One of the books could be 'The Fifth Season' by N.K. Jemisin. It has a unique world - building with a post - apocalyptic setting and elements of magic and geology combined in an interesting way.
I think 'The Grace of Kings' by Ken Liu was also quite popular. It has a great blend of Asian - inspired mythology and science fiction elements. It's about kingdoms and power struggles in a world that has some advanced technological aspects.
One well - known book could be 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It's a classic in the genre, with a richly imagined desert planet, complex political intrigue, and a hero's journey.
Many of them often explore new worlds, whether it's a different planet like in 'The Martian' or a far - off galactic civilization in other books. They tend to play with concepts like advanced technology, alien species, and different forms of governance.
One great book on such a list could be 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It has a richly imagined desert planet, complex political intrigue, and a hero's journey. Another is 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card. It explores military strategy and ethics in a future where children are trained for interstellar war. And 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson is also a classic. It was one of the first to really delve into the concept of cyberspace.
Well, 'Ancillary Mercy' by Ann Leckie is also a notable one. It's part of a great series. The story is complex, involving interesting characters and a far - reaching space - based civilization. It has elements of artificial intelligence and political intrigue.
The 'Divergent' series was also very popular. People were drawn to its unique concept of the factions in society. The idea of having to choose a path in life based on a certain trait and then dealing with the consequences was really interesting to readers. The action scenes and the development of the relationship between Tris and Four added to its appeal.
I think 'The Fifth Season' was quite popular. It won a Hugo Award, which is a great indication of its popularity and quality. Its unique take on a post - apocalyptic world really caught readers' attention.
Probably 'Ancillary Justice' too. It was praised for its fresh ideas regarding AI and its exploration of different forms of consciousness. The story's scope, spanning across different planets and cultures in a far - flung future, made it stand out among other books in the genre in 2013.
Probably 'The Fifth Season' was quite popular. Its unique take on post - apocalyptic settings and magic made it stand out. People liked the way it explored different cultures within its world.