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Drawing from recent award nominations, critic reviews, and reader favorites, here are some of the best and most highly-reviewed science fiction novels published in 2024 and 2025. 2025 releases The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley: This romantic, genre-bending novel follows a civil servant tasked with acclimatizing a Victorian naval officer to life in present-day London. It was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize and received positive reviews for its witty, thoughtful take on a time-travel premise. Annie Bot by Sierra Greer: In this provocative novel, an A.I. companion named Annie attempts to navigate her manufactured love and the mysterious circumstances of her existence. It was nominated for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Award for Science Fiction and has been praised as both moving and unsettling. Extremophile by Ian Green: This hard sci-fi novel explores humanity's first contact with an alien intelligence, a journey to a dead planet, and the shocking discoveries that lie in wait. It was featured on a "Best Science Fiction Books of 2025" list by Five Books. 2024 releases The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey: This space opera, the start of The Captive's War series, is a new outing from the authors of The Expanse. After a war with a powerful alien civilization, two survivors must navigate a fragile and suspicious new galactic order. Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer: This unexpected fourth volume in the Southern Reach series returns to the mysterious Area X, a coastal region cut off from the rest of the world. The story explores a new expedition and provides answers to long-held questions, with reviewers calling it fresh and surprising. Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky: In this novel by a Hugo and Arthur C. Clarke award-winner, a rebellious biologist is exiled to a hostile alien planet with a secret, dangerous ecosystem. The book has been noted for its compelling atmosphere and creature design. Highly-reviewed recent publications (2020-2023) Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021): A classic example of hard science fiction, this is a crowd-pleasing story about a lone astronaut who must find a way to save the Earth from disaster. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and has received widespread acclaim from critics and readers alike. The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler (2022): This novel is set in a future where scientists work to communicate with a newly discovered species of intelligent octopuses. It won the 2023 Locus Award for Best First Novel and was a finalist for multiple other awards. The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (2020): In this multiversal story, a woman must travel between parallel Earths—but only to worlds where her alternate selves are dead. The book has been praised as a refreshing, imaginative thriller with a compelling, intricate plot. The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi (2022): This lighthearted book follows a young man who joins a covert animal rights group and discovers they are caring for giant, Godzilla-like monsters. It is a fun, escapist adventure recommended by many readers. AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses You can now share this thread with others. undefined undefined undefined 12 sites I asked 1600+ readers for their 3 fav reads of 2024, here are ... - Reddit Jan 2, 2025 — * The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. * Playground by Richard Powers. * The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey. * A... favicon Reddit The Best Science Fiction Books of 2024 - Tertulia Absolution: A Southern Reach Novel. Jeff VanderMeer. The surprise fourth volume in one of the most popular sci-fi series of our ag... favicon Tertulia Readers' Favorite Science Fiction 2024 — Goodreads Choice Awards Nominees * The Ministry of Time. by Kaliane Bradley. 78,459 votes. * The Family Experiment. by John Marrs. 34,821 votes. * Annie B... favicon Goodreads Show all