Best New Science Fiction Books (2026): 4 Picks Compared

The best new science fiction books for 2026 span Mars colonies, flooded Englands and mysterious rifts on distant planets. We compared these picks by publication date, page count, series position and what each description says, so you can find your next read.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	What We Can Know by McEwan	9.7/10	Buy
2	The Torn Planet by Morris	9.6/10	Buy
3	The Somatic Bridge by Draycott	9.6/10	Buy
4	Wool by Howey	9.6/10	Buy

1

What We Can Know by McEwan

Ian McEwan·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 2025 literary science fiction novel about a scholar in 2119 chasing a lost poem, aimed at readers who like thoughtful, time-spanning stories.

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Pros

• Published September 2025, the newest print book of the four picks
• Print length of 320 pages with a Knopf edition
• Two timelines, 2014 and 2119, give a literary structure around a science fiction premise

Cons

• The listing gives no reading age or grade level
• The description mentions a brutal crime, which some readers will want to know
• No series is stated, so a reader wanting a longer series should look elsewhere

2

The Torn Planet by Morris

Brandon Q. Morris·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 hard science fiction series opener about a crew investigating a mysterious rift on a distant planet, aimed at readers who like realistic space adventures.

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Pros

• Published August 2025
• Book 1 of 7 in The Marchenko Logfiles
• Hard science fiction with an alien crew and a planetary mystery

Cons

• No print length is stated in the listing
• The listing gives no reading age or grade level
• Book 1 of 7 means a long series commitment

3

The Somatic Bridge by Draycott

Tom Draycott·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 hard science fiction novel about a Mars colony rewriting the human genome to survive, aimed at readers who like high-concept Mars stories.

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Pros

• Published December 2025, the most recent listing of the four picks
• Book 1 of 3 in Expansion
• Mars colony premise built around genetic engineering

Cons

• No print length is stated in the listing
• The listing gives no reading age or grade level
• The description describes body modification and a hive mind, which some readers will want to know

4

Wool by Howey

Hugh Howey·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 ›

The first book of the Silo series, about an underground community and a mechanic who uncovers a conspiracy, aimed at readers who like dystopian thrillers.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 3 in the Silo series
• Print length of 592 pages
• Published October 2020 in this edition

Cons

• The description mentions death on a large scale, which some readers will want to know
• The listing gives no reading age or grade level
• The 2020 edition is older than the 2025 picks on this list

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More picks to compare

• Bloodline by BirtlesFor readers who like end-times thrillers mixing science and faith.Check on Amazon
• Space Concreters by UptonFor readers who like space adventures with corporate intrigue.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 19 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 picks gives a reading age or grade level, so the scores rest on fit, contents and value. 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 new science fiction books

New means recent, so check the date

The Somatic Bridge was published in December 2025, What We Can Know in September 2025 and The Torn Planet in August 2025, while Wool is a 2020 edition. For more recent releases, see our best science fiction books in 2026 list.

Series or standalone

Wool is Book 1 of 3 in the Silo series, The Torn Planet is Book 1 of 7 in The Marchenko Logfiles, and The Somatic Bridge is Book 1 of 3 in Expansion. What We Can Know states no series, so it suits a reader who wants one complete book.

Hard SF or literary SF

The Torn Planet and The Somatic Bridge are billed as hard science fiction, with realistic crews and engineering stakes. What We Can Know leans literary, with two timelines and a scholar’s mystery. For the literary end of the shelf, see our literary science fiction list.

Before you buy

• Check the publication date on the listing: the newest picks here are from 2025, while Wool is a 2020 edition.
• For a series, confirm the book number: Wool is Book 1 of 3, The Torn Planet is Book 1 of 7.
• Check the print length where stated; two listings here state no page count.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these books is the newest?

The Somatic Bridge was published December 4, 2025, the most recent of the four picks.

Is Wool part of a series?

Yes. The listing says Wool is Book 1 of 3 in the Silo series.

Which pick is best for hard science fiction fans?

The Torn Planet and The Somatic Bridge are both billed as hard science fiction. The Torn Planet is Book 1 of 7 and The Somatic Bridge is Book 1 of 3.

Still deciding? Our top pickWhat We Can Know by McEwan

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Related lists

See every Fantasy and Romantasy list and all Fiction lists.

More lists: browse science fiction books in space, Japanese science fiction books and science fiction books with aliens.