Science fiction, with its boundless imagination and visionary concepts, has captivated audiences for generations. While the written word has been instrumental in shaping the genre, equally influential are the visual artists who bring these fantastical worlds to life. From the pulp magazines of the early 20th century to the digital age of today, science fiction illustrators have played a vital role in shaping the collective imagination of humanity. In this article, we explore some of the top science fiction illustrators whose works have left an indelible mark on the genre.

Frank R. Paul (1884-1963)

Widely regarded as the "Father of Science Fiction Illustration," Frank R. Paul's vibrant and imaginative artwork graced the covers of numerous pulp magazines in the early 20th century, including Amazing Stories and Science Wonder Stories. His bold depictions of futuristic cities, alien landscapes, and spacecraft helped define the visual aesthetic of early science fiction.

Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986)

Chesley Bonestell was a pioneer in the field of space art, renowned for his breathtakingly realistic depictions of otherworldly landscapes and celestial bodies. His meticulously detailed paintings, which often combined elements of science and art, inspired a generation of space enthusiasts and played a significant role in popularizing the idea of space exploration.

Virgil Finlay (1914-1971)

Virgil Finlay was a master of pen-and-ink illustration known for his intricate and meticulously detailed artwork. His illustrations often featured intricate linework and cross-hatching, creating a sense of depth and texture that was unmatched in the genre. Finlay's work graced the pages of numerous science fiction magazines, including Weird Tales and Amazing Stories, and his distinctive style continues to influence artists to this day.

Chris Foss (b. 1946)

Chris Foss is renowned for his bold and dynamic spaceship designs, which have become iconic in the world of science fiction. His distinctive blend of sleek curves, bold colors, and intricate detailing has made his spacecraft instantly recognizable and has cemented his status as one of the genre's preeminent artists. Foss's work has appeared on book covers, movie posters, and album art, earning him a devoted following among fans of science fiction and space exploration.

Moebius (1938-2012)

Jean Giraud, better known by his pseudonym Moebius, was a French comic book artist and illustrator whose work transcended genre boundaries. His surreal and dreamlike illustrations, characterized by fluid lines and intricate detail, have had a profound influence on the world of science fiction and fantasy. Moebius's work often explored themes of technology, spirituality, and the nature of reality, earning him a reputation as one of the most visionary artists of his generation.

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H.R. Giger (1940-2014)

H.R. Giger was a Swiss artist best known for his biomechanical designs and surreal imagery. His work, which often explored themes of sexuality, body horror, and the fusion of man and machine, has had a profound influence on the science fiction genre, particularly in the realm of film. Giger's most famous creation, the xenomorph from the Alien franchise, remains one of the most iconic and terrifying creatures in cinematic history.

John Harris (b. 1948)

John Harris is celebrated for his evocative and atmospheric paintings, which often depict vast, otherworldly landscapes and futuristic cityscapes. His use of light and color creates a sense of awe and wonder, inviting viewers to explore the far reaches of the imagination. Harris's work has graced the covers of countless science fiction novels, helping to transport readers to distant worlds and alien landscapes.

Michael Whelan (b. 1950)

Michael Whelan is a titan in the realms of science fiction and fantasy art. With a career spanning over four decades, Whelan's visionary illustrations have graced the covers of countless books, including iconic works by authors such as Isaac Asimov, Stephen King, and Anne McCaffrey.

Renowned for his mastery of color, light, and composition, Whelan's artwork transports viewers to worlds of boundless imagination, where vivid landscapes and fantastical creatures come to life with breathtaking realism. His contributions to the genre have earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Hugo and World Fantasy Awards, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential artists in speculative fiction.

Tom Edwards

Tom Edwards is a renowned freelance illustrator and concept artist living in the UK, best known for illustrating science fiction novels. His book covers regularly appear on Amazon’s bestsellers lists. As one of the preeminent artists of the ebook age, his work brings science fiction scenes to life with immersive depictions of futuristic landscapes, otherworldly beings, and cutting-edge technology. His visually stunning illustrations transcend the ordinary, captivating audiences with their extraordinary detail and imagination.

