Here is a curated list of classic science fiction books, first mentioned in The Best Science Fiction Books. Many of these have not only captivated readers across generations but have also left a defining mark on the genre of science fiction.
In addition to featuring engaging storylines, many of these famous novels deal with profound themes, such as free will, the ethical dilemmas of genetic engineering, ambition and obsession, and the consequences of pursuing the advancement of science at all costs.
Enjoy!
1984 by George Orwell
In the dystopian realm of Oceania, Winston Smith grapples with omnipresent government surveillance and propaganda. With Thought Police, telescreens, cameras, and hidden microphones as constant surveillance, The Party erases anyone who dares to disobey, ensuring no trace of their existence remains.
Working within the Ministry of Truth, he alters historical records to match the Party’s ever-shifting version of reality. However, seeking truth and individuality, Winston rebels against the oppressive Big Brother and begins a forbidden love affair with Julia. He ventures into the underground resistance and challenges an all-encompassing regime that aims to control every aspect of human existence.
Dystopian novels such as 1984 are an extremely popular subgenre of science fiction books.
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne
In 1866, a US government-led expedition hunts a mysterious sea creature with marine biologist Professor Aronnax, whaler Ned Land, and servant Conseil aboard the Abraham Lincoln. After months of pursuit throughout the Pacific Ocean, the beast attacked, throwing the men into the water.
Arronax and his companies survive by climbing onto the “monster,” only to discover it’s a futuristic submarine. The group is captured and forced into the depths of the ocean by its enigmatic commander, Captain Nemo, embarking on a journey filled with marine life, underwater societies, and ethical dilemmas.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
As technology advanced, buildings became fireproof, making traditional firefighting unnecessary. Firefighters were instead tasked with burning books, believed to contain troublesome ideas that could disrupt society, and the houses in which they were found.
One evening, fireman Guy Montag meets Clarisse, whose free-spirited ideas make him question society in its current form as he returns home to find his wife unconscious after attempting suicide. Inspired by a woman who chooses to burn alive over surrendering her books, Montag secretly keeps one for himself, discovering the power of individual thought and desiring to spark a revolution.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
In the genetically engineered society of the World State, citizens are categorized into predetermined castes and conditioned from birth for their roles. Lenina Crowne, a popular hatchery worker, embodies the conformity of the population, while Bernard Marx disapproves of the methods for maintaining peace, such as conditioning and the use of drugs.
Bernard and Lenina’s visit to a “Savage Reservation” outside the World State exposes them to the realities of natural birth, disease, aging, diverse languages, and unfamiliar religious practices, all of which they had never seen before. They return with John, a World State citizen accidentally raised on the reservation, who is appalled by what he describes as an empty society.
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
During a snowstorm in a small English village, a mysterious man named Griffin arrives at an inn owned by Mr. and Mrs. Hall. He keeps to himself, wearing bandages all over his body and working with chemicals in his room, only going out at night. Griffin’s strange behavior causes a dispute with his landlady, where he reveals his invisibility.
Escaping from the police, the euphoria of his newfound power quickly gives way to madness as Griffin realizes the consequences of his invisibility. With society turning against him and his morality crumbling, Griffin descends into a “Reign of Terror,” using his invisibility for sinister purposes.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Following a devastating attack that killed the President and most of Congress, the radical group “Sons of Jacob” seized control in the United States, establishing the Republic of Gilead. In this new regime, society is slowly reshaped according to an extreme interpretation of Old Testament principles, particularly targeting women by stripping them of their rights, including ownership, literacy, and control over their bodies.
The story is narrated by Offred, one of the few fertile women left due to pollution and radiation. As the story progresses, she tries to navigate a society where women are divided into strict social classes and subjected to a rigid dress code. Handmaids like Offred are assigned to bear children for the ruling class known as the “Commanders.”
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Set in the 18th century, the story begins with Captain Robert Walton’s Arctic expedition, where he rescues a nearly frozen man named Victor Frankenstein. Through their conversations, Walton learns of Victor’s tragic pursuit of creating life and the warnings it carries.
After the death of his mother, Victor becomes consumed by grief and delves into his studies, eventually mastering the art of giving life to non-living matter. Despite his noble intentions, his creation turns out to be a towering, grotesque figure with yellow eyes, sallow skin, and disfigured features. Victor flees, and when he returns to his laboratory, the Creature is gone, driving VIctor to a state of horror and regret as he grapples with the ethical implications of his actions.
Mary Shelley is one of the most famous and influential female authors of all time.
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Paleontologist Alan Grant and his colleague Ellie Sattler are invited by billionaire John Hammond to visit a “biological preserve” he’s created on Isla Nublar. However, they are introduced to Jurassic Park, a theme park featuring dinosaurs created from ancient DNA found in fossilized insects. Despite making all animals female to prevent unauthorized breeding, Grant discovers a Velociraptor eggshell, indicating reproduction.
Suddenly, a tropical storm disrupts the park’s systems, allowing the dinosaurs to break out of their habitats and roam freely when electric fences are turned off. Chaos ensues as a Tyrannosaurus Rex attacks the group, forcing Grant and Hammond’s grandchildren into the jungle while others face perilous encounters with loose dinosaurs.
Even though Jurassic Park is one of the most famous movies inspired by literature, the book came first.
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
In a near-future dystopian city, 15-year-old Alex leads a gang with Dim, Georgie, and Pete. Despite his sociopathic tendencies and penchant for “ultra-violence,” Alex is also intelligent and quick-witted, with a surprising love for classical music, especially Beethoven.
Following numerous violent escapades, including assault, rape, and murder, Alex is imprisoned, where authorities subject him to an experimental behavior modification treatment. This sparks profound questions about free will and morality, as Alex and society grapple with the consequences of tampering with human behavior.
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
An unnamed Victorian scientist has invented a machine capable of traveling through time. He demonstrates it to dinner guests as he recounts his journey to the future, where he discovers a society of elegant but unintelligent beings called the Eloi. Puzzled by their lack of intelligence and physical vigor, he speculates that without challenges, humanity has devolved.
Upon returning, the Time Traveller finds his machine missing. He eventually realizes that humanity has diverged into two species: the feeble Eloi and the savage Morlocks. As he delves deeper into the future, he must confront the complexities of societal decay and human evolution.
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
The novel begins with Martians planning an invasion of Earth due to dwindling resources. Years later, a meteor lands on Horsell Common, England. Early arrivals to the scene discover it is actually a cylinder, as Martians emerge and incinerate humans with a heat-ray. However, they return to their ship as they struggle with the heavier gravity and military forces arrive by nightfall.
The following day, the narrator evacuates his wife to safety but returns home only to witness Martian tripods armed with a heat-ray and deadly “black smoke” that annihilate the army and ravage the city. The rest of the novel follows the Martians as England is destroyed and all organized resistance crumbles.
On Halloween Day, 1938, the CBS Radio Network sparked panic with an adaptation of “The War of the Worlds,” featuring news bulletins describing Martian invasions. Listeners, unaware that it wasn’t real, were thrown into chaos as on-scene reporters vividly depicted alien creatures emerging from spacecraft.
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
“The Martian Chronicles” is a short story collection that chronicles humanity’s colonization and interaction with Mars.
The book’s first part covers two and a half years and details four exploratory missions from the United States to Mars, during which humans inadvertently decimate the Martians with an outbreak of chickenpox. Over the following four and a half years, human colonizers strive to Americanize Mars, but as war erupts on Earth, most settlers return home, and interplanetary contact is severed. The final part, set across six months, portrays the aftermath of a global nuclear war on Earth, prompting some survivors to seek sanctuary on Mars.
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