The Top 10 Sci-Fi Books of 2022 (So Far)!

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You cannot invent an algorithm that is as good at recommending books as a good bookseller, and that's the secret weapon of the bookstore - is that no algorithm will ever understand readers the way that other readers can understand readers. —John Green

John Green is absolutely right. When you're looking for book recommendations, who better to look to than other readers? This belief really drives us and we frequently check in with the Discover Sci-Fi community to see which books they are loving and then share their recommendations widely.

Recently, we asked Discover Sci-Fi members which books published so far this year they liked the best, and you guys answered! Of the books that were nominated and then voted on, the following were DSF community members' top picks. Curious to see which book published so far in 2022 Discover Sci-Fi readers loved best? Read on to find out!

10. Infinity (First Colony Book 13) by Ken Lozito

Venturing into the unknown means pushing the limits of everything thought possible.

10 years ago, the Ark II departed on a long journey through interstellar space, but shortly after they reached their destination, all communications ceased. All attempts to re-establish contact have failed.

Utilizing prototypical FTL technology that he invented, one brave man will lead a small expedition into the unknown to discover the colony’s fate.

The challenges of establishing the first interstellar colony nearly destroyed humanity. What new challenges will the second colony bring?

Science Fiction for those who long to explore!

Pick up Infinity here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

9. Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky

After eighty years of fragile peace, the Architects are back, wreaking havoc as they consume entire planets. In the past, Originator artefacts – vestiges of a long-vanished civilization – could save a world from annihilation. This time, the Architects have discovered a way to circumvent these protective relics. Suddenly, no planet is safe.

Facing impending extinction, the Human Colonies are in turmoil. While some believe a unified front is the only way to stop the Architects, others insist humanity should fight alone. And there are those who would seek to benefit from the fractured politics of war – even as the Architects loom ever closer.

Idris, who has spent decades running from the horrors of his past, finds himself thrust back onto the battlefront. As an Intermediary, he could be one of the few to turn the tide of war. With a handful of allies, he searches for a weapon that could push back the Architects and save the galaxy. But to do so, he must return to the nightmarish unspace, where his mind was broken and remade.

What Idris discovers there will change everything.

Get your copy of Eyes of the Void here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

8. Until the Last of Me: Take Them to the Stars Book 2 by Sylvain Neuvel

The First Rule is the most important: Always run, never fight.

For generations, Mia’s family has shaped human history to push them to the stars.

The year is 1968 and she is on the cusp of destiny, poised to launch the first humans into space.

But she cannot take them to the stars, not quite yet. Her adversary is at her heels, the future of the planet at stake, and obeying the First Rule is no longer an option.

For the first time in one-hundred generations, Mia’s family will have to choose to stand their ground, risking not only their bloodline, but the future of the human race.

A darkly satirical thriller, as seen through the eyes of the women who sacrifice all to make progress possible and the men who are determined to stop them.

Always run, never fight.
Preserve the knowledge.
Survive at all cost.
Take them to the stars.

Start reading Until the Last of Me here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

7. Match Game (Expeditionary Force Book 14) by Craig Alanson

For years, the ancient alien AI known as Skippy (the Magnificent, don’t forget that part) has been able to do one impossible thing after another. What is his secret? It’s simple: 100 percent Grade-A Extreme Awesomeness. And, also because he had never been faced with an opponent of equal power. Until now.

This time, he might need a little help from a band of filthy monkeys.

Grab Match Game here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

6. A Call to Insurrection: Book IV of The Manticore Ascendant Series by David Weber, Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope

Book four in the nationally best-selling Manticore Ascendant series, set in the world of David Weber’s multiple New York Times best-selling Honorverse series
Yesterday, the Star Kingdom of Manticore was a small, unimportant interstellar backwater. A quiet little star nation, only recently recovered from the devastating blow of the Plague Years. More affluent than some, perhaps, but with little to attract trade or interstellar commerce, it had little need for a navy . . . and even less interest in paying for one.
But Manticore has now become a target. The Star Kingdom isn't certain who is attacking it, or why, or what its mysterious foe can possibly want, but Queen Elizabeth I knows she has to find out. And she knows that whatever some of her subjects think, Manticore does need a navy. And it needs allies, friends like the dynamic Republic of Haven and the Andermani Empire. It needs their trade . . . and to learn from their more experienced and powerful navies.

It is the job of officers like Travis Long and his wife, Lisa, to acquire that experience. Of utterly inexperienced diplomats like Travis's brother Gavin, Earl Winterfall, to build those alliances.

They have been sent to the powerful Andermani Empire to do just that, for the Imperial Navy is one of the most potent and experienced fleets in the galaxy. But the Andermani have problems of their own. Their Emperor's death is the trigger for insurrection, and now that powerful and experienced navy is locked in civil war.
The Manticoran visitors find themselves squarely in the path of the storm, and before Travis, Lisa, and Gavin can accomplish anything else, they first have to survive.

Grab A Call to Insurrection here on Amazon.

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5. Kingdom Come (Backyard Starship Book 7) by J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert

When the Fafnir responds to a desperate distress call, their act of kindness is turned against them, making Van the most wanted man in the known universe.

Targeted by a vicious, charismatic politician and his shadowy partner, Van and his friends are faced with a decision that carries long term consequences—deliver justice. . . or run and hide.

The choice is easy. The Fafnir will attack, and criminals will pay regardless of the bounty chasing them across the stars.

But first, there’s a little business to take care of in the form of a social event at Milon Estates. Dress is formal, the atmosphere tense, and a choice must be made. And just like Van’s decision to fight, the event on Helso will change his life forever.

The crew is willing, and the ship is ready. Now, all Van has to do is avoid the law, apply the law, and dive headfirst into a conspiracy that will play out on the largest stage of all: The Galaxy itself.

Experience the seventh entry in the ongoing Backyard Starship series from USA Today Bestsellers J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert. Buckle up and grab your juicebox, because it's time to get out there and save the Galaxy.

Get your copy of Kingdom Come  here on Amazon. 

4. Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

When COVID-19 sweeps through New York City, Jamie Gray is stuck as a dead-end driver for food delivery apps. That is, until Jamie makes a delivery to an old acquaintance, Tom, who works at what he calls “an animal rights organization.” Tom’s team needs a last-minute grunt to handle things on their next field visit. Jamie, eager to do anything, immediately signs on.

What Tom doesn't tell Jamie is that the animals his team cares for are not here on Earth. Not our Earth, at least. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures named Kaiju roam a warm, human-free world. They're the universe's largest and most dangerous panda and they're in trouble.

It's not just the Kaiju Preservation Society who have found their way to the alternate world. Others have, too. And their carelessness could cause millions back on our Earth to die.

Pick up Kaiju Preservation Society here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

3. The Order by Jeremy Robinson 

Mysterious gateways are appearing throughout the universe, bridging violent civilizations, leading to war, and sowing chaos. While some species succumb to the pandemonium, the Chut'un forge an unholy symbiotic relationship—The Order—with red Europhids, a vast hive intelligence populating the universe's far reaches. Desiring structure and fearing the unknown, they cull everything opposed to their plan, including the Europhids' blue counterparts, carrying out a galactic genocide until only one blue Europhid remains...inside Moses Montgomery, aka 'Dark Horse.'

As a Rapid Reaction Force Marine from 1989, Dark Horse and his team were sent 1000 years into the future where they defeated the Union, an evil fascist empire. Back in the present, after preventing the Union from ever forming, Dark Horse and his team of...unique operators from the past and the future are ready to kick back, listen to some tunes, and enjoy the timeline they saved.

But as the last threat to The Order's machinations, Dark Horse finds himself with an alien target on his back. Joined by Dan Delgado and Wini Finch (The Others), and Owen McCoy (Flux), the team attempts to understand the gates that first appeared in New Hampshire, and now in Antarctica. Despite their vast experience with the strange and otherworldly, none of them are prepared for what comes next. Three members of the team are abducted, whisked away to another planet. Alive or dead, no one knows.

Dark Horse and his now rag-tag team struggle to track down their missing teammates while being hunted themselves. With the fate of his friends—and all of Earth—hanging in the balance, Dark Horse is forced to take insane risks, create chaos, and do anything to get his people back.

TO SAVE HUMANITY...
...HE MUST SACRIFICE HIS OWN.