Science fiction illustrators have played a crucial role in shaping the visual landscape of the genre, bringing to life the fantastical worlds and futuristic visions of writers' imaginations. From the bold and visionary artwork of Frank R. Paul to the surreal and dreamlike illustrations of Moebius, these artists have left an indelible mark on the collective imagination of humanity.

As the genre continues to evolve and expand, their legacy will endure, inspiring future generations of artists and enthusiasts to explore the boundless possibilities of the universe.

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Since the dawn of science fiction, writers have been fascinated by the idea of humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial beings. This fascination birthed a whole genre of books and movies, with works running the gamut from thrilling adventure to profound philosophical exploration, the finest, skillfully capturing the imagination of audiences around the world. Today, we delve into the top 10 first contact stories in science fiction, exploring the diverse ways in which authors and filmmakers have envisioned our earliest interactions with beings from beyond the stars.

Contact by Carl Sagan (1985)

Carl Sagan's seminal novel Contact follows the journey of scientist Dr. Ellie Arroway as she makes contact with an extraterrestrial civilization through radio signals. Sagan's meticulous attention to scientific detail and his exploration of the implications of first contact make this a thought-provoking and deeply philosophical work.

Read Contact here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook. 

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (1898)

H.G. Wells' classic novel War of the Worlds  is perhaps the quintessential tale of alien invasion. Set in Victorian England, the story follows humanity's desperate struggle against technologically superior Martians. Without a doubt, Wells' vivid descriptions of the alien invaders and their destructive machines have left an indelible mark on the genre.

Read War of the Worlds here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook. 

"Arrival" directed by Denis Villeneuve (2016)

In this thought-provoking film (based on the Nebula winning novella Stories of Your Life by Ted Chiang), linguist Dr. Louise Banks is tasked with deciphering the language of an alien species that has arrived on Earth. As tensions mount between humanity and the visitors, Banks races against time to unravel the mysteries of their language and understand their true intentions.

Watch Arrival here on Amazon Prime.

Read Stories of Your Life here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (1953)

Arthur C. Clarke's thought provoking classic Childhood's End explores the consequences of humanity's encounter with a peaceful and enigmatic alien race known as the Overlords. As the Overlords usher in a new era of peace and prosperity on Earth, questions arise about the price of progress and the nature of humanity's destiny.

Read Childhood's End here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" directed by Steven Spielberg (1977)

Steven Spielberg's iconic film follows the experiences of ordinary people who have close encounters with UFOs. As the government investigates these sightings, one man becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind the mysterious encounters, leading to a breathtaking finale at Devil's Tower.

Watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind here on Amazon Prime.

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The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (1969)

Ursula K. Le Guin's groundbreaking novel explores themes of gender, identity, and cultural exchange through the story of an envoy from Earth who visits the planet Gethen, inhabited by an androgynous and ambisexual alien species. As the envoy navigates the complexities of Gethenian society, he challenges his own preconceptions about gender and sexuality.

Read The Left Hand of Darkness here on Amazon.  Also available on audiobook.

"Independence Day" directed by Roland Emmerich (1996)

In this blockbuster film, Earth faces an all-out assault from a hostile alien race bent on the annihilation of humanity. As cities crumble and nations unite in a desperate fight for survival, a disparate group of individuals must come together to launch a daring counterattack against the alien invaders.

Watch Independence Day here on Amazon Prime.

Solaris by Stanisław Lem (1961)

Stanisław Lem's philosophical novel Solaris tells the story of a psychologist sent to investigate strange occurrences on a distant space station orbiting the mysterious planet Solaris. As the psychologist grapples with the manifestations of his own inner demons, he confronts the profound mysteries of the alien intelligence that dwells beneath Solaris' surface.

Available here in paperback. Also available in audiobook.

District 9 directed by Neill Blomkamp (2009)

In this gritty and thought-provoking film, humanity grapples with the arrival of a stranded alien spaceship and its insectoid inhabitants in Johannesburg, South Africa. As tensions between humans and aliens escalate, one man finds himself transformed by his encounters with the extraterrestrial visitors, leading to a reckoning with his own humanity.

