Best science fiction novels by year

Here’s an update to this list. I haven’t read any science fiction novels published in 2024 yet.

  Winner Runner Ups
Year Author Title Author Title
2023 Annalee Newitz The Terraformers Sue Burke Dual Memory
      Mur Lafferty Chaos Terminal
      Ann Leckie Translation State
      Robert J. Sawyer The Downloaded
      John Scalzi Starter Villain
2022 Ren Hutchings Under Fortunate Stars Julie E. Czerneda To Each This World
      Mur Lafferty Station Eternity
      Emily St. John Mandel Sea of Tranquility
      John Scalzi The Kaiju Preservation Society
      Adrian Tchaikovsky Children of Memory
2021 Sue Burke Immunity Index Orson Scott Card The Last Shadow
  Andy Weir Project Hail Mary Becky Chambers The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
      Marina J. Lostetter Activation Degradation
      Adrian Tchaikovsky Elder Race
2020 Adrian Tchaikovsky The Doors of Eden Stephen Baxter World Engines: Creator
      Marina J. Lostetter Noumenon Ultra
      Nnedi Okorafor Binti
      Olga Ravn The Employees
      Robert J. Sawyer The Oppenheimer Alternative
      John Scalzi The Last Emperox
      Dennis E. Taylor Heaven’s River
2019 Annalee Newitz The Future of Another Timeline Stephen Baxter World Engines: Destroyer
      Sue Burke Interference
      Karl Schroeder Stealing Worlds
      Adrian Tchaikovsky Cage of Souls
      Adrian Tchaikovsky Children of Ruin
2018 Sue Burke Semiosis Becky Chambers Record of a Spaceborn Few
  Claire North 84K Marina J. Lostetter Noumenon Infinity
      Kim Stanley Robinson Red Moon
      John Scalzi The Consuming Fire
      John Scalzi Head On
2017 Annalee Newitz Autonomous Stephen Baxter The Massacre of Mankind
  Kim Stanley Robinson New York 2140 Kameron Hurley The Stars Are Legion
      Mur Lafferty Six Wakes
      Ann Leckie Provenance
      Marina J. Lostetter Noumenon
      John Scalzi The Collapsing Empire
      Dennis E. Taylor All These Worlds
      Dennis E. Taylor For We Are Many
      Andy Weir Artemis
      Edward Willett The Cityborn
2016 Stephen Baxter & Alastair Reynolds The Medusa Chronicles Becky Chambers A Closed and Common Orbit
      Yoon Ha Lee Ninefox Gambit
      Mickey Zucker Reichert I, Robot: To Preserve
      Robert J. Sawyer Quantum Night
      Dennis E. Taylor We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
      Connie Willis Crosstalk
      Robert Charles Wilson Last Year
2015 Neal Stephenson Seveneves Julie E. Czerneda This Gulf of Time and Stars
  Adrian Tchaikovsky Children of Time Ann Leckie Ancillary Mercy
      Jack McDevitt Thunderbird
      Will McIntosh Defenders
      Kim Stanley Robinson Aurora
      John Scalzi The End of All Things
      Robert Charles Wilson The Affinities
2014 Becky Chambers The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet Stephen Baxter Ultima
      Ann Leckie Ancillary Sword
      John Scalzi Lock In
      Karl Schroeder Lockstep
      Emily St. John Mandel Station Eleven
2013 Matt Haig The Humans Stephen Baxter Proxima
  Ann Leckie Ancillary Justice Will McIntosh Love Minus Eighty
      Mickey Zucker Reichert I, Robot: To Obey
      Robert J. Sawyer Red Planet Blues
      John Scalzi The Human Division
      Robert Charles Wilson Burning Paradise
2012 Kim Stanley Robinson 2312 Stephen Baxter Iron Winter
      David Brin Existence
      Orson Scott Card Shadows in Flight
      Robert J. Sawyer Triggers
      John Scalzi Redshirts
      Karl Schroeder Ashes of Candesce
2011 Will McIntosh Soft Apocalpyse Stephen Baxter Bronze Summer
      Laura J. Mixon Up Against It
      Mickey Zucker Reichert I, Robot: To Protect
      Robert J. Sawyer Wonder
      John Scalzi Fuzzy Nation
      Joan Slonczewski The Highest Frontier
      Neal Stephenson Reamde
      Vernor Vinge The Children of the Sky
      Robert Charles Wilson Vortex
2010 Connie Willis All Clear Stephen Baxter Stone Spring
      Cixin Liu Death’s End