Get your copy of The Order here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

2. Aeon Rising by Matthew Mather

Max Carver, a down-on-his-luck truck driver and Army vet, joins a rescue mission into Brazil. The target is a utopian tech village, the Colony, hidden in the rainforest and run by a charismatic genius. Max’s pregnant wife, Talisha Carver, is the NSA analyst who intercepted encrypted Colony messages signaling a mysterious impending event.

Dr. Xin Rou is a Chinese researcher working at the IceCube neutrino experiment at the South Pole. On lucky days a single flash might signal the passage of a ghostly interstellar particle. Suddenly, IceCube’s entire array lights up. A million detectors at once. Which is impossible. The Antarctic sky is clear and calm—but she is already running for the door.

Because the world is about to end.
But the mystery only just begins...

Pick up Aeon Rising here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

1. Chaotica: Riven Worlds Book 5 by G.S. Jennsen

After an extraordinary encounter with kyoseil in the Oneiroi Nebula, Nika Kirumase is transformed. Now able to understand and harness the true power of the ancient, primordial life form, she finally has the ability to defend her people—if the kyoseil doesn’t destroy her sanity first.

Mesme has long been meddling with the fate of the universe, but the events in the Oneiroi Nebula have exposed its deceptions. A schism erupts between Alex and Mesme over the secrets the Katasketousya keeps—and if their relationship isn’t mended, the world may lose its best chance at salvation.

The fractures threatening Concord’s survival aren’t merely personal, and the ramifications of the Ruda’s betrayal in the last battle prove costly to everyone. The Rasu begin deploying antimatter weapons, thereby neutralizing Concord’s greatest advantage, its impervious adiamene warships. Now losing ships, people and planets as the Rasu close in on the Milky Way, Miriam Solovy finds herself short on options and out of time.

But Alex has never let those kind of odds stop her, and so a desperate plan is hatched—one that will either save civilization, or doom it to annihilation.

In Amaranthe, where exotic alien life, AIs, wormholes, indestructible starships and the promise of immortality rule the day, no feat seems out of reach for humanity. But when the worlds of Aurora Rhapsody and Asterion Noir collide and the Rasu horde descends upon them both, more will be asked of heroes past and future. More will be given and more taken, and when the dust settles the very fabric of Amaranthe will be altered forever.

Pick up Chaotica here on Amazon

What did you think of the top 10 selections as decided by your fellow Discover Sci-Fi readers? Will any of these new reads make your summer reading list this year? Share you thoughts in the comments here on the blog, or visit us here in our Facebook group.

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

The Top 10 Sci-Fi Books of 2021 (So Far)!

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“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” ― Mark Twain

The good friends and the sleepy conscience, you'll have to manage on your own, but good books, we—and your fellow Discover Sci-Fi community members—well, we have you covered there! Curious to see which book published so far in 2021 Discover Sci-Fi readers loved best? Read on to find out!

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and in the Facebook group, are the top 10 books of 2021 (so far!)  

10. Lost Contact by Nathan Hystad

Lost Contact is the first book in a new series by Nathan Hystad and we have to agree with readers that it is one of the best reads so far this year! Last month, we published a list of the Top 10 First Contact Books of All Time which, as you would expect, is a goldmine of great titles; if you worked your way through those and are looking for one more action-filled first contact story, this is it! 

Rex Walker always wanted to be like his father: a daring, adventurous man, traveling the world in pursuit of mysterious relics. Now Rex is the same age his father was when he disappeared without a trace.

While teaching anthropology at a Boston college, Rex attempts to bury the past, until he discovers a hidden clue he can’t ignore.

With the help of his sidekick Marcus, a former student turned protégé, he teams up with an alien-obsessed billionaire, and they search for the fabled Bridge.

As an unidentified object nears Pluto, speculation surges. The Believers, a fanatical cult, hail it as the homecoming of a distant alien race.

Will Rex solve the puzzle before it’s too late?

Pick up Nathan Hystad's Lost Contact here on Amazon

9. Asylum by Lindsay Buroker

Last September, Lindsay Buroker blew us away with Layers of Force, the stunning conclusion to her Star Kingdom series. It was hard to say goodbye, and so fans were thrilled at the release of Asylum, a standalone novel set in the Star Kingdom universe. 

A young woman with cybernetic upgrades, Mari Moonrazor has decided to flee the restrictive machine-worshipping cult she was raised in. She longs to know what it’s like to live among normal humans and experience simple biological pleasures like consuming alcohol, kissing a boy, and—most importantly—eating chocolate.

But her mother, the infamous astroshaman leader Kyla Moonrazor, is determined to get her back, even if it means sending a bounty hunter after her.

Mari’s only hope for freedom is to be granted asylum from the leaders of the powerful Star Kingdom. First, she must prove that she has knowledge and resources she can offer them. Second, she has to earn their trust.

This all would have been easier if her people hadn’t bombed their planet…

Get your copy of Lindsay Buroker's Asylum here on Amazon.

8. Starship Freedom by Daniel Arenson

Looking for a fast-paced page-turner? If you haven't already, definitely give Daniel Arenson's newest series a shot! Word to the wise: you'll want to carve out a full day to devour this as the first book, Starship Freedom, is one of those reads that is almost impossible to put down!

The starship Freedom was once a mighty warship. Today she's a tourist attraction.

The space wars ended long ago. The Freedom is now a flying museum. The tourists love it. The Changing of the Guard, the starfighter aerobatics, the starboard cannon salute . . . it's the best show in the galaxy.

James King commands the starship Freedom. He hates his job. He was a real soldier once. Back when the Freedom was a real warship. He never imagined himself running a tourist trap. Right after Christmas, he plans to retire.

Then, on Christmas day, the aliens attack.

Horrifying aliens. Creatures of claws, fangs, and endless malice. Within hours, they devastate Earth's military. Millions die.

So much for retirement.

Start reading Daniel Arenson's Starship Freedom here on Amazon.

7. Monroe Doctrine by James Rosone and Miranda Watson

James Rosone and Miranda Watson knocked it out of the park with their new technothriller series, Monroe Doctrine! The first book came out in January and the second was released in March; if you haven't yet, start now with book one and get caught up before book three comes out this fall! 

Was an attack on the U.S. imminent?

In a lab deep in the heart of China, a brilliant engineer had a breakthrough. It was the most powerful AI ever created. Ma Young believed the Jade Dragon could solve the world’s most dire challenges. There was just one problem…

The president of China had other ideas.

Was this their chance to conquer? 

Grab James Rosone and Miranda Watson's Monroe Doctrine here on Amazon.

6. Acheron Salvation by Ken Lozito

Ken Lozito is known for his incredible world building and tight storytelling, skills that are on full display in his Federation Chronicles series. Acheron Salvation is the second and most recent entry into that series and as with the first book—or anything Lozito writes, for that matter—it should not be missed! 

First came the development of a Personality Matrix Construct—PMC, transferring human consciousness into a machine. It changed the galaxy and the way wars were fought. Then something went wrong with PMCs and the Federation Wars toppled the galactic order. PMCs became a menace to be hunted and exterminated.

Long after the Federation Wars, the galaxy limps on. Spacers carve out an existence upon the bones of the old worlds, but things are about to change. . .something has begun broadcasting signals to reactivate PMCs that were stored in secret.

Quinton Aldren is a PMC. His consciousness was uploaded and stored over a century ago, before the Federation Wars. All Quinton wants is to leave his past behind, but the broadcasts keep occurring. More PMCs are coming online, and not all of them are entirely stable. Federation War machines are on the hunt for them, and they don’t care who gets in their way.

Grab Ken Lozito's Acheron Salvation 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. The Emissary by G J Ogden

We love it when we get a chance to connect with authors whose books have been nominated by our community to chat about their work and why it might resonate with fans the way it does. Landing in 5th place on our list, G J Ogden's fantastic new book, The Emissary was a big hit with readers and this week we got to speak with Ogden about why that might be! 

I think The Emissary has resonated with readers partly because it’s just a straight-up fun, action-packed story. However, beneath this there’s a darker element as readers get to know the crew of unique ‘Omega officers’, all chosen for their cold-hearted ruthlessness and willingness to ‘do whatever it takes, no matter the cost’. They are a necessary evil in the war against an unstoppably brutal enemy. Fans of the book love this depth, and the moral and ethical questions it poses, along with the fact the captain is still human and struggles with PTSD. I think it’s this layer of depth, on top of the fun and action, that makes it so compelling.
– GJ Ogden

The Sa’Nerra were close to defeat, then everything changed. Armed with a unique neural weapon, the merciless alien warriors turned Fleet crew against their own. Entire warships went rogue. Suspicion and fear ran riot. Surrender seemed like the only option.

