What Are the Best Historical Sci-Fi Books of All Time?

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“History, and science too, help put our small lives in context. But if we want to meet the dead looking alive, we turn to art.” —Hilary Mantel

The fact that science fiction "typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts" might make historical science fiction sound like an oxymoron, and yet science fiction authors have long been using the tools of science fiction to mine our history, and in doing so—like other writers of historical fiction—they have not only kept us engaged and entertained, but have often allowed us to find greater connection to and meaning in our history. In the case of historical science fiction, authors can also explore the question of "what if." What if things had gone differently? 

Goodreads defines historical fiction as being "any science fiction that has a significant portion of the plot set at least a century before the present. This can involve time travel or a setting entirely in the past but must contain at least one element of science fiction." We like this description, but for our purposes will expand and alter the criteria to include books where a significant portion of the plot is set at least fifty years in the past (with respect to the time of publication, please.) 

So, what do you think? Which historical sci-fi books are the very best? As always, this is a democratic process and we are excited to hear your nominations!  Please nominate as many as you'd like here or in our Facebook group and remember that for this opening round, you can vote for as many as you'd like as well! 


What are the Best Historical Sci-Fi Books of All Time?
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The Top 10 Stand-alone Sci-Fi Books From 2010 to Today!

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There will always be room in our hearts for both series and stand-alone books, but there is no denying that the latter is harder to find these days, and so, this poll was born. Via democratic process, we've made an effort to guide you toward some of the best stand-alone science fiction of recent years, and seriously: pick any book off this list and you will not be disappointed. Of various length, style, sub-genre and commitment to the realities of science, these are all excellent in their own way, and if you miss one, you are missing out!  

But as great as they all are, we wanted to know which one was the very best... Curious to see which one the community decided is an absolute must read? Read on! As always, these top ten lists are not meant to be all-inclusive or definitive, but give a great finger on the pulse of our communities interests and favorites. Want to see who missed out? Here's the original nomination list from the blog.

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are your top choices for the best stand-alone sci-fi books published since 2010! 

10. Recursion by Blake Crouch

It is no surprise to see Blake Crouch’s Recursion—winner of the 2019 Goodreads Readers Choice Award for science fiction—on this list! While many of you said you preferred Dark Matter over Recursion (and voted in that direction as well), there is no denying that Crouch—who has written several stand-alone books over the last 10 years (mostly thrillers)—has mastered the art of the the mind-bender, taking his readers on an intense and thrilling sci-fi journey which he cleverly wraps up in less than 400 pages. Delicious. 

At first, it looks like a disease. An epidemic that spreads through no known means, driving its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived. But the force that’s sweeping the world is no pathogen. It’s just the first shock wave, unleashed by a stunning discovery—and what’s in jeopardy is not our minds but the very fabric of time itself.

Read Recursion  here on Amazon

9. The Others by Jeremy Robinson

The Others was one of two books by Jeremy Robinson originally nominated for this top 10 list. It beat out the other selection by Robinson, Infinite, by just a few votes to land in our final poll and, inevitably, 9th place on our final list. The Others is a short, eerie, fast paced read that immediately grabs you. If you happened to miss this one, it's definitely one to add to your TBR! 

UFOs and alien abductions remain one of the most hotly debated and mysterious subjects of the twenty-first century. In the decades since 1960, with reports of strange encounters on the rise, thirteen million people have gone missing worldwide and never been found. The Others takes a fast-paced, unique, and moving look at the phenomenon that has fuelled Jeremy Robinson’s imagination since several sightings, strange happenings, and visits with renowned UFO investigator, and family friend, Raymond Fowler.

Read The Others here on Amazon.

8. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

“I don’t know who in their right mind would want to read Station Eleven during a pandemic.” —Emily St. John Mandel

Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven was an instant hit with both critics and fans when it was released 2014. Many read and loved it then, and in light of the current pandemic, many were drawn to reread it this year, finding… comfort? Not likely, but perhaps a relevancy that was impossible to feel only six years (and a lifetime) ago. 

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.

Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

Get your copy of Station Eleven here on Amazon.

7. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

“From first line to beautiful denouement, Claire North's The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is a gripping read that is often quietly profound, emotionally affecting and intellectually dizzying.” —Eric Brown, The Guardian 

Did this one happen to escape your notice? As a multi-award winning novel, it’s not exactly a “hidden gem,” but we suspect Claire North’s The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, might not have been as widely read as some of our other selections. In The Guardian, Eric Brown further described North’s 2014 release as  “a subtle study of friendship, love and the fluid complexity of existence,” which sounds downright comforting, right about now, don't you think? If you haven’t read it yet, take this as your cue to pick it up! 

Harry August is on his deathbed. Again.

No matter what he does or the decisions he makes, when death comes, Harry always returns to where he began, a child with all the knowledge of a life he has already lived a dozen times before. Nothing ever changes.

Until now.

As Harry nears the end of his eleventh life, a little girl appears at his bedside. "I nearly missed you, Doctor August," she says. "I need to send a message."

This is the story of what Harry does next, and what he did before, and how he tries to save a past he cannot change and a future he cannot allow.

Read The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August here on Amazon.

6. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

“'Dark Matter?' It's a whole bag of barbecue chips, man. And it's just sitting there waiting for you to devour in one sitting.” —Jason Sheehan, NPR

Series are great! We love ‘em! But sometimes? Sometimes we want something short and zippy; something with great characters, and both a plot and pace that drives us to read the whole thing in one sitting, leaving us deeply satisfied when we do. A great, short, stand-alone can do that, and that quote up there, if nothing else, should tell you that this is exactly what Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter does. Reach for this 2016 stand-alone sci-fi thriller next time you have a free afternoon and a desire to be wildly entertained.

“Are you happy with your life?”

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. 

Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

Grab Dark Matter here on Amazon.

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ll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

5. Under Darkness by Jasper T Scott

Published in 2018, Under Darkness is one of a handful of excellent stand-alone books written by best-selling author Jasper T. Scott. Under Darkness resonates well with stand-alone readers the same way that the original Independence Day resonated with viewers. It’s a story about an alien invasion that focuses on the characters. There’s a pervasive mystery of why the invaders are here woven throughout, and a chilling sense of horror surrounds the aliens themselves. Multiple viewpoints are developed, both civilian and military, and the setting is the picturesque island of Kauai. The book perfectly captures both the physical setting and the cultural nuances of the locals, making it an authentic read. You really feel like you are there on a tropical island, being hunted by alien invaders. The why of their arrival is eventually answered, and all of the plot threads are resolved without leaving anything hanging at the end. It’s no wonder readers love this book!

Bill Steele is in the trenches, trying to survive in the competitive world of luxury vacation resorts on the island of Kauai. Today is a particularly bad day; the water main burst and his guests are demanding refunds and promising bad reviews. In the middle of this, a dark shadow falls over the island. It’s not a lunar eclipse, because Bill can clearly see the crescent moon shimmering on the water. This is something else.

Get your copy of Under Darkness  here on Amazon.

4. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

“SEVENEVES is a very old project; I first started thinking about it when I was working at Blue Origin, probably circa 2004… The basic elements of the world were fixed a long time ago, and for at least eight years I have been roving around pitching it to various people in various media: television, movies, games, and various "transmedia" combinations. In the autumn of 2013, however I decided to just sit down and write it as a novel: the one thing I know I can get done.” —Neal Stephenson

The word "epic" gets tossed around a lot these days, but when it comes to Neal Stephenson's Seveneves, it is far from misplaced. Seveneves is a truly epic stand-alone novel, both in scope and in length. No doubt, there is something to be said for a short, fast-paced book you can burn through in one sitting, but if you want to go deep, to get lost for a while without committing to a series, look no further than this book, which was almost a decade in the making. 

What would happen if the world were ending?

A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.

Dive into Seveneves  here on Amazon.

3. 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Stephen King has said that the concept for 11/22/63 was formed forty years before he actually wrote and published it in 2011. Wisely, perhaps, as he claims that back then, he lacked the willingness to do the research required to do the story justice, so instead let the idea marinate for a while. By the time he came back to it, not only was he ready to commit to the research needed to support the story, but he had over 50 books under his belt and had better honed his talents. 

At just shy of 1000 pages, the book is a commitment. Obviously less of a commitment than a series, but a commitment, none the less. A wonderful length, really, giving the reader a chance to settle in for the ride, and the writer an opportunity to really explore the plot and characters and unhurriedly infuse the story with a sense of richness. As discerning readers, this is what we’re looking for in a good stand-alone: something that can go the distance in a single work.

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? Stephen King’s heart-stoppingly dramatic new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination—a thousand page tour de force.

Get your copy of 11/22/63  here on Amazon.

2. Redshirts by John Scalzi

Many of you have read John Scalzi's debut novel, Old Man’s War, as well as the rest of the books that completed the series. It’s probably safe to say that to date, the series remains his best known work. While not as well known, Scalzi’s clever, fun, funny, multi-award-winning, and wildly entertaining stand-alone Redshirts is definitely worthy of attention!  It’s short, it’s fast-paced, it’s the perfect afternoon read. If you've missed it, be sure to grab it! You won't be disappointed.

Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It's a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship's Xenobiology laboratory.

Life couldn't be better…until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship's captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations, and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues' understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is…and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.

Start reading Redshirts here on Amazon.

1. The Martian by Andy Weir

More than a few of you mentioned that among the nominees, The Martian was the only book you’d read! This will always be a bit of a hazard with these polls, that the books finding their way to a wider audience will inevitably stand a better chance at winning; but regardless of how the odds might have been stacked in its favor, there is no denying that Andy Weir’s The Martian—a multi-award-winner described by many casual reviewers as being the “perfect novel”—is an incredible book. Not every book gets the audience it deserves, but in the case of The Martian, it’s safe to say it has. On the off chance that you missed this modern classic, make sure you make the time to give it a read.

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

Grab The Martian  here on Amazon.


What do you think of our top 10? How many of these brilliant books have you read? Which one will you read next? We'd love to hear from you! Weigh in on the comments here on the blog, or visit us  here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and make sure to check out our most recent poll while you're there!

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

Why Won’t Aliens Talk to Us?

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It’s called the Fermi paradox, named after Italian-American physicist Enrico Fermi.

We know there are billions of planets in the galaxy. According to the famous Drake equation, many of these worlds probably developed alien life. So… where are all the aliens?

There are many possible solutions to the Fermi paradox. Here at Discover Sci-Fi, we’d like to offer ten hypotheses. Which one is true? We don’t know. What do you think?

1. WE’RE TOO PRIMITIVEWhen is the last time you had a conversation with an ant? When you see an ant on the street, odds are you ignore it and keep on walking. Maybe compared to aliens, we humans seem as inconsequential as ants. Space-faring aliens might be far, far more advanced and intelligent than us primitive humans. We’re just not worth their time. The aliens are out there. They just don’t bother talking to us.

2. THEY’RE STUDYING US FROM HIDINGTo be fair, some humans are fascinated by ants. They collect them in ant farms and study them. Meanwhile, the ants bustle about, blissfully unaware of the giant humans peering in. Maybe the aliens are out there. And they’re studying us. They’re simply doing it discreetly.

3. WE’RE THE FIRSTMaybe there are plenty of aliens out there, but they’re no smarter than pigeons. Or maybe they’re intelligent but still in the Stone Age. We humans might be the first species to develop spaceflight. In this case, it’s up to us to contact them.

4. THEIR FREQUENCY IS TOO DIFFERENTThe SETI program has been attempting to detect alien radio transmissions. So far without any success. Maybe we’re just not listening properly. We humans transmit our data on certain frequencies. Maybe some alien species live for millions of years, and they only transmit one packet of data a year. They take their time. It takes them a century just to say “hello.” We humans, with our short lifespan, must seem as ephemeral as mayflies to them. We can’t distinguish their sloooow trickle of information from background noise.

5. THEIR TECHNOLOGY IS TOO ADVANCEDMaybe SETI is approaching this all wrong. Maybe aliens aren’t using radio signals at all. To advanced aliens, radio might seem as quaint as smoke signals. They could be using communication technology we humans don’t yet have. They’re transmitting, we simply can’t detect it.

Want to know the scariest aliens we could find in science fiction lore?

Here is our list of the Ten Scariest Aliens.

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this top 10 list, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a new top 10 list, or any other articles of interest goes up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

6. THEY LIVE IN VIRTUAL WORLDSWho cares about the physical universe? It’s dark, dangerous, and depressing. Maybe aliens abandoned their clunky biological bodies and uploaded their consciousness into virtual worlds. Why live in harsh reality when you can enjoy a cushy virtual world? It’s possible aliens haven’t contacted us because they’re busy enjoying life in the Matrix.

7. THE DISTANCES ARE TOO VASTSpace is big. Really big. To quote Douglas Adams, “You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.” Maybe aliens are out there, but nobody can travel faster than light. So all civilizations are essentially bound to their local star system. We’re all too far apart to ever meet.

8. THEY’RE HIDINGHere is a disturbing possibility. Alien civilizations might be hiding. Maybe there is a danger out there in space we don’t know about. Some intergalactic apex-predator, prowling the galaxy for victims. All the other aliens are hiding from this predator. Maybe we should be hiding too.

9. THEY DESTROYED THEMSELVESHumans can be self-destructive. We fight wars. We build nuclear weapons. We pollute our planet. Someday we might even destroy ourselves. It might be the nature of intelligent civilizations to self-destruct. Maybe alien civilizations rise many times, but they never get far. They invariably wipe themselves out.

10. WE’RE TOO NEWThe distances in space are vast. Even at the speed of light, it takes years to travel among the stars. We humans have only been around for a short while. We’ve only existed as a species for about 200,000 years. In cosmic terms, that’s the blink of an eye. And remember—for most of that time, we lived in the Stone Age. We’ve only been sending radio signals for a few generations. Our broadcasts have only reached a handful of nearby stars. Our civilization has only just emerged. We’re newborns blinking in the sun. Maybe the aliens haven’t even noticed us yet . . . but they will. Any day now, they might come knocking.

What do you think? Why won’t aliens talk to us? Share your theories in the comments!

Looking for some books to read on the topic of first encounter, alien oddities, and invasions?

Here is our list of the Top 10 Most Terrifying Aliens in Sci-Fi Books/Series.

Here is our list of First Contact Settings in Literature.

Daniel Arenson is a bookworm, proud geek, and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. His novels have sold over a million copies. He's written over sixty novels in multiple series.

He is best known for Earthrise, the story of Earth struggling to rise after a devastating alien invasion. The Earthrise universe is explored in three series: Earthrise The Original Series, Soldiers of Earthrise, and Children of Earthrise.

In addition to Earthrise, Daniel has written the comedic sci-fi trilogy Alien Hunters.

He's also written several epic fantasy series: Kingdoms of Sand, Moth, Requiem.

You can follow Daniel on Facebook, Twitter and his website.

Geek Grotto: Star Wars Edition

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Welcome to the Geek Grotto where we find the coolest, geekiest stuff out there. For our first edition, we're celebrating Star Wars. We'll start with a bit of science and then some fun potential additions to your home. (In case you have stacks of money just waiting to be spent on Star Wars-themed furnishings.)

These stormtrooper wood-burning stoves are available from BurnedbyDesignLtd on Etsy.

Did you catch the Mandalorian? If not, you may want to skip this article, but if you were also wondering about that final showdown at the end of the season, Wired applies science to the question that leaped into many of our minds:

Mandalorian vs. TIE Fighter: Who Would Win?

An article from a few weeks ago talks about what goes into the puppets and creatures of Star Wars to make them seem real on the screen:

Star Wars: How filmmakers made alien creatures believable

As far as geeking your man cave (or woman cave) goes, here are a few fun finds from around the web:

From the same outfit that offers the stormtrooper wood-burning stoves (pictured above), you can pick up your very own Darth Vader barbecue. It's clear that steaks and hot dogs cooked using the Force will be superior (at $700, we certainly hope so):

Darth Vader is prepared to grill your steaks to medium-rare perfection!

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this top 10 list, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a new top 10 list, or any other articles of interest goes up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

For those with the urge to cook but with a little less to spend (say $70 instead of $700), Williams Sonoma has you covered with their line of Star Wars instapots. Your significant other definitely won't complain about having such a convenient and practical appliance on the kitchen countertop.

BB-8 is ready to cook your stew!


Lastly, for those not fully ready to commit to something as large as an appliance or a BBQ grill, here are some Star Wars shot glasses that would fit nicely in your cabinet:

May the Force be with… your booze.

That's it from the Geek Grotto this week. Do you have any Star Wars decor around your house?

Lindsay has early memories of convincing childhood friends, pets, and stuffed animals to play the roles of characters in her worlds, so it’s safe to say she’s been making up stories for a long time. 

When she’s not writing, she’s usually hiking with her dogs, practicing yoga, playing tennis, or eating entirely too much dark chocolate (she only does one of those things truly well, and she will let you guess which it is). She grew up in the Seattle area and still visits the Pacific Northwest frequently, but after realizing she was solar powered, she moved to Arizona and now lives in the mountains north of Phoenix.

She's written several sci-fi series: Fallen Empire, Sky Full of Stars & Star Kingdom.

You can follow Lindsay on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

The Six – Science Fiction Anime Films You Cannot Miss

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Besides mainstream science fiction blockbuster movies like The Arrival or Interstellar, I enjoy side trips into streaming media, web series, or anime. For me, science fiction anime holds the same excitement as discovering a new favorite indie record: it’s something the world at large hasn’t discovered yet. And yes, the world is waking up; movies like Ghost in the Shell and Alita: Battle Angel are starting to bring this genre into the forefront. If you’re curious and open to discovering something new, here’s a list of six science fiction anime films that, in my opinion, you cannot miss.

​Psycho-Pass (2012). Lovers of Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report, look no further. In this anime, a futuristic Japanese society revolves around the Sibyl System, which attempts to predict a citizen’s criminal intent by examining their mental state, providing their so-called Psycho-Pass. Enforcer Akane Tsunemori, a young woman partnered alongside veteran Shinya Kougami, learns that the Sibyl System isn’t as perfect as society assumes. She must answer the question of whether, faced with a system that may be corrupt, justice has any meaning.

​Steins;Gate (2011). Scientist Rintarou Okabe and his lab members Mayuri Shiina and Hashida Itaru work on inventions that for the most part don’t hold promise, until they discover that one of their contraptions, dubbed the Phone Microwave, can send emails to the past. This ability alters the flow of history, and Stein;Gate leads Okabe through the labyrinth of an ever-changing past and present, desperate to unravel time’s tangled threads to bring back the woman he loved.

​Summer Wars (2009). The Internet-based world of OZ is a phenomenon, engaging the world in virtual sports and commerce; even more, society’s infrastructure of traffic, banking and communications rely on OZ. Against this backdrop, Kenji Koiso, an OZ moderator, is invited by his crush Natsuki Shinohara to her great grandmother’s house for her 90th birthday party, where he is announced (surprise!) as her fiancé. Shortly after, Kenji is asked to solve a seemingly innocuous puzzle on his mobile. When he does so, OZ is compromised and the world faces an existential threat from cyberspace. A story about heroism, love, and family, Summer Wars is perhaps my favorite underrated sci-fi anime of all time.

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​The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006). In her final year of high school, Makoto Konno agonizes about her future. She spends most of her time hanging out with her two best friends, Chiaki Mamiya and Kousuke Tsuda, and dealing with school; but her life changes when she accidentally discovers that she can literally leap into different times. As she plays with this power, frivolously changing the past to ensure outcomes that seemingly benefit her, she discovers that choices have consequences. This is a coming-of-age story cloaked in time travel, beautifully told and absolutely magical.

​Cowboy Bebop (1998). Netflix’s highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of the animehas gone through a production roller coaster since being announced in 2018. Unfortunately, production shut down for nearly nine months due to a knee injury to its lead, Star Trek actor John Cho. Now, with a pandemic in full swing, it’s unclear when production can resume. That doesn’t stop you from getting acquainted with the original anime, now essentially synonymous with sci-fi anime. Cowboy Bebop recounts the adventures of a rag-tag group of bounty hunters, called Cowboys, on their ship Bebop, in the year 2071. Within one long narrative arc, each self-contained story presents unforgettable characters, compelling story, unique animation, and a jazz score. All that together make Cowboy Bebop an unforgettable work.

Akira (1988). I’m among the many who would say that Akira is the touchstone of sci-fi anime. Based on the landmark manga by Katsuhiro Otomo, the work remains one of the most influential of the genre. In a fictional 1988, a psychic explosion tears through Tokyo, igniting World War III. The young psychic, or esper, is taken into custody to prevent any further destruction. Twenty-one years later, in 2019, Neo-Tokyo has risen from the ashes of the old city. Shoutarou Kaneda leads the Capsules, a motorcycle gang, against their rivals, the Clowns. In one of these conflicts, his best friend Tetsuo Shima is caught up in an accident with an esper escaped from a government institution. Tetsuo himself begins to exhibit mysterious abilities, as the government seeks his capture to prevent another apocalypse.

That’s The Six for today. I’ve left out dozens of worthy sci-fi anime in an effort to narrow my list down to six essential works, so if your favorite isn’t here, don’t worry. Tell me about the ones you think are must sees, and I’ll be sure to include them in an update. Meanwhile, let’s fire up our favorite anime channels and enjoy!

Samuel Peralta
Samuel Peralta is a physicist and storyteller.

He was recognized as a Best American Science Fiction & Fantasynotable author for his work, Hereafter. His book projects have hit the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists, and have hit #1 in the speculative fiction charts on all major ebook platforms – Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple iBooks, and Kobo.

Samuel's works have been published in numerous anthologies and magazines, including Lightspeed, Canyons, Beyond the Stars, UnCommon, Existere, OCHO, Seedpod, Undercurrents, and Fictionaut.

He is the creator and series editor of the acclaimed Future Chronicles series of speculative fiction anthologies, with every title rising, in turn, to the top of the Amazon bestseller lists.

You can follow Samuel on Facebook, Twitter and his website.

The Six – My List of Underrated Science Fiction Movies

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Led by the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises, science fiction films have always been a staple for moviegoers. Unfortunately, while there have been many celebrated films, there have been quite a few pretty good films that were underrated on release. Even worse, some of these have been largely forgotten, as new films – chock-full of the most up-to-date special effects and the newest stars – fill the cinemas and queue up for bingeing on the streaming channels. In hoping that you might take a chance on some of these underrated films, here’s a list of six of some of the most underrated science fiction movies.

The Thing (1982). Directed by John Carpenter, and starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, and Keith David. A remake of Howard Hawks’ The Thing From Another World (1951) and based on the novella Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell, Jr. In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Once unfrozen, the form-changing alien wreaks havoc, creating terror as it becomes one of them. But who?

Dark City (1998). Directed by Alex Proyas, and starring Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, William Hurt, and Jennifer Connelly. A man struggles with memories of his past, which includes a wife he cannot remember, and a nightmarish world without a sun, the Dark City, which gets re-shaped into a new metropolis every night.

Equilibrium (2002). Directed by Kurt Wimmer, and starring Christian Bale, Sean Bean, and Emily Watson. In a futuristic world, emotion is outlawed and human behavior is controlled by a drug, Prozium, that hinders emotion. Clerics are officials trained in the martial arts gun kata, in charge of finding and eliminating potential threats to the regime. When one Cleric does not take his dose of Prozium, a whole new world is opened up to him and he takes on the establishment that he's supposed to be working for.

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Moon (2009). Directed by Duncan Jones, starring Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, and Dominique McElligott. Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.

Coherence (2013). Directed by James Ward Byrkit, and starring Emily Baldoni, Maury Sterling, and Nicholas Brendon. Strange things begin to happen when a group of friends gather for a dinner party on an evening when a comet is passing overhead.

Snowpiercer (2013). Directed by Bong Joon Ho and starring Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, and Tilda Swinton, based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob and Jean-March Rochette. In a future where a failed climate-change experiment has killed all life except for the lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, a new class system emerges as Curtis Everett leads a group of passengers from the lower-class rear to the more gentrified front of the train.

These are all amazing films to experience, and I’m sure you can think of a few other underrated films that science fiction aficionados should be aware of. Maybe I haven’t heard of them either, and I should have a watch… Let me know in the comments or in the DSF Reader Group on Facebook and I’ll share them sometime in the future!

Samuel Peralta
Samuel Peralta is a physicist and storyteller.

He was recognized as a Best American Science Fiction & Fantasynotable author for his work, Hereafter. His book projects have hit the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists, and have hit #1 in the speculative fiction charts on all major ebook platforms – Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple iBooks, and Kobo.

Samuel's works have been published in numerous anthologies and magazines, including Lightspeed, Canyons, Beyond the Stars, UnCommon, Existere, OCHO, Seedpod, Undercurrents, and Fictionaut.

He is the creator and series editor of the acclaimed Future Chronicles series of speculative fiction anthologies, with every title rising, in turn, to the top of the Amazon bestseller lists.

You can follow Samuel on Facebook, Twitter and his website.

Ten Scariest Aliens

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Space. It’s dark. It’s unexplored. Let’s face it, it can be scary.

Space is like the darkness under our bed. Like a closet door ajar in the night. Like a shadowy cave where a predator might lurk.

We humans evolved to fear the unknown darkness. Is it any wonder science fiction is full of scary aliens?

Today we’ll look at top scariest aliens in science fiction.

10. Ferengi

We put the Ferengi at number 10 because, let’s face it, they aren’t too scary. Originally, the guys at Star Trek wanted to create a formidable antagonist. An alien race that would strike some serious fear into the heart of the Federation. They designed aliens they thought would be demonic. The result was . . . less than terrifying. Thankfully, with Deep Space Nine, Star Trek pivoted and began to humanize the Ferengi, creating a much more interesting race.

9. Sarlacc

A pit full of tentacles and teeth is pretty scary. Especially when it will digest you over a thousand years, keeping you alive throughout the process. We’re gonna give these guys a wide berth. The Sarlacc from Star Wars clocks in at our 9th scariest alien.

8. Starship Troopers Bugs

The Arachnids from Starship Troopers are brutal. With their vicious mandibles and claws, they love nothing more than ripping humans apart. They can inflict serious damage even upon the bravest space marines. We’ll never forget the Battle of Klendathu.

7. Killer Klowns from Outer Space

Aliens and homicidal clowns? Okay, that’s a double dose of evil right there. These terrifying aliens star in a cult 1980s horror film. They’re Pennywise meets Predator. No thanks. We’re staying far away from that circus.

6. They Live aliens

The aliens from They Live are particularly scary because they live among us. They disguise themselves as humans. Only with special sunglasses can you see their true, hideous forms. Could they be living among us right now?

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5. Doctor Who's Weeping Angels

Opening our top five are the Weeping Angels from Doctor Who. They terrified a generation of Whovians, and are largely considered the scariest alien from Doctor Who. And that’s saying something. When you look at them, they appear like weeping angel statues, the kind you see in graveyards. But if you so much as blink, they transform into something hideous … and attack. Don’t blink!

4. Predators

The Predators are among the most fearsome aliens in the galaxy. This race of spacefaring hunters won’t only kill you. They’ll save your skull as a trophy. A single Predator can wipe out an entire platoon of elite human commandos. If you see one, cover yourself in mud and hide.

3. Xenomorphs

The Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise terrified a generation. Even if you’re not a big science fiction fan, you probably know them. And fear them. We first saw one burst out of John Hurt’s chest in 1979. We’re still traumatized.

2. Grays from Fire in the Sky

They might not have claws like Xenomorphs or fangs like Predators. But the aliens from Fire in the Sky are terrors from your worst nightmares. They will strap you down and perform sadistic medical experiments on you. Honestly? We’d rather face a Predator’s jaws than these guys’ scalpels.

1. John Carpenter's The Thing

Our scariest alien is the Thing. We’re not quite sure how to describe it. Maybe because it can take so many forms, each more hideous than the last. Jon Carpenter’s film took science fiction and drenched it with body horror.

Honorable Mention: Mac

We had to include a little bonus alien. Mac from Mac & Me. This 80's children’s film attempt to rip off E.T., following the plot almost exactly. But its version of E.T., named Mac, was anything but cute. He was slimy, stretchy, and to be honest, pretty damn creepy.

What do you think of our list? How would YOU rank the top ten scariest aliens? Let us know in the comments, or by joining in on the debate in the DSF Reader Group on Facebook.

Daniel Arenson is a bookworm, proud geek, and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. His novels have sold over a million copies. He's written over sixty novels in multiple series.