      Robert J. Sawyer Watch
      Connie Willis Blackout
      Charles Yu How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
2009 Paolo Bacigalupi The Windup Girl Stephen Baxter Ark
      Julie E. Czerneda Rift in the Sky
      David Marusek Mind Over Ship
      Jack McDevitt Time Travelers Never Die
      Robert J. Sawyer Wake
      Karl Schroeder The Sunless Countries
      Robert Charles Wilson Julian Comstock
2008 Alastair Reynolds House of Suns Stephen Baxter Flood
  Neal Stephenson Anathem Stephen Baxter Weaver
      Orson Scott Card Ender in Exile
      Julie E. Czerneda Riders of the Storm
      Cixin Liu The Dark Forest
      Douglas Preston Blasphemy
      John Scalzi Zoe’s Tale
      Karl Schroeder Pirate Sun
2007 Stephen Baxter Navigator Stephen Baxter Conqueror
      Jule E. Czerneda Reap the Wild Wind
      Joe Haldeman The Accidental Time Machine
      Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson Sandworms of Dune
      Robert J. Sawyer Rollback
      John Scalzi The Last Colony
      Karl Schroeder Queen of Candesce
      Robert Charles Wilson Axis
2006 Cixin Liu The Three-Body Problem Stephen Baxter Emperor
  Peter Watts Blindsight Julie E. Czerneda Regeneration
      Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson Hunters of Dune
      John Scalzi The Android’s Dream
      John Scalzi The Ghost Brigades
      Karl Schroeder Sun of Suns
      Vernor Vinge Rainbows End
2005 Alastair Reynolds Pushing Ice Julie E. Czerneda Migration
  Robert Charles Wilson Spin Joe Haldeman Old Twentieth
      Karin Lowachee Cagebird
      David Marusek Counting Heads
      Robert J. Sawyer Mindscan
      John Scalzi Agent to the Stars
      John Scalzi Old Man’s War
      Karl Schroeder Lady of Mazes
      Charles Stross Accelerando
      John Varley Mammoth
      Peter Watts Behemoth Book Two: Seppuku
      Edward Willett Lost in Translation
2004 Julie E. Czerneda Survival Joe Haldeman Camouflage
  James Alan Gardner Radiant Alexander C. Irvine Have Robot, Will Travel
      Scott Mackay Omnifix
      Peter Watts Behemoth Book One: B-Max
2003 Robert Charles Wilson Blind Lake Julie E. Czerneda Hidden in Sight
      Cory Doctorow Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
      William Gibson Pattern Recognition
      Karin Lowachee Burndive
      Robert J. Sawyer Humans
      Robert J. Sawyer Hybrids
2002 Stephen Baxter Evolution David Brin Kiln People
  Robert J. Sawyer Hominids Julie E. Czerneda To Trade the Stars
      Karin Lowachee Warchild
      Scott Mackay Orbis
      Jim Munroe Everyone in Silico
      Karl Schroeder Permanence
      Michael Swanwick Bones of the Earth
      Mark W. Tiedemann Aurora
2001 Connie Willis Passage Julie E. Czerneda In the Company of Others
  Robert Charles Wilson The Chronoliths Candas Jane Dorsey A Paradigm of Earth
      James Alan Gardner Ascending
      Donald Kingsbury Psychohistorical Crisis
      Scott Mackay The Meek
      Adam Roberts On
      Peter Watts Maelstrom
2000 Ursula K. Le Guin The Telling Arthur C. Clarke & Stephen Baxter The Light of Other Days
  Karl Schroeder Ventus Julie E. Czerneda Changing Vision
      James Alan Gardner Hunted
      Jack McDevitt Infinity Beach
      Jim Munroe Angry Young Spaceman
      Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space
      Robert J. Sawyer Calculating God
      Joan Slonczewski Brain Plague
      Mark W. Tiedemann Chimera
      Mark W. Tiedemann Mirage
1999 Neal Stephenson Cryptonomicon David Brin Foundation’s Triumph
  Vernor Vinge A Deepness in the Sky Orson Scott Card Ender’s Shadow
      Joël Champetier The Dragon’s Eye
      Julie E. Czerneda Ties of Power
      James Alan Gardner Vigilant
      Robert J. Sawyer Flashforward
      Peter Watts Starfish
1998 Robert J. Sawyer Factoring Humanity Greg Bear Foundation and Chaos
  Robert Charles Wilson Darwinia David Brin Heaven’s Reach
      A. C. Crispin & Ru Emerson Voices of Chaos
