After writing a list of interesting horror books, I’ve decided that some of our readers could also be interested in a similar article concerning sci-fi. Would you add any titles? Please let me know in the comments.

1. Blindsight – Peter Watts

While usually associated with hard science fiction, Blindsight is also an excellent sci-fi horror. The story presented by Peter Watts is densely packed with ideas, which force the reader to wonder – how would the first contact with an alien civilization look like? Would we be even able to communicate with each other? If you like thought-provoking, well-written sci-fi horror – this one won’t disappoint you.

2. The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch – Philip K. Dick

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The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch is, without a doubt, one of the best weird sci-fi novels ever written. By sending us into a world harrassed by Palmer Eldritch’s disturbing visions, Philip K. Dick makes us question the reality as we know it and ask ourselves a lot of questions concerning faith, God, and possible first contact with other civilization. If you are looking for a good, ambitious novel – this one shouldn’t disappoint you.

3. A Canticle for Leibowitz – Walter M. Miller Jr.

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I believe A Canticle for Leibowitz is a perfect example showing that science fiction genre, often disregarded, offers much more than just lasers, spaceships, and terrifying aliens. Miller’s novel is a book about faith, science, and finding the right balance between them. Highly recommended.

You don’t have a soul, Doctor. You are a soul. You have a body, temporarily.

4. Roadside Picnic – Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

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Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky is a profound, thought-provoking novel, forcing the reader to reflect on the nature of man and his place in the universe. The story is also a good start if you would like to get to know other sci-fi books written by those Russian authors.

5. The Three-Body Problem – Cixin Liu

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In my opinion, The Three-Body Problem is one of the best hard sci-fi novels in recent years. The story written by Cixin Liu presents an original look at our place in the universe, while also heavily depending on science.

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6. Invisible Planets – anthology edited by Ken Liu

If you would like to get to know Chinese sci-fi better, there is no better place to start than Invisible Planets – anthology edited by Ken Liu. Apart from short stories, the book also contains some fascinating essays concerning the development of sci-fi in China.

7. Flowers for Algernon – Daniel Keyes

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Flowers for Algernon is a genuinely timeless novel, drawing our attention to the dehumanization of science and human cruelty towards the weak. Daniel Keys encourages the readers to question the world as we know it and hang to our humanity.

8. The Martian Chronicles – Ray Bradbury

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The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is a true gem of sci-fi and in my opinion, one of the best ways to introduce someone to the genre. The short stories contained in this anthology are full of nostalgia and loneliness, which, combined with timeless problems raised by the author, make the reader wonder about the fate of our civilization.

9. Solaris – Stanisław Lem

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Lem’s Solaris is one of the best Polish sci-fi novels and definitely an interesting proposition for any fan of the genre. Peter Watt’s Blindsight is often compared to this one, as the idea for the first contact with an alien civilization is pretty similar in both of these great books.

10. Stand on Zanzibar – John Brunner

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The Earth is overpopulated; people try to escape the depressing reality by using new types of drugs, and machines are getting dangerously intelligent. John Brunner’s novel Stand on Zanzibar is definitely one of the most interesting and disturbing visions of the future, you can find in sci-fi.

11. Hyperion – Dan Simmons

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The intergalactic war is coming, something strange is starting to happen in the Valley of Time Tombs, and a terrifying creature called Shrike is somehow connected to all of this. In the meantime, seven pilgrims decide to set out on a journey to the planet Hyperion, which might offer an answer to all their questions. In my opinion, next to Terror, this novel is one of the best Dan Simmons’ works.

12. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress – Robert Heinlein

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Facing problems of overpopulation and hunger on the Earth, the governments decided to send their convicts to the penal colony placed on the Moon. There are no bars, no guards, the prisoners may complain about their situation, but what can they really do? Many of the themes presented in Heinlein’s books were then re-used in other sci-fi works – it’s one of the classics really worth knowing.

13. The Sirens of Titan – Kurt Vonnegut

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While Kurt Vonnegut wrote many great novels, I have a kind of special sentiment towards this one. The Sirens of Titan presents the story of Malachi Constant – rich degenerate who is offered a chance to set out on a space journey. The author encourages us to question the purpose of human life while not forgetting to lighten the mood (only a little) with his unique sense of humor.

14. Metro 2033 – Dmitry Glukhovsky

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While right now there are dozens of novels placed in the universes created by Dmitry Glukhovsky, I think that Metro 2033 is undoubtedly the best one of them. The remnants of humanity try to survive in dangerous, dark Moscow underground, full of strange, mutated creatures. Glukhovsky’s novel is not only highly entertaining but also really well written. Great proposition for any fan of post-apocalyptic books and interesting sci-fi books in general.

15. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams

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The novels start when the Earth is about to be demolished in order to make way for a galactic freeway. Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, armed with the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, leave the planet and set off on a crazy journey during which they will, for example, find the answer for the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Light, funny, and thought-provoking, Douglas Adams’ book is a must-have for any sci-fi fan and an obvious choice on any list of interesting sci-fi books.

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That’s it then – my list of interesting sci-fi books. Have you read all of them? What are your thoughts? Please let me know in the comments.