But Captain Lucas Sterling knows that in the fight against the Sa’Nerra there is only victory or death.

Sterling is an Omega Captain. His rank and his command of the Fleet Marauder Invictus were both won in a depraved and monstrous trial of grit and determination.

Sterling will do anything to ensure the Sa’Nerra do not prevail. Even if that means killing Fleet crew that have been “turned”. Even if that means killing the people he loves.

But the neural control weapon is not the only danger Fleet faces. Deep inside the Void the aliens are building a super-weapon. Sterling and his crew must destroy it at all costs.

Back on Earth, the United Governments are desperate for peace. Then after fifty years without a single word of contact between the two races, the Sa’Nerra finally send an emissary.

But the belligerent alien race sent an emissary of war, not peace.

The fate of humanity now lies in the hands of Captain Sterling and the Omega officers of the Invictus. But victory is only possible if he is willing to do anything it takes to win.

Get your copy of G J Ogden's The Emissary  here on Amazon.

4. No Quarter by Joshua Dalzelle

Joshua Dalzelle proves the old adage that "good things come to those who wait" with release of No Quarter, the second book in The Unification War Trilogy. This incredible second entry came almost two years after the first book, but we think it was well worth the wait, and clearly Discover Sci-Fi readers agree! 

As with Ogden, we had a chance to chat with Dalzelle this month and found his thoughts both on second books in general, and this second book in particular, super interesting!

No Quarter is the dreaded second act in the final trilogy of the Black Fleet Saga. The series has been quite popular overall, but the second books in each trilogy always seem to be polarizing because they necessarily end on bleak prospects for the protagonists and this one is no different. I think this book stood out for readers because there were some twists they weren’t expecting this far into the series. As a purely military sci-fi novel I’m not looking to pull a bait and switch or to trick the readers like a thriller might, but it’s still fun to keep them guessing going into the last book of the saga.

Humanity is fractured and on the brink of war…

The United Terran Federation and the Eastern Star Alliance have been fighting in minor skirmishes along the border region for the last few years, but now it threatens to break out into a full-on war with the victor assuming control of all human space.

The Alliance has fired the opening shots with a horrific strike on a civilian target, killing millions and shocking the Federation's parliament into action. Now mighty fleets of starships are moving against each other, ready for the final battle that will settle the conflict once and for all.

The venerable Admiral Jackson Wolfe prepares himself for one last fight as his nemesis, Admiral Vadim Kohl, looks to make a name for himself by defeating the infamous Federation officer in battle. Jackson knows events are now in motion that can't be stopped and only one thing is certain: win or lose, nothing will ever be the same again.

No Quarter is the second book in the Unification War Trilogy and the eighth book in the overall Black Fleet Saga.

Pick up Joshua Dalzelle's No Quarter here on Amazon.

3. CyberWar by Matthew Mather

You're missing out if you haven't read our 3rd place pick. The long awaited, highly anticipated CyberWar is the 3rd book in Matthew Mather's World War C series, which is currently in development with Netflix.  We can't wait to watch and we know it'll be amazing, but you know the book is always better so make sure you read the series before it hits the screen! 

Chechen separatists destroyed thousands of satellites in orbit, the effects crippling the world's militaries. Power and communications failures sweep the planet, while emergency services are hobbled as fires and powerful storms rip across America.

Still recovering from his injuries, Mike Mitchell returns to his family at Senator Seymour's residence in Virginia, the place a fortress secured by dozens of Secret Service agents. The CIA has tracked down the terrorists that launched the attacks and offers a front-row seat to watch events unfold as a SEAL team closes in--but the video feed goes dead.

Outside the senator's house, thudding detonations as an attack begins.

Scrambling to stay alive, Mike realizes the onslaught isn't only against the Seymour residence in Virginia, but that a furious blitz has begun all over the country. As the full weight of America's military presses on stopping these terrorists, how are the attacks possible? Is it an invasion? Or something more sinister?

With their lives and the fate of the nation hanging in the balance, the bigger question becomes--who is the real enemy?

Get your copy of Matthew Mather's CyberWar here on Amazon.

2. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Okay, so we were a little—scratch that—more than a little surprised that Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary didn't top this list. The response to the release was off-the-charts. Readers quickly snapped up and binged the book and as they did, in came a torrent of glowing reviews and commentary as readers posted their thoughts to the Discover Sci-Fi facebook group. You'd be hard pressed to find another recent release that elicited that much enthusiasm among the group as a whole. Nevertheless, 2nd place is not too shabby, and if you haven't already, you really need to read this! 

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.

Or does he?

Pick up Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary here on Amazon.

1. Breakaway (Expeditionary Force Book 12) by Craig Alanson

It's hard to keep track of how many times Craig Alanson's Expeditionary Force series has landed in 1st place in these reader's choice polls! This recent win is for Breakaway, the incredible 12th book in the aforementioned series. Alanson is a damn fine storyteller with the ability to keep hungry fans happy with regular releases in this, his wildly popular series—clearly a winning combination! 

The Merry Band of Pirates offered the bad guys a ceasefire. We won’t mess with them, if they don’t mess with us. Easy, right? NO. The aliens chose to do things the hard way. So, the Pirates are racing around the galaxy to clean up the threat to Earth. The infant UN Navy has their own mission with the Alien Legion: get humanity some allies in the fight. And the Ethics & Compliance Office might have to do something...ethical. Unless they can find a way around it.

Pick up Craig Alanson's Breakaway here on Amazon

What did you think of the top 10 selections as decided by your fellow Discover Sci-Fi readers? Will any of these new reads make your summer reading list this year? Share you thoughts in the comments here on the blog, or visit us here in our Facebook group 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.

The Top 10 First Contact Books Of All Time!

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“It is pointless to worry about the possible malevolent intentions of an advanced civilization with whom we might make contact. It is more likely that the mere fact they have survived so long means they have learned to live with themselves and others.” ―Carl Sagan, Cosmos

It may be pointless to worry, but it sure is fun to imagine! Or rather, it's fun to get caught up in the imaginings of our favorite sci-fi authors. Curious to see which imagined first contact scenario the Discover Sci-Fi community loved best? Read on to find out!

Here, without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and in the Facebook group, are the top 10 first contact books of all-time! 

10. Live Free or Die by John Ringo

First Contact Was Friendly.

When aliens trundled a gate to other worlds into the solar system, the world reacted with awe, hope and fear. But the first aliens to come through, the Glatun, were peaceful traders and the world breathed a sigh of relief.

Who Controls the Orbitals, Controls the World.

When the Horvath came through, they announced their ownership by dropping rocks on three cities and gutting them. Since then, they've held Terra as their own personal fiefdom. With their control of the orbitals, there's no way to win and earth's governments have accepted the status quo.

Pick up John Ringo's Live Free or Die here on Amazon

9. Footfall by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

An alien craft is approaching Earth. Attempts to communicate go unanswered. The welcoming committee of Americans and Russians at a space station is blasted, its occupants killed or captured. Soon the entire Earth, with special emphasis on the United States, is bombarded by asteroids, destroying dams, highways, and infrastructure. The message to humans: total surrender or death to all. A giant rock, the “footfall”, is launched towards Earth, causing even more damage. The aliens land, determined to conquer or utterly eliminate the human race. Understanding a truly “alien” culture and learning how to confront such an overwhelming power make FOOTFALL stand out as an exciting and truly original novel.

Pick up Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's Footfall here on Amazon.

8. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles is a classic work of twentieth-century literature whose extraordinary power and imagination remain undimmed by time's passage. In connected, chronological stories, a true grandmaster once again enthralls, delights and challenges us with his vision and his heart-starkly and stunningly exposing in brilliant spacelight our strength, our weakness, our folly, and our poignant humanity on a strange and breathtaking world where humanity does not belong.

Get your copy of Ray Bradbury'sThe Martian Chronicles here on Amazon.

7. Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper

One day Jack Holloway, prospector on the planet Zarathustra, finds what seems to be a small monkey with golden fur; these new introductions (for the first brings a family) are tiny hunters, and prove to be curious and capable tool users. Why is this so important to the new human settlers? - Because a planet inhabited by a sapient race cannot be monopolized by the Zarathustra Company.

Start reading H. Beam Piper's Little Fuzzy here on Amazon.

6. Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson

We were fighting on the wrong side, of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news.

The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits.