      Julie E. Czerneda Beholder’s Eye
      James Alan Gardner Commitment Hour
      Nalo Hopkinson Brown Girl in the Ring
      Scott Mackay Outpost
      Jack McDevitt Eternity Road
      Mary Doria Russell Children of God
      Alison Sinclair Cavalcade
      Connie Willis To Say Nothing of the Dog
1997 Dan Simmons The Rise of Endymion Gregory Benford Foundation’s Fear
      Arthur C. Clarke 3001: The Final Odyssey
      Julie E. Czerneda A Thousand Words for Stranger
      James Alan Gardner Expendable
      Robert J. Sawyer Illegal Alien
      Robert Wright A Scientific Romance
1996 Robert J. Sawyer Starplex Roger MacBride Allen Utopia
  Orson Scott Card Pastwatch David Brin Infinity’s Shore
      Orson Scott Card Children of the Mind
      A. C. Crispin & T. Jackson King Ancestor’s World
      Peter F. Hamilton The Reality Dysfunction
      Jack McDevitt Ancient Shores
      Maria Doria Russell The Sparrow
      Dan Simmons Endymion
      Alison Sinclair Blueheart
1995 Stephen Baxter The Time Ships David Brin Brightness Reef
  Neal Stephenson The Diamond Age Julia Ecklar ReGenesis
      Robert J. Sawyer The Terminal Experiment
      Alison Sinclair Legacies
1994 Vonda N. McIntyre Nautilus Roger MacBride Allen Inferno
      A. C. Crispin & Kathleen O’Malley Silent Songs
      James Patrick Kelly Wildlife
      Robert J. Sawyer End of an Era
      Robert J. Sawyer Foreigner
      Jules Verne Paris in the Twentieth Century
      Robert Charles Wilson Mysterium
1993 Isaac Asimov Forward the Foundation Roger MacBride Allen Caliban
      Greg Bear Moving Mars
      Robert J. Sawyer Fossil Hunter
      Joan Slonczewski Daughter of Elysium
1992 Neal Stephenson Snow Crash Ben Bova Mars
  Vernor Vinge A Fire Upon the Deep A. C. Crispin & Deborah A. Marshall Serpent’s Gift
      Greg Egan Quarantine
      Maureen F. McHugh China Mountain Zhang
      Vonda N. McIntyre Metaphase
      Kim Stanley Robinson Red Mars
      Robert J. Sawyer Far-Seer
      Sean Stewart Passion Play
      Connie Willis Doomsday Book
      Robert Charles Wilson The Harvest
1991 Orson Scott Card Xenocide A. C. Crispin & Jannean Elliott Shadow World
      Alexander Jablokov Carve the Sky
      Vonda N. McIntyre Transition
      Robert Charles Wilson A Bridge of Years
1990 Robert J. Sawyer Golden Fleece Iain M. Banks Use of Weapons
      David Brin Earth
      Michael Crichton Jurassic Park
      A. C. Crispin & Kathleen O’Malley Silent Dances
      James Morrow City of Truth
      Robert Silverberg The New Springtime
      Dan Simmons The Fall of Hyperion
      Robert Charles Wilson The Divide
1989 Dan Simmons Hyperion A. C. Crispin StarBridge
  Dave Duncan West of January Vonda N. McIntyre Starfarers
      Geoff Ryman The Child Garden
      Joan Slonczewski The Wall Around Eden
      Sheri S. Tepper Grass
1988 Iain M. Banks The Player of Games Isaac Asimov Prelude to Foundation
      Jack L. Chalker Masks of the Martyrs
      Kim Stanley Robinson The Gold Coast
      Kim Stanley Robinson Pacific Edge
      Robert Silverberg At Winter’s End
      Sheri S. Tepper The Gate to Women’s Country
1987 David Brin The Uplift War Iain M. Banks Consider Phlebas
      Jack L. Chalker Warriors of the Storm
      Jack L. Chalker Pirates of the Thunder
      Arthur C. Clarke 2061: Odyssey Three
      Michael Crichton Sphere
      Robert Charles Wilson Memory Wire
1986 Orson Scott Card Speaker for the Dead Isaac Asimov Foundation and Earth
  Joan Slonczewski A Door Into Ocean Jack L. Chalker Lords of the Middle Dark
      Arthur C. Clarke The Songs of Distant Earth
      Wayland Drew The Master of Norriya
      Clifford D. Simak Highway of Eternity
      Vernor Vinge Marooned in Realtime
1985 Orson Scott Card Ender’s Game Isaac Asimov Robots and Empire
      Greg Bear Blood Music
      Greg Bear Eon
      David Brin The Postman
      Wayland Drew The Gaian Expedient
      Phyllis Gotlieb The Kingdom of the Cats
