My Top Sci-Fi Reads Of 2025
Introduction
Just to clarify before I get started, this is a list of my favourite Sci-Fi books I read in 2025, rather than books published this year. Because, honestly, I haven’t read any modern stuff over the last twelve months. It will come at some point, but I’ve been enjoying catching up on the classics.
I’ve also formatted it as a top ten list working my way down, but as I don’t like the whole Top 5/10/etc thing as a title, I went with the more ambiguous Top Sci-Fi Reads.
One book I left out of consideration despite it pretty much being one of my absolute favourite books was JG. Ballards: High Rise. It’s a book I read every year or two, and it felt unfair putting it on this list as I’m so familiar with it. Every other book on the list, I either read for the first time in 2025, or haven’t read in ages.
For Reviews of all these books, and everything else I’ve read since starting Lambency Belt Press, You can check out the Review section of my Website Here. So, let’s get started.
Top 10 Sci-Fi Reads
10. The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney
As a massive fan of most of the movie adaptations, especially the original, I was surprised to see just how great the book was. It’s not something that gets mentioned. All the best scenes from the movies are in the book, and the romantic relationship between the two leads is a lot stronger. Even more surprising, the book actually has a relatively hopeful ending which you’d never have guessed given every single adaption. It’s well written, has great characters, and a fantastic concept. The Body Snatchers really is an underrated invasion classic.
9. The War Of The Worlds by H.G Wells
Another famous book with a ton of movie adaptations, and another one where the original source material is incredible. I’ve read a few of H.G Well’s books this year, and honestly, any of them could have made this list. He’s quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. War of the Worlds has a unique narrative structure to it, with the narrator recounting events, and occasionally hopping around in time to fill you in on any missing or important details. The sci-fi is speculative, but so imaginative for a book over 120 years old. It’s an easy read, and must have been quite the experience back in the day as I can’t imagine there was anything like it. I loved this book, and truly believe it’s a lot better than any of the movies.
8. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
This was a recent read and what I loved most about Margaret Atwood’s disturbing dystopian tale was the writing itself. It’s written in an almost journal style format, but the prose is so poetic and beautiful. Whimsical almost, despite the often horrific subject matter. It’s written like someone who is still trying to see beauty in the world, when there’s less and less everyday. Or, maybe at least, someone trying to persuade themselves that there’s still hope. A reason to live. The story is really good, and the lead character is great, but it’s the writing that really captured me.
7. The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett
The Long Tomorrow is just one of those books where the concept instantly works. Who better to thrive in a dystopia than groups who’d already turned their backs on modern ways. It’s a fantastic character study about boys becoming men in a difficult world, written in a manner which reserves judgement on a lot of their questionable actions. After all, it’s a dystopia that’s pretending to be a utopia, life is complicated, and the author knows it. A timeless book, brilliantly written, by an author who should be way more better known than she is.
6. The Man Who Fell To Earth by Walter Tevis
Maybe the book I read quickest on this list. I absolutely blasted through this book, unable to put it down. Part sci-fi mystery, part character study, and very somber at times. Yet, the story was kind of beautiful. You want the three main characters to all be happy, and are turning the pages desperate for them to get their shit together. Maybe the most emotional book on the list, and one you definitely feel the author poured his soul into. The main concept has been duplicated in so many different ways, and I don’t know if this was the first of this type of story or not, but its definitely the best alien living amongst us story I’ve read to date.
5. Voyage of the Space Beagle by A.E Van Vogt
Another recent read, and my favourite pulp sci-fi of the year. I loved Voyage of the Space Beagle. It’s pretty insane, and definitely written in a different time, but it’s so enjoyable and adventurous. Not only that, but the first of the four stories in this fix-up novel felt like a precursor for Alien, and I know there was some legal battle over the matter. But, every single story is great from the Alien cat, to the mind control, alien floating in space, and super space dust. Each story felt like an episode of the week, akin to something like OG Trek or Lost in Space. Great writing style, fantastic characters, and highly imaginative original stories. This one should be a must read.
4. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
An absolute classic for a reason. Brave New World might be the book on my list with the most world building. One of those stories with a Dystopia disguised as a Utopia. Some might even consider it a full utopia, if they’re willing to give up their free will. There’s also scarily way to much stuff in this book that has come to pass in some form or other. I don’t know how those old sci-fi writers are so good at predicting stuff, but I also wish we actually paid attention to their warnings. Brave New World has great characters, a really good writing style, and a sharp pace to it, once you get past the opening chapter or two. But, it’s definitely the magnificent world building that elevates this book for me.
3. Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir
Project Hail Mary is the most modern book on my list by a long distance. The Martian could have been on this list too, but somehow, Project Hail Mary was even better That was largely thanks to Grace’s relationship with Rocky, which was the heart of the book. It’s a funny book, but with some real tragic moments. It’s a book about friendship, and discovering what’s worth saving, but done to the backdrop of destruction. Andy Weir in my mind is the best sci-fi author of the last ten years, and this book is proof of that. It’s absolutely delightful, brilliantly written, has incredible characters, a great mix of speculative and slightly hard sci-fi, but ultimately, has more heart than anything else you’ll read.
2. 1984 by George Orwell
I almost didn’t put this on the list as I’ve read 1984 quite a few times, but it has been a while since the last read, so why not? It’s a classic, and one that feel more relevant every single day. Everyone always remembers the ‘Big Brother is watching you’ elements, but there’s so much more going on, especially around the idea of censorship and rewriting history. It’s a scary book in not only its subject matter, but its relatability to modern times. To go with that, it’s a great read. Some may scoff at the central relationship in the book, but I think it’s another case of characters trying to make the best of a horrific world around them. The world building is amazing. The tension is whacked up to eleven. The inevitability of the conclusion breaks my heart. I love this book, and always have time for it.
1. Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C Clarke
Another book I’ve read a couple of times before, but not for a while. Rendezvous With Rama is the ultimate sci-fi book for me. An alien mystery, set in space, written by the master himself. Hard sci-fi mixed with human curiosity. Those gorgeous descriptions of space Clarke always writes, while giving you hard sci-fi information. It’s like the most beautiful text book you could ever read. I love Commander Norton’s time aboard the enormous mysterious vessels. The different secrets unlocked, while they also barely scratch the surface. The tension, mystery, and wonderment. Yes there isn’t a lot of character development, but the story isn’t about that. It’s an experience, and an incredibly written one at that. Rama is probably in my all time top five, maybe even top two. It blows my mind every time I read it.
