The Top 10 Sci-Fi Books Of 2020 (so far)

“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home." —Anna Quindlen

In our current world of limited travel, books are one way we can continue to experience whole other worlds: the possible, the not-yet-possible, and the completely fantastic. What a gift. This year has gifted us with many incredible new reads and along with them, worlds to slip into. Some of these worlds are familiar—as with the highly anticipated continuation of series set in universes we already love—some are completely new and novel. In a perfect world, there would be time to read them all, but if your time is limited, it's nice to know which ones are worth spending that time on, and you needn't look any further than your fellow Discover Sci-Fi readers for help with that. We asked, you answered, and based on your votes both here and in the Discover Sci-Fi facebook group, we present the top 10 books published in 2020 (so far!) determined by you!

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

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and the Facebook group, here are your top choices for the best sci-fi books of 2020 so far! 

10. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0) by Suzanne Collins

Given how highly anticipated The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was, we’re surprised by its 10th place standing on the list!

Fans exploded with excitement when the prequel to Suzanne Collins' wildly successful Hunger Games trilogy was announced last year, many marking their calendars for the 2020 release date. The newest addition to the series, released May—ten years after the last book in the original trilogy—centres on Coriolanus Snow, the brutal nemesis of beloved heroine Katniss Everdeen. Was he always the villainous monster we came to know and loathe through the trilogy, or did something make him that way? This is the year we find out.  

"It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined - every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute . . . and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes."

Read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes  here on Amazon.

9. Final Days by Nathan Hystad and Jasper T Scott

This year two of our favorite writers, each accomplished authors in their own rights, came together to write an absolutely killer new series and the first book, which launched June, is already a huge hit both with sci-fi readers and with readers of other genres as well.

Final Days by Jasper Scott and Nathan Hystad captures the essence of both a near-future thriller and a sci-fi adventure. This genre-straddling makes it appeal to a much wider audience than the average science fiction novel. And the characters, being that they come from what is essentially present-day Earth, are all highly relatable.

Adding to its appeal, the sequels to Final Days take the reader on a richly-imagined journey beyond Earth. The book and the series itself meet all the criteria for escapist fiction without touching too closely on current events, making it ideal reading at a time when more than ever people are looking to take their minds off the pressures and stresses of real life.

No matter where your reading tastes land, this is a must read!

"The countdown to the end of the world has begun. 

A mysterious convergence of natural disasters threatens to destroy life as we know it, and people across the United States are going missing. With no one left to investigate, Special Agent Kendra Baker takes the case, trying to solve the disappearances before she’s out of time."

Read Final Days, the first book in the Final Days Trilogy  here on Amazon.

8. The Last Emperox (The Interdependency #3) by John Scalzi

Maybe better known for his military sci-fi epic, Old Man's War series, Hugo Award winning author John Scalzi's most recent series, The Interdependency Series, is another fast-paced, page turner and as much as fans have been looking forward to this year's release of the third and final book, we're pretty sure many will be sad that it is over! 

"Emperox Grayland II has finally wrested control of her empire from those who oppose her and who deny the reality of this collapse. But “control” is a slippery thing, and even as Grayland strives to save as many of her people form impoverished isolation, the forces opposing her rule will make a final, desperate push to topple her from her throne and power, by any means necessary. Grayland and her thinning list of allies must use every tool at their disposal to save themselves, and all of humanity. And yet it may not be enough.

Will Grayland become the savior of her civilization . . . or the last emperox to wear the crown?"

Get your copy of The Last Emperox here on Amazon

7. Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries #5) by Martha Wells

"I would vote for Network Effect by Martha Wells several times if I could, loved the whole series and it was wonderful to finally get a full length novel, I don't think I've enjoyed any sci fi as much since Iain Banks Culture series or maybe even further back with Dune.”  —Discover Sci-Fi Reader, DSF Facebook Group 

Martha Wells published All Systems Red, the first book in her Murderbot Diaries series, back in 2017 (which feels like a lifetime ago), and in 2018 it won multiple awards: A Hugo, a Nebula, an Alex, a Locus...

