The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books

Titles in bold are on the Classics of Science Fiction v5 list.

Title↥ Author/Editor Year Citations Reviews
Accelerando Charles Stross 2005
4
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2022The 25 Best Sci-Fi Books from the 2000s Decade - The Portalist
2023My Top 25 Science Fiction Books of the 21st Century by the Outlaw Bookseller
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
All Systems Red Martha Wells 2017
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2021NPR Books Summer Poll 2021: A Decade of Great Sci-Fi and Fantasy
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2022The Greatest Science Fiction Books of the 2010s - The Portalist
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
All the Birds in the Sky Charlie Jane Anders 2016
Nebula Award - Novel Winner
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2021Worlds Without End: Award Winning Books by Women Authors
Annihilation Jeff VanderMeer 2014
Nebula Award - Novel Winner
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2021NPR Books Summer Poll 2021: A Decade of Great Sci-Fi and Fantasy
2022The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Esquire Magazine
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2022The Greatest Science Fiction Books of the 2010s - The Portalist
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
The Calculating Stars Mary Robinette Kowal 2018
Nebula Award - Novel Winner
Hugo Award - Novel Winner
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
202015 Recent Sci-Fi Books That Forever Shaped The Genre - Andrew Liptak for Polygon
2021Worlds Without End: Award Winning Books by Women Authors
2021NPR Books Summer Poll 2021: A Decade of Great Sci-Fi and Fantasy
2022The Greatest Science Fiction Books of the 2010s - The Portalist
Cryptonomicon Neal Stephenson 1999
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
2003The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction edited by Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn
2004Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction, 5th Edition by Neil Barron
2011NPR Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books
2012Locus Poll Best 20th Century Science Fiction Novels
2012AbeBooks: 50 Essential Science Fiction Books
2016Ranker: The Greatest Science Fiction Novels of All Time
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
Daemon Daniel Suarez 2006
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
The Girl with All the Gifts M. R. Carey 2013
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood 1985
4
Nebula Award - Novel Finalist
Arthur C. Clarke Awards
1996North American College Courses in Science Fiction, Utopian Literature, and Fantasy edited by Arthur B. Evans
2001200 Significant Science Fiction Books by Women, 1984-2001 by David G. Hartwell
2003The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction edited by Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn
2004Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy by Cynthia Ward
2004Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction, 5th Edition by Neil Barron
2005ISFDB Top 100 Books (Balanced List)
20091000 novels everyone must read (science fiction section)
2009Mindblowing SF by Women and People of Color (Tor.com)
2011NPR Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2012Locus Poll Best 20th Century Science Fiction Novels
2014Mistressworks by Ian Sales
2014Best-Sci-Fi-Books: The 23 Best Science Fiction Books by Female Authors
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Goodreads Science Fiction Books by Female Authors
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Book Riot 100 Must-Read Sci-Fi Fantasy Novels by Female Authors
2016How Great Science Fiction Works by Gary K. Wolfe
2016Ranker: The Greatest Science Fiction Novels of All Time
2016Sci Femme: The Reading List edited by Shannon Turlington
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
2016Best-Sci-Fi-Books: 31 Best Literary Science Fiction Books
2018The Great American Read - PBS
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2019The Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Penguin Random House
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2021Worlds Without End: Award Winning Books by Women Authors
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams 1979
1
1984The Science Fiction Source Book edited by David Wingrove
1996North American College Courses in Science Fiction, Utopian Literature, and Fantasy edited by Arthur B. Evans
1999The Internet Top 100 SF/Fantasy List
2002Strictly Science Fiction: A Guide to Reading Interests by Diana Tixier Herald and Bonnie Kunzel
2003The Internet Top 100 SF/Fantasy List
2003The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction edited by Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn
20091000 novels everyone must read (science fiction section)
2011NPR Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books
2011Forbidden Planet: The 50 Books You MUST Read
2011Internet Top 100 SF/Fantasy List
2012Locus Poll Best 20th Century Science Fiction Novels
2012AbeBooks: 50 Essential Science Fiction Books
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
201675 Best New Wave Sci-Fi (1964-1983) Novels by Josh Glenn
2016Easton Press Masterpieces of Science Fiction
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2016Ranker: The Greatest Science Fiction Novels of All Time
2016SF Masterworks
2018The Great American Read - PBS
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2019The Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Penguin Random House
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2022The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Esquire Magazine
2023Your Top Science Fiction Books Of All Time (Survey Results) - Media Death Cult
Kindred Octavia E. Butler 1979
5
2003The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction edited by Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn
2009Mindblowing SF by Women and People of Color (Tor.com)
20091000 novels everyone must read (science fiction section)
2014Best-Sci-Fi-Books: The 23 Best Science Fiction Books by Female Authors
2014Mistressworks by Ian Sales
201675 Best New Wave Sci-Fi (1964-1983) Novels by Josh Glenn
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Goodreads Science Fiction Books by Female Authors
2016Sci Femme: The Reading List edited by Shannon Turlington
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Best-Sci-Fi-Books: 31 Best Literary Science Fiction Books
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
202129 of the Best Science Fiction Books Everyone Should Read - WIRED UK
2022The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Esquire Magazine
Leviathan Wakes Daniel AbrahamTy Franck 2011
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
202015 Recent Sci-Fi Books That Forever Shaped The Genre - Andrew Liptak for Polygon
2021NPR Books Summer Poll 2021: A Decade of Great Sci-Fi and Fantasy
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2022The Greatest Science Fiction Books of the 2010s - The Portalist
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
The Martian Andy Weir 2012
2
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2016Ranker: The Greatest Science Fiction Novels of All Time
2018The Great American Read - PBS
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2019The Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Penguin Random House
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
202015 Recent Sci-Fi Books That Forever Shaped The Genre - Andrew Liptak for Polygon
2021NPR Books Summer Poll 2021: A Decade of Great Sci-Fi and Fantasy
