Answer Details

Ilya — here are five strongly reviewed, recently published science-fiction novels you can confidently suggest to your friend. Goal: Recommend fresh, acclaimed sci-fi reads. Definition of done: A list of 5 titles published in the last ~2 years, each with a short rationale + citation. 1. Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2024) Why send it: Set on a bizarre exoplanet labour-camp where biology itself becomes the oppressor, this novel blends hard science-fiction, political resistance and speculative xenobiology. It was a finalist for major awards (Hugo & Locus) and reviewers praised its worldbuilding. Wikipedia +4 Wikipedia +4 Transfer Orbit +4 Trade-off: It’s dense, heavy on ideas and world-building; maybe less focused on light entertainment. 2. All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu (2025) Why send it: A near-future techno-thriller from a respected sci-fi author, exploring AI, virtual reality, identity and social-media culture. The UK review roundup called it “one of the best science-fiction books of the year.” The Guardian +2 The Washington Post +2 Trade-off: Some reviews note it’s more thriller than deep speculative epic — if your friend prefers big cosmic scale, this might feel narrower. 3. The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey (2024) Why send it: A new space-opera launch from the authors behind “The Expanse,” praised for its expansive world-building, alien species and human resilience under oppression. Wikipedia Trade-off: Being the start of a series, the ending might feel open-ended; also, if your friend hasn’t read the authors before, this might feel like new territory. 4. The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing‑Giwa (2023) Why send it: A debut novel that won the 2024 Compton Crook Award and garnered starred reviews; inventive premise, atmospheric writing, a strong new voice. Wikipedia Trade-off: Slightly older (2023) and may have less “buzz” than ones published 2024-25. But still recent and highly regarded. 5. Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2024) Why send it: Although less “epic” and more satirical, this novel tackles artificial intelligence, human-robot relationships, societal collapse — with humor, heart and hope. Reviewers highlighted its accessibility and emotional core. Wikipedia Trade-off: It may skew a bit more light-in tone (for sci-fi) and perhaps isn’t as “blockbuster” as some of the others, but that may appeal depending on the friend’s taste. ✅ Quick Recommendation Matrix Title Tone Big Ideas Best for Alien Clay Dense, thoughtful Biology, authoritarianism A friend who loves deep ideas All That We See or Seem Tech-thriller, near-future AI, identity, social media Likes sleek, modern sci-fi The Mercy of Gods Space-opera, new saga Alien conquest, resistance Big scale sci-fi enthusiasts The Splinter in the Sky Debut, atmospheric Memory, trauma, speculative world Someone open to new voices Service Model Satirical + emotional AI, robots, collapse Prefers character-driven sci-fi 3-Step Plan for You Choose 2-3 of these that match your friend’s reading preferences (pace, scale, tone). Write a short note for them explaining why you picked each (e.g., “I thought of you because you enjoyed X”). Send the suggestions — maybe include links or local bookstore availability. ✅ Final Verdict These five books represent highly-reviewed, recently published (≈ 2023-2025) science-fiction novels covering a range of styles and scales. Confidence: 8/10 — we’re using strong review coverage, but individual tastes vary and “highly reviewed” is somewhat subjective. Bias check: I’ve selected based on English-language releases and reviews—there may be excellent non-English titles not included here. Counter-points: If your friend hates “heavy” sci-fi or prefers classic style, some of these may be too modern or experimental. Also, sometimes “recent” means fewer reader reviews yet (so long-term reputation is unknown). If you like, I can pull 10 more suggestions, including sub-genres (cyberpunk, climate-sci-fi, etc.) or filter by reading length or tone. Should I go ahead?