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Here are five highly-reviewed, recently published science fiction novels your friend might love. I’ve selected a mix of tones and themes so there’s something for different tastes. 1. Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2024) 6 Plot: A biologist resists an authoritarian Earth government and is exiled to a harsh alien planet (Kiln) to work as labor—where the biology of the world itself becomes weaponised. Transfer Orbit +3 Wikipedia +3 Spells and Spaceships +3 Why it stands out: Reviews praise Tchaikovsky’s world-building and the way biological/science ideas are used to interrogate power, authoritarianism and resistance. Transfer Orbit +1 Tone/for whom: Gritty, cerebral science-fiction with big ideas (ideal for someone who likes hard SF mixed with political themes). 2. Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2024) 5 Plot: A robot valet (Charles/Uncharles) murders his master (with no memory) and wanders through a collapsing human society as machines attempt to find purpose. Wikipedia +2 Tar Vol on +2 Why it stands out: Described as humorous but deeply political. Reviewers call it “absurdist AI apocalypse” and praise its commentary on work, autonomy and robotics. Tar Vol on Tone/for whom: Lighter in voice than “Alien Clay” but still thought-provoking. Great for someone who enjoys satire plus science-fiction. 3. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (2024) 4 Plot: In near-future Britain a time travel portal lets the government rescue “expats” (historical figures pulled from doomed voyages) into the present. One civil-servant (British-Cambodian) becomes the “bridge” for a Victorian Arctic explorer. The Guardian +1 Why it stands out: Called “a seriously fun sci-fi rom-com” by The Guardian. It’s praised for combining time-travel, romance, post-colonial themes and wit. The Guardian Tone/for whom: Lighter and more playful than the first two—good for readers who like character-driven stories, time travel and a bit of romance/quirk. 4. The Ten Percent Thief by Lavanya Lakshminarayan (2024) 6 Plot & significance: On the shortlist for the 2024 Arthur C. Clarke Award, this novel is described as a “mosaic” SF that plays with structure, voices and what identity means. Five Books Why it stands out: For readers who like literary-leaning SF: more stylistically adventurous. Tone/for whom: Slightly more experimental—great for someone open to form-breaking styles. 5. In Ascension by Martin MacInnes (2023) 6 Plot: A journey from deep ocean trenches to outer space, combining intimate human narrative with cosmic scale. The Guardian +1 Why it stands out: Winner of the 2024 Arthur C. Clarke Award. Critical praise for being beautifully written and expansive. The Guardian Tone/for whom: More literary SF; wonderful for someone who enjoys expansive world-building + introspective themes. If you like, I can pull together 10-15 more titles (with varying subgenres: space opera, near-future climate, dystopia, AI) and highlight “for which type of reader” each is ideal. Do you want that?