He is best known for Earthrise, the story of Earth struggling to rise after a devastating alien invasion. The Earthrise universe is explored in three series: Earthrise The Original Series, Soldiers of Earthrise, and Children of Earthrise.

In addition to Earthrise, Daniel has written the comedic sci-fi trilogy Alien Hunters.

He's also written several epic fantasy series: Kingdoms of Sand, Moth, Requiem.

You can follow Daniel on Facebook, Twitter and his website.

The Top 8 (+1!) Books or Series Employing Parallel Universes

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“Time could bifurcate, like a pair of trousers. You could end up in the wrong leg, living a life that was actually happening in the other leg, talking to people who weren't in your leg, walking into walls that weren't there any more. Life could be horrible in the wrong trouser of Time." —Terry Pratchett . 

Well, we have a winner! Haha! Perhaps not the one we expected, and while you guys direct the outcomes with your nominations and votes, we think many of you will be head-scratchingly surprised by the results here as well.

The unexpected.

Isn't that one of the things that keeps whatever universe we're conscious in exciting? Is your curiosity sufficiently piqued? Want to know why we are so perplexed by the results? Why our "Top 10" is a "Top 8 + Bonus Read?" Read on! 

As always, these top ten lists are not meant to be all-inclusive or definitive, but give a great finger on the pulse of our community's interests and favorites. Want to see who missed out? Here's the original nomination list from the blog.

And now, without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook Reader group, here are your top choices for the best books or series employing parallel universes... 

8. The Crossroads of Time by Andre Norton

We were surprised this short, adventure driven novel didn’t get more love! Andre Norton's The Crossroads of Time landed on the list with just a handful of votes; perhaps that simply means many of you haven't had a chance yet to enjoy it.

In an odd twist on the theme of time travel, Norton has her characters traveling across time, rather than forward or backward. The dates do not change as the men travel from one timeline to another, but the histories of those worlds differ from each other. Tacitly postulating a kind of two-dimensional time, Norton anticipated Hugh Everett III's many-worlds interpretation of the quantum theory by one year. She called it the "possibility worlds" theory of history.

When Blake Walker foiled a murder attempt on one of his neighbors he somehow found himself drafted into a frantic chase for a dangerous criminal - through the almost infinite levels of alternate Earths. It was a chase that would take him through level upon level of unknown dangers in search of a ruthless genius who had found our Earth the perfect place to begin his series of conquests. If Walker succeeded, he would save Earth. If he failed, his homeworld could be enslaved, and he could be trapped on an alien Earth!

Start The Crossroads of time here on Amazon

7. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

“And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful house!
And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful wife!"

In 7th place, we have a more contemporary selection: Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch. In Crouch's mind-bending science fiction thriller Dark Matter, Jason Dessen is living the lyrics of the famous Talking Heads song. I mean, sure, parallel universes wasn’t really what they were on about, they weren’t talking about waking up in and finding that, literally, your house was not your house, your wife was not your wife, and so on. Still, we think of him now when we hear that song…

Jason Dessen is walking home through the chilly Chicago streets one night, looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the fireplace with his wife, Daniela, and their son, Charlie—when his reality shatters.

It starts with a man in a mask kidnapping him at gunpoint, for reasons Jason can’t begin to fathom—what would anyone want with an ordinary physics professor?—and grows even more terrifying from there, as Jason’s abductor injects him with some unknown drug and watches while he loses consciousness.

When Jason awakes, he’s in a lab, strapped to a gurney—and a man he’s never seen before is cheerily telling him “welcome back!”

Jason soon learns that in this world he’s woken up to, his house is not his house. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born.

And someone is hunting him.

Read Dark Matter here on Amazon.

6. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

Of all the books that lean toward fantasy on this list, the title landing in 6th place leans the hardest. Perhaps a little too hard to be properly included in a list celebrating science fiction works, and while we generally attempt to ferret out all pure fantasy titles, this one slipped through but is, nevertheless, a splendid example of a book employing parallel universes.

The Sword of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel by American writer Terry Brooks. It is the first book of the Original Shannara Trilogy, followed by The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara.

Living in peaceful Shady Vale, Shea Ohmsford knew little of the troubles that plagued the rest of the world. Then the giant, forbidding Allanon revealed that the supposedly dead Warlock Lord was plotting to destroy the world. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness was the Sword of Shannara, which could only be used by a true heir of Shannara--Shea being the last of the bloodline, upon whom all hope rested. Soon a Skull Bearer, dread minion of Evil, flew into the Vale, seeking to destroy Shea. To save the Vale, Shea fled, drawing the Skull Bearer after him.

Get your copy of The Sword of Shannara  here on Amazon.

TIE! 5A. Apprentice Adept by Piers Anthony

And here we have the first of our selections which tied for 5th place! Once again, if hard sci-fi is more your jam, this is another great book that might have gone unnoticed by you.

The Apprentice Adept series by English American author Piers Anthony takes place on Phaze and Proton, two worlds occupying the same space in two different dimensional planes. Phaze is a lush planet of magic, where Proton is a barren mining planet of science. As the series opens, each person born on Phaze and Proton has an alternate self living on the other world. But if a person on either world lacks a duplicate (for instance if a Proton citizen immigrated there from another planet, or a counterpart from the opposite frame died), he can cross to the other through an energy "curtain" that circumscribes each frame.

On the technological, decadent world of Proton, someone was trying to destroy Stile, serf and master Gamesman. His only escape lay in Phaze, a world totally ruled by magic. Soon he learned that his alternate self had already been murdered, and that he was next. On Proton, his fate depended on winning the great Games. On Phaze, he must master magic to survive. And if he used any magic at all, his friends were determined to kill him at once!

Get your copy of Split Infinity, book one in the Apprentice Adept series,  here on Amazon.

TIE! 5B. The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan 

Sharing 5th spot is the EPIC sci-fi fantasy series, The Wheel of Time. While some members questioned the inclusion of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series to this poll, we feel that—unlike other questionable nominations that found their way onto the list—this one is in keeping with the theme of the poll. Of course, if you have strong opinions either way, we'd love to hear more from you in the comments here or in our facebook group! 

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Grab the first book in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, The Eye of the World, here on Amazon.

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ll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

4. The World of Tiers by Philip José Farmer

Coming in at number 4 on our list is The World of Tiers, a series of science fiction novels by American writer Philip José Farmer. Farmer is known for his incredible world-building, and this series is no exception!

The World of Tiers novels are set within a series of artificially-constructed universes, created and ruled by decadent beings who are genetically identical to humans, but regard themselves as superior, who are the inheritors of an advanced technology they no longer understand.

When Robert Wolff found a strange horn in an empty house, he held the key to a different universe. To blow that horn would open up a door through space-time and permit entry to a cosmos whose dimensions and laws were not those our starry galaxy knows.

Get your copy of Volume One of Philip José Farmer's The World of Tiers  here on Amazon.

3. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson

If you’re a sci-fi purist, you may have missed reading this award-winning series, another which blends science fiction and fantasy. That said, clearly enough of you have read it that it made and placed high on the final list; for those of you who haven’t though, maybe the stamp of approval from your fellow sci-fi fans is the push you need to consider diving in?

