Hard science fiction books
Hard science fiction books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.
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New to the genre? These 5 are the books to read first.
The Martian
Andy WeirA stranded astronaut uses botany, chemistry, and mechanical engineering to survive on Mars.
Rendezvous with Rama
Arthur C. ClarkeAn expedition explores an alien cylinder using precise Newtonian mechanics and orbital dynamics.
Red Mars
Kim Stanley RobinsonAn account of terraforming Mars that balances atmospheric science, geology, and sociopolitical fallout.
Dragon's Egg
Robert L. ForwardA physicist's depiction of life evolving on the surface of a neutron star under extreme gravity.
Blindsight
Peter WattsA first-contact mission focused on neurobiology, evolutionary theory, and the function of consciousness.
Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.
Reading lists
More hard science fiction books
- Mission of Gravity
Mission of GravityHal Clement - Tau Zero
Tau ZeroPoul Anderson - Ringworld
RingworldLarry Niven - Timescape
TimescapeGregory Benford - Contact
ContactCarl Sagan - Permutation City
Permutation CityGreg Egan - Seveneves
SevenevesNeal Stephenson - Children of Time
Children of TimeAdrian Tchaikovsky - Artemis
ArtemisAndy Weir2017 - Death's end
Death's endLiu Cixin2010 - Altered carbon
Altered carbonRichard K. Morgan2002 - Persepolis Rising
Persepolis RisingJames S. A. Corey2017