10 Best Sci-Fi Books 2024 | UK Gaming Blogger Reviewed

N. K. Jemisin is on a roll! She's been recognised as one of the best sci-fi writers of her generation, and quite rightly so. Her Broken Earth trilogy won consecutive Hugo awards, and her recent story collection is regarded as some of her best work. 

In her latest offering, she turns her back on distant planets and instead, sets this novel in present-day New York City. Jemisin personifies NYC with characters that each represent one of the five boroughs, all of which are facing off against a monstrous force determined to bring darkness.  

You've probably heard of Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast which terrified America with its news of alien invasion, so why not delve into the novel that inspired it all? If you're new to the genre, The War of the Worlds is a must-read. It was a pioneer in science fiction, first published in 1898, and has never been out of print since. 

The book follows a first-person narrative from the perspective of two characters, the unnamed protagonist and his brother, living in two separate parts of the UK as Martians invade. The plot was said to have taken inspiration from Britain's brutal colonisation of the world during the victorian-era, with Wells pondering what would happen if Martians did this to his own homeland. 

This book is a collection of short stories from throughout the author's literary career. These tales duck and weave through different genres, including horror, sci-fi, fantasy and thriller. If you're interested in more than just pure escapism, it's an equally interesting exploration of how Lovecraft developed his narrative style through the years. 

The main attraction is, of course, The Call of Cthulhu. This story follows a man who, whilst sorting the affairs of his late uncle, accidentally stumbles upon a series of dark secrets connecting him to a cosmic entity, which is waiting to be freed.

With a strong story and plenty of action, this fast-paced novel follows the protagonist Jack Nill. Set in the not too distant future, everything is owned by multi corporations, even the internet. Therefore, if you want to transmit sensitive information, you need a highly-skilled courier. 

Thankfully, Jack is a blessed mathematician and distinguished traceur. Unfortunately, his father has a tonne of gambling debt, so into the dangerous underworld he goes. It's not the most fleshed-out book, and the world-building seems a little thin, but if you're looking for a story-driven page-turner, you'll be more than happy with this offering! 

Ender's Game is the first book in what is known as Ender's Saga. From here, the franchise has gone on to include 15 novels, 13 short stories, 47 comic issues and a film. So, if you do sink your teeth into this work, there's plenty left over for you to explore once you've finished. 

Set in a future where humans are facing extinction from a destructive, insect-like alien society, you'll follow a child soldier who is groomed to become a future leader and protector of the Earth. This and the second book, Speaker for the Dead, both won the prestigious Hugo and Nebula awards and are considered some of the most influential science fictions books of the 80s. 

This is another story centred in New York City. We don't know why Sci-Fi authors have such a fascination with the city, but it does make us very sceptical about our chances of moving there sometime in the future. If there are any New Yorkers reading, stay safe out there!

In the big city, it's easy for women to go missing, and Monique finds this out the hard way when her girlfriend Donna slips through the cracks. As our hero begins to hear rumours about a taloned monster stalking the underground, she decides to delve deeper into subterranean worlds, shadowy creatures and mysterious cultists to find out more. 

When Gravity Fails was hailed as an instant classic by Effinger's contemporaries upon it's release in 1986. This praise lead the author to begin a series of books based around the protagonist, and he later released two more. He also worked on a fourth. However, unfortunately, he died before he could finish it.

In this first novel, we find ourselves in a futuristic setting where the Middle-East is on the rise, and the West is declining. The story follows a Marid who is required to undergo some highly-sophisticated implant surgery before he can begin to take on a killer who carries the strangeness and power of every psychopath to have ever lived. 

This book is the latest instalment in Bennett's Foundryside trilogy. Often, the second book in a trilogy is the weakest, since it's difficult to develop world and character building without neglecting plot. Thankfully, those fears are laid to rest early on in this book. 

The immersive and engaging plot see's the start-up Foundryside firm struggling to make it. The issue is that the merchants of Tevanne won't tolerate competition, and don't want their secrets of scriving getting out. And to ensure this doesn't happen, they're willing to crush anyone who threatens them!

There has been an influx of interest in this book since its on screen adaptation hit theatres in October, but Frank Herbert's Dune was already one of the most popular and best-selling science fiction novel ever written. This is a wonderfully layered story that's interlaced with themes of politics, religion, ecology, technology, and human emotion. 

Set in a desert world, Dune is the story of a boy who is heir to a noble family charged with the control of an inhospitable planet. But there's a catch! You see, this world produces a valuable drug called melange. This narcotic, known as spice, has the power to extend lives and enhance brain power, making it coveted across the universe, and absolutely worth killing for. 

This is a gripping story that's a fantastic, brutal and thrilling triumph of the imagination. P. Djèlí Clark is a multi-award winning author, and this latest offering has won it's fair share of accolades too. So, you know you're in good hands. 

Set in 1915 America, Birth of a Nation is not just a movie, but a spell to summon demons. These pointed-headed demons terrorise POC and feed on the KKK's racist hatred. Luckily, Maryse is a monster hunter with a magical sword. This story wonderfully intertwines Sci-Fi horror with historical accuracy, all of which comes crashing down into a perfectly cinematic ending!