Grab Craig Alanson's Columbus Day 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. Contact by Carl Sagan

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and astronomer Carl Sagan imagines the greatest adventure of all—the discovery of an advanced civilization in the depths of space.

In December of 1999, a multinational team journeys out to the stars, to the most awesome encounter in human history. Who—or what—is out there? In Cosmos, Carl Sagan explained the universe. In Contact, he predicts its future—and our own.

Get your copy of Carl Sagan's Contact here on Amazon.

4. Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

In the near future, enormous silver spaceships appear without warning over mankind’s largest cities. They belong to the Overlords, an alien race far superior to humanity in technological development. Their purpose is to dominate Earth. Their demands, however, are surprisingly benevolent: end war, poverty, and cruelty. Their presence, rather than signaling the end of humanity, ushers in a golden age . . . or so it seems.

Without conflict, human culture and progress stagnate. As the years pass, it becomes clear that the Overlords have a hidden agenda for the evolution of the human race that may not be as benevolent as it seems.

Dive into Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End here on Amazon.

3. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

The War of the Worlds (1898), by H. G. Wells, is an early science fiction novel which describes an invasion of England by aliens from Mars. It is one of the earliest and best-known depictions of an alien invasion of Earth, and has influenced many others, as well as spawning several films, radio dramas, comic book adaptations, and a television series based on the story. The 1938 radio broadcast caused public outcry against the episode, as many listeners believed that an actual Martian invasion was in progress, a notable example of mass hysteria.

Get your copy of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds here on Amazon.

2. Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke

An enormous cylindrical object has entered Earth’s solar system on a collision course with the sun. A team of astronauts are sent to explore the mysterious craft, which the denizens of the solar system name Rama. What they find is astonishing evidence of a civilization far more advanced than ours. They find an interior stretching over fifty kilometers; a forbidding cylindrical sea; mysterious and inaccessible buildings; and strange machine-animal hybrids, or “biots,” that inhabit the ship. But what they don’t find is an alien presence. So who—and where—are the Ramans?

Often listed as one of Clarke’s finest novels, Rendezvous with Rama won numerous awards, including the Hugo, the Nebula, the Jupiter, and the British Science Fiction Awards. A fast-paced and compelling story of an enigmatic encounter with alien technology, Rendezvous with Rama offers both answers and unsolved mysteries that will continue to fascinate readers for generations.

Pick up Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama here on Amazon.

1. The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

The united 'Second Empire of Man' spans vast distances, due to the Alderson Drive which has enabled humans to travel easily between the stars. After an alien probe is discovered, the Navy dispatches two ships to determine whether the aliens pose a threat… Called by Robert A. Heinlein: "Possibly the greatest science fiction novel ever written," this magnificent exploration of first contact and a truly alien society is a "must read" for science fiction fans.

Pick up Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's The Mote in God's Eye here on Amazon

What did you think of the top 10 selections as decided by your fellow Discover Sci-Fi readers? Any you strongly agree or disagree with? Any you're eager to pick up now that weren't on your radar before? Share you thoughts in the comments here on the blog, or visit us here in our Facebook group 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.

The Top 10 Secondary or Ensemble Sci-Fi Characters Who Deserve Their Own Spin-off!

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Whether it's to see where they began, or where they ended up, or what happened in between, these ten extraordinary secondary characters are the ones the Discover Sci-Fi community voted as being most deserving of their own spin-off book or series. But which one did readers deem most deserving? You'll have to read on to find out!

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are the top 10 secondary or ensemble characters who deserve their own spin-off! 

10. Gregor Vorbarra from the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold

Given the amount of fanfic devoted to exploring Gregor Vorbarra, the esteemed Emperor of the Barrayaran Imperium in Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga, it is no surprise to see him on this list. There is a ton to mine here! There’s some debate around where to start with this series, but here we’ll defer to the author, who recommends starting with Shards of Honor and then moving right into Barrayar. For paperback lovers, these are available in an omnibus edition called Cordelia’s Honor. 

Ravaged by the Barrayaran-Betan War and turned into outcasts, Cordelia Naismith and Lord Aral Vorkosigan have no idea what vile plans are being hatched around their cell-damaged son.

Pick up Cordelia's Honor here on Amazon

9. The Mother Thing from Have Space Suit—Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein

Many of you will have cut your teeth on Robert A. Heinlein’s juveniles, so it’s no surprise to see at least one character from one of those books on our list. The Mother Thing—described as an alien who speaks in a kind of birdsong—is resourceful, protective, comforting and bold. If you missed Have Space Suit—Will Travel as a kid, you’ll find this quick read is still worth picking up as an adult.

Kip Russell wants nothing more than to go to the moon. But after entering a contest to help realize his dream, he is thrust into a space adventure he could never have imagined—with the most unlikely of friends and enemies. A favorite among Heinlein readers.

Pick up Have Space Suit—Will Travel here on Amazon.

8. Anne, the “Fair Witness” from Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land

“So? “Anne!”
Anne was on the springboard; she turned her head. Jubal called out, “That house on the hilltop — can you see what color they’ve painted it?”
Anne looked, then answered, “It’s white on this side.”
Jubal went on to Jill, “You see? It doesn’t occur to her to infer that the other side is probably white, too. All the King’s horses couldn’t force her to commit herself . . . unless she went there and looked — and even then she wouldn’t assume that it stayed whatever color it might be after she left.”
 “Anne is a Fair Witness?”
“Graduate, unlimited license, and admitted to testify before the High Court.”—Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land

Anne the “Fair Witness” is a character from Robert A.Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land. Gifted with an eidetic memory and the ability to perceive events accurately and with complete objectivity, Anne certainly would be a fun character to explore in greater depth and in a different context.  

Raised by Martians on Mars, Valentine Michael Smith is a human who has never seen another member of his species. Sent to Earth, he is a stranger who must learn what it is to be a man. But his own beliefs and his powers far exceed the limits of humankind, and as he teaches them about grokking and water-sharing, he also inspires a transformation that will alter Earth’s inhabitants forever...

Get your copy of Stranger in a Strange Land here on Amazon.

7. Trillian from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The brilliant mathematician and astrophysicist Tricia Marie McMillan aka Trillian Astra aka Trillian has made regular appearances in the books, radio, television and film versions of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Intelligent, insightful, confident and charming, she’s definitely a character who deserves a greater share of the limelight!  

It’s an ordinary Thursday morning for Arthur Dent . . . until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly after to make way for a new hyperspace express route, and Arthur’s best friend has just announced that he’s an alien.

After that, things get much, much worse.

Start reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy here on Amazon.

6. Stockton from Blood on the Stars by Jay Allan

Jake Stockton is a dynamic character who has had some excellent storylines and suffered a LOT throughout the course of Jay Allan’s epic military space opera series, Blood on the Stars. As with Andi Laforge, a fan favorite who was treated to her own Blood on the Stars spinoff series, without a doubt, Jake would make a compelling central character for a series of his own. We had the pleasure of chatting with Jay Allan about Jake Stockton, and he had this to say:

"Jake Stockton has been one of my favorite characters to write.  He has come a long way, changing considerably in some ways, and remaining the same in others.  Jake has come close to becoming a main character, but in the end, he has remained a supporting cast member in all of the books, if a major one.  He has appeared in 17 books all together, and the 18th and final one is coming out later this year. Duel in the Dark is the first book, both of the series and also with Jake as one of the characters." – Jay Allan

If you are new to the series, definitely start with book one, Duel in the Dark. Given the binge worthy nature of the series, you could be all caught up by the time book 18 comes out!

A duel, in the deepest darks, a savage fight between two veteran warriors, two captains, two heroes.

An epic battle that only one can survive. A fight to determine if there is peace, or a bloody war where billions will die.

Grab Duel in the Dark here on Amazon.

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5. Hazel Stone from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert 

Hazel Stone, nominated here for her role in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is a compelling character who appeared first in Robert A. Heinlein’s book The Rolling Stones, popping up in later works as well, including The Cat Who Walks Through Walls where she, using the alias Gwendolyn Novak, plays a central role. As Discover Sci-Fi blog reader Jim Ellis commented:

 “We know where Hazel Stone winds up later in life. The tale from TMIAHM [The Moon is a Harsh Mistress] to then would be a fun adventure, probably several volumes.” 

We agree!

