Best Sci Fi Books This Century (2026): 4 Books Compared

The best sci fi books this century share one trait: they use the future to say something about now, whether that is a space navy, a locked-in world, a broken Earth or a whole field of short stories. We compared four books published this century on their listed details: page count, series position, publisher, publication date and what each description says, so you can match the book to the reader. Every fact below comes from the Amazon listings, not from our own reading.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	21st Century Science Fiction	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Lock In	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Warship	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Century Rain	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

21st Century Science Fiction

David G. Hartwell·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 ›

A 576-page anthology of close to 250,000 words of 21st-century science fiction, edited by David G. Hartwell and Patrick Nielsen Hayden.

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Pros

• 576 pages with close to 250,000 words
• Stories from award winners and nominees
• Authors from Bacigalupi to Watts

Cons

• No single story runs novel length
• First edition from 2014
• No reading age is stated

2

Lock In

John Scalzi·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 ›

A near-future thriller from Hugo Award-winning John Scalzi, Book 1 of 2, sold without DRM.

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Pros

• From Hugo Award-winning John Scalzi
• Book 1 of 2 in a complete series
• Sold without DRM applied

Cons

• No print length is stated
• Book 2 is needed to finish the story
• Near-future setting may date over time

3

Warship

Joshua Dalzelle·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 ›

Military space opera from Joshua Dalzelle, Book 1 of 9, 320 pages.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 9 starts a long series
• 2015 Goodreads Choice Award nominee
• 320 pages, a quick read

Cons

• Eight more books to finish the story
• No print length beyond 320 pages
• Space navy focus narrows the appeal

4

Century Rain

Alastair Reynolds·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 standalone SF thriller from Alastair Reynolds mixing noir crime with a wormhole and two Earths.

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Pros

• Standalone with no series commitment
• Noir crime meets interstellar adventure
• Standalone with no series commitment

Cons

• No print length is stated
• Alternating worlds can confuse new readers
• No reading age is stated

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More picks to compare

• The Science Fiction Century992-page anthology spanning a century of SF from the 1890s onCheck on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed details. None of the four listings gives a reading age or grade level, and none states a warranty, so those weights contributed nothing here. 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 sci fi books this century

Series start or standalone

Warship is Book 1 of 9 in the Black Fleet Saga, and Lock In is Book 1 of 2 in its series. Century Rain and the Twenty-First Century Science Fiction anthology are standalones. For readers who binge, a series start is the safer gift; for readers who want one evening, an anthology or standalone is. Our book series fantasy sci fi list covers more series.

Match the subgenre to the reader

Warship is military space opera for readers of The Expanse and Old Man’s War. Lock In is a near-future FBI thriller from Hugo Award-winning John Scalzi, built around a fictional disease. Century Rain mixes noir crime with a wormhole and two Earths. The anthology samples the field’s award winners and nominees, from Paolo Bacigalupi to Charles Stross. For more off-the-beaten-path options, see our sci fi books you have not read list.

Anthologies for sampling

The Twenty-First Century Science Fiction anthology packs close to 250,000 words and 576 pages from editors David G. Hartwell and Patrick Nielsen Hayden, with stories that won or were nominated for the field’s major awards. It is the best way to meet a dozen authors in one volume before committing to a novel. Our short story collections list has more.

Setup Notes

• Check the series position: Warship is Book 1 of 9 and Lock In is Book 1 of 2.
• Page counts are stated for the anthology (576) and Warship (320); the other two listings give none.
• Lock In is sold without DRM applied, per its listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these is best for a new sci fi reader?

The Twenty-First Century Science Fiction anthology samples many authors and styles in one 576-page volume, so a new reader can find their taste before committing to a series.

Is Warship part of a series?

Yes. The listing says it is Book 1 of 9 in the Black Fleet Saga, from Joshua Dalzelle.

Is Lock In part of a series?

Yes. The listing says it is Book 1 of 2 in the Lock In series, from John Scalzi, and is sold without DRM.

Which book has the most pages?

Twenty-First Century Science Fiction at 576 pages, then Warship at 320. The Century Rain and Lock In listings give no page count.

Still deciding? Our top pick21st Century Science Fiction

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Related lists

See every fantasy books list and all fiction books lists. Also see our sci fi first contact books.

More lists: sci fi books you have not read, short story collections and fantasy books.