Best Science Fiction Books in the Last 5 Years: 5 Compared

The best science fiction books in the last 5 years in this roundup lean young: the listings are children’s books with science fiction flavor, from a Star Wars Golden Book to a Geisel-winning early reader. We compared five listings on page counts, reading ages and what each listing actually states. Every figure below comes from the Amazon listings, not from our own reading logs.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	I Am a Hero by Golden Books	9.5/10	Buy
2	Ty's Travels: Lab Magic by Lyons	9.5/10	Buy
3	The Indian in the Cupboard by Banks	9.5/10	Buy
4	5-Minute Spider-Man Stories	9.5/10	Buy
5	Is There Really a Human Race?	9.4/10	Buy

1

I Am a Hero by Golden Books

Golden Books·9.5/10 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 24-page Little Golden Book of Star Wars heroes, ages 2 to 6; suits young space saga fans.

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Pros

• Star Wars space saga
• 24 pages, quick read
• Ages 2 to 6 stated

Cons

• Not recent, 2017
• 24 pages only
• Golden Book format, simple text

2

Ty's Travels: Lab Magic by Lyons

Kelly Starling Lyons·9.5/10 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 32-page My First I Can Read book about science discovery, ages 3 to 6, January 2022; suits beginning readers.

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Pros

• Geisel-winning series stated
• 2022, recent
• 32 pages, beginning reader

Cons

• 32 pages only
• Ages 3 to 6
• Science, not space fiction

3

The Indian in the Cupboard by Banks

Lynne Reid Banks·9.5/10 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 5, 240 pages, ages 8 to 10; suits middle-grade fantasy readers.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 5
• 240 pages, the longest here
• Ages 8 to 10 stated

Cons

• 2010 edition
• Fantasy, not science fiction
• Older readers may know it

4

5-Minute Spider-Man Stories

Marvel Press Book Group·9.5/10 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 ›

Ten 5-minute stories, 160 pages, ages 3 to 5; suits bedtime reading.

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Pros

• Ten stories in one book
• 160 pages
• 2026 edition, the newest

Cons

• Ages 3 to 5
• Superhero, not science fiction
• Media tie-in

5

Is There Really a Human Race?

Jamie Lee Curtis·9.4/10 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 40-page illustrated book by Jamie Lee Curtis, ages 1 to 5; suits read-alouds.

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Pros

• By Jamie Lee Curtis
• 40 pages, illustrated
• Ages 1 to 5 stated

Cons

• 2006 edition
• Philosophical, not science fiction
• 40 pages only

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More picks to compare

• The Last Book Written256 pages, August 2025.Check on Amazon
• The Quantum Realm TrilogySF thriller trilogy, March 2025.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specifications are as listed, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs keyword fit, literary standing, value, and listing completeness. The Star Wars Golden Book leads as the closest to space fiction. Ty’s Travels follows with its Geisel-winning series and 2022 date. For more, browse our science fiction last 10 years and modern science fiction lists.

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 science fiction books in the last 5 years

What the listings actually are

Be honest about the shelf: four of the five are picture books or early readers, not adult science fiction. The Star Wars Golden Book is the space opera of the set at 24 pages, ages 2 to 6. Ty’s Travels: Lab Magic is science discovery for ages 3 to 6, from a Geisel-winning series with a Kirkus starred review. The Indian in the Cupboard is fantasy at 240 pages, ages 8 to 10. If you want adult SF from the last 5 years, the more-picks list has two: The Last Book Written and The Quantum Realm Trilogy.

Recency

Only two are from the last 5 years: Ty’s Travels from January 2022 and the Spider-Man collection from December 2026. The Star Wars book is 2017, the Jamie Lee Curtis book is 2006, and The Indian in the Cupboard is a 2010 edition. For the keyword’s recency, Ty’s Travels is the honest pick.

Age and length

Reading ages run from 1 to 5 years up to 8 to 10 years; page counts from 24 to 240. Match the book to the reader’s age first, then pick the length that suits the occasion: 5-minute stories for bedtime, 240 pages for a middle-grade reader.

Before you buy

• Note these are children’s books, not adult SF.
• Match the reading age to the child.
• Check the publication date for recency.
• See the more-picks for adult SF options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is actual science fiction?

The Star Wars Golden Book is the space saga here. The more-picks list has two adult SF titles.

Which is newest?

The Spider-Man collection, December 2026, then Ty’s Travels from January 2022.

Which is longest?

The Indian in the Cupboard at 240 pages, Book 1 of 5.

Still deciding? Our top pickI Am a Hero by Golden Books

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Related lists

See every kids and teens list and all picture books lists.

More lists: science fiction last 10 years, modern science fiction and NYT science fiction, plus our fantasy books list.