Lord Foul’s Bane, the first book of Stephen R. Donaldson's series, follows Thomas Covenant on a journey through another land, one in which he wakes following an accident where he is hit by a police car. Believing that he is unconscious from his collision with the police car, and therefore experiencing a fantastical dream or delusion, Covenant refuses to accept the reality of the Land. Appalled and indignant at the expectations the people of the Land have for him as their new-found saviour, he gives himself the title of "Unbeliever."

Yet the Land tempted him. He had been sick; now he seemed better than ever before. Through no fault of his own, he had been outcast, unclean, a pariah. Now he was regarded as a reincarnation of the Land's greatest hero--Berek Halfhand--armed with the mystic power of White Gold. That power alone could protect the Lords of the Land from the ancient evil of Despiser, Lord Foul. Only...Covenant had no idea of how the power could be used!

Pick up your copy of Lord Foul's Bane here on Amazon.

2. The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King 

Many fans cite this deeply immersive series as being their favorite work by the author, Stephen King, so we definitely expected to see this one here. How about you? The main story takes place in a world somewhat similar to the Old West but in an alternate timeframe or parallel universe.

In the first book of this brilliant series, The Gunslinger, Stephen King introduces readers to one of his most enigmatic heroes, Roland of Gilead, The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which frighteningly mirrors our own, Roland pursues The Man in Black, encounters an alluring woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the Kid from Earth called Jake. Both grippingly realistic and eerily dreamlike, The Gunslinger leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter

Get your copy of The Gunslinger, the first book in this iconic series, here on Amazon.

1. The Number of the Beast by Robert A. Heinlein

The subtitle says it all: "A Parallel Novel About Parallel Universes." How could this, written by a sci-fi master no less, NOT have made the cut? Based on the votes this title landed in second place, but considering the criteria and adjusting for that, this excellent selection easily takes the place it deserves: Number 1! 

The Number of the Beast, by legendary author Robert A Heinlein follows the adventures of Zeb, Deety, Hilda, and Jake when they are ambushed by the alien “Black Hats” and barely escape with their lives on a specially configured vehicle (the Gay Deceiver) that can travel along various planes of existence, allowing them to visit parallel universes.

Heinlein had already wrote a “parallel” novel about the four characters and parallel universes in 1977. He effectively wrote two parallel novels about parallel universes. The novels share the same start, but as soon as the Gay Deceiver is used to transport them to a parallel universe, each book takes the readers to a totally different parallel world.

When two male and two female supremely sensual, unspeakably cerebral humans find themselves under attack from aliens who want their awesome quantum breakthrough, they take to the skies -- and zoom into the cosmos on a rocket roller coaster ride of adventure and danger, ecstasy and peril.

The novel lies somewhere between parody and homage in its deliberate use of the style of the 1930s' pulp novels. How can you NOT read this?

Read Heinlein's legendary, pulp fiction inspired The Number of the Beast, here on Amazon.

BONUS Selection: Foundation by Isaac Asimov

“How does the Foundation series qualify?” 

“A very good series, but no indication that it was in a parallel universe.”

“Can't vote because Foundation is not a parallel universe!” 

Indeed.

The statements above are just some of the many comments some of you added to the thread about this poll in the Discover Sci-Fi Facebook Group. And rightfully so!

We concede that despite pulling in the most votes in the opening poll and landing in top spot here in the final account, Isaac Asimov's Foundation doesn’t fit the criteria.

We take full responsibility for letting this slide into the final round of voting, but we are curious to hear from those who did nominate and vote for this selection, and we hope you will chime in in the comments: what made you select Foundation for this particular best of poll?

Maybe all that means is that it is time for a refresher. When was the last time you read this award-winning and, one might say, “foundational” work of science fiction? Decades ago? <gasp> Never? Parallel universes or not, perhaps it’s time to take a read. (or re-read).

For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future -- to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save mankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire -- both scientists and scholars -- and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the Galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for a future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation.

Get your copy of the sci-fi classic, Foundation  here on Amazon.

With infinite possibilities, is there ever a real conclusion?

What do you think of that list? Do you agree, or do you feel as though your best-loved parallel universe narrative should have placed higher on the list? What do YOU think of Foundation showing up here? Are you a hard sci-fi lover shaking your head at all the sci-fi fantasy selections? We want to hear from you! Feel free to join us here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and then check out our most recent poll while you're there. Don't have Facebook? Feel free to add to the comments below

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

The Top 10 Best Utopian Books/Series in Science Fiction

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“Your utopia is my dystopia." —Gordon Jack 

A few weeks ago, we asked you to think about the best utopian science fiction books and series.

Now we're asking: Does such a thing even exist? 

This is a question many put forward in response to the various titles that were nominated and considered because, as we noted, many stories centring on utopian themes pose this very same question. And, what we see over and over again is that, indeed, what is a utopian existence for one, is inevitably someone else's dystopian nightmare. 

While we'd love to believe that someday, somehow, a utopian world can be found, in literature the tension required to carry a story that is of interest often ends up finding itself in the juxtaposition between the perfect world and what we have to give up in order to achieve it; that or an examination of who still suffers.

As always, these top ten lists are not meant to be all-inclusive or definitive, but give a great finger on the pulse of our communities interests and favorites. Want to see who missed out? Here's the original nomination list from the blog.

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are your top choices for the best utopian sci-fi books/series.

10. Those Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin

We were thrilled to see this brilliant work nominated and pleased that it garnered enough votes to make the final cut. We’re going to go out on a limb and say that the fact it placed tenth in the final poll may be an indication that it hasn’t been read as widely within in our community as some of the other (excellent) selections. It's a very short read, something you could likely finish over your morning coffee. Perhaps it’s time to pick it up?

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas is a 1973 work of short philosophical fiction by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin.

With deliberately both vague and vivid descriptions, the narrator depicts a summer festival in the utopian city of Omelas, whose prosperity depends on the perpetual misery of a single child. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Short Fiction in 1974 and won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1974.

Get The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas here on Amazon

9. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

Ninth on our list is another selection from Ursula K. Le Guin! The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia is a 1974 utopian science fiction novel set in the fictional universe of the seven novels of the Hainish Cycle, about anarchy and other societal structures, like capitalism and hierarchy.

Over the course of this poll, we’ve heard many a debate about why one title or another doesn’t meet the criteria for exploring the theme of utopias. The Dispossessed, it seems, is beyond reproach in that regard. A true masterpiece, the book that “started as a very bad short story, which I didn’t try to finish, but couldn’t quite let go” was, by Le Guin’s account, the result of a lot of soul-searching and deep thought about “war, peace, politics, how we govern one another and ourselves, the value of failure, and the strength of what is weak” which helped her land on a clear vision of what she wanted to explore with this book: “an anarchist utopia.” It is a wholly original and compelling book.

If you haven’t read this multi award-winning classic yet, take this as your cue to do so. 

Read the classic,The Dispossessed  here on Amazon.

8. To the Stars by Harry Harrison

Perhaps better known for his Stainless Steel Rat Series, author Harry Harrison’s To The Stars Trilogy opens with Homeworld, which presents a dystopian world some centuries in the future. Like other books on this list, this dystopia is initially presented as a utopia, with an elite class enjoying a life of privilege that comes at great cost.

