Best Book Series Fantasy Sci Fi (2026): 4 Compared

Finding the best book series fantasy sci fi is about which flavor of speculative fiction you want, because these four range from military sci-fi to epic science fantasy to alien romance. All four are book 1 entries, so each starts a series. We compared them by publication date, page count, series length and premise, so you can pick your next series.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	I'm a Destroyer by Robins	9.8/10	Buy
2	The Forsaken Planet by Wilson	9.7/10	Buy
3	Stranded by DuBoff	9.7/10	Buy
4	The Wildborn by Torani	9.6/10	Buy

1

I'm a Destroyer by Robins

Sean Robins·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of 8 in a military sci-fi series about a sentient AI warship, 312 pages.

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Pros

• A September 2026 publication, the newest here.
• Book 1 of 8, the start of a long series, 312 pages.
• A sentient AI warship premise, per the description.

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• Military sci-fi, not fantasy.
• Only book 1; seven more books planned.

2

The Forsaken Planet by Wilson

Bryan Wilson·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of 4 in an epic sci-fi fantasy series, 599 pages.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 4, 599 pages, the longest here.
• Blends sci-fi and fantasy, per the description.
• A June 2023 publication.

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• Only book 1 of 4 here.
• An award-winning series claim with no award named.

3

Stranded by DuBoff

A.K. DuBoff·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of 7 in a space opera series, a 2025 release.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 7, the start of a space opera series.
• A February 2025 publication.
• Word Wise enabled, per the spec table.

Cons

• No page count is stated.
• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• Only book 1 of 7 here.

4

The Wildborn by Torani

Perri Torani·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 2026 sci-fi alien romance, book 1 of the Starborn Series.

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Pros

• A July 2026 publication.
• Sci-fi alien romance, per the description.
• Word Wise enabled, per the spec table.

Cons

• No page count is stated.
• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• Book 1 of 1; the series status is unclear.

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More picks to compare

• The Spellbound Cottage by ThomasCozy fantasy romance, Book 1 of 2, 2026.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 18 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the four listings states a reading age or grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best book series fantasy sci fi

Pick your subgenre

The four split across subgenres. I’m a Destroyer is military sci-fi about a sentient AI warship. The Forsaken Planet blends sci-fi and fantasy in an epic series. Stranded is a space opera adventure. The Wildborn is a sci-fi alien romance. If you want fantasy elements, the Forsaken Planet fits; for pure military sci-fi, the Destroyer fits. For more fantasy choices, browse the fantasy books lists.

Check the series length

All four are book 1, but the planned series differ: book 1 of 8 for the Destroyer, book 1 of 7 for Stranded, book 1 of 4 for the Forsaken Planet, and book 1 of 1 for the Wildborn. A longer series means more books to look forward to; a shorter one means a quicker commitment. For completed fantasy series, see book series in fantasy.

Compare the dates and pages

I’m a Destroyer and The Wildborn are 2026 releases; Stranded is from 2025 and the Forsaken Planet from 2023. Page counts are stated for two: 312 for the Destroyer and 599 for the Forsaken Planet; the other two state none. For dragon-focused fantasy, see fantasy dragon books for adults.

Before you buy

• Check the subgenre: military sci-fi, science fantasy, space opera or alien romance.
• Compare the series length: book 1 of 8, 7, 4 or 1.
• Note that none of the four listings states a reading age or grade level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these blends fantasy and sci-fi?

The Forsaken Planet is described as an epic sci-fi fantasy series. The other three are science fiction: military sci-fi, space opera and alien romance.

Which has the most pages stated?

The Forsaken Planet lists 599 pages. I’m a Destroyer lists 312 pages. Stranded and The Wildborn do not state a page count.

Which series is the longest?

I’m a Destroyer is book 1 of 8 and Stranded is book 1 of 7. The Forsaken Planet is book 1 of 4 and The Wildborn is book 1 of 1.

Still deciding? Our top pickI'm a Destroyer by Robins

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Related lists

See every fantasy books list and all fiction lists.

More lists: book series in fantasy, fantasy dragon books for adults and fantasy series for teens.