Watch District 9 here on Amazon Prime.

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin (2008)

Liu Cixin's epic novel The Three-Body Problem explores humanity's first contact with an alien civilization known as the Trisolarans. As Earth prepares for an inevitable invasion, scientists and government officials grapple with the implications of the Trisolarans' advanced technology and their enigmatic motivations.

Read The Three-Body Problem here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

From awe-inspiring tales of wonder to chilling visions of cosmic horror, first contact stories reflect our deepest hopes, fears, and aspirations. Whether exploring the mysteries of the universe or holding a mirror to the complexities of human nature, these works continue to inspire, and to provoke thought, and invite audiences to contemplate the possibilities and our place in the cosmos.

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Tyrannosaurus rex. The king of dinosaurs. Beloved (and feared) by dinosaur fans around the world. So dreadfully awesome a beast, its bones are rumored to have inspired the legend of the dragon. 

The T-Rex is undisputedly the most famous of all dinos. Since discovery in 1905, the dreaded predator has fascinated us. Brought alive by the magic of film (and the imagination of filmmakers), T-Rex has battled King Kong, fought alongside Optimus Prime, and given Jeff Goldblum a serious run for his money.

When it comes to pop-culture, our enchantment with T-Rex doesn't end there: There is a British glam rock band named after this prehistoric king; take a quick tour of any toy store and you'll find countless T-Rex toys; and, have you seen the inflatable T-Rex costumes all over TikTok? Forget fifteen minutes of fame. Millions upon millions of years running, T-Rex is still all the rage. 

In popular culture, Tyrannosaurus rex is portrayed as the deadliest dinosaur, and undoubtedly, it was a fearsome predator. But was Rexy really the undisputed King of the Cretaceous? The Mistress of the Mesozoic? Maybe not.

There were a number of other formidable dinosaurs, some which would
have struck fear even into the heart of our ferocious T-Rex. Here are five dinosaurs that could (just maybe) kill a T-Rex.

Ankylosaurus

This dinosaur was essentially a living tank. Ankylosaurus was covered with armored plates from head to tail, including—believe it or not—its eyelids! Weighing over three tons, this dinosaur was big, powerful, and deadly. In addition to its suit of armor, Ankylosaurus boasted a terrifying weapon: A bony club that sprouted from its tail, which the dinosaur could swing like a wrecking ball, pulverizing any predator foolhardy enough to attack.

But how would it fare against a T-Rex? For starters, Rexy would for sure have trouble biting through that armor. And Ankylosaurus wouldn't just sit there, letting the T-Rex gnaw away now would he? Not a chance. With a quick whack of its clubbed tail, Ankylosaurus could likely shatter a T-Rex's bones, perhaps even killing the fearsome carnivore.

Ankylosaurus was definitely a dinosaur that could kill a T-Rex.

Triceratops

One of the greatest rivalries of the Cretaceous was Triceratops vs.Tyrannosaurus rex. Triceratops (trike for short) was proof that herbivores were no pushovers. This enormous dinosaur could weigh more than two elephants, and its imposing horns would have have filled the nightmares of many would-be predators. A foot wide at their base, the horns tapered into mean points that could skewer a T-Rex.

The Triceratops boasted a colossal skull and sported a huge frill of protective, solid bone topped with hornlets. From the tip of its beak to the spiked rim of its frill, a trike's head could reach ten feet long and weigh a cool ton. This entire gargantuan skull was attached to the body via a ball joint, allowing the Triceratops to swivel its head around with remarkable speed, bringing his horns to bear on his enemies.

A T-Rex who attacked a Triceratops was taking a big risk. The battle could go either way. The T-Rex might emerge victorious and enjoy a feast, but just as likely, the hunted would become the hunter. With a powerful build and deadly horns, Triceratops was another dinosaur that could kill a T-Rex.

