You may recognize some of these books or some of these authors, but chances are you won’t know all of them — either books or authors. And we’re using the term hard science fiction to mean that these books are based on some kind of scientific information. (After all, science fiction means that not all of it can be factual.) Although it’s not always the case, most hard science fiction is written by engineers, physicists, chemists, and all order of other scientific specialties. Here’s our short list.

The Green Trap by Ben Bova

Microbiologist Michael Cochrane has been murdered. His brother Paul wants to find out who did it…and why. Accompanied by a beautiful industrial spy, Elena Sandoval, Paul follows the trail from California to Cambridge, Massachusetts.















Revision 7: DNA by Terry Persun

Time traveling robots, a walking medical experiment turned detective genius, and a kidnapped psychic combine in a story that will tear at your heart and get your adrenaline pumping.















The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner

A fast-paced, kaleidoscopically comprehensive view of a near future rife with looming ecological dangers and possibly about to be saved by an underground revolutionary movement—if its leader can survive the hostility of vested interests to deliver his message of hope.















The World Inside by Robert Silverberg Life in Urbmon 116 is highly regulated, life is cherished, and the culture of procreation is seen as the highest pinnacle of god’s plan. Conflict is abhorred, and any who disturb the peace face harsh punishment—even being sent “down the chute” to be recycled as fertilizer.















Avogadro Corp by William Hertling

David Ryan is the designer of ELOPe, an email language optimization program, that if successful, will make his career. But when the project is suddenly in danger of being canceled, David embeds a hidden directive in the software accidentally creating a runaway artificial intelligence.















Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

Not far into our future, the dazzling technology that runs our world turns against us. Controlled by a childlike—yet massively powerful—artificial intelligence known as Archos, the global network of machines on which our world has grown dependent suddenly becomes an implacable, deadly foe.















Into the Looking Glass by John Ringo

An experiment in subatomic physics produces a very unexpected effect. Other gateways appear all over the world and one of them immediately begins disgorging demonic visitors intent on annihilating all life on Earth and replacing it with their own.