The rollicking adventures of the Stone Family on a tour of the Solar System. It all statred when the twins, Castor and Pollux Stone, decided that life on the Lunar colony was too dull and decided to buy their own spaceship and go into business for themselves. Their father thought that was a fine, idea, except that he and Grandma Hazel bought the spaceship and the whole Stone Family were on their way out into the far reaches of the Solar System, with stops on Mars(where the twins got a lesson in the interplanetary economics of bicycles and the adorable little critters called flatcats who, it turned out, bred like rabbits; or perhaps, Tribbles....), out to the asteroids, where  Mrs. Stone, an M.D., was needed to treat a dangerous outbreak of disease, even further out, to Titan and beyond.

Get your copy of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress here on Amazon.

4. Stilgar from Dune by Frank Herbert

Stilgar is a born leader with a magnetic personality, respected thanks to his honest and trustworthy nature. He plays a significant role in Frank Herbert's Dune, but would definitely be worth exploring further via a spin-off. 

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the “spice” melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for....

Dive into Dune here on Amazon.

3. Bobbie Draper from The Expanse by James S. A. Corey

“Bobbie was not the right shape to fit into one of the standard suits, and the Marines made her jump through a series of flaming hoops every time she requisitioned a new custom one. At a bit over two meters tall, she was only slightly above average height for a Martian male, but thanks in part to her Polynesian ancestry, she weighed in at over a hundred kilos at one g. None of it was fat, but her muscles seemed to get bigger every time she even walked through a weight room. As a marine, she trained all the time.” —James, S. A. Corey, Caliban’s War

First appearing in Caliban's War, book two of James S. A. Corey's series The Expanse, Roberta “Bobbie” Draper is a long time fan favorite and widely regarded as one of the most badass characters of sci-fi, let alone the series. While Bobbie doesn’t appear until the second book, if you are new to this series, you’re definitely going to want to start at the beginning with Leviathan Wakes! 

Humanity has colonized the solar system -- Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond -- but the stars are still out of our reach.

Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for -- and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.

Get your copy of Leviathan Wakes here on Amazon.

2. Scotty Tremaine and Horace Harkness from the Honor Harrington series by David Weber

Sir Horace Harkness and his mentee Prescott “Scotty” Tremaine made their first appearances in On Basilisk Station, the first book of David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, and were regular characters throughout the series. These two are scrappy, resourceful and seasoned, and it would absolutely be cool to see a spinoff featuring either or both. 

Having made him look a fool, she's been exiled to Basilisk Station in disgrace and set up for ruin by a superior who hates her.

Parliament isn't sure it wants to keep the place; the major local industry is smuggling; the merchant cartels want her head; the star-conquering, so-called "Republic" of Haven is Up To Something; and Honor Harrington has a single, over-age light cruiser with an armament that doesn't work to police the entire star system.

But the people out to get her have made one mistake. They've made her mad.

Start On Basilisk Station here on Amazon.

1. Agent Pike from the Black Fleet Saga by Joshua Dalzelle

Fans of Joshua Dalzelle’s outstanding, adventurous and fast-paced Black Fleet Saga have long called for a spinoff exploring Agent Pike’s backstory and, rumor has it, this is an idea Dalzelle has actually considered so maybe there is reason to be hopeful! New to the series? Start with Warship and be ready to binge read from there! 

In the 25th century humans have conquered space. The advent of faster-than-light travel has opened up hundreds of habitable planets for colonization, and humans have exploited the virtually limitless space and resources for hundreds of years with impunity.

So complacent have they become with the overabundance that armed conflict is a thing of the past, and their machines of war are obsolete and decrepit. What would happen if they were suddenly threatened by a terrifying new enemy? Would humanity fold and surrender, or would they return to their evolutionary roots and meet force with force? One ship—and one captain—will soon be faced with this very choice.

Grab Warship here on Amazon.

What did you think of the top 10 selections as decided by your fellow Discover Sci-Fi readers? Any you strongly agree or disagree with? Any you're eager to pick up now that weren't on your radar before? Share you thoughts in the comments here on the blog, or visit us here in our Facebook group 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.

The Top 10 Co-Written Sci-Fi Books of all Time!

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"Just about every collaboration I've done has been done because I believed that the final product would be stronger in some ways than either of us would have produced on his or her own. The fact that the final book will be stronger in some ways doesn't necessarily mean that I expect it to be stronger in all ways, but it does mean that my collaborator and I are each going to be bringing different strengths to the table with us." —David Weber

It’s always fascinating to get a glimpse inside an author's writing process, be it solo or collaborative, and these words from Weber confirm that the best collaborative writers are choosing a collaborative path because they believe—for a variety of reasons—that, for some stories, it’s the way toward a stronger book.

The books in this week’s top 10 list are an indication of success in that aim, the two selections co-written by Weber included. Curious to see how each of these 10 co-written books ranked? Read on to see and let us know if you agree! 

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are the top 10 co-written sci-fi books of all time! 

10. Ruins of the Galaxy by J.N. Chaney and Christopher Hopper

“Absolutely masterful storytelling cadence that you two gentlemen have learned how to write and play off of each others style... It has been rare that I have enjoyed a book as immensely as I did this one.” —Eugene Hunter

Whether it’s the nominated series, Ruins of the Galaxy, or Ruins of the Earth, or Resonant Son, Eugene Hunter’s words ring true: Chaney and Hopper do an incredible job of playing off each one another, each of their strengths as writers and storytellers shining though. If you haven’t read anything by this duo, Ruins of the Galaxy is a really great place to jump in. 

The mission is simple. Escort an emissary to an intergalactic peace summit. Try not to get in the way. But when an explosion rocks the tower and sends everyone into a panic, Magnus and his asset find themselves cut off from the rest of the team.

Worse still, a dying alien chieftain gives them a priceless drive of intel, marking them for death.

The mission has officially changed.

With enemies on all sides, Magnus must do everything in his power to protect the emissary and escape the tower. There is no back up. There is no chance for failure.

The fate of the entire galaxy now lies in the hands of a Republic Marine and a diplomat.

All they have to do is survive.

Pick up Ruins of the Galaxy here on Amazon

9. A Time Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter

What could be better than a collaboration between one of the most esteemed sci-fi writers of all time and a serious, talented up-and-coming hard-science fiction writer? Stephen Baxter had several titles under his belt before his collaboration with Arthur C. Clarke, but the A Time Odyssey trilogy they wrote together remains a fan favorite. If you haven't read this one yet, start with Time's Eye. 

In an instant, Earth is carved up in time and reassembled like a huge jigsaw puzzle. Suddenly the world becomes a patchwork of eras, from prehistory to 2037, each with its own indigenous inhabitants. The explanation for this cataclysmic event may lie in the ancient city of Babylon, where two groups of refugees from 2037—three cosmonauts and three U.N. peacekeepers—have detected strange radio signals. The peacekeepers find allies in nineteenth century British troops and in the armies of Alexander the Great. The cosmonauts join forces with the Mongol horde led by Genghis Khan. Both sides set out for Babylon, vowing to win the race for knowledge—as a powerful and mysterious entity watches, waiting.

Pick up Time's Eye  here on Amazon.

8. Footfall by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

“Niven and Pournelle are one of the seamless entertainment teams that makes it look a great deal easier than it is. That is because Larry Niven is a quality writer and Jerry Pournelle was an established scientist. When they bring their talents together the effect is fantastic and, in my opinion, very re-readable.” —Jon, Goodreads

Footfall is the first of three books on our top 10 co-written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It introduced us to Fithp: alien invaders that resemble baby elephants with multiple prehensile trunks. The Fithp don’t sound especially menacing, but they did make last year’s list of Top 10 Most Terrifying Alien Invaders. 

It may not be the very best book to come from this team, but it’s absolutely a classic worth a reading, especially if alien invasion is your jam. 

They first appear as a series of dots on astronomical plates, heading from Saturn directly toward Earth. Since the ringed planet carries no life, scientists deduce the mysterious ship to be a visitor from another star.

The world's frantic efforts to signal the aliens go unanswered. The first contact is hostile: the invaders blast a Soviet space station, seize the survivors, and then destroy every dam and installation on Earth with a hail of asteroids.

Now the conquerors are descending on the American heartland, demanding servile surrender--or death for all humans.

Get your copy of Footfall here on Amazon.

7. 1633 by David Weber and Eric Flint

The 1632 series is a popular alternate history series. So popular it made our reader generated list of the Top 10 Historical Sci-Fi Books of All Time last September. Each book is written either by Eric Flint alone, or with one of a number of co-authors. Two of the earliest and most popular of these—1633 and 1634—were written with David Weber. The first book was written to be a standalone, so many who loved 1632 didn’t go on to read the collaborations which didn’t start rolling out until two years later. If you are new to the series, it’s recommended you start with 1632 before picking up 1633.