Giganotosaurus

T-Rex is often called King of the Dinosaurs. But when it comes to size, he had a challenger. Giganotosaurus was among the largest carnivores to ever walk the land. And while we have never found a complete Giganotosaurus skeleton, we know from the fragments we've dug up, that this was a giant. Some scientists believe Giganotosaurus was even larger than T-Rex. Large enough to swallow a human whole, gigas were apex predators in their environment who likely fed on young sauropods.

In this battle of titans, the two foes were evenly matched. On a good day, the giant, powerful Giganotosaurus could definitely kill a T-rex.

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Spinosaurus

A dweller of swamps and shallow water, Spinosaurus was among the largest carnivorous dinosaurs. It was lighter than a T-rex but longer. From nostrils to tail tip, it was as long as a sperm whale, and far meaner than Ahab's nemesis. The dinosaur had a snout like a crocodile, long and full of nasty teeth which were smaller than those of a T-Rex, but more plentiful. The skull was enormous—longer than a man was tall— and while the carnivore walked on two legs like a T-Rex, unlike a T-Rex it had long arms tipped with terrible claws.

Spinosaurus also boasted a unique feature: rows of spikes rose along its back. Scaly skin stretched between these spines, forming a sail likely used to intimidate rivals and attract mates.

Leaping out of the water, snapping at the T-rex like a crocodile from hell, the Spinosaurus could very possibly emerge victorious.

Dreadnoughtus

Sauropods—herbivores with long necks—were the largest dinosaurs that ever lived. There were many sauropod species, the most famous of which was the Brontosaurus. The Brontosaurus however, was not the largest. Bigger even than the Brontosaurus was the titan Dreadnoughtus.

Their name means "fear nothing." They made Brontosaurs seem puny. Longer than blue whales, a human would stand shorter than their knees. Dreadnoughtus was so titanic it was essentially predator proof. This dinosaur was a herbivore, but like fellow herbivoreTriceratops, it was no pushover. Its powerful legs could kick and crush with ease. Its tail could whip through the air, pulverizing its enemies. It was ten times the size of a T-Rex, and it could easily kill one.

What do you think? Do you agree that these formidable five dinosaurs could kill a T-Rex? Do you know any other dinosaurs that could defeat the king? Let us know in the comments.

And then be sure to pick up Daniel Arenson's latest dino-riffic release, Mintari. Available now in all formats, including the audiobook with a full cast narration.

Get A World of Dinosaurs (Mintari Book 1) on eBook and audiobook.

“…I do expect I’ll go to my grave believing stories are how we learn to be human.”

Have you read Michael Stephen Fuchs’s series, ARISEN : Raiders? Maybe this is the first you’re hearing of it—in which case, where have you been?!— but more likely, you’re one of the legions of rapt fans who are about to get what has felt like a very long time coming: the audiobook version of Dead Men Walking, narrated by the inimitable R.C. Bray. 

If you ask us, Bray is the perfect narrator for a series of such dizzying intensity, one that fans have described as both thoughtful and utterly harrowing. ARISEN : Raiders (along with its predecessor, ARISEN) is a true military sci-fi epic which spans the globe and is set during a zombie apocalypse; and folks, this is truly some edge-of-your-seat reading, or as will soon be the case, listening. Seriously. Just wait till you hear what R.C. Bray does with this! 

If you're among those who haven’t yet experienced the thrill of either the main series, or the prequel series we’re discussing today, know that Fuchs's ARISEN : Raiders series works as a standalone. That said, you do need to start with volumes 1 and 2, (the audio version of which was also performed by Bray, and are available together for just one credit, lucky you!) so make sure to grab those before diving into this one. 

Now, we know you want to hear more about Dead Men Walking, and we are here to deliver! So with that, we invite you to settle in and enjoy our interview with Michael, where we discuss the origins of this incredible series, writing life, and more!

DSF: Congratulations on the launch of book 6 in the "Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes" series! How does it feel to reach this milestone?

SR: It’s an amazing feeling. When I wrote book one, “The Worst Ship in the Fleet”, I never expected it to take off like it did. Now, I have awesome readers who are constantly asking me when the next book in the series will come out because they’ve fallen in love with the characters just as I have.

