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Thought process The user is asking for highly-reviewed, recently published science fiction novels. This is about current/recent information that may have changed since my knowledge cutoff of January 2025. I should search for information about recent science fiction books that have been published and well-reviewed. Let me think about whether I need to search: "Recently published" suggests books from 2024-2025 "Highly-reviewed" means I need current review information This is a topic where new books are constantly being published My knowledge cutoff is January 2025, so I know some 2024 books but not 2025 releases I should search for recent science fiction books with good reviews. I'll start with a search about highly-reviewed science fiction from 2024-2025. Also, I need to check the user preferences - they have a long list of cliches to avoid. When I write my response, I need to make sure I don't use any of those phrases. I'll search for the most recent, highly-reviewed science fiction novels to give you current recommendations. 2 steps highly rated science fiction 2025 new releases 10 results favicon Best Sci-fi movies released in 2025 imdb.com favicon Anticipated Science Fiction & Fantasy Books of Summer 2025 | Penguin Random House penguinrandomhouse.com favicon The Best Sci-Fi Movies of 2025 (So Far) esquire.com favicon The best dark fantasy and science fiction books of 2025 so far - Grimdark Magazine grimdarkmagazine.com favicon 25 Science Fiction Books to Read in 2025 – Books, Bones & Buffy booksbonesbuffy.com favicon The Biggest Science Fiction Books of 2025 | Den of Geek denofgeek.com favicon Top 9 Sci-Fi TV Shows of 2025: Top-Rated Series to Stream Now screenrant.com favicon 10 Best Sci-Fi Movies Of 2025 (So Far) - SlashFilm slashfilm.com favicon Literary Hub » 20 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books to Look Forward to in 2025 lithub.com favicon 21 new sci-fi and fantasy books to read in February 2025 ghost.io Synthesized recent sci-fi recommendations while circumventing stylistic clichés. 24s Based on recent reviews and awards, here are some excellent science fiction books from 2024-2025 that your friend should check out: Recent standouts from 2024: "The Stardust Grail" by Yume Kitasei - This space heist novel follows a woman who steals artifacts from museums and returns them to alien civilizations. She's retired and teaching at Princeton when she's pulled back in for one last job with major consequences. Reviews highlight how entertaining it is. Esquire "In Ascension" by Martin MacInnes - A contemplative novel about humanity, space exploration, and what it means to exist as a species. Esquire "Lake of Souls" by Ann Leckie - Her short fiction collection includes both SF and fantasy, with stories ranging from flash fiction to longer pieces about power, mortality, and choice. The title novelette follows a sentient crustacean on a quest to understand its world. Esquire "Archangels of Funk" by Andrea Hairston - A joyful post-apocalyptic story about Cinnamon Jones running the Next World Festival with help from AI trained on her ancestors' memories, circus-bots, and border collies. Esquire New releases for 2025: "The Book That Held Her Heart" by Mark Lawrence - The final volume of the Library Trilogy, which reviewers describe as emotionally devastating and one of the most original works of recent speculative fiction. Grimdark Magazine "When the Moon Hits Your Eye" by John Scalzi - Earth's moon suddenly turns into cheese, and this absurdist novel follows various characters—students, preachers, politicians, scientists—reacting to this impossibility through interconnected short stories. Den of Geek "Murder by Memory" by Olivia Waite - A cozy space mystery featuring a formidable detective auntie. Books Bones Buffy Transfer Orbit All of these have gotten strong critical reception and reader buzz!