Answer Details

Here are five **recently published** science-fiction novels—all with strong critical or popular responses—that you might suggest to your friend: --- ### 1. Annie Bot by Sierra Greer (2024) * Synopsis: A humanoid robot designed to be a companion begins to awaken to her own identity and autonomy. ([SoBrief][1]) * Reviews: Described as “a powerful, provocative novel about the relationship between a female robot and her human owner, exploring questions of intimacy, power, autonomy, and control.” ([Book Marks][2]) One reviewer said: > “This was such an interesting take … I absolutely love it.” ([Reddit][3]) * Why it stands out: It won the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award for best science-fiction novel in 2025. ([The Guardian][4]) * Suitable for: A friend interested in character-driven SF touching on AI, identity and ethics. --- ### 2. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (2024) * Synopsis: In a near-future Britain a government agency brings people from history into modern times; the narrator is assigned to help a 19-century explorer adapt. ([Wikipedia][5]) * Reviews: Called “a seriously fun sci-fi romcom” that blends time-travel, romance and institutional critique. ([The Guardian][6]) * Why it stands out: It won the Goodreads Choice Award for Science Fiction in 2024. ([Goodreads][7]) * Suitable for: A reader who likes lighter-toned but still thoughtful SF (romance + speculative) rather than hard tech-SF. --- ### 3. In Ascension by Martin MacInnes (2023) * Synopsis: From ocean-depths to outer space, a novel about consciousness, exploration and time. * Reviews/Awards: Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award (2024) for best sci-fi novel. ([The Guardian][8]) * Suitable for: A friend who enjoys more literary, slower-burn SF with philosophical undertones. --- ### 4. Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2025) * Note: Listed by critic Andrew M. Butler as one of the best sci-fi books of 2025. ([Five Books][9]) * Synopsis (brief): Explores themes of technology, labour, and transformation (details vary). * Suitable for: Someone who likes cutting-edge SF, new releases and exploring genre boundaries. --- ### 5. Extremophile by Ian Green (2025) * Also from the 2025 “best sci-fi” list. ([Five Books][9]) * Suitable for: A reader who enjoys fresh voices and expects novelty/new-ideas in their SF. --- If you like, I can pull together **10-15** of the *top rated* recent (2023-2025) science-fiction novels (with release dates, short synopses, and review highlights) to give your friend more choices. Would you like that? [1]: https://sobrief.com/books/annie-bot?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Annie Bot by Sierra Greer | Summary, Analysis, FAQ - SoBrief" [2]: https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/annie-bot/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Book Marks reviews of Annie Bot by Sierra Greer" [3]: https://www.reddit.com/r/52book/comments/1dcsu8v/5952_annie_bot_by_sierra_greer_55_stars/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "59/52: Annie Bot by Sierra Greer 5/5 Stars : r/52book - Reddit" [4]: 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" [5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_of_Time_%28novel%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The Ministry of Time (novel)" [6]: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/may/03/the-ministry-of-time-by-kaliane-bradley-review-a-seriously-fun-sci-fi-romcom?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley review" [7]: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/readers-favorite-science-fiction-books-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Readers' Favorite Science Fiction 2024 — Goodreads Choice Awards" [8]: https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/jul/24/martin-macinnes-novel-wins-arthur-c-clarke-award-in-ascension-science-fiction?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Martin MacInnes wins Arthur C Clarke award for 'intense trip' of a novel" [9]: https://fivebooks.com/best-books/best-science-fiction-books-of-2025-andrew-m-butler/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The Best Science Fiction Books of 2025"