What are the best 2018 science fiction novels that are highly recommended?

I think 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams is a must-read. It's full of humor and wild imagination, taking you on an unforgettable adventure through space. The way it plays with concepts and ideas makes it stand out.

For beginners, 'Akira' is a great choice. It's a classic that has influenced a lot of other sci - fi works. It has a relatively straightforward story about a biker gang in a post - apocalyptic Tokyo and a boy with powerful psychic abilities. The art style is distinct and has aged well.

One highly recommended science fiction book is 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It has a complex and immersive world-building with its desert planet Arrakis and the valuable spice. Another is '1984' by George Orwell. It's a dystopian science fiction that warns about totalitarian regimes and surveillance. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams is also great. It's a humorous take on space travel and the meaning of life.

I'd highly recommend 'Gates of Fire' by Steven Pressfield. It's about the Battle of Thermopylae and the Spartan warriors. It's a great read for those interested in ancient warfare. 'The Killer Angels' by Michael Shaara is another one. It focuses on the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War and is known for its well - developed characters. And 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks, which tells a story of love and war during World War I.

Some good recent science fiction movies include 'Interstellar'. This movie explores concepts like time dilation and black holes in a very accessible and exciting way. It also has a strong emotional core. 'The Martian' is another great one. It shows a somewhat realistic view of a man stranded on Mars and the efforts to rescue him, with a lot of scientific details. 'Annihilation' is a trippy science fiction movie that takes the audience into a strange and dangerous area called the Shimmer, full of mutated creatures and mysterious phenomena.

Definitely 'The Magicians' series by Lev Grossman. It features a world where magic exists and there are different realms that can be considered parts of a multiverse. 'The Stars My Destination' by Alfred Bester also has some multiverse - like ideas in its exploration of space and human potential. 'Annihilation' by Jeff VanderMeer has a strange and mysterious world that can be seen as part of a larger, weirder multiverse.

Definitely 'Fatherland' by Robert Harris. It's a fascinating alternative history where Hitler won the war. The world it creates is both chilling and thought - provoking. 'The Nightingale' by Kristin Hannah is also a wonderful novel. It focuses on two sisters in France during the war and their different paths of resistance. 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman is a unique graphic novel that tells the story of the Holocaust in a very powerful way.

I highly recommend 'The Red Badge of Courage' by Stephen Crane. It's a classic that explores the psychological aspects of a young soldier in the Civil War. It shows his fear, his search for courage, and his growth throughout the war.

'These Broken Stars' by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner is also a must - read. A pampered socialite and a jaded military hero are the main characters. Their spaceship crashes on an uncharted planet. As they struggle to survive, they also start to develop feelings for each other. The story has elements of mystery, danger, and a very sweet love story set against a science - fiction backdrop.

Well, 'The Great Gatsby' is likely to be among them. F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays the decadence and dreams of the Jazz Age. Also, '1984' by George Orwell is a significant one. It warns about totalitarianism and the loss of privacy and freedom in a fictional yet very thought - provoking world.