Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels

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

Title Author/Editor Year Citations Reviews↧
Anathem Neal Stephenson 2008
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
2011NPR Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
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
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 City & The City China Miéville 2009
Nebula Award - Novel Finalist
British Science Fiction Association Awards
Hugo Award - Novel Winner
Arthur C. Clarke Awards
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
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
2022The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Esquire Magazine
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
The Road Cormac McCarthy 2006
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)
The Windup Girl Paolo Bacigalupi 2009
John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Nebula Award - Novel Winner
Hugo Award - Novel Winner
2011Forbidden Planet: The 50 Books You MUST Read
2012Locus Poll Best 21st 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 & Fantasy 200
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2016Best-Sci-Fi-Books: 31 Best Literary Science Fiction Books
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
202015 Recent Sci-Fi Books That Forever Shaped The Genre - Andrew Liptak for Polygon
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)
Accelerando Charles Stross 2005
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)
Altered Carbon Richard K. Morgan 2002
Philip K. Dick Award
2006100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels
2011Forbidden Planet: The 50 Books You MUST Read
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
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
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2019The Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Penguin Random House
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
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)
Blindsight Peter Watts 2006
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
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
202015 Recent Sci-Fi Books That Forever Shaped The Genre - Andrew Liptak for Polygon
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
2024The 15 Best Sci-Fi Books I've Ever Read 2024 - Bookpilled
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Cloud Atlas David Mitchell 2004
Nebula Award - Novel Finalist
20091000 novels everyone must read (science fiction section)
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Ranker: The Greatest Science Fiction Novels of All Time
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Best-Sci-Fi-Books: 31 Best Literary Science Fiction Books
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
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)
Embassytown China Miéville 2011
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
Nebula Award - Novel Finalist
2011Forbidden Planet: The 50 Books You MUST Read
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2012AbeBooks: 50 Essential Science Fiction Books
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
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2024Best Sci-Fi of the 2010s - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Little Brother Cory Doctorow 2008
John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
Nebula 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
2012AbeBooks: 50 Essential Science Fiction Books
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
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro 2005
2009Mindblowing SF by Women and People of Color (Tor.com)
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Best-Sci-Fi-Books: 31 Best Literary Science Fiction Books
2019100 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Reedsydiscovery
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2022The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Esquire Magazine
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
Old Man's War John Scalzi 2005
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)
The Time Traveler's Wife Audrey Niffenegger 2003
2009Mindblowing SF by Women and People of Color (Tor.com)
20091000 novels everyone must read (science fiction section)
2011NPR Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Goodreads Science Fiction Books by Female Authors
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Best-Sci-Fi-Books: 31 Best Literary Science Fiction Books
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins 2008
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2014Best-Sci-Fi-Books: The 23 Best Science Fiction Books by Female Authors
2016Book Riot 100 Must-Read Sci-Fi Fantasy Novels by Female Authors
2016Ranker: The Greatest Science Fiction Novels of All Time
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2016Goodreads Science Fiction Books by Female Authors
2016Sci Femme: The Reading List edited by Shannon Turlington
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Amazon: 100 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction 100
2018The Great American Read - PBS
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
202015 Recent Sci-Fi Books That Forever Shaped The Genre - Andrew Liptak for Polygon
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 Baroque Cycle Neal Stephenson 2004
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
Blackout/All Clear Connie Willis 2010
Nebula Award - Novel Winner
Hugo Award - Novel Winner
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Sci Femme: The Reading List edited by Shannon Turlington
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2021Worlds Without End: Award Winning Books by Women Authors
The Dervish House Ian McDonald 2010
British Science Fiction Association Awards
John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
Ilium Dan Simmons 2003
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 200
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Light M. John Harrison 2002
Otherwise Award
2004Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction, 5th Edition by Neil Barron
20091000 novels everyone must read (science fiction section)
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2016How Great Science Fiction Works by Gary K. Wolfe
2022The 25 Best Sci-Fi Books from the 2000s Decade - The Portalist
Pattern Recognition William Gibson 2003
2004Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction, 5th Edition by Neil Barron
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Rainbows End Vernor Vinge 2006
Hugo Award - Novel Winner
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - novel
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
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)
River of Gods Ian McDonald 2004
British Science Fiction Association Awards
Hugo Award - Novel Finalist
2004Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction, 5th Edition by Neil Barron
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
Spin Robert Charles Wilson 2005
Hugo Award - Novel Winner
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
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2020Top 100 Sci Fi Books - Movie Death Cult
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2023My 25 Favourite Sci-Fi Books of All Time - Words in Time
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
The Years of Rice and Salt Kim Stanley Robinson 2002
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
20091000 novels everyone must read (science fiction section)
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
The Yiddish Policemen's Union Michael Chabon 2007
Nebula Award - Novel Winner
Hugo Award - Novel Winner
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
2012Locus Poll Best 21st Century Science Fiction Novels
2012Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo
2016Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction: A Basic Science Fiction Library
2016Goodreads Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
2019Worlds Without End: Most Read Books of All-Time
2022Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century (Listopia/Goodreads 6/25/22)
2024Classic Science Fiction - 2000-2009 - Goodreads/Listopia (1/29/24)
Books: 25