AMERICAN FREEDOM AND JUSTICE VS. SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TYRANNY

The new Confederated Principalities of Europe-an alliance between Gustavus,king of Sweden, and the West Virginia town, led by Mike Stearns, which was hurled back through time to the thirty years war - has big problems. As the greatest naval war in European history erupts, Cardinal Richelieu has created an alliance to destroy the CPE, and only American technology can save Gustavus from ruin.

Start reading 1633 here on Amazon.

6. Extinction Cycle: Dark Age by Nicholas Sansbury Smith and Anthony J. Melchiorri

“The absolute acme of achieving an amazing co-written book is quite simply that the readers and the diehard fans don't realize that it is in fact a co-written book. A smooth transition from each writer's talents and co-editing efforts must ultimately come together to provide not necessarily a much better work than either have presented before but again a seamless and fresh take on what has come before. And for me, the "Extinction Cycle: Dark Age" books by Nicholas Sansbury Smith and Anthony J. Melchiorri do just that. Of course I had read the heart-pounding books that NSS produced before but honestly, if I didn't have the cover 'credits' in front of me, I would have never noticed that the Dark Age books were being co-written. Instead, I would have just lived on in blissful ignorance, enjoying a fresh and just as exciting take on what was already a universe that I had become literally addicted to!” —Ziggy, DSF Reader
“Holy Cow my mind is just destroyed. What kind of book do you get when you combine Nicholas Sansbury Smith and Anthony J Melchiorri. A freaking barn burning , stomach churning , head exploding , heart pounding roller coaster ride from Hell.” —Billy Barfield, Goodreads

We couldn’t have said it better! Nicholas Sansbury Smith and Anthony J. Melchiorri are an incredible team. Fans of Smith's tense, emotional and high-action Extinction Cycle Universe might have picked this one up with some trepidation, wondering if the addition of a co-author would hurt the flow, depth and impact of storytelling, but anyone who knew Melchiorri's previous work, either that which he wrote alone or his previous collaboration with Smith (Orbs VI: Exodus) knew there was nothing to fear. The combination of these two writers is absolute fire! While we think everyone should read Extinction Cycle at some point, if you haven't you can still jump right in here with Extinction Shadow as Extinction Cycle: Dark Age works well as a standalone series.

Eight years ago, an engineered virus ravaged the globe, infecting and transforming humans into apex predators called Variants. Billions died, civilization collapsed, and the human race teetered on the brink of extinction. 

Nations banded together and heroes rose up to fight these abominations. On the front lines, Captain Reed Beckham and Master Sergeant Joe "Fitz" Fitzpatrick of Delta Force Team Ghost fought against the Variant hordes. With the aid of CDC Doctor Kate Lovato, they helped lead humanity to victory. 

Now, almost a decade after the end of the war, civilization has slowly clawed toward recovery. In the Allied States of America, survivors live in outposts where they have rebuilt industry, agriculture, and infrastructure. The remaining Variants are believed to be dying off under destroyed cities and the abandoned frontier. 

But evil and intelligent forces dwell in the shadows with the starving beasts, scheming to restart the extinction cycle and end humanity forever. And once again, Beckham, Fitz, and Kate will rise to fight them, joining forces with new heroes to try and save what's left of the world.

Grab Extinction Shadow here on Amazon.

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5. Empire of Man by David Weber and John Ringo

“When March Upcountry published in 2001, David Weber was well-established in Military Science Fiction, with nine books of his Honor Harrington saga plus an additional 10 novels published. In short, he was a Military SF brand name. John Ringo, his ‘apprentice’ partner in crime for March Upcountry, was a relatively new writer, having published the first two books of his Legacy of Aldenata/Posleen War series. For Ringo the rest, as they say, is history.” —Robert H. Bedford

John Ringo and David Weber have each written with other authors, but the series they wrote together Empire of Man really helped establish Ringo as a household name in science fiction. Pick this one up next time you’re looking for a fast paced, military sci-fi adventure, starting with book 1, March Upcountry. 

Roger Ramius MacClintock was young, handsome, athletic, an excellent dresser, and third in line for the Throne of Man. It probably wasn't too surprising that someone in his position should react by becoming spoiled, self‑centered, and petulant. After all, what else did he have to do with his life? Then warships of the Empire of Man's worst rivals shoot his crippled vessel out of space and Roger is shipwrecked on the planet Marduk, whose jungles are full of deadly predators and barbarian hordes with really bad dispositions. Now all Roger has to do is hike halfway around the entire planet, then capture a spaceport from the Bad Guys, somehow commandeer a starship, and then go home to Mother for explanations. Fortunately, Roger has an ace in the hole: Bravo Company of Bronze Battalion of The Empress' Own Regiment. If anyone can get him off Marduk alive, it's the Bronze Barbarians.

Get your copy of March Upcountry here on Amazon.

4. Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

“Every collaboration is different… Jerry and I trade scenes and choose characters, and so forth.” —Larry Niven

As well as his solo efforts, Larry Niven is known for his collaborations with other authors, a process he describes as being unique each time. Lucifer’s Hammer is one of his earlier collaborations with Jerry Pournelle and it’s interesting to read his comments on working with Pournelle, to read how they “trade scenes.” Keen readers have noted that it is pretty easy to determine which writer is responsible for which scenes (maybe especially true with Lucifer’s Hammer), but even with the obvious difference in style, the books work. 

The gigantic comet has slammed into Earth, forging earthquakes a thousand times too powerful to measure on the Richter scale, tidal waves thousands of feet high. Cities were turned into oceans; oceans turned into steam. It was the beginning of a new Ice Age and the end of civilization

But for the terrified men and women chance had saved, it was also the dawn of a new struggle for survival—a struggle more dangerous and challenging than any they had ever known….

Dive into Lucifer's Hammer here on Amazon.

3. The Expanse by James S. A. Corey

“‘I was trying to write enough story for a $100 million dollar MMO, which never happened,’” Franck elaborates, “‘but you wind up creating as much content as you possibly can.’” 
Abraham then stepped in and pulled Franck’s rich background into the setting for a longer narrative. Abraham explains, “‘I said, ‘You’ve done all this research; I’ve written some novels. I know how to do that. Let’s put these two together – it’s already done.’” —Excerpts from Michael Ahr’s interview with Franck and Abraham at Comic Con for Den of Geek 

In just 10 years The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey— aka writers Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck—has become a wildly successful franchise with eight books (so far), three novellas, and a popular T.V. series adapted from the novels, not to mention the Hugo nominations and, as of 2020 a Hugo win for best series. Not too shabby! Not sure where you’ve been if you haven’t heard of this one but if you haven’t or have but haven’t picked it up, start with Leviathan Wakes to see what the buzz is about! 

Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for—and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.

Get your copy of Leviathan Wakes here on Amazon.

2. The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

“I had 4 kids to get through college. So I do journalism and write articles -- or did, until we hit the bestseller list. I told Niven stick with me and I'll make you rich and famous. He was already rich.” —Jerry Pournelle

The Mote in God’s Eye was the first in the three book Moties series and, relevant to this poll, the first of many collaborations between longtime friends Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. True to Pournelle’s prediction, the work they produced together eventually made both of them rich (and famous) and this, their first joint effort, was lauded by Robert A. Heinlein as being “a very important novel, possibly the best contact-with-aliens story ever written.” Not a bad way to kick off a partnership!

In 3016, the 2nd Empire of Man spans hundreds of star systems, thanks to faster-than-light Alderson Drive. Intelligent beings are finally found from the Mote, an isolated star in a thick dust cloud. The bottled-up ancient civilization, at least one million years old, are welcoming, kind, yet evasive, with a dark problem they have not solved in over a million years.

Start The Mote in God's Eye here on Amazon.

1.Galaxy’s Edge by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole

“Jason came to my attention because his writing is outstanding. He really loves the art of the story. And he’s got an excellent narrative voice and one of the most agile minds I’ve encountered. He’s the David Spade to my Chris Farley.”  —Nick Cole

And so began one of the most kick-ass modern day sci-fi collaborations. Readers of Jason Anspach and Nick Cole’s Galaxy’s Edge quickly turn into die-hard fans: fans, who are richly rewarded as this writing duo manages an incredible publishing schedule, turning out book after book, each as fast-paced and engrossing as the last. If you haven't read the series yet, begin at the beginning, with Legionnaire.

