The Top 10 Sci-Fi Books of 2022 (So Far)!
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
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.
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.
Am I the only one who doesn’t want a book with sequels? Or warfare? Or set I the far future? Most recentlyi thoroughly enjoyed We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker and Project HAIL Mary by Andy Weir.
I agree with you, Barbara – I subscribed, but have liked only this 3-book series: Tradepoint saga (Refuge; Aftershock; The Bereft). Author: JJ Blacklocke. Can recommend those books and I hope he will write more…
Personally I love them all, solo or series. If done well a series can be a bonus getting to know the characters, history, motivations, all the things you can’t get from just a standalone story.
A brilliant writer can do wonders in either format
As far as warfare, I am not here for the battle, but being as humans are pretty warlike, it is going to be there as we imagine meeting other races of beings, but it can be done well and may not be the content I come for, but can be a good part of the story.
imagine a world as rich as Middle Earth and all it’s peoples crammed into one book. Tolkien would not probably have been the icon he is without being able to fully explore his universe. How much would we have lost if only one book.
Everyone has their preferences and fortunately there are more than enough books available for all.
I for one prefer a series. I get invested in the characters and the world(s) and want them to continue.
I enjoy stand alone novels, but give me a well written series every day.
Love the G.S.Jennsen books. They hold my attention and always make me want more. Great
G S Jennsenn has the best series of books and is an author that has completely captured everything I want from these kind of books. There is a reason she is #1.
So many things to like about the Amaranthe Universe and unlike some I love a good long series of Space Opera, and this is the best I have read by far. Single story books are great, but with “Chaotica” and the novels beforehand you get introduced to so many characters that you get to know in-depth. A rich history, evolution and development of technology, all combine to weave a masterful narrative.
I will be reading the other entries on this list, they all look exciting
Ken Lozito is my favorite author in the Space Opera Genre & I have read many. His First Colony series knocks it out of the park. His fan’s are fanatically passionate & grovel & beg for the next installment. This a more serious serious low on comedy and high in creativity.
Craig Allanson’s Expeditionary Force has some ofthe best & humorous dialog I have scene in any space opera. Several times it has got me laughing almost to tears. Skippy is the man or should I say AI. I admittedly have not read the other top 10 and have a bias to authors I have seen all their ventures and series capture my undivided attention. Lozito even ventures into great fantacy. I have found other authors through Discovery Scyfy I would not have found otherwise do it is a great sounding board for me.