15 MUST-READ BOOKS for any hard SF fan. Includes novels by Peter Watts, Greg Egan, Hal Clement, Isaak Asimov, and many other great writers.
Most intriguing and thought-provoking sci-fi I've read in the last 15 years!
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Great science fiction with the plot scaling across vast space and time. Unexpected twist at the start, unexpected twist at the very end. Very satisfying reading!
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
An undying classic of hard science fiction, somewhat forgotten and overlooked these days, but still a very good read.
Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward
Great visionary hard sci-fi/space opera, tightly packed with a mind-boggling amount of concepts and ideas. First big book of the great series.
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
An absolute hard sci-fi classic by the great late Hal Clement. One of those old SF books that aged very well despite being published in 1957 (!)
Cycle of Fire by Hal Clement
The Grandmaster of Science Fiction, Isaac Asimov considered this novel to be his best work. Nothing to add from my side.
The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov
A hard sci-fi classic way ahead of its time. Incredible ideas, great characters, immersive universe, and fiery action.
A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge
No hard science fiction list can be complete without this awesome classic. Literally ALL the SF concepts and ideas used in the last 90 years of sci-fi were predicted and described by Stapledon. Absolute must-read for all sci-fi fans.
Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon
If you measure the “hardness” of science fiction on a scale from 1 to 10, this novel will be somewhere around 12. Only for true fans searching for the most complex concepts.
Dichronauts by Greg Egan
Another sci-fi novel that will probably lead the reader to explore several scientific concepts used by the author to create a weird and complex world. Also must-read for any hard sci-fi fan, an absolute classic.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Great and immersive novel about the fall and rise of humanity.
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
Arthur C. Clarke is another classic, and this novel is one of his best, so yet another must-read
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
The only novel by Carl Sagan, and it's an absolute epitome of science fiction, with a heavy accent on the science part. Great book by a great scientist.
Contact by Carl Sagan
In my opinion, this is the best novel in the great Culture series by Iain M. Banks. Wonderful mix of hard sci-fi and space opera with an intricate plot and a great finale.
Excession by Iain M. Banks
This one is on the dark side of science fiction, depicting a generation ship project that went horribly wrong… And yet it's a great read, deep and emotional.
