There are many subgenres of Science Fiction but for some hardcore nerds, they only want to read sci-fi that has been heavily researched and stays close to reality. I’m a bit more expansive in my tastes but I do love and admire authors who take the time to really think the science part of science fiction through. So here are ten novels that do exactly that.
- The Martian-One of the most thoroughly researched novels ever written. The story is simple yet compelling. But it’s the science that makes this one a must-read for nerds everywhere.
- Leviathan Wakes- The first in James S. A. Corey The Expanse series. The world-building and mythology of this series are exceptional. But you’re here for hard sci-fi and this series does a remarkable job on the technical details that remind you that space is always trying to kill you.
- The Mote in God’s Eye– A galactic navy and first contact with an Alien species in a far-off future where humanity has spread out amongst the stars. Written by one of the titans of the genre, Larry Niven. Definitely a book you can get lost in.
- The Three Body-Problem- Aliens are coming. Do we welcome them, or do we fight them? It’s amazing that such a simple question can produce such an epic work. This is the first in Chinese author Liu Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past series which has only recently been translated into English so it may have flown under your radar.
- Ringworld- The first work in Larry Niven’s Known Space universe which is the setting for over a dozen novels and a myriad of short stories. This is one of the pillar franchises of science fiction and a classic you should read as soon as possible.
- Dragon’s Egg: On a neutron star called Dragon’s Egg an alien species develops at an exponential rate while above humanity observes in awe.
- Rendezvous with Rama– a first contact story from the Godfather of Science Fiction, Arthur C. Clarke. Look the characters are a little flat, but the realism and the technical detail will have you enthralled.
- Seveneves– The moon blows up. And that’s just the beginning of humanities woes. The science in this book is top-notch and its plot is epic in scope.
- Red Mars- Mars has always been heavily featured in science fiction, but Red Mars stands as perhaps the best story about human habitation on the Red Planet. The first in a trilogy.
- Revelation Space– While this is a space opera in its construction, it is hard sci-fi at its core. Which is what happens when the author has a Ph.D. in Astrophysics. This one will have you looking up concepts and terminology on the internet, which depending on your personality you might love or you might pass. Up to you but this one is definitely worth the effort.