Critically acclaimed and beloved by fans, the only complaint about the first book, and those that followed, was that they were too short. This most recent instalment, published May, is the first full length novel and as with those before it, Wells has wowed fans with her dry humor, her incredible character development, and her ability to craft a tight, complex and layered narrative. While you should definitely read all the books in the series, this one works as a standalone so if haven't started yet, you needn't wait to pick it up!

"You know that feeling when you’re at work, and you’ve had enough of people, and then the boss walks in with yet another job that needs to be done right this second or the world will end, but all you want to do is go home and binge your favorite shows? And you're a sentient murder machine programmed for destruction? Congratulations, you're Murderbot.

Come for the pew-pew space battles, stay for the most relatable A.I. you’ll read this century."

Continue the adventure with Network Effect  here on Amazon.

6. Freefall (Expeditionary Force: Mavericks #2) by Craig Alanson

Craig Alanson's Expeditionary Force shows up on these polls a lot. Don't call him prolific—he is just doing his job—but he puts out a number of books a year and each one is met with well earned fanfare.

Freefall, the first of Alanson's books to be released this year, came out in June and was a huge hit with fans. The book is the second in the Mavericks series, which is a spinoff from Expeditionary Force. If you haven't read Exforce yet, don't let that stop you from picking up this new series. Reading the parent series may give you some background that will enhance your enjoyment of the spinoff, but Mavericks does work as a standalone as well.

"The Alien Legion has a new mission, and this time, they are working for the enemy. Also against the enemy. Like every operation that Emily Perkins plans, it’s complicated. But plans require good intel, and when the plan falls apart, the Mavericks are in Freefall…"

Grab Freefall here on Amazon.

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5. Descent Into Darkness (Blood on the Stars Book 17) by Jay Allan

There is no hunger like that of Jay Allan's fans for a new book by the author and it's something for which Allan has said, time and again, he is very grateful!

Jay Allan's fans have been known to stay up late into the evening the night of a book release, grab the book immediately, and polish it off in a day. Blood on the Stars might just be his most popular series yet and so book 17, Descent Into Darkness—the penultimate book in the series—was destined to be one of the most hotly anticipated books of 2020. The set up for the grand finale! 

Victory or Death.

An experimental virus or a desperate battle…which is the way to go, the route offering the best chance of victory against the enemy?  Tyler Barron and his wife, Andi Lafarge, find themselves on different sides, as the universe screams toward the stunning conclusion of the Blood on the Stars series in the next book, Empire Reborn.

Get your copy of Descent Into Darkness, book 17 in the epic Blood on the Stars series here on Amazon.

4. Sons of War by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Nicholas Sansbury Smith has been turning out one expansive, original, and totally gripping sci-fi series after another. Our 4th spot title is from his newest series, Sons of War, which launched just this year and Smith says it’s his favourite to date! Considering his body of work so far, we think this says a lot. We caught up with Smith to ask what he felt might have stood out to fans about this title and he shared some thoughts with us:

“Sons of War is a post-apocalyptic story about how the end of the world becomes an opportunity for some people. Told from two viewpoints, a Marine and his family, and an organized crime boss, SOW is meant to give readers a unique perspective. Often in my stories I like to show the good and bad of survival in these scenarios, and how some good people turn evil, and some evil people transform into better humans. We never know how we would react in the apocalypse, and that's part of what's fascinating, I think, about these stories.”

It’s true: you really never know how you are going to react to something until the day is upon you and we agree that the tension of that makes for a fascinating story! 

"All empires eventually fall...
The United States is no exception...
And out of the embers, a lawless new empire will rise…

Across the world, the United States recalls troops to combat civil unrest after the biggest economic meltdown in history. Marine Sergeant Ronaldo Salvatore's platoon comes home to a powder keg that could ignite a civil war.

While some see the coming collapse as the end, others see opportunity. Fleeing Naples after rival crime lords decimated his family, Don Antonio Moretti settles in Los Angeles to rebuild his criminal empire. But he is far from alone in his ambitions--the cartel and rival gangs all want the same turf, and they will sacrifice their own soldiers and the blood of innocents to get it."

Start The Sons of War series with Sons of War  here on Amazon.

3. Insurgent (First Colony #10) by Ken Lozito

We have heard from many fans who feel that Ken Lozito's EPIC First Colony series just gets better with every book, so it was no surprise that book 10, released April, placed so high up on our list. Insurgent delivers on fan's expectations, with a fast-paced story that also allows for continued world building and a greater understanding of the characters you know and love. 

