2021 might not be much better than 2020 was, but as far as book releases go, it’s been a pretty damn amazing year! Rather than pick a top ten for this year’s Best of Science Fiction list, I’ve decided to pick twenty-one favorites, books that made me think, made me laugh, made me gasp, made me cry. I’m grateful to have spent so many hours in the pages of the following books. I’m listing these alphabetically by title, and I’ll link my reviews as well. Enjoy!
This is quite the list! Personally I don’t think I’ve read any science fiction books. Kinda lost track of the genre this year. Maybe I’ll do better next year!
Quite a great list of amazing books, indeed! I’ve read a few of them and I have others (like Project Hail Mary and The Exiled Fleet) on my TBR waiting their turn, so they might make my own 2021 deadline as well…
Day Zero would definitely make my list, and so would The Echo Wife and Dr Moreau. I really loved the Koli books and Project Hail Mary too. So many great ones, so many more to read!
What a fantastic list of books! I’ll be adding quite a lot of these to my endless TBR. I see a lot that I hoped to get to, but never did-whoops. I also loved The Last Watch, and The Past is Red is one I’ve been dying to read. I’m happy to see that you got to read so many amazing books this year!
I love how all of my favorites are on your list too! And because I adore your wonderful taste, every one I have not yet read is going on my “must read” list immediately! Several are on my Amazon wish list, but I am going to put them as HIGH priority now! Wonderful list, thank you for sharing it!
Yes, 2021 was a great year for Sci-fi, at least compared to last year where I was struggling to fill up a top ten post with books I actually liked! This year was much easier, though I think in general I am just reading fewer sci-fi these days. I don’t think I even have 21 on my list, yikes!
The latest Murderbot and the newest Becky Chambers of course From your list I’ve only read Far From the Light of Heaven. But The Last Watch I find super interesting and is on my list to give a try.
I just finished reading Elder Race and that has to be one of my favorites, as well. I love these novellas that are able to deliver a story that seems so much more than you’d think could fit in the format. That being said, I think it’s about time I finally try one of Tchaikovsky’s longer works.
I’m glad you enjoyed Elder Race. And me too! I need to read one of his novels. Hopefully I can find time to read Children of Time soon. It’s his novel I’m most interested in:-)
Well, considering I don’t read a lot of sci-fi I have read and loved four off your list – which was a surprise I confess. Los of lovely books on here.
Lynn
I’ve read the Gear books that I think were more historical. Hmm, my favorite science fiction of the year? I don’t feel like I’ve read as many in the past year, so let me think. I’d pick Ready Player Two as my favorite of the few that I read this year. But several from your list above are on my TBR. Great post!
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This is quite the list! Personally I don’t think I’ve read any science fiction books. Kinda lost track of the genre this year. Maybe I’ll do better next year!
There are quite a few genres I hardly ever read, so I’m right there with you:-)
Quite a great list of amazing books, indeed! I’ve read a few of them and I have others (like Project Hail Mary and The Exiled Fleet) on my TBR waiting their turn, so they might make my own 2021 deadline as well…
I’m also trying to read some last minute 2021 books, just in case they make my final list:-)
Day Zero would definitely make my list, and so would The Echo Wife and Dr Moreau. I really loved the Koli books and Project Hail Mary too. So many great ones, so many more to read!
And I’m sure I barely scratched the surface of what came out this year…
I’ve only read Project Hail Mary and The Echo Wife so far and they were both amazing. Great list!
Thanks Lauren!
So many good books this year! Can’t believe we got both The Last Watch and The Exiled Fleet within a few months of each other. And I loved Elder Race!
I know, I love when publishers do that with series:-)
What a fantastic list of books! I’ll be adding quite a lot of these to my endless TBR. I see a lot that I hoped to get to, but never did-whoops. I also loved The Last Watch, and The Past is Red is one I’ve been dying to read. I’m happy to see that you got to read so many amazing books this year!
Thanks! I have read a lot of sci-fi this year:-)
Even though I don’t think Sci-fi is for me after tryin a few I still want to try Day Zero…lol.
Day Zero is more like horror, so you might like it:-)
I love how all of my favorites are on your list too! And because I adore your wonderful taste, every one I have not yet read is going on my “must read” list immediately! Several are on my Amazon wish list, but I am going to put them as HIGH priority now! Wonderful list, thank you for sharing it!
You and I have such similar tastes and I love that!
Adrift is one really want to read. I know it’s like fifth in a series but it just sounds so good. The new Gailey also.
I loved Dead Space.
The whole Gear series is great, start at the beginning!
Yes, 2021 was a great year for Sci-fi, at least compared to last year where I was struggling to fill up a top ten post with books I actually liked! This year was much easier, though I think in general I am just reading fewer sci-fi these days. I don’t think I even have 21 on my list, yikes!
I read a lot this year, not sure how that happened!
The latest Murderbot and the newest Becky Chambers of course
From your list I’ve only read Far From the Light of Heaven. But The Last Watch I find super interesting and is on my list to give a try.
The Last Watch is very fast paced and thrilling, I highly recommend it:-)
I loved Day Zero, Koli, and Project Hail Mary. I *still* need to read the latest Kali Wallace. I’m kicking myself for not having gotten to it yet.
Oh it’s so good! I’m sure you’ll love it too:-)
I just finished reading Elder Race and that has to be one of my favorites, as well. I love these novellas that are able to deliver a story that seems so much more than you’d think could fit in the format. That being said, I think it’s about time I finally try one of Tchaikovsky’s longer works.
I’m glad you enjoyed Elder Race. And me too! I need to read one of his novels. Hopefully I can find time to read Children of Time soon. It’s his novel I’m most interested in:-)
Yes, Hail Mary is pretty good. And now maybe a sequel?
Well, considering I don’t read a lot of sci-fi I have read and loved four off your list – which was a surprise I confess. Los of lovely books on here.
Lynn
I’ve read the Gear books that I think were more historical. Hmm, my favorite science fiction of the year? I don’t feel like I’ve read as many in the past year, so let me think. I’d pick Ready Player Two as my favorite of the few that I read this year. But several from your list above are on my TBR. Great post!