Sci-fi is a hard genre to read sometimes—not everyone is interested in reading a bunch of technical jargon based on real science and math. It can be difficult for readers to find a relatable, human connection when the story might not be based on humans!

When that story is based on facts, physics, technology, and plausible futuristic outcomes, finding a link between humanity can prevent sci-fi from earning new readers. However, I’m here to tell you that there are sci-fi books out there for beginners!

When you think about it, you have probably consumed more media in the sci-fi genre than you realize. Science fiction is was the main genre of so many new movies in 2025 and 2026. The Substance and Iron Lung had huge followings after their releases. Not to mention the incredible success of Project Hail Mary, a strictly science and math based book and film adaption. To come in the year as well, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Steven Spielberg’s upcoming movie, Disclosure Day. Science fiction isn’t just about aliens and space, it blends in easily to other genre’s like action, horror, and adventure.

Sci-fiction is for everyone! And if you’re interested in getting into the genre, here are some of the books you should be starting with! Trust me, whatever you do, don’t start with Dune. We work our way up to that one . . .

ANDY WEIR NOVELS

I have personally read two of Andy Weir’s novels, and have really enjoyed his style of storytelling! The main characters of his book are humans who experience extreme scientific and fictional scenarios in which their aspects of humanity is tested. For me, even though the situations and conflicts the main character faces can seem supernatural, I am still able to relate to the story because of the human-ness and morality of the protagonist. Andy Weir has currently written three sci-fi novels: The Martian, Artemis, and Project Hail Mary.

THE MARTIAN

“Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old ‘human error’ are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?” (Goodreads).

The Martian is Andy Weir’s first novel, and boy did he hit it out of the park! I remember reading this book as my summer reading assignment going into High School, right after the film adaptation came out, and it has been one of my favorites ever since.

ARTEMIS

“Jazz Bashara is a criminal.

Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you’re not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit on contraband barely counts, right? Not when you’ve got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.

Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she’s stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first (Goodreads).

I am currently reading Artemis, and although I have only read the first chapter, I am liking it so far!

PROJECT HAIL MARY

“Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn’t know that.

He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him.

Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got o do it all alone. Or does he?” (Goodreads).

Now that the movie adaption of Project Hail Mary is out, everyone has heard of it! And if you watched the movie and loved it, I highly recommend that you read the book, too. Personally, I read it a few years ago and it became an absolute favorite of mine to re-read and enjoy. PHM has great heart, characters, and lots and lots of space science that went over my head. And still, I love it.

The audible version, narrated by Ray Porter, is also amaze!

THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a novel series written by author Douglas Adams. The series is so popular it’s evolved from it’s creation into so much more than just a book—people were raised on the satirical comedy of Arthur Dent.

“Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a research for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, who for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker’s Guide and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers. . .” (Goodreads).

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a classic for a reason, and it’s a great gateway into all the wonders of science fiction.

CHILDREN OF TIME

Children of Time is a newer science fiction saga written by author Adrian Tchaikovsky, first published in 2015. With four books written in the series so far, Tchaikovsky is still expanding. Hop on the bandwagon now and see what all the hype is about in this series that explores how humanity struggles when in the face of other evolved species.

“A race for survival among the stars… Humanity’s last survivors escaped earth’s ruins to find a new home. But when they find it, can their desperation overcome its dangers?

Who will inherit this new Earth?

The last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age—a world terraformed and prepared for human life.

But all is not right in this new Eden. In the long years since the planet was abandoned, the work of its architects has borne disastrous fruit. The planet is not waiting for them, pristine and unoccupied. New masters have turned it from a refuge into mankind’s worst nightmare.

Now two civilizations are on a collision course, both testing the boundaries of what they will do to survive. As the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, who are the true heirs of this new Earth?” (Goodreads).

ENDER’S GAME

Published in 1985 by Orson Scott Card, this military sci-fi fusion is one of the best sci-fi novels to date. It’s won several wards, has four sequels and other novellas, a film adaption, and a comic book series! Needless to say, Ender’s Game is well-known, and well-liked in the science fiction community. Reading this book is another entrance into all of the genre’s that sci-fi crosses over with.

“In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race’s next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew ‘Ender’ Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn’t make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for the rigorous military training.

Ender’s skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artifical community of young soldiers, Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders . . .

Ender’s two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.

Happy reading, everyone!