The Galaxy is a Dumpster Fire.

A hot, stinking, dumpster fire. And most days I don’t know if the legionnaires are putting out the flames, or fanning them into an inferno.

A hostile force ambushes Victory Company during a reconnaissance-in-force deep inside enemy territory. Stranded behind enemy lines, a sergeant must lead a band of survivors against merciless insurgents on a deadly alien world somewhere along the galaxy’s edge. With no room for error, the Republic’s elite fighting force must struggle to survive under siege while waiting on a rescue that might never come.

Grab Legionnaire  here on Amazon.

What did you think of the top 10 selections as decided by your fellow Discover Sci-Fi readers? Any you strongly agree or disagree with? Any you're eager to pick up now that weren't on your radar before? Share you thoughts in the comments here on the blog, or visit us here in our Facebook group 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.

What Are the Best Co-Written Sci-Fi Books Of All Time?

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"Teamwork makes the dreamwork." —John Maxwell

Teamwork really does make the dreamwork... most of the time. Though this isn't always the case when it comes to writing books, which is probably why writing is such a solitary practise and why most authors choose to work alone. That said, when two authors join forces and they're well-suited to the task of co-writing, the results are magic. This week, we want to hear about those magical moments. What are the best co-written sci-fi books of all time?

We're dying to hear your favorites, so if yours aren't listed yet, add them to the poll below or in our Facebook group. This round, you can nominate and vote for as many as you'd like; we'll pin you down to one selection next week.

*As always this list is made up by combining votes from this blog and our Facebook group.  


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Time to Decide: What is the Best Co-Written Sci-Fi Book of all Time

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Collaborative writing has resulted in some truly excellent books, but it takes just the right team to get there. Last week we asked you to nominate and vote for your favorite co-written books and you turned in dozens of great nominations!

Before we get to the list of our final contenders, we'd like to give honorable mention to two writing teams nominated in the opening round: Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Anne Scarborough, and Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson were two teams nominated without specified titles and so despite receiving dozens of votes, we did not advance them. Nonetheless, both writing teams succeeded in writing compelling and adventurous sci-fi worth checking out if you haven't already. 

Now, it's time to decide.

We narrowed down the list of your nominations to the ten most voted for, and now it's time to figure out what the best ones are out of this group!

*As alway this list is made up by combining votes from this blog and our Facebook group.  


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The Top 10 Sequels That Were Better Than the First Book!

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“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.” ― Octavia E. Butler

In a perfect world, every series would get better as it progressed, the author growing as a writer with every book, while tightening and refining their storylines, and deepening their characters. We’ve all read enough to know that that just doesn’t happen with every series; today though, we are celebrating the times that it does.  

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are the 10 sequels that were better than the first book! 

10. After Worlds Collide by Philip Wyle and Edwin Balmer

“The first book (when worlds collide) was a great read, and kept me intrigued throughout the book. This book was, in my opinion, a step up from the first in the series. Extremely well written, imaginative, and captivating story.” —Spencer Hoadley, Goodreads

If you are into really old-school sci-fi, Philip Wylie and Edwin Balmer’s After Worlds Collide is for you! Published just a year after When Worlds Collide, the story picks up right after the events of that first book.

Earth is destroyed in a collision with the rogue planet Bronson Alpha, with about a year of warning enabling a small group of survivors to build a spacecraft and escape to the rogue planet's moon, Bronson Beta. Filmed, with major changes to the story, as When Worlds Collide (1951).

After Worlds Collide (1934) by Philip Wylie & Edwin Balmer continues the story of When Worlds Collide, with both exploration of Bronson Beta and conflict with other groups of survivors.

Pick up After Worlds Collide here on Amazon

9. Rogue Protocol (Murderbot Diaries Book 3) by Martha Wells

“Murderbot’s emotional development is also fascinating. It’s done slowly and subtly, but the benefit of binging all the novellas in one sitting is the ability to follow the inevitable change as he gets more comfortable with the idea of personhood.” —Nataliya, Goodreads

Who among us wasn’t immediately taken with the rogue SecUnit, Murderbot? Introduced in Martha Wells All Systems Red, Murderbot, the eponymous character of the Murderbot Diaries is an A.I: a rogue SecUnit with a snarky sense of humor and an incredibly—if reluctantly—soft heart. There is plenty heart-pounding action in these books, and as the series progresses, the reader really gets to know Murderbot and gets to witness them grapple with their surprisingly human emotions. This is especially true when Murderbot meets Miki in Rogue Protocol, which may be one of the reasons it stood out among the series as a fan favorite.

Like some of our other selections, you could read this as a standalone, but it’s probably more satisfying to read the series from the beginning. 

Who knew being a heartless killing machine would present so many moral dilemmas?

SciFi’s favorite antisocial A.I. is again on a mission. The case against the too-big-to-fail GrayCris Corporation is floundering, and more importantly, authorities are beginning to ask more questions about where Dr. Mensah’s SecUnit is.

And Murderbot would rather those questions went away. For good.

Pick up Rogue Protocol  here on Amazon.

8. Hell Divers VI: Allegiance (Hell Divers Book 6) by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

“The Hell Divers series has a special place in my heart and it’s rare that six books in an author can not only write exactly what you were hoping but also still surprise you. It’s also rare to have a series that is six books deep and still have as much left to give as this one.  There’s a big Earth and things, especially dangerous things, are good at hiding in the shadows until you least expect them.” —Brian, Brian’s Book Blog 

Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s Hell Divers is yet another series that just gets better the deeper you get into it. Hell Divers VI: Allegiance isn’t the most recent book in the series, but the absolute, non-stop, intensity of both action and setting have made it a fan favorite.

After a long and bloody battle, legendary Hell Diver Xavier Rodriguez reigns as the dutiful but reluctant new king of the islands. Advised by a council of former sky citizens as well as Cazadores, he works to assimilate the two societies peacefully. But not all Cazadores have accepted the new order.

While X tries to ease tensions at home, a rookie team of divers, led by Michael Everhart, returns to the skies in Discovery, formerly the ITC Deliverance. Their mission: to locate other human survivors throughout the world and rescue them. But Michael’s team aren’t the only ones searching for survivors. A gruesome discovery reveals that android defectors continue to hunt humans across the globe. And they may not be the only ones.

In a race against time, the Hell Divers may be the only obstacle to enemies bent on wiping out the final pockets of survivors and extinguishing the human genome forever.

Get your copy of Hell Divers VI: Allegiance here on Amazon.

7. Soldier, Ask Not (Childe Cycle #3) by Gordon R. Dickson

“Of all the Childe Cycle novels, this one seems to most fully flesh out the interstellar politics and issues that characterize Dickson's "Childe Cycle" stories. It builds on "The Tactics of Mistake" and "Dorsai" and takes the politics that those two novels create to the next higher level. Happily, this novel does this without bogging down as some of the later Childe Cycle novels do -- this one moves along smartly, and holds the reader's interest, perhaps aided by the fact that it is written in the first person from the protagonist's point of view.” —Roger J. Buffington, Amazon Reviewer

Gordon R. Dickson’s Soldier Ask Not is the third book in his Childe Cycle series, known to many as the Dorsai series. The series is regarded by many as one of the first military sci-fi series; fans of the series often cite the deep philosophical nature of the story as being a major draw and what sets it apart. 

A Hugo Award-winning novel of destiny and revenge. On the sixteen colonized worlds, mankind had changed: men of War on the Dorsai worlds, men of Faith on the Friendly worlds. Jamethon Black, a Friendly, is a true soldier, and a true man of faith. Now he must face a deadly enemy--an enemy whose defeat will forever separate him from the only woman he has ever loved.

Start reading Soldier, Ask Not here on Amazon.

6. Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

“Messiah might be set in the same glorious universe as the first book, but the perspective is altogether different, askew. In Dune we battled alongside Paul Atreides and the Fremen, fighting the good fight, weaving through the cruelties and political intrigues of an infinitely complex universe. In Dune we helped to build an empire. In Messiah we’re fighting to keep it while not being entirely sure that we’re the good guys anymore.” —Edward Cox 

Frank Herbert’s Dune, a longstanding favorite among Discover Sci-Fi readers, is so beloved it recently topped our list of the 10 Most Re-Read Sci-Fi Books. For many, it’s hard to imagine any book could be better than Dune, and given readers have been known to express strong feelings about the first book versus the rest of the series, we were a wee bit surprised to see Dune Messiah nominated to our poll.

