Sci-Fi Books to Take You to Infinity and Beyond

Sci-Fi Books to Take You to Infinity and Beyond

Science fiction can transport readers to far-off galaxies, planets and universes. Whether it’s a classic or contemporary, there are books that can take you to the farthest reaches of your imagination and beyond. Here are some must-read sci-fi books that will take you to infinity and beyond.

The Classics

We have to start off with the classics, if only to remind ourselves of where it all began. From Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to HG Wells’ War of the Worlds, some of the most iconic visions of the future come from stories written over a hundred years ago.

1. Frankenstein – Mary Shelley
2. War of the Worlds – HG Wells
3. The Time Machine – HG Wells
4. The Island of Dr. Moreau – HG Wells
5. The War of the Worlds – HG Wells
6. The Invisible Man – HG Wells
7. 1984 – George Orwell

Contemporary Classics

Today, the sci-fi genre is alive and well, with authors taking us to places we never thought we’d go. These contemporary classics take the genre in unexpected directions and build on the foundations set by the creators of science fiction.

1. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
2. Dune – Frank Herbert
3. Neuromancer – William Gibson
4. Snow Crash – Neal Stephenson
5. The Foundation Trilogy – Isaac Asimov
6. Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
7. The Martian Chronicles – Ray Bradbury

Modern Sci-Fi

Modern sci-fi authors have been pushing the boundaries of the genre beyond what anyone thought possible. Whether it’s a thrilling space opera or a more subtle exploration of a futuristic society, these books use the sci-fi genre to tell complex stories that often challenge accepted notions of life, love, and mankind’s place in the universe.

1. The Three-Body Problem – Cixin Liu
2. The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
3. Exhalation – Ted Chiang
4. Dark Matter – Blake Crouch
5. Station Eleven – Emily St. John Mandel
6. The Fifth Season – N.K. Jemisin
7. Annihilation – Jeff VanderMeer

Time Travel Sci-Fi

Time, that most elusive of all forces, is a major theme in science fiction. Authors use time travel to explore the consequences of disrupting the timeline, or to create alternate histories, or simply to send us on thrilling adventures through different eras.

1. The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
2. 11/22/63 – Stephen King
3. Doomsday Book – Connie Willis
4. All You Need is Kill – Hiroshi Sakurazaka
5. Outlander Series – Diana Gabaldon
6. Time and Again – Jack Finney
7. Edge of Tomorrow – Hiroshi Sakurazaka

Galactic Adventure

The furthest depths of space are often enough to conjure in our minds a sense of wild adventure and exploration, and many sci-fi authors have found ways to bring those stories to life. These books can make readers feel as if they’re along for the ride, and can open their eyes to the boundless potential of humanity in the distant future.

1. Star Wars – George Lucas
2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
3. Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
4. Red Rising – Pierce Brown
5. The Hyperion Cantos – Dan Simmons
6. Ready Player One – Ernest Cline
7. Dune – Frank Herbert

Cyberpunk

The world of the future is not one without its challenges, and cyberpunk literature captures the very best and very worst of a world that is often a stark juxaposition between technological advances and the grim realities of life. These cyberpunk tales explore the blurring of lines between man and machine and the potential consequences of a new world order

1. Neuromancer – William Gibson
2. Snow Crash – Neal Stephenson
3. Altered Carbon – Richard K. Morgan
4. Ready Player One – Ernest Cline
5. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep – Philip K. Dick
6. Diamond Age – Neal Stephenson
7. Ghost in the Shell – Shirow Masamune

From the stories of old to the tales of the modern day, the sci-fi genre has been captivating readers and inspiring generations of authors to explore new worlds and new ways of thinking. We’ve put together a list of sci-fi books that will take you to infinity and beyond; so grab your favorite book and get ready to blast off into the realm of the unknown.