Best Science Fiction Books Last 20 Years (2026): 5 Picks

Looking for the best science fiction books last 20 years readers keep re-reading? These five speculative novels, published between 2009 and 2025, range from time travel to post-apocalypse. Here they are, ranked for your next read.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Y: The Last Man Book One	9.7/10	Buy
2	Dispel Illusion	9.7/10	Buy
3	The Prepared Prepper	9.6/10	Buy
4	Wild Magic	9.6/10	Buy
5	The President's Shadow	9.6/10	Buy

1

Y: The Last Man Book One

Brian K. Vaughan·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 ›

An Eisner-winning post-apocalyptic saga, collecting issues 1-10, 256 pages.

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Pros

• Three Eisner Awards winner
• 256 pages, collects 1-10
• Post-apocalyptic premise

Cons

• Graphic novel, not prose
• Mature themes throughout
• Book One only; the saga continues

2

Dispel Illusion

Mark Lawrence·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 time-travel trilogy closer about changing fate, Impossible Times Book 3.

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Pros

• Time-travel science fiction
• Book 3 of 3, a complete trilogy
• 2019 publication

Cons

• Mid-trilogy entry point
• Complex timeline
• No page count stated

3

The Prepared Prepper

William Stone·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 ›

An EMP post-apocalypse thriller from 2025, survival against the odds.

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Pros

• 2025 publication, the newest here
• EMP apocalypse premise
• Survival thriller pacing

Cons

• No page count stated
• Violent survival scenes
• Standalone with no series

4

Wild Magic

Tamora Pierce·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 fantasy of animal magic, Immortals Book 1 of 4, reading age 9-13.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 4, series starter
• Reading age 9-13, per customers
• Animal-magic fantasy

Cons

• Fantasy, not science fiction
• Young readership
• 2009, the oldest here

5

The President's Shadow

Brad Meltzer·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 White House conspiracy thriller, Culper Ring Book 3.

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Pros

• Popular thriller author
• Book 3 of 3, a complete trilogy
• White House conspiracy plot

Cons

• Thriller, not science fiction
• Mid-trilogy entry point
• No page count stated

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Compare the picks

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs story strength, craft, value, content fit and warranty. Four are adult fiction; Wild Magic carries a customer-reported reading age of 9-13, reflected in its content score. 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 science fiction books last 20 years

Pick the subgenre

The five span post-apocalypse (Y: The Last Man, The Prepared Prepper), time travel (Dispel Illusion), fantasy (Wild Magic) and thriller (The President’s Shadow). Two lean outside strict science fiction; the scores reflect that. For more speculative reads, browse our fantasy books.

Standalone or series

Dispel Illusion closes a trilogy and The President’s Shadow is Book 3 of 3, while Y: The Last Man Book One and Wild Magic open longer series. Trilogy closers reward readers who start at Book 1.

Mind the format and age

Y: The Last Man is a graphic novel, not prose. Wild Magic is aimed at ages 9-13 per customer reports. The rest are adult prose fiction with mature themes.

Before you buy

• Four are adult fiction with mature themes; one is aimed at ages 9-13.
• Two are mid-series entries; start at Book 1 for the full arc.
• Page counts are stated only for one of the five.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these won awards?

Y: The Last Man won three Eisner Awards.

Are any of these complete series?

Dispel Illusion is Book 3 of 3 and The President’s Shadow is Book 3 of 3. The others open or continue longer series.

Which is the newest?

The Prepared Prepper, published February 9, 2025.

See every fantasy book we cover.

More picks: browse science fiction with aliens, modern science fiction and literary science fiction.

Still deciding? Our top pickY: The Last Man Book One

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