend/owner wins Arthur C Clarke science fiction award" [2]: https://www.samanthakilford.com/2025/06/book-review-annie-bot-by-sierra-greer.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Book Review: Annie Bot by Sierra Greer - Samantha Kilford" [3]: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sierra-greer/annie-bot/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ANNIE BOT - Kirkus Reviews" [4]: https://doomscribe.wordpress.com/2025/02/21/book-review-shroud-by-adrian-tchaikovsky/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Book Review: Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky – Writings of a Doomscribe" [5]: https://www.thefictionfox.com/post/review-shroud-adrian-tchaikovsky?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Review: Shroud - Adrian Tchaikovsky - thefictionfox.com" [6]: https://norberthaupt.com/2025/07/09/book-review-shroud-by-adrian-tchaikovsky/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Book Review: Shroud – by Adrian Tchaikovsky – Norbert Haupt" [7]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dream_Hotel?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The Dream Hotel" [8]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_Archive?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Infinite Archive" [9]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_%28Binge_novel%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Dissolution (Binge novel)"