Answer Details

Here are five science-fiction novels published recently that have strong reviews and could make excellent book-gift suggestions. I’ve included a variety of tones and sub-genres so you can pick what might appeal most to your friend. ⸻ 1. In Ascension by Martin MacInnes (2023/2024) Why it’s strong: • This novel won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for best science fiction novel of the year.  • It blends two extreme frontiers: the deep sea and outer space, exploring life’s origins and our place in the cosmos.  • Reviewers praise its ambition, rich atmosphere, and the way it brings together big ideas with personal story.  Summary: The protagonist Leigh, a marine microbiologist, moves from investigating the deep-sea to being recruited for a space mission as part of an exploration of an anomaly. It’s both speculative and grounded. Good for: A reader who enjoys literary sci-fi, thoughtful speculative themes (ecology, origins, human identity) and doesn’t mind a substantial novel. ⸻ 2. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (2023) Why it’s strong: • Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel (2024).  • Praised as a “gorgeous queer space-opera” with found family, large scale world-building, and exciting plot.  • Tackles themes of fascism, indoctrination, and resistance through a space-opera lens.  Summary: Set after an alien war that destroyed Earth, humans and aliens live inter-mingled; the protagonist Kyr is part of a separatist station and must confront her beliefs, identity and alliances. Good for: A reader who enjoys high-energy space opera, inclusive/queer representation, and speculative war/resistance themes. ⸻ 3. Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2024) Why it’s strong: • Published in 2024, it’s gained strong reviews for its imaginative world-building and political themes.  • Reviewers highlight how it combines weird alien ecology and oppressive politics: “a savagely satirical take on the consequences of repressive doctrine.”  • Builds on Tchaikovsky’s reputation as a major voice in modern sci-fi.  Summary: Professor Arton Daghdev, a scientist branded a dissident, is exiled to a prison-colony planet (Kiln) with strange alien structures; the novel explores revolution, science, exploitation, alien life. Good for: A reader who enjoys hard/speculative science fiction, alien worlds, politics, and cerebral themes. ⸻ 4. The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing‑Giwa (2023) Why it’s strong: • Debut novel published July 2023; won the Compton Crook Award (2024) and received starred reviews from major outlets.  • Reviewers note the author was 22 when published, hailed as a fresh new voice tackling cultural divides, bigotry and future societies.  Summary: Set in a future with cultural and colonial tensions, the novel features a protagonist navigating a world of marginalized voices, identity, and science-fiction stakes. Good for: A reader looking to discover a newer voice, interested in themes of identity and culture in sci-fi, perhaps lighter scale than epics above. ⸻ 5. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (2023) Why it’s strong: • Shortlisted/winner of major literary prizes: It won the Booker Prize 2024, becoming the first novel set in space to win it.  • Reviewers say it uses science-fiction setting (six astronauts on a space station) to reflect on humanity, isolation, memory and meaning.  Summary: Over 24 hours aboard a space station, six astronauts deal with mission fatigue, loss, contemplation — a more meditative, literary take on sci-fi rather than action-heavy. Good for: Someone who enjoys introspective, beautifully written speculative fiction rather than fast-paced space battles. ⸻ How to choose for your friend • If they like big scale epics + science → go for In Ascension or Alien Clay. • If they prefer space opera with strong characters and inclusive themes → Some Desperate Glory. • If they’re up for a fresh/new voice + social commentary → The Splinter in the Sky. • If they lean toward literary, contemplative sci-fi → Orbital. If you like, I can dig up 10 more titles (including upcoming ones for late 2025) with brief annotations and review highlights. Would you like that expanded list?