Jan Kulozik was one of Earth's privileged elite. A brilliant young electronics engineer, he enjoyed all the blessings of a 23rd-century civilization that survived the global collapse and conquered the stars, unaware of the millions who slaved or starved to maintain his way of life.

Then Jan met Sara, a beautiful agent of the rebel underground dedicated to smashing Earth's rigid caste system. Through her he discovered the truth behind the lies he'd been taught. His every move watched by state surveillance, Jan risked his position and his life to restore humanity's heritage.

Get your copy of Homeworld, the first book in the To the Stars Trilogy  here on Amazon.

7. The Earthseed Series by Octavia E. Butler

Our seventh place selection, the Earthseed Series, by sci-fi luminary Octavia E. Butler, takes place in (what is now) the very near future, in the United States, which—in the book— has fallen into collapse. The series was meant to be a trilogy, but Butler died before finishing the third book.

Billed as a dystopian novel, the book deals heavily with utopian themes. The first book in the series, Parable of the Sower, takes place in In 2025 where, with the world descending into madness and anarchy, one woman begins a fateful journey toward a better future.

Lauren Olamina, is the daughter of a Baptist minister who serves their walled-in neighborhood. Because of her mother's addiction to a prescription drug, Olamina suffers from hyperempathy, which causes her to share pain or perceived pain with any living creature she sees. When her community is attacked, burned, and looted, seventeen-year-old Olamina barely escapes with her life. She travels, at great danger, into northern California in search of a haven where she and others can build the first Earthseed community.

Pick up the Earthseed Series here on Amazon.

6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

In sixth place, we have Brave New World, a dystopian novel by English author Aldous Huxley, written in 1931 and published in 1932. A dystopian novel.

Did we say it already?

Perspective is everything.

“Brave New World is either a perfect-world utopia or its nasty opposite, a dystopia, depending on your point of view: its inhabitants are beautiful, secure and free from diseases and worries, though in a way we like to think we would find unacceptable." —Margaret Atwood, The Guardian, 2007

Brave New World  is a searching vision of an unequal, technologically-advanced future where humans are genetically bred, socially indoctrinated, and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively uphold an authoritarian ruling order--all at the cost of our freedom, full humanity, and perhaps also our souls. It asks us to consider whether a “perfect” world is possible, or even desirable. It ask us to consider if a utopia is worth the cost.

Huxley followed this book with a reassessment in essay form, Brave New World Revisited (1958), and with his final novel, Island (1962), the utopian counterpart. They are both definitely worth checking out if you've already read Brave New World, and if you haven't, as always, we've got you.

Get Brave New World, here on Amazon.

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5. Logan's Run by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson

We’ve reached the top five! Coming in fifth place is Logan’s Run, the bestselling dystopian novel that inspired the 1970s science-fiction classic starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter, and Richard Jordan. The book, co-written by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson is yet one more that explores the idea that “your utopia is my dystopia,” by presenting a utopian future society on the surface, revealed as a dystopia where the population and the consumption of resources are maintained in equilibrium by killing everyone who reaches the age of thirty. An ageist dystopia, masquerading as a utopia. Nevertheless, an excellent read exploring utopian societies and their price.

It's the 23rd Century and at age 21... your life is over! Logan-6 has been trained to kill; born and bred from conception to be the best of the best. But his time is short and before his life ends he's got one final mission: Find and destroy Sanctuary, a fabled haven for those that chose to defy the system. But when Logan meets and falls in love with Jessica, he begins to question the very system he swore to protect and soon they're both running for their lives. When Last Day comes, will you lie down and die... or run!

Grab your copy of Logan's Run here on Amazon.

4. The Culture Series by Iain M. Banks

The Culture Series is a science fiction series written by Scottish author Iain M. Banks, one he has said will ultimately “form the largest part of [his] life’s work.” So much has been written about the series and the way it explores utopian themes, including some fascinating interviews with the author—such as the one previously quoted—in which he discusses, among other things, why he feels it’s unlikely we humans will ever succeed in establishing a utopia.

The stories in the Culture Series centre on the Culture, a utopian, post-scarcity space society of humanoids, aliens, and advanced artificial intelligences living in socialist habitats spread across the Milky Way galaxy. The main theme of the novels is the dilemmas that an idealistic hyperpower faces in dealing with civilizations that do not share its ideals, and whose behaviour it sometimes finds repulsive.

The series currently stands at ten books written over more than 25 years. While the books work as standalones, the first book, Consider Phlebas, is a great place to start as it gives a different perspective from the other books and provides a great foundation for understanding the world Banks has created.

The war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans fought for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles were at stake. There could be no surrender.

Get your copy of Consider Phlebas  here on Amazon.

3. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

The top three! In third place, is Starship Troopers  by sci-fi giant Robert A. Heinlein. As with other selections on the list, the setting of our third place title has been described as dystopian, but it is presented by Heinlein as utopian; its leaders are shown as good and wise, and the population as free and prosperous.

Do a Google search for “misunderstood science fiction book,” and you’ll find plenty of discussion on this one. Is it a criticism of democracy? A celebration of the military? Satire? Of course, some of the confusion comes not from the novel itself, but with how it was adapted to the screen, but it’s fair to say that regardless, this classic gives us plenty to think (and talk) about.

In Robert A. Heinlein’s controversial Hugo Award-winning bestseller, a recruit of the future goes through the toughest boot camp in the Universe—and into battle against mankind’s most alarming enemy...

Get your copy of Starship Troopers  here on Amazon.

2. Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

“No utopia can ever give satisfaction to everyone, all the time. As their material conditions improve, men raise their sights and become discontented with power and possessions that once would have seemed beyond their wildest dreams. And even when the external world has granted all it can, there still remain the searchings of the mind and the longings of the heart.”—Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood's End

We were not surprised to see this incredible entry near the top of the list. Childhood's End is a true classic written in 1953 by the British author Arthur C. Clarke. The story follows the peaceful alien invasion of Earth by the mysterious Overlords, whose arrival begins decades of apparent utopia under indirect alien rule, at the cost of human identity and culture. If you’ve missed this classic, consider this your invitation to pick it up! You won’t be disappointed.

The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city - intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began.

But at what cost? With the advent of peace, man ceases to strive for creative greatness, and a malaise settles over the human race. To those who resist, it becomes evident that the Overlords have an agenda of their own. As civilization approaches the crossroads, will the Overlords spell the end for humankind . . . or the beginning?

Start Childhood's End, here on Amazon.

1. The Lazurus Long Series by Robert A. Heinlein

We've reached the top! The number one entry in our poll—the Lazarus Long Series by Robert A. Heinlein—won by a hearty margin. 

“At the time I wrote Methuselah’s Children I was still politically quite naive and still had hopes that various libertarian notions could be put over by political processes…”—Robert A. Heinlein

Lazarus Long is a fictional character featured in a number of science fiction novels by Robert A. Heinlein. The first book in which he appears is Heinlein’s Methuselah’s Children and given it won the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award for "Best Classic Libertarian Sci-Fi Novel” in 1997, you can safely assume it explores the virtues of Libertarianism. Given the series’ first place standing in a poll on books exploring utopian themes in science fiction, is it safe to say that many among us feel a society that maximizes political freedom and autonomy is a utopian one? Or, at the very least, that the notion is an enticing one?