DSF: What can readers expect from this latest installment? Are there any major plot twists or new characters introduced?

SR: The end of book five, “The Worst Detectives in the Federation”, revealed a pretty big twist for one of our characters. She’ll be integral to “The Worst Traitors in the Confederacy” and is one of the titular ‘worst traitors’ in the story. We also introduce a few new bad guys and a little more of Brad Mendoza’s backstory. All in all, it’s a thrilling ride with space battles, gun fights, and even a car chase in a 1964 ½ Ford Mustang Convertible!

DSF: How has the series evolved from book 1 to book 6? What significant changes or developments have occurred in the storyline or characters?

SR: When I first started writing this series, I began with a cast of very broken characters—all the main characters have either done terrible things or had terrible things done to them. “Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes” is a redemption story, and as the series evolves, we see all the characters really starting to come into their own. This is especially true of Brad Mendoza and Jessica Lin, but now they have an ensemble cast supporting them, each with their own backstories and trials to overcome.

Most of all, however, the story has evolved from a small naval battle in a single star system to a galaxy-spanning thrill ride that sees our ‘dead heroes’ get in way over their heads. The best part is that even we, the readers, don’t know just how far this entire thing goes, so we get to put together pieces of the mystery along with Brad and Jessica.

DSF: Can you describe any challenges you faced while writing this series, especially with keeping the plot fresh and engaging over multiple books?

SR: I think the biggest challenge is writing fast enough. I have a ton of faithful and enthusiastic readers who are always hungry for more. And I have a number of storylines in my head that really just need to get out and onto the page. So, it’s a continuous challenge to write fast enough to satisfy both the readers and my own need to tell this story. But overall, it’s just a lot of fun, and I feel that there’s so much that these characters can do that keeping the story fresh isn’t an issue yet.

DSF: How have the main characters grown since the first book? Are there any particular character arcs that you are especially proud of?

SR: When we first meet Brad Mendoza in book one, he’s a drunk and a loser who is haunted by past mistakes and lets his guilt spoil his entire personality. You’re supposed to dislike him at the beginning, and a lot of readers definitely do. But over the course of that book and the series, he evolves and changes in unexpected ways. I think the best part of it is that we all have a little Brad Mendoza in us. We’ve all done things that make us feel guilty or made mistakes that we have trouble reconciling with the person we want to be. So, seeing Brad overcome his imperfections and demons really gives us all hope. And that’s the main message of the series: we can always hope to be better. Nothing we do disqualifies us from becoming a good human being; we just have to be willing to put in the work to change.

DSF: Who is your favorite character from the ARISEN : Raiders series and why?

MSF: Probably Master Sergeant Saunders, the senior NCO (later, commander) of Team 1. He’s one of the few Marines never even mentioned by name in the main series but who completely came to life in this prequel/spinoff series. He’s both a complete badass and a total hardass but in an amusingly sardonic way that beautifully counterpoints Master Gunnery Sergeant Fick (the series consensus favorite character, and an even more amusing hardass).

DSF: How did you research topics in special operations military to write ARISEN : Raiders? Do you have a specific background in these subjects?

MSF: I do not have that honor. I do have the honor of being able to count as friends a tiny handful of people in and out of the special operations community who have helped me and the work in indispensable ways. But mainly, like most writers, I write from research. This is the wall of military books:

DSF: What is one thing that has surprised you while writing the series?

MSF: Probably that I could do really great work in a way that wasn’t all-consuming and ultimately self-destructive. (As alluded to above, finishing the main series literally nearly killed me, not least since I basically had to put myself into isolation for a year to generate the focus needed to do work of that complexity and quality.) A lot of readers, to my great pleasure and surprise, actually like Raiders better than the main series. And the process of producing it was much less bloody.

DSF: What is your favorite part about writing within this genre, and do you see yourself breaking out of this subject to explore other types of stories?

