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I'll search for the most highly-reviewed science fiction novels published recently to give you great recommendations for your friend.Based on the latest reviews and awards, here are some excellent highly-reviewed science fiction novels from 2024-2025 to recommend: ## Recent Standouts (2024-2025) **"The Stardust Grail" by Yume Kitasei (2024)** A space heist novel about a woman who steals artifacts from museums and returns them to alien civilizations, praised for being exceptionally fun while exploring themes of cultural theft and colonialism. **"In Ascension" by Martin MacInnes (2024)** Described as glorious, this novel explores deep space and the human condition, examining what it means to be human. **"The Fourth Consort" by Edward Ashton (2025)** From the author of Mickey7, this novel follows a human representative caught between warring alien confederations, praised for its dry, dark humor and momentum. **"Luminous" by Park (2025)** A captivating debut set in near-future Korea populated by people, robots and cyborgs, exploring what it means to be a person and where authenticity is located through love, grief and connection. **"The River Has Roots" by Amal El-Mohtar (2025)** From the co-author of "This is How You Lose the Time War," an enchanting tale of sisterhood, language and folklore that draws on murder ballads. **"Automatic Noodle" by Annalee Newitz (2025)** A low-key but heartfelt tale set in post-civil war California about four food service bots and an unhoused human running an abandoned ghost kitchen, commenting on technology's impact on society. Would your friend prefer epic space opera, intimate character studies, or something more experimental?