No one may seize or harm the person or property of another, or invade his privacy, or force him to do his bidding. Americans are fiercely proud of their re-won liberties and the blood it cost them: nothing could make them forswear those truths they hold self-evident. Nothing except the promise of immortality...

Lazarus Long, member of a select group bred for generations to live far beyond normal human lifespans, helps his kind escape persecution after word leaks out and angry crowds accuse them of withholding the “secret” of longevity. Lazarus and his companions set out on an interstellar journey and face many trials and strange cultures, like a futuristic Odysseus and his crew, before returning to Earth.

Start the journey with Methuselah's Children  here on Amazon.

"Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me..." 

Frogs singing their hearts out about a utopian dream? Definitely the stuff of science fiction, right?  We all can dream, but as Margaret Atwood pointed out in the Guardian article we quoted earlier, "Utopia" is sometimes said to mean "no place", from the Greek ou-topos; others derive it from eu, as in "eugenics", in which case it would mean "healthy place" or "good place". Sir Thomas More, in his own 16th-century Utopia, may have been punning: "utopia is the good place that doesn't exist…"

But whether or not a utopian society could ever be possible is beside the point, and we think it's safe to say, at the very least, it's something none of us will ever live to see. However, we sure hope science fiction authors continue to explore the possibility in their work, even if it doesn't look quite as rosy as we'd like because one thing these books offer that their purely dystopian counterparts don't always manage, is a little bit of hope.

What do you think of the books on our final list, and do you think it's possible for a author to write a compelling, yet purely utopian work? One that captures readers without the tension of a dystopian threat being introduced at some point? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Visit us here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and then check out our most recent poll while you're there. Don't have Facebook? Feel free to add to the comments below.

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

Toughest Sci-Fi Warriors

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Space is full of aliens, pirates, and evil imperial fleets. You gotta be tough to survive out there. Thankfully, science fiction is full of tough warriors. Let’s take a look at ten of our favorites.

10. Ender (Ender’s Game)

Ender Wiggin is a child soldier in the ground-breaking novel Ender’s Game. When alien bugs attack Earth, select children are trained to lead fleets in battle. Ender proves himself a maverick, a tactical genius who can lead Earth to victory. He might only be a kid, but his brilliance in battle earns him a spot in our top ten.

Get Ender's Game here on Amazon

9. Starbuck (Battlestar Galactica)

Kara Thrace, known as Starbuck, is a fighter pilot serving aboard the Battlestar Galactica. She curses, smokes cigars, laughs too loud, and likes to punch her superior officers. But beneath her tough exterior, she’s compassionate and deeply cares about her loved ones. Starbuck helped humanity survive after the devastating Cylon attack. Without her battle prowess, humanity would likely have gone extinct. She’s definitely one tough warrior.

Watch Battlestar Galactica now here on Amazon Prime Video.

8. Captain Kirk (Star Trek)

Kirk isn’t only a capable starship captain. He’s also an accomplished brawler, and he never shies away from a fight. Whenever the chance arises, he beams down to a planet to fight his enemies hand to hand. Perhaps his most memorable fight was against the infamous Gorn.

Watch Star Trek now here on Amazon Prime Video.

7. Jayne Cobb (Firefly)

Jayne is a hulking, gruff mercenary serving aboard the Serenity. He helps the crew on their various smuggling missions and heists, usually by providing the muscle. He best friend seems to be Vera, his beloved rifle. Despite his tough-guy persona, Jayne loves wearing an adorable beanie hat, which his mother knitted for him.

Watch Firefly now here on Amazon Prime Video.

6. Commander Adama (Battlestar Galactica)

Bill Adama is the laconic commander of the Battlestar Galactica. His stony exterior belies his kind, compassionate nature. He truly cares about his soldiers, seeing them as his children. In times of battle, he is calm, competent, and willing to make the necessary sacrifices. With his decades of experience, Adama inspires loyalty from his troops, who affectionately refer to him as “the old man.” Adama’s leadership helped humanity survive the devastating Cylon attack.

Watch Battlestar Galactica now here on Amazon Prime Video.

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5. Admiral Ackbar (Star Wars)

Admiral Ackbar is only a secondary character in the Star Wars saga but an important one. He was one of the high commanders of the rebel alliance, leading fleets into battle. During his many years of service, Ackbar was regarded as a brilliant tactician and courageous officer. He famously commanded the rebel fleet during the Battle of Endor. Despite inadvertently flying into a trap, Akbar eventually led the fleet to victory.

Watch Star Wars now here on Amazon Prime Video.

4. Addy (Earthrise)

Addison “Addy” Linden is a heroic warrior from the Earthrise series. Following a devastating alien invasion of Earth, Addy joins the army as a humble private. She fights in many battles, rises through the ranks, and becomes a war heroine and leader. Addy is loud, foul-mouthed, and covered in tattoos. She loves beer, hot dogs, and good old-fashioned hockey fights. Despite her coarse exterior, on the inside Addy is deeply compassionate and loyal to her friends. Her leadership, courage, and determination give Earth a fighting chance against the alien menace.

Get your copy of Earth Alone, the first book in the Earthrise series, here on Amazon.

3. Juan Rico (Starship Troopers)

Juan Rico is a young soldier from Robert Heinlein’s seminal novel Starship Troopers. Earth is battling a race of alien bugs. Juan enlists, goes through gruelling bootcamp, and learns how to operate a mech suit—a powerful robotic exoskeleton. He eventually becomes an officer and heroically leads his platoon to victories on the battlefield. He is the archetypical space marine, inspiring many heroes in the genre of military science fiction.

Get your copy of Starship Troopers here on Amazon.

2. The Terminator

The Terminator is nearly unstoppable. Bullets, fire, explosions—he can survive almost anything. He just keeps going until his mission is fulfilled. If he’s your enemy, you’re in deep trouble. If he’s your ally, he’ll protect you until the very end. The Terminator is definitely one of the toughest characters in the genre.

Watch The Terminator now here on Amazon Prime Video.

1. Ripley (Alien)

Topping our list is Ripley from the Alien franchise. When an unknown creature infiltrates the starship Nostromo, Ripley manages to survive while the alien kills everyone else, one by one. On the colony LV-426, which has been overrun with aliens, Ripley proves herself a valiant warrior. She battles an alien infestation, faces off against the alien queen, and even saves the orphan Newt, the colony’s sole survivor. When it comes to pure grit, Ripley is impossible to beat. We give her the crown of toughest sci-fi warrior.

Watch Alien now here on Amazon Prime Video.

What do you think? Do you agree with our list? Who do you think is the toughest warrior in science fiction? 

Sound off the in the comments below, or chime in with your 2¢ in the Discover Sci-Fi Reader Group on Facebook. 

Daniel Arenson

Daniel Arenson is a bookworm, proud geek, and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. His novels have sold over a million copies. He's written over sixty novels in multiple series.

He is best known for Earthrise, the story of Earth struggling to rise after a devastating alien invasion. The Earthrise universe is explored in three series: Earthrise The Original Series, Soldiers of Earthrise, and Children of Earthrise.

In addition to Earthrise, Daniel has written the comedic sci-fi trilogy Alien Hunters.

He's also written several epic fantasy series: Kingdoms of Sand, Moth, Requiem.

You can follow Daniel on Facebook, Twitter and his website.