What are the top recent science fiction books?

Some of the most recent top science fiction works include 'The Three-Body Problem' series by Liu Cixin. It presents a fascinating view of the universe, with complex alien civilizations and mind - boggling scientific concepts. Another one could be 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. The world - building in 'Dune' is extraordinary, with its detailed descriptions of a desert planet, political intrigue, and the power of a precious resource. 'Exhalation' by Ted Chiang is also highly regarded. Chiang's short stories often explore deep philosophical questions within the framework of science fiction.

I recommend 'The Calculating Stars' by Mary Robinette Kowal. It's an alternate - history science fiction where a meteorite hits the Earth and a woman scientist tries to push for space exploration as a solution. 'Binti' by Nnedi Okorafor is another excellent choice. It's about a young African girl who is the first of her people to attend a prestigious galactic university. And 'The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet' by Becky Chambers is a heartwarming story about a crew on a spaceship and their adventures in the galaxy.

Some recent best science fiction books include 'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir. It's a thrilling story about a lone astronaut on a mission to save Earth. Another great one is 'The Three - Body Problem' by Liu Cixin. It presents a unique and complex view of the universe with its alien - invasion - themed plot. And 'Dune' by Frank Herbert is also a classic that has been popular again recently, with its rich world - building and political intrigue in a desert - planet setting.

Another great one is 'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir. It follows an astronaut who wakes up on a spaceship with no memory and has to figure out how to save the Earth. It's full of Weir's signature hard science fiction elements and is a real page - turner.

One recent science fiction book that stands out is 'Dune: The Duke of Caladan' by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. It gives more backstory to the 'Dune' universe, which is always exciting for fans. It's filled with political intrigue and great character development.

Sure. 'The Martian' by Andy Weir is a great choice for beginners. It has a simple yet exciting plot about an astronaut stranded on Mars and trying to survive. The science is explained in an accessible way. Another good one is 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card. It's about a young boy in a military training program for a future war against aliens. It's easy to follow and full of action. And 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline is also popular among beginners. It combines a virtual reality world with 80s pop - culture references.

Many top recent fiction books focus on strong character development. For example, in 'Where the Crawdads Sing', the main character Kya is so vividly portrayed that readers can almost feel her isolation and her connection to the natural world. Another characteristic is the exploration of relevant social issues. 'The Nightingale' deals with the theme of war and women's role in it during World War II. These books also often have engaging plots. In 'The Great Alone', the family's struggle to survive in the Alaskan wilderness keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Another good one is 'The City in the Middle of the Night' by Charlie Jane Anders. It has a unique world - building with a planet that has two suns and a complex society divided between day - side and night - side. The characters are well - developed, and the story delves into themes of power, identity, and survival in a really interesting way.