"As Connor secretly searches for the enemy homeworld, he launches clandestine military operations to liberate other worlds in hopes of gaining allies before the enemy can find the last human colony.

The humans cannot hope to compete with the enemy’s vast empire, but with the discovery of a new ally, Connor believes their luck has finally changed.

Instead, when new allies clash with the old, Connor finds himself caught in the middle. Connor will have to choose whether doing what’s necessary to ensure the colony survives is worth compromising his loyalty to allies close to home, but the price could ultimately tear the colony apart."

Get your copy of Insurgent, book 10 in the First Colony Series,  here on Amazon.

2. Boneshaker (Terran Scout Fleet #2) by Joshua Dalzelle

Joshua Dalzelle has earned a loyal following thanks in large part to his wildly entertaining Omega Force series; an incredibly fun, high action space opera currently at 11 books. Our 2nd place entry, Boneshaker, is the second book in Dalzelle's Terran Scout Fleet series. We had an opportunity to ask Dalzelle to share his thoughts on the success of this new book and he was happy to give us some insight:

"Boneshaker is the second book in the Terran Scout Series, a companion series to my popular Omega Force series. I think the books have a built-in audience from the Omega Force series and that’s helped quite a bit when it comes to the book gaining visibility and readers. It has a lot of the same things that appeal to those readers, capturing the humor, action, and heart of its parent-series without being a carbon copy.

What I like about writing this series is bringing a more traditional military sci-fi story into the evolved (and quite large) Omega Force universe. It’s a chance to explore it all over again from a fresh perspective, but this time from the POV of a small, elite forward recon unit instead of a wide-eyed civilian who was abducted from his home. The books have been incredibly fun to write so I’m delighted they’ve been so well-received by the readers."

If you have read either of these two series, you know how much fun they are to read so it's no surprise that they are so fun to write!   

"The Talon's captain has gone rogue and is operating within a fleet of ships bent on open rebellion against the quadrant's only remaining superpower. If that ship is discovered within the rebel fleet, Earth will bear the brunt of the ConFed's reprisal. Jacob's team is in a race against time to locate the missing ship and her rogue captain so that a Navy strike force can swoop in and reclaim her… or destroy her."

Start reading Boneshaker, book 2 in the Terran Scout Fleet Series, here on Amazon.

1. Inversion: Riven Worlds Book Two (Amaranthe 15) G. S. Jennsen

“Voting for Inversion, GS Jennsen. It's part of an awesome series. Strong character development, creative technology, intriguing plot, and exciting space battles.” —DSF Facebook Group Member

We agree!  Jennsen’s mastery of her craft has earned a loyal and passionate fanbase, and they turned out to support Inversion in record numbers, casting nearly a third of over 1000 votes for the entry. We reached out to Jennsen to ask what she thought it was about this story that resonated with readers and she had this to share:

"Inversion resonates with readers because it grounds the classic “triumph over impossible odds” story arc in the personal struggles of a cast of characters those readers have come to care deeply about. The book opens with our heroes facing some of the most dire circumstances they’ve ever encountered (which is saying something). Trapped underground beneath a city besieged by powerful aliens. Held captive in an enemy prison and thought dead by the world. Killed in action only to be resurrected in a new body using risky and unproven technology. 

It’s dark, it’s ugly, it’s desperate. But no one is willing to give up and accept their fate. Instead they climb to their feet, brush the dirt off and, together and alone, fight and claw their way back to freedom, to safety, to victory. And because the readers were there alongside the characters as they fought those battles, they feel like they earned the triumph as much as the characters did."

If you haven’t started the series yet, these results should tell you: you are missing something really special! 

"Nothing has prepared humanity for an enemy on the scale of the Rasu. Now, after a devastating defeat no one saw coming, the dream of victory has become a battle for survival."

Continue the adventure with Inversion  here on Amazon.

So many books so little time, but if you haven't read them yet, we assure you the 10 on this list are worth carving out that time for! What do you think? Did your favorite of the year (so far!) miss the cut? Weigh in on the comments here on the blog, or visit us  here in our Facebook group to chime in on the debate, and make sure to check out our most recent poll while you're there!

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