Every year, I try to choose my favorite book releases, and it’s almost always impossible. For now, I’ve narrowed things down to what I think are the best science fiction books of 2024. Read on to discover some of my favorite books of the year.
March
The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed, March 12
The war between the Empires of Varkal and Med’ariz is eternal. Things take a turn when Alefret, a pacifist resistance leader from Varkal, is offered a chance at freedom by his own government. Tasked with infiltrating one of Med’ariz’s flying cities, Alefret must find fellow anti-war activists and incite an uprising against their rulers. Despite his pacifist nature, Alefret grapples with the possibility of bringing about peace through violence.
The Siege of Burning Grass is Premee Mohamed’s first standalone novel after plenty of best-selling novellas. It’s an intense meditation on war, violence and what courage truly means.
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Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas, March 19
In the vast expanse of the Spiral, power is split between the formidable Trust corporations and the influential Union labor force, with the Guild striving to maintain a delicate balance. But when Jal, a Guild deserter with a mysterious past, boards a Guild vessel, its crew finds itself embroiled in an unexpected mission. Their journey to return Jal home takes a dangerous turn when they respond to a distress signal from a desolate planet. There, they find a lone programmer who has uncovered a sinister truth. The crew of the Ambit must act swiftly to thwart the Trust’s nefarious plans and stop total planetary destruction.
Cascade Failure is a good old-fashioned space adventure with shootouts, alien worlds and snarky AI. L.M. Sagas’ debut is an exciting and charming adventure perfect for fans of Becky Chambers or The Murderbot Diaries. It’s a deeply anti-capitalist space Western. It’s full of action and bloody violence, but somehow, it’s still cozy. Best of all, there’s already a sequel.
RELATED: Book Review: Cascade Failure
April
Lake of Souls by Ann Leckie, April 2
With stories set in the worlds of The Imperial Radch series and The Raven Tower alongside groundbreaking new realms, Lake of Souls is the first complete collection of Ann Leckie’s short fiction. It even includes a brand-new novelette, Lake of Souls. It’s no surprise to find Leckie on any list of the best science fiction books, and her immersive, wide-ranging collection is perfect for every fan.
Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes, April 9
Dr. Ophelia Bray, a psychologist specializing in the violent, space-induced condition of ERS, joins a small exploration crew on an abandoned planet. As they uncover secrets about the planet’s past, tensions rise within the crew. When a pilot is found murdered, Ophelia fears a recurrence of the violent ERS outbreaks. With trust scarce and secrets abundant, Ophelia and the crew must collaborate to uncover the truth before history repeats itself, even as they face the possibility of something more sinister lurking in the shadows.
S.A. Barnes’ second novel has all of the signature sci-fi horror she’s known for. Ghost Station is claustrophobic and truly engrossing.
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May
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, May 7
In the near future, a civil servant lands her dream salary in exchange for an intriguing new job. Her role is to serve as a bridge between the present and an expat from 1847, Commander Graham Gore. Despite initial awkwardness, the bridge gradually forms a deep connection with the disoriented Commander, navigating cultural clashes and technological marvels. As their relationship deepens, they uncover the true purpose of the Ministry’s project, leading to a reckoning with their choices and beliefs about altering the future.
While The Ministry of Time is more slice-of-life than a full-on time travel thriller, it’s still super captivating and entertaining. Kaliane Bradley’s debut is a great read for anyone who enjoyed Sea of Tranquility or How High We Go in the Dark.
RELATED: Book Review: The Ministry of Time
Lost Ark Dreaming by Suyi Davies Okungbowa, May 21
Decades after the Atlantic Ocean’s rise, survivors of the West African coast live in five partially submerged towers where the wealthy reside at the top and the poor in the depths. Below them, however, lurks a terrifying threat. Those who were left to drown when the sea rose have been reawakened with a thirst for vengeance. Yekini, a rookie analyst; Tuoyo, an undersea mechanic; and Ngozi, a high-level bureaucrat, must unite to forge a livable future amid threats from ancient, vengeful beings reawakened from the ocean.
Lost Ark Dreaming reads like Snowpiercer combined with Rivers Solomon’s The Deep. Suyi Davies Okungbowa’s novella is a brutal look at post-climate change disaster and a dark addition to the best science fiction of the year.
June
The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei, June 3
Once the galaxy’s best art thief, Maya Hoshimoto is now a graduate student trying to ignore disturbing visions of the future. When an old friend offers her an irresistible job to find a powerful object that could save an alien species from extinction, Maya sets out on a dangerous quest. As she navigates a universe of strange life and ancient ruins, her haunting visions threaten her team, and she faces the chilling possibility that saving one species might doom humanity and Earth itself.
With a tense, high-stakes plot and a heist set in space, The Stardust Grail is a fantastic, fun adventure. Yume Kitasei’s second novel finds optimism in bleak situations, resulting in a great space opera.
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July
Toward Eternity by Anton Hur, July 9
In a near-future world, cancer is eradicated through nanite cell replacement, resulting in near immortality. One recipient of this treatment is a literary researcher, Yonghun, who creates an AI named Panit, capable of understanding poetry. When Dr. Beeko, the patent holder of the nano-therapy, transfers Panit’s consciousness into an android body, Panit gains freedom and life. As Yonghun, Panit, and other nano humans begin to replicate, their development leads to an existential crossroads with profound consequences.
While Toward Eternity is Anton Hur’s debut novel, he’s no stranger to fiction. He’s the translator of some of the most celebrated contemporary Korean literature. Hur’s first original work combines gods, magic and science into a world rapidly approaching collapse, and I can’t wait to see what else he comes up with.
August
The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey, August 6
The Carryx is both empire and hive-mind. Having conquered the galaxy for centuries, they find themselves up against an unexpected, deathless enemy. In desperation, the Carryx turn to an unlikely source of survival, stealing the best and brightest humans of Anjiin society to serve on the Caryyx homeworld. Plunged into a ruthless competition for survival against other captive species, an assistant scientist named Dafyd must navigate a complex game if he wants to survive. Swept up in events beyond his control, Dafyd will become both humanity’s champion – and its betrayer.
If The Expanse series is anything to go by, James S.A. Corey’s new series is destined to be an epic, far-reaching space adventure. The Mercy of Gods is the start of a new space opera fans of the genre won’t want to miss. Plus, they’re already adapting it into a series from Amazon MGM Studios.
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October
Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer, October 22
Absolution revisits the world of Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy, offering new perspectives and resolving lingering mysteries about Area X. Each of the three parts details a new expedition, including the first mission to the Forgotten Coast. While it does provide long-awaited answers, Absolution also raises more questions. It introduces fresh surprises, delivering a haunting conclusion to one of the most celebrated speculative fiction series of the 21st century.
Did any of your favorite science fiction books of 2024 make the cut? All of the best books of 2024 are available from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org. Let us know below, and keep an eye out for even more of GGA’s favorite things of the year.
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