And yet, dig a little deeper and there are plenty of folks who feel—for a variety of reasons— that Messiah was the stronger book. Maybe not the majority, but enough to see it land in our top 10. 

Dune Messiah continues the story of Paul Atreides, better known—and feared—as the man christened Muad’Dib. As Emperor of the known universe, he possesses more power than a single man was ever meant to wield. Worshipped as a religious icon by the fanatical Fremen, Paul faces the enmity of the political houses he displaced when he assumed the throne—and a conspiracy conducted within his own sphere of influence.

And even as House Atreides begins to crumble around him from the machinations of his enemies, the true threat to Paul comes to his lover, Chani, and the unborn heir to his family’s dynasty…

Grab Dune Messiah here on Amazon.

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5. Uncompromising Honor (Honor Harrington Book 14) by David Weber

Through David Weber’s truly epic military sci-fi series Honor Harrington, exhilarated fans have watched Honor work—and battle—her way up through the military ranks before moving on to a political career. The story is gripping, the heroine badass and for many fans, the deeper into the series they go, the more connected they feel. As the most recent book published in the main series, it's no question why Uncompromising Honor was a fan favorite!

The Solarian League—for hundreds of years they have borne the banner of human civilization. But the bureaucratic Mandarins who rule today’s League are corrupt and looking for scapegoats. They’ve decided the upstart Star Kingdom of Manticore must be annihilated.

Honor Harrington has worn the Star Kingdom’s uniform for half a century. So far, hers has been a voice of caution. But now the Mandarins have committed atrocities such as the galaxy has not known in a thousand years. They have finally killed too many of the people Honor Harrington loves.

Now Honor Harrington is coming for the Solarian League. And Hell is riding in her wake.

Get your copy of Uncompromising Honor here on Amazon.

4. Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

“...as much as I loved Ender’s Game as a thrilling action-packed YA adventure, I liked Speaker for the Dead even more. This is a more mature, thoughtful, and far-reaching story.” —Kat Hooper, Fantasy Literature

Not too long ago, we asked Discover Sci-Fi Facebook members which they liked better, Ender’s Game or Speaker for the Dead. Between the two, Ender’s Game won out; still, we weren’t entirely surprised to see Speaker nominated, nor to see it make its way to the top 10. While it doesn’t have the flash of Ender’s Game, it is thought-provoking and it's equally gripping. Whether or not you’ve read Ender’s Game, this one is definitely worth checking out.

In the aftermath of his terrible war, Ender Wiggin disappeared, and a powerful voice arose: The Speaker for the Dead, who told the true story of the Bugger War.

Now, long years later, a second alien race has been discovered, but again the aliens' ways are strange and frightening...again, humans die. And it is only the Speaker for the Dead, who is also Ender Wiggin the Xenocide, who has the courage to confront the mystery...and the truth.

Dive into Speaker For the Dead here on Amazon.

3. Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven

“Ahh, yes. This is much more like it. After a decade of being harassed by fans, Larry Niven caved in and wrote a sequel (which he admits in the introduction he "hadn't the slightest intention" of doing "without [fans'] unsolicited help") to his dazzling yet maddeningly unsatisfying Ringworld. And this time, we get the depth and substance the first book lacked.”—Thomas M. Wagner, SF Reviews

Written almost a decade after Ringworld, Ringworld Engineers benefited maybe not so much from Niven’s maturation as a writer, but from a fine-tuning of his vision of the larger universe in which the book is set and his vision for the Ringworld storyline, specifically.

Over twenty years after returning to Earth from the Ringworld, Louis Wu is kidnapped, along with a warrior kzin named Chmeee, by a Pierson's puppeteer, a brilliant 2-headed alien who calls himself the "Hindmost". The puppeteer hopes to regain status with his fellow citizens by traveling to the Ringworld to bring back treasures. Upon reaching the vast and mysterious Ringworld, Louis and his companions encounter many surprises, including that the Ringworld is unstable. Its billions of inhabitants will die within months if Louis and his companions do not find a way to locate the Control Center of its mysterious builders, the Ringworld engineers, and fix the problem.

Get your copy of Ringworld Engineers here on Amazon.

2. Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov is regarded as one of the best science fiction writers of all-time. He topped the list in our 2019 poll featuring the Top 10 Greatest Sci-Fi Writers, and the Foundation series took first place in the our 2020 list featuring the Top 10 Multi-Book Sci-Fi Series of All Time. 

Foundation’s Edge was written 30 years after Foundation. Benefiting from the inevitable growth Asimov made as a writer in the intervening years, many fans of the series have said that Foundation’s Edge feels tighter, and the quality of the writing is what makes it stand above the books of the original trilogy.

You could read Foundation’s Edge without reading the first three books in the Foundation Series, but given this is a continuation of the original story it’s probably best to read them before jumping in here (of course, we won’t judge you if you do.)

At last, the costly and bitter war between the two Foundations has come to an end. The scientists of the First Foundation have proved victorious, and now they return to Hari Seldon’s long established plan to build a new Empire on the ruins of the old. But rumors persist that the Second Foundation is not destroyed after all—and that its still-defiant survivors are preparing their revenge. Now two exiled citizens of the Foundation—a renegade Councilman and a doddering historian—set out in search of the mythical planet Earth . . . and proof that the Second Foundation still exists.

Start Foundation's Edge here on Amazon.

1. The White Dragon (Dragonriders of Pern #3) by Anne McCaffrey

“Of the first three novels in the series, The White Dragon is my favorite. I remember as a young teen, waiting for it to come out in my local bookstore and saving my pennies in order to purchase the book. I was not disappointed. Many of the themes that Anne McCaffery developed in her first two novels mature in this one. The dragons take on a new life of their own and become far more interesting as characters instead of being backdrops of the humans who ride them.” —Wendy Van Camp, Luna Station Quarterly

Anne McCaffrey’s award-winning The White Dragon, the third book in the original Dragonriders of Pern trilogy, was initially published as the short story A Time When. The book, a clear favorite of series fans, was the first sci-fi book make the New York Times Hardcover Bestsellers list. While the series as a whole appears frequently on these polls, this is also the second time The White Dragon, specifically, has been honored. The first time was for the Michael Whelan’s incredible cover art, which took first place in our poll on Top 10 Sci-Fi Covers.

Many, maybe even most of the folks reading this will have read the Dragonriders of Pern series, but if you haven’t, you can actually jump right in with this book and come back to the first two later.

Never in the history of Pern has there been a dragon like Ruth. Mocked by other dragons for his small size and pure white color, Ruth is smart, brave, and loyal—qualities that he shares with his rider, the young Lord Jaxom. Unfortunately, Jaxom is also looked down upon by his fellow lords, and by other riders as well. His dreams of joining the dragonriders in defending Pern are dismissed. What else can Jaxom and Ruth do but strike out on their own, pursuing in secret all they are denied? But in doing so, the two friends will find themselves facing a desperate choice—one that will push their bond to the breaking point . . . and threaten the future of Pern itself.

Grab The White Dragon here on Amazon.

And there we have it. The top 10 sequels that were better than the first book! 

Thank you to every one of you who contributed nominations, voted, and participated in the debates around the proposed titles. We couldn't do it without you! 

Want to let us know your thoughts on the list? Feel free to weigh in on the comments here on the blog, or visit us here in our Facebook group 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.

Time To Decide: What Sci-Fi Sequel Was Better Than the First Book?

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We have serious appreciation for authors who start off strong with the opening book in a series and then raise the bar with the next book(s). Lucky for us, there are a lot of them! 

Last week, we asked for your nominations for sci-fi sequels that were remarkably better than the first book in the series. In that first round of voting, you were able to nominate and vote for as many titles as you wanted, but now...

Now, it's time to decide.

We narrowed down the list of your nominations to the ten most voted for, and now it's time to figure out what the best ones are out of this group!

*As alway this list is made up by combining votes from this blog and our Facebook group.  


Time To Decide: What Sci-Fi Sequel Was Better Than the First Book?
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What Sci-Fi Sequel Was Better Than the First Book?

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Ever read an incredible first book in a series only to be even MORE blown away by the second or subsequent books? Whether that first book really was incredible, or just good enough to pique your interest in the rest of the series, what we really want to hear about are the outstanding follow-ups, the ones that took the series to the next level. 

We always kickstart these polls with a few of our own favorites, but we're more interested in yours, so if you don't see your top picks here, add them! You can do that either in the poll below or in our Facebook group. Nominate and vote for as many as you'd like this round; we'll pin you down to one selection next week.



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