MSF: I don’t care about this genre, or any genre, really. As one of the members of Alpha team put it in Book One, the least interesting thing about a zombie apocalypse is the zombies. What’s really gripping and wrenching and awful was what it does to the survivors. I’m interested in my characters and their humanity (and their superheroism). It’s axiomatic that all drama is human drama. And the core themes of human life and survival are timeless. (The dead and the apocalypse are just forces of antagonism.) That said, after another ARISEN prequel/spinoff series—ARISEN : Operators, which I’m working on now, or rather not working on right now—I have a special-operations military NON-zombie apocalypse series lined up.

DSF: Finally, every author’s favorite question…How did you get into writing and why did you choose to become an author?

MSF: Because I’m an idiot. For many years, I imagined there were two types of people: those who had written and published novels, and those who had not. And, even more bizarrely, that it was critically important to any happiness or success I was going to have that I get into the first group. If I’d had the vaguest idea how long it was going to take, or how hard it was going to be, I’m sure I never would have persisted. Now, getting to wake up every morning and do this work certainly beats what was my day job for many years (web development and IT consulting), but it’s also a hell of a lot harder than my day job was. That’s actually why I’m answering these questions right now—it’s easier than writing. Everything is! But I do expect I’ll go to my grave believing stories are how we learn to be human. And, despite the difficulty, or impossibility, of telling even a single great, original story, it’s still an incredible privilege to get up every day and try.

Check out the complete ARISEN : Raiders series on audio here.

This week's blog was inspired by a recent comment we received from a Discover Sci-Fi reader on our Facebook Group. The reader mentioned an interest in social science fiction, and so we started to think about all the books we love that fall under that umbrella; those books that use elements of science fiction to put humans under pressure and take a deep dive into the resulting human behaviour. The list of books quickly tumbled forth and we are excited to share it with you.

Because sci-fi has always concerned itself with exploration of society, there are titles here spanning almost 80 years, taking us from the 40s right up to present day. So, whether you favor classics, or contemporary—or maybe you're like us and dig both—we've got some recommendations here you are sure to love! 

Beyond This Horizon by Robert A. Heinlein 

Utopia has been achieved. For centuries, disease, hunger, poverty and war have been things found only in the histories. And applied genetics has given men and women the bodies of athletes and a lifespan of over a century.

They should all have been very happy....

But Hamilton Felix is bored. And he is the culmination of a star line; each of his last thirty ancestors chosen for superior genes. Hamilton is, as far as genetics can produce one, the ultimate man. And this ultimate man can see no reason why the human race should survive, and has no intention of continuing the pointless comedy.

However, Hamilton's life is about to become less boring. A secret cabal of revolutionaries who find utopia not just boring, but desperately in need of leaders who know just What Needs to be Done, are planning to revolt and put themselves in charge. Knowing of Hamilton's disenchantment with the modern world, they have recruited him to join their Glorious Revolution. Big mistake! The revolutionaries are about to find out that recruiting a superman is definitely not a good idea....

Read Beyond This Horizon here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Earth Abides by George R. Stewart

First published in 1949, award-winning Earth Abides is one of the most influential science-fiction novels of the twentieth century. It remains a fresh, provocative story of apocalyptic pandemic, societal collapse, and rebirth.

The cabin had always been a special retreat for Isherwood Williams, a haven from the demands of society. But one day while hiking, Ish was bitten by a rattlesnake, and the solitude he had so desired took on dire new significance.

He was sick for days—and often delirious—waking up to find two strangers peering in at him from the cabin door. Yet oddly, instead of offering help, the two ran off as if terrified. Not long after, the coughing began. Ish suffered chills and fever, and a measles-like rash on his skin. He was one of the few people in the world to live through that peculiar malady, but he didn't know it then.

Ish headed home when he finally felt himself again—and noticed the strangeness almost immediately. No cars passed him on the road; the gas station not far from his cabin looked abandoned; and he was shocked to see the body of a man on the roadside near a small town.

Without a radio or phone, Ish had no idea of humanity’s abrupt demise. He had escaped death, yet could not escape the catastrophe—and with an eerie detachment he found himself curious as to how long it would be before all traces of civilization faded from Earth.

Read Earth Abides  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.

Get your copy of Fahrenheit 451 here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Read Hyperion  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin

The recipient of numerous literary prizes, including the National Book Award, the Kafka Award, and the Pushcart Prize, Ursula K. Le Guin is renowned for her spare, elegant prose, rich characterization, and diverse worlds. "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" is a short story originally published in the collection The Wind's Twelve Quarters.

 Grab The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas here on Amazon. 

This Perfect Day by Ira Levin

Considered one of the great dystopian novels—alongside Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World—Ira Levin's frightening glimpse into the future continues to fascinate readers even forty years after publication.

The story is set in a seemingly perfect global society. Uniformity is the defining feature; there is only one language and all ethnic groups have been eugenically merged into one race called “The Family.“ The world is ruled by a central computer called UniComp that has been programmed to keep every single human on the surface of the earth in check. People are continually drugged by means of regular injections so that they can never realize their potential as human beings, but will remain satisfied and cooperative. They are told where to live, when to eat, whom to marry, when to reproduce. even the basic facts of nature are subject to the UniComp's will—men do not grow facial hair, women do not develop breasts, and it only rains at night.

With a vision as frightening as any in the history of the science fiction genre, This Perfect Day is one of Ira Levin's most haunting novels.

Get your copy of This Perfect Day here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

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Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer

From the winner of the 2017 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, Ada Palmer's 2017 Compton Crook Award-winning political science fiction, Too Like the Lightning, ventures into a human future of extraordinary originality

Mycroft Canner is a convict. For his crimes he is required, as is the custom of the 25th century, to wander the world being as useful as he can to all he meets. Carlyle Foster is a sensayer--a spiritual counselor in a world that has outlawed the public practice of religion, but which also knows that the inner lives of humans cannot be wished away.

The world into which Mycroft and Carlyle have been born is as strange to our 21st-century eyes as ours would be to a native of the 1500s. It is a hard-won utopia built on technologically-generated abundance, and also on complex and mandatory systems of labelling all public writing and speech. What seem to us normal gender distinctions are now distinctly taboo in most social situations. And most of the world's population is affiliated with globe-girdling clans of the like-minded, whose endless economic and cultural competition is carefully managed by central planners of inestimable subtlety. To us it seems like a mad combination of heaven and hell. To them, it seems like normal life.

And in this world, Mycroft and Carlyle have stumbled on the wild card that may destablize the system: the boy Bridger, who can effortlessly make his wishes come true. Who can, it would seem, bring inanimate objects to life...

Grab Too Like the Lightning  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Polar Vortex by Matthew Mather

Arctic meets Da Vinci Code in this breathtaking thriller from Matthew Mather, worldwide bestseller over a million copies sold, translations in 24 languages and film development by 20th Century Fox.

A flight disappears over the North Pole. No distress calls. Vanished into thin air.

Mitch Matthew is a writer struggling to make ends meet when his wife's brother Josh offers them a first class seat on a flight from Hong Kong to new York. When his wife needs to stay behind, it becomes an opportunity for some quality time with his five-year-old Lilly.

At check in, they run into a strange Norwegian arguing with a huge Russian. A mysterious redhead is guarding a package in the business lounge. But everything is fine, until...

With hours of Allied Airlines 695 disappearing, a massive international search in launched. Aircraft and ships are dispatched from Russia, China, America, Canada and Norway. As tensions rise, the world edges to the brink of apocalyptic war.

In an area overflown by dozens of satellites from as many nations, ringed by radar and missile installations dating from the Cold War...How can a modern airliner simply vanish in one of the most heavily monitored places on Earth?

Dive into Polar Vortex here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Utopia 58 by Daniel Arenson

Imagine a perfect society. A world with no racism, sexism, or ageism. A utopia.

In Utopia 58, everyone is equal. Everyone must be equal.

Too beautiful? A mask will hide that pretty face. Too tall? We'll saw your legs down to size. Too male or female? The surgeon's knife will fix that. Too smart? A buzzer in your skull will drown out all that pesky thinking. You will be equal. Like it or not.

Utopia 58, built atop the ruins of North America, created perfect harmony. A society with no race, gender, or age. Pure equality.

KB209 was born into this utopia. He has no true name. No past. No future. He is one among millions. The same.

One day, at a propaganda rally, KB209 glimpses an act of startling defiance. A citizen with painted toenails. A woman in a genderless society. Color in a black and white world.

When KB209 confronts her, he is drawn into an underground rebellion. A movement that dares to dream. That dares to say: "We are unique. We are individuals. We will be free!"

Get your copy of Utopia 58 here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate change will affect us all. Its setting is not a desolate, postapocalyptic world, but a future that is almost upon us. Chosen by Barack Obama as one of his favorite books of the year, this extraordinary novel from visionary science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson will change the way you think about the climate crisis.

Start reading The Ministry for the Future here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The New Wilderness by Diane Cook

Margaret Atwood meets Miranda July in this wildly imaginative debut novel of a mother's battle to save her daughter in a world ravaged by climate change; A prescient and suspenseful book from the author of the acclaimed story collection, Man V. Nature.

Bea’s five-year-old daughter, Agnes, is slowly wasting away, consumed by the smog and pollution of the overdeveloped metropolis that most of the population now calls home. If they stay in the city, Agnes will die. There is only one alternative: the Wilderness State, the last swath of untouched, protected land, where people have always been forbidden. Until now.

Bea, Agnes, and eighteen others volunteer to live in the Wilderness State, guinea pigs in an experiment to see if humans can exist in nature without destroying it. Living as nomadic hunter-gatherers, they slowly and painfully learn to survive in an unpredictable, dangerous land, bickering and battling for power and control as they betray and save one another. But as Agnes embraces the wild freedom of this new existence, Bea realizes that saving her daughter’s life means losing her in a different way. The farther they get from civilization, the more their bond is tested in astonishing and heartbreaking ways.

At once a blazing lament of our contempt for nature and a deeply humane portrayal of motherhood and what it means to be human, The New Wilderness is an extraordinary novel from a one-of-a-kind literary force.

Grab The New Wilderness  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Simulant by Bobby Adair

The war against the sentient artificial intelligence has been simmering and erupting for two years. In their attempt to isolate the hardware hosting the AI's software, the armies of the world have embarked on a coordinated campaign to destroy silicon-based processor equipment across the planet.

Unfortunately, it's not just TV's, laptops, and cellphones that have fallen in their crosshairs, but service robots and even the computer modules driving the prosthetic limbs used by some of the disabled.

Trapped in Dallas, at the center of an assault, Madison has enlisted the help of a damaged robot to help her escape before she falls victim to the indiscriminate violence raging her way.

Can she get away? Will she survive? All she knows is that she can't do it alone.

Grab Simulant  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Today I Am Carey by Martin L. Shoemaker

TODAY

Mildred has Alzheimer's. As memories fade, she acquires the aid of a full-time android to assist her in everyday life. Carey. Carey takes care of Mildred, but its true mission is to fill in the gaps in Mildred’s past. To bring yesterday into today by becoming a copy. But not merely a copy of a physical person. A copy from the inside out.

I AM

After Mildred passes, Carey must find a new purpose. For a time, that purpose is Mildred’s family. To keep them safe from harm. To be of service. There is Paul Owens, the overworked scientist and business leader. Susan Owens, the dedicated teacher. And Millie, a curious little girl who will grow up alongside her android best friend. And Carey will grow up with her. Carey cannot age. But Carey can change.

CAREY

Carey struggles. Carey seeks to understand life’s challenges. Carey makes its own path. Carey must learn to live. To grow. To care. To survive. To be.

Grab Today I Am Carey  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Have you dove into any of these social sci-fi reads? Which ones did you previously miss that will now make their way into your (e)bookshelf or into your ears? Have a personal favorite from the sub-genre that didn't appear on our list? Give it a shout out in the comments here, or over in the Discover Sci-Fi Facebook Group! 

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