202129 of the Best Science Fiction Books Everyone Should Read - WIRED UK
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2023Your Top Science Fiction Books Of All Time (Survey Results) - Media Death Cult
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Ninefox Gambit Yoon Ha Lee 2016
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
Nebula Award - Novel Finalist
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2021NPR Books Summer Poll 2021: A Decade of Great Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Old Man's War John Scalzi 2005
4
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
2011NPR Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2012AbeBooks: 50 Essential Science Fiction Books
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2022The 25 Best Sci-Fi Books from the 2000s Decade - The Portalist
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Pandora's Star Peter F. Hamilton 2004
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2019The Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Penguin Random House
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2022The 25 Best Sci-Fi Books from the 2000s Decade - The Portalist
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
The Player of Games Iain M. Banks 1988
3
1999The Internet Top 100 SF/Fantasy List
2003The Internet Top 100 SF/Fantasy List
2006100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels
2011Forbidden Planet: The 50 Books You MUST Read
2011NPR Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books
2011Internet Top 100 SF/Fantasy List
2012Locus Poll Best 20th Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2016Ranker: The Greatest Science Fiction Novels of All Time
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2023Your Top Science Fiction Books Of All Time (Survey Results) - Media Death Cult
The Queue Basma Abdel Aziz 2016
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
Ready Player One Ernest Cline 2011
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2018The Great American Read - PBS
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Red Mars Kim Stanley Robinson 1992
4
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
British Science Fiction Association Awards
Nebula Award - Novel Winner
1994The Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction by David Pringle
1996North American College Courses in Science Fiction, Utopian Literature, and Fantasy edited by Arthur B. Evans
2003The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction edited by Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn
2004Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction, 5th Edition by Neil Barron
2005ISFDB Top 100 Books (Balanced List)
2006100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels
2011NPR Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books
2011Forbidden Planet: The 50 Books You MUST Read
2011Internet Top 100 SF/Fantasy List
2012AbeBooks: 50 Essential Science Fiction Books
2012Locus Poll Best 20th Century Science Fiction Novels
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2016Ranker: The Greatest Science Fiction Novels of All Time
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016How Great Science Fiction Works by Gary K. Wolfe
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2022The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Esquire Magazine
Revelation Space Alastair Reynolds 2000
3
20091000 novels everyone must read (science fiction section)
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2016How Great Science Fiction Works by Gary K. Wolfe
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016SF Masterworks
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2022The 25 Best Sci-Fi Books from the 2000s Decade - The Portalist
2023Your Top Science Fiction Books Of All Time (Survey Results) - Media Death Cult
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Riddley Walker Russell Hoban 1980
John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Nebula Award - Novel Finalist
1985Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels by David Pringle
1996North American College Courses in Science Fiction, Utopian Literature, and Fantasy edited by Arthur B. Evans
2005ISFDB Top 100 Books (Balanced List)
20091000 novels everyone must read (science fiction section)
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
2016SF Masterworks
201675 Best New Wave Sci-Fi (1964-1983) Novels by Josh Glenn
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
The Road Cormac McCarthy 2006
5
20091000 novels everyone must read (science fiction section)
2011NPR Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Ranker: The Greatest Science Fiction Novels of All Time
2016Best-Sci-Fi-Books: 31 Best Literary Science Fiction Books
2016How Great Science Fiction Works by Gary K. Wolfe
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2022The 25 Best Sci-Fi Books from the 2000s Decade - The Portalist
2023My Top 25 Science Fiction Books of the 21st Century by the Outlaw Bookseller
2023My 25 Favourite Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Words in Time
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Software Rudy Rucker 1982
Philip K. Dick Award
1987Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction, 3rd Edition by Neil Barron
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
Starfish Peter Watts 1999
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
Station Eleven Emily St. John Mandel 2014
4
Arthur C. Clarke Awards
2016Best-Sci-Fi-Books: 31 Best Literary Science Fiction Books
2016Sci Femme: The Reading List edited by Shannon Turlington
2016Book Riot 100 Must-Read Sci-Fi Fantasy Novels by Female Authors
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2019The Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Penguin Random House
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
202015 Recent Sci-Fi Books That Forever Shaped The Genre - Andrew Liptak for Polygon
2021Worlds Without End: Award Winning Books by Women Authors
2021NPR Books Summer Poll 2021: A Decade of Great Sci-Fi and Fantasy
2022The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Esquire Magazine
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2022The Greatest Science Fiction Books of the 2010s - The Portalist
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
The Three-Body Problem Cixin Liu 2014
3
Hugo Award - Novel Winner
Nebula Award - Novel Finalist
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
202015 Recent Sci-Fi Books That Forever Shaped The Genre - Andrew Liptak for Polygon
2021NPR Books Summer Poll 2021: A Decade of Great Sci-Fi and Fantasy
202129 of the Best Science Fiction Books Everyone Should Read - WIRED UK
2022The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Esquire Magazine
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2022The Greatest Science Fiction Books of the 2010s - The Portalist
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
To Say Nothing of the Dog Connie Willis 1998
1
Hugo Award - Novel Winner
Nebula Award - Novel Finalist
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
2001200 Significant Science Fiction Books by Women, 1984-2001 by David G. Hartwell
2014Best-Sci-Fi-Books: The 23 Best Science Fiction Books by Female Authors
2016SF Masterworks
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Goodreads Science Fiction Books by Female Authors
2016Sci Femme: The Reading List edited by Shannon Turlington
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2021Worlds Without End: Award Winning Books by Women Authors
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) Dennis E. Taylor 2016
2020The Best Modern Classic Science Fiction Books
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Books: 29