      Frank Herbert Chapterhouse: Dune
      Crawford Kilian Brother Jonathan
      Carl Sagan Contact
1984 Kim Stanley Robinson The Wild Shore Douglas Adams So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
      David Brin The Practice Effect
      Wayland Drew The Memoirs of Alcheringia
      Suzette Haden Elgin Native Tongue
      Frank Herbert Heretics of Dune
      William Gibson Neuromancer
      Vernor Vinge The Peace War
1983 David Brin Startide Rising Isaac Asimov The Robots of Dawn
1982 Isaac Asimov Foundation’s Edge Douglas Adams Life, the Universe and Everything
  Arthur C. Clarke 2010: Odyssey Two Phyllis Gotlieb Emperor, Swords, Pentacles
      Donald Kingsbury Courtship Rite
1981 Frank Herbert God Emperor of Dune Julian May The Many-Colored Land
      Clifford D. Simak Project Pope
      Elisabeth Vonarburg The Silent City
1980 Douglas Adams The Restaurant at the End of the Universe Gregory Benford Timescape
      David Brin Sundiver
      Phyllis Gotlieb A Judgment of Dragons
      Joan Slonczewski Still Forms on Foxfield
      Gene Wolfe The Shadow of the Torturer
1979 Douglas Adams The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Arthur C. Clarke The Fountains of Paradise
      John Varley Titan
1978 Clifford D. Simak Mastodonia    
1977 Frederik Pohl Gateway    
1976 Frank Herbert Children of Dune    
1975        
1974 Ursula K. Le Guin The Dispossessed Joe Haldeman The Forever War
      Niven & Pournelle The Mote in God’s Eye
1973 David Gerrold The Man Who Folded Himself Arthur C. Clarke Rendezvous With Rama
1972 Isaac Asimov The Gods Themselves John Brunner The Sheep Look Up
      Robert Silverberg Dying Inside
      Arkady & Boris Strugatsky Roadside Picnic
1971 Ursula K. Le Guin The Lathe of Heaven    
1970 Larry Niven Ringworld    
1969 Ursula K. Le Guin The Left Hand of Darkness Michael Crichton The Andromeda Strain
      Philip K. Dick UBIK
      Frank Herbert Dune Messiah
      Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Slaughterhouse-Five
1968 Arthur C. Clarke 2001: A Space Odyssey Philip K. Dick Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
      Anne McCaffrey Dragonflight
1967 Ursula K. Le Guin City of Illusions    
1966 Ursula K. Le Guin Rocannon’s World Robert A Heinlein The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
      Ursula K. Le Guin Planet of Exile
1965 Frank Herbert Dune Philip K. Dick The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch
      Clifford D. Simak All Flesh is Grass
1964        
1963 Clifford D. Simak Way Station Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Cat’s Cradle
1962 Philip K. Dick The Man in the High Castle Madeline L’Engle A Wrinkle in Time
1961 Harry Harrison The Stainless Steel Rat Robert A Heinlein Stranger in a Strange Land
      Stanislaw Lem Solaris
1960 Walter M. Miller, Jr. A Canticle for Leibowitz    
1959 Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. The Sirens of Titan    
1958 James Blish A Case of Conscience    
1957        
1956 Alfred Bester The Stars My Destination Isaac Asimov The Naked Sun
  Arthur C. Clarke The City and the Stars    
1955 Isaac Asimov The End Of Eternity    
1954 Arthur C. Clarke Childhood’s End Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451
      Hal Clement Mission of Gravity
1953 Alfred Bester The Demolished Man Isaac Asimov The Caves of Steel
      Isaac Asimov Second Foundation
      Theodore Sturgeon More Than Human
1952 Clifford D. Simak City Isaac Asimov The Currents of Space
      Isaac Asimov Foundation and Empire
1951 Isaac Asimov Foundation Isaac Asimov The Stars, Like Dust
      John Wyndham The Day of the Triffids
1950 Ray Bradbury The Martian Chronicles Isaac Asimov Pebble in the Sky
1949 George Orwell Nineteen Eighty-Four    

This entry was posted on Monday, December 30th, 2024 at 10:02 am and is filed under My thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply