Contemporary Science Fiction: Must Read Books from the 21st Century
Science fiction is far beyond robots, spaceships and aliens. We are able to comprehend more deeply about what it is to be human, glimpse the future, and better understand the present.
Time travel, climate change, artificial intelligence, and even the potential evolution of civilization itself are some of the fascinating topics that a new generation of writers has explored in the twenty first century.
This list of the best contemporary science fiction books will expose you to novel concepts, endearing characters, and thought provoking tales, regardless of how novice or experienced you are with the genre.
1. The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin (2008, English translation 2014)
Chinese novelist Liu Cixin’s award-winning book recounts the story of humanity’s first contact with an alien society. History, physics, and tactics are all expertly combined in this novel to create a complex and immensely gratifying whole. If you enjoy science fiction with philosophical undertones, you should read this book.
- Best selling worldwide
- Incredibly well liked in marketplaces in the East and the West
- One of the best science fiction books 21st century
2. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021)
A man who wakes up alone on a spacecraft and has no memory of who he is or why he is there is the subject of this novel by the author of The Martian. As the story goes on, he realizes that he could be Earth’s last hope. This book is entertaining and motivating, full of comedy, emotional depth, and excellent science.
- Even with technical stuff, it’s simple to follow
- Engaging on an emotional level
- One of the best science fiction books 2025
3. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2015)
What happens if spiders are given human-like intelligence through terraforming? A compelling examination of evolution, survival, and what it means to be “advanced” may be found in Children of Time. It’s a clever, surprising tale with well developed world building.
- Arthur C. Clarke Award winner
- Innovative and distinctive
- One of the best contemporary science fiction books
4. The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson (2020)
This book addresses how the globe may react in the near future to climate change. It centers on a global organization that works to safeguard the next generation. Protest movements, science, and political arguments are all included in the narrative. It is urgent, practical, and hopeful all at once.
- Favored by legislators and climate activists
- Provides practical answers via fiction
- One of the most influential science fiction and fantasy books 2020s
5. The Power by Naomi Alderman (2016)
What if women had the capacity to shock people with electricity, giving them a competitive advantage over men? How society might alter is examined in The Power. It is strong, eerie, and really thought provoking.
- Examines power and gender
- Cited as one of Obama’s preferred books
- Turned into a television show
6. A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers (2021)
A tea monk and a robot cross paths for the first time in millennia in a tranquil future where robots have developed self-awareness and vanished into the wild. The great concerns of life purpose, tranquility, and connection are examined in this short novel.
- Kind and considerate
- A component of the science fiction “hopepunk” movement
- One of the coziest selections of the best contemporary science fiction books
7. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (2022)
This tale combines time travel, pandemics, and simulation theory in many eras, spanning from the 20th century to the far future. It seems ageless and relevant at the same time.
- Blends science fiction with literature
- Well written
- It fits very well with influential science fiction and fantasy books 2020s
8. Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes (2022)
Dead Silence is for you if you like frightening space fiction. After a team finds a ghost ship floating in outer space, odd things begin to happen. It’s a cross between Alien and The Shining.
- Combines science fiction with horror
- Both tense and dramatic
- Anticipated to rank among the best science fiction books 2025
9. The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz (2023)
Thousands of years of future history are covered in this book, from creating planets to opposing corporate dominance over the environment. It’s creative, action packed, and extremely pertinent to current environmental concerns.
- Science fiction with an environmental theme
- Imaginative world building
- Addresses issues of the 21st century
10. Translation State by Ann Leckie (2023)
Translation State examines identity and belonging via a science fiction lens in a future rife with diplomatic disputes and foreign civilizations. Leckie, who is well known for her Ancillary Justice prize, keeps creating intricate, welcoming worlds.
- Dedicated to representation and diversity
- Slow burning, deep narrative
- Among the influential science fiction and fantasy books 2020s
Special Recognition
- Tamsyn Muir’s 2019 book Gideon the Ninth on swords, sarcasm, and necromancers in Space.
- The plot of Martha Wells’ 2017 book All Systems Red centers around murderbot, an intelligent but reclusive AI.
- The poignant tale of an artificial companion and the meaning of love is found in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun (2021).
Why Science Fiction Feels So Different Now
Modern science fiction is on people, emotions, and contemporary problems rather than merely futuristic technology. This is how it has changed throughout time:
1. A Wider Range of Voices
Science fiction is being reshaped by authors from a variety of origins, genders, and cultures, which is enriching and embracing the genre.
2. Real Emotion Meets Real Science
Books like Project Hail Mary make themselves more approachable for a larger audience by fusing technical knowledge with poignant narrative.
3. The Rise of Eco Fiction
Books like The Ministry for the Future and The Terraformers examine how we may live more sustainably in light of the global warming crisis.
4. Positive Narratives Are Becoming More Well Known
Science fiction doesn’t have to be gloomy. Peaceful, reflective futures are portrayed in A Psalm for the Wild Built and other stories of optimism.
Top Science Fiction Novels of 2025 (Watchlist)
The following are some anticipated developments in the sci-fi industry in 2025:
- New books by well known writers including Martha Wells and N.K. Jemisin
- Favorites like Children of Time and Project Hail Mary have been adapted for film and television
- AI focused stories influenced by current technological developments in the real world
These publications, which present fresh concepts and fascinating reads for the future, are anticipated to place well among the best science fiction books 2025
Conclusion
Hands down, science fiction in the 21st century is more powerful than ever. Science fiction is thought provoking, heart rending, and imaginative. Regardless of whether you’re thinking about travelling through space, climate change, artificial intelligence, or the fact that this is great storytelling, we have highlighted the best science fiction books 21st century has to offer and hopefully you found something that excites you the most.
Take out a book, immerse yourself in it, and let your imagination run wild.