If the film adaptation of Project Hail Mary has you wondering whether other science fiction novels are as witty, emotional, or high stakes, you’re in good company. For fans of the book by Andy Weir or the movie starring Ryan Gosling, we have compiled a list of accessible and entertaining science fiction novels for your next read, even if you don’t think you’re into sci-fi.
When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi
The moon has suddenly and inexplicably turned to cheese (ahem, organic matrix, officially) in this pre-apocalyptic yet humorous book about how society reacts to the news of impending doom. It’s a satire on modern-day America, an exploration of human psychology, and a reminder that life is short. Scalzi has a good mix of the science and the fiction, keeping you entertained and educated.
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The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
This time travel novel has it all: workplace romance, sneaky subterfuge, and unexpected humor. And it explores ideas of power and gender—like who gets to change the future by tampering with the past. If you enjoy a quiet but empowered female protagonist grappling with an old-fashioned, buttoned-up romantic interest who exasperates and charms in equal measure, this journey through time is for you.
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Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
In the tradition of dystopian fiction like The Hunger Games and Squid Games, Chain-Gang All-Stars is a gritty, bleak imagining of a world in which the prison system becomes a reality competition show, revealing capitalism at its worst. A commentary on our for-profit system and the commodification of human life, this sharply written and atmospheric read will keep you turning pages to the end.
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The New One by Evie Green
If your loved one was in a coma, unlikely to awake, would you want their clone as a replacement? And what if you could erase some unpleasant memories, or adjust personality or intelligence a bit? Would you? That’s the premise of The New One, a story about cloning and second chances with themes around the exploitation of grief and poverty. With the pacing and tropes of a thriller, this provocative novel will have you wondering how far you would go for the people you love.
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Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle
A quick read, this smart science fiction with a dash of horror has a wonderfully bizarre premise: a bunch of very unlucky events happen in quick succession, causing the death of millions planet-wide and the creation of a new US government agency to investigate. It turns out something is affecting luck, both good and bad, and it’s up to our intrepid protagonists to discover what it is and how to stop it. With descriptive writing and wry humor, this wild and weird journey is worth the ride.
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All Systems Red by Martha Wells
First in a series of bestselling novellas known as The Murderbot Diaries, this action/adventure was recently adapted for television, starring Alexander Skarsgård. From the perspective of a robot security unit who has hacked his governing software to gain autonomy, this hilarious and violent space drama explores what it means to be human.
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We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune
Husbands Don and Rodney are taking their last road trip—the world is ending. They meet a variety of people in their travels, all reacting to the looming end differently, and what results is a tragic but tender love story about what matters in the face of mortality.
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Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
Demeter is a shuttle driver whose passengers keep dying. The shuttle goes from Earth to Alpha Centauri, and the most terrifying vampire ever is responsible for the deaths. To keep her job, Demeter must team up with a motley crew of monsters in this wild found-family adventure to face—you guessed it, Dracula. This hilarious novel has a lot of heart for a book filled with monsters and outer space hijinks.
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Upgrade by Blake Crouch
In this clever look at the future of evolution and what happens when we try to upgrade our genes, Blake Crouch balances scientific inquiry with relationship drama and mortal peril. If you love the idea of humans with enhanced abilities trying to save the world, this sci-fi novel is for you.
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The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei
Maya Hoshimoto is an art thief returning stolen artifacts to alien civilizations, in hiding from those who wish her harm. But then an impossible-to-refuse quest comes her way, and her visions of the future grow worse. The fate of more than one planet, including Earth, may be at stake.
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Mickey7 by Edward Ashton
Robert Pattinson recently starred in the adaptation of this quirky and often absurd story of space exploration, and whether or not you’ve seen the movie, the buzz around it may be inspiring you to read the original source material. Mickey7 is a clone, left for dead while a new copy is made, but when he survives and returns to his spaceship, it’s clear only one clone can live. This fast-paced novel offers provocative ideas about being your own worst enemy.
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The Take by Kelly Yang
Would you give up youth for money? A young, struggling writer, Maggie, has the opportunity to sell her blood to help an aging woman beat cancer, but the price is years off Maggie’s life. The money is life-changing, millions of dollars, but the ethics of what we value and who has power propels this book into thought-provoking conversations.
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The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Inspired by The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells, this retelling focuses on Dr. Moreau’s daughter Carlota. Her father has created strange human-animal hybrids, but he’s low on funding for his research. His attempts to marry off his daughter lead to an atmospheric tale of ethics, autonomy, and exploitation.
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