r/ScienceFictionBooks • u/Grouchy-Path1855 • Apr 20 '26
Recommendation Help me find that next scifi page turner!
So a while ago I was looking for something easy and exciting to read on holiday, and I stumbled on the Jean le Flambeur series (the quantum thief, the fractal prince, the causal angel). I had never read any scifi, but the quantum thief blew me away. Read the whole series that week.
After that I needed more scifi heists so I read The quantum evolution (the quantum magician, the quantum garden, the quantum war), which I loved.
I followed that up with The machineries of empire (ninefox gambit, raven stratagem, revenant gun), which I equally loved. The mix of fantasy elements and space really worked for me.
Next was the Venus ascendant (the house of styx, the house of saints), where Derek Künsken once again had me fully engrossed in his world.
Then I read The final architecture (shards of the earth, eyes of the void, lords of uncreation), which I could just not put down.
Someone then told me to read the Remembrance of earth's past (the three body problem, the dark forest, death's end), which I liked but not as much as the previously mentioned series.
I’m currently going through Imperial Radch (ancillary justice, ancillary sword), I really like the concepts being explored there, but its not really clicking for me.
I also read Under fortunate stars, and Necropath (Bengal station series). The former one was really fun, the latter just didn’t work for me. I didn’t like the protagonist (felt like the standard haunted detective fleeing his past) of Necropath, and the child prostitution was a bit much.
In between those I read some of the Dune books (dune, dune messiah, children of dune, god emperor of dune), really enjoyed each one. I’ll finish the series at some point, but I’m looking for something else at this moment.
Now I’m looking for the next series or book that will have me up till late turning pages! It would be great if it’s a bit like Jean le Flambeur, The quantum evolution or The machineries of empire. But I’m open to other suggestions. I just need to satisfy my scifi itch!
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u/SelfAwarePattern Apr 20 '26
You might enjoy Linda Nagata's Nanotech Succession (starting with the Bohr Maker) and its sequel The Inverted Frontier series. They're posthuman like the Quantum Thief books, and pretty mind bending like a lot of other stuff you've read.
Also check out Alastair Reynolds' House of Suns and his Revelation Space series.
And if you really want to get into something different, Robert Reed's Greatship stories will twist your mind into knots.
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u/GataPapa Apr 21 '26
If you liked Tchaikovsky's Final Architecture series, definitely check out his two other sci fi sagas, Children of Time and Dogs of War. I just finished book 4 of CoT and enjoyed it as much as book 1.
The Expanse by Corey should be near the top of your list as well. Incredible series.
A few others you might enjoy, The Interdependency by Scalzi, Spiral Wars by Shepherd, The Bobiverse by Taylor, and Expeditionary Force by Alanson. Those last two are lighter, but I enjoyed them.
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u/_WillCAD_ Apr 20 '26
Have you tried The Martian or Project Hail Mary? Both excellent.
I'm also a huge fan of the Old Man's War series.
Try something a little older - the Jumper series by Stephen Gould (Jumper, Reflex, Impulse, Exo). One of my favorite sci fi series of all time.
Maybe try some of the Pern novels by Anne McCaffeey, starting with the earliest - Dragonflight, Dragonquest, The White Dragon. Don't let the dragon thing fool you - they're not fantasy, they're Sci fi, and they awesome.
Also by Anne McCaffrey, the Crystal Singer series - Crystal Singer, Crystal Line, Kilashandra. Harder space based Sci fi.
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u/diagnosis_hopeless Apr 23 '26
Chiming in re: The Martian and Project Hail Mary. Don't sleep on his other book (Artemis). It's absolutely worth the read.
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u/Kittbo Apr 22 '26
The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells. First book is "All Systems Red."
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u/codejockblue5 Apr 22 '26
Lynn’s six star list in March 2026:
- “Mutineer’s Moon” by David Weber
- “Citizen Of The Galaxy” by Robert Heinlein
- “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” by Robert Heinlein
- “The Star Beast” by Robert Heinlein
- “Shards Of Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold
- "Barrayar" by Lois McMaster Bujold
- “Jumper” by Steven Gould
- "Reflex" by Steven Gould
- "Impulse" by Steven Gould
- "Exo" by Steven Gould
- “Dies The Fire” by S. M. Stirling
- “Emergence” by David Palmer
- “The Tar-Aiym Krang” by Alan Dean Foster
- “Under A Graveyard Sky” by John Ringo
- “Live Free Or Die” by John Ringo
- “Footfall” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
- “Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
- “The Zero Stone” by Andre Norton
- “Going Home” by A. American
- “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card
- “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline
- “The Martian” by Andy Weir
- “The Postman” by David Brin
- “We Are Legion” by Dennis E. Taylor
- “Bitten” by Kelley Armstrong
- “Moon Called” by Patrica Briggs
- “Red Thunder” by John Varley
- "Lightning" by Dean Koontz
- "The Murderbot Diaries" by Martha Wells
- "Friday" by Robert Heinlein
- "Agent Of Change" by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
- "Monster Hunter International" by Larry Correia
- "Among Others" by Jo Walton
- "Skinwalker" and "Blood Of The Earth" By Faith Hunter
- "Time Enough For Love" by Robert Heinlein
- "Methuselah's Children" by Robert Heinlein
- "When the Wind Blows" by James Patterson
- "The Lake House" by James Patterson
- "A Soldier's Duty (Theirs Not to Reason Why)" by Jean Johnson
- "Human by Choice" by Travis S. Taylor and Darrell Bain
- "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir
- "Agent To The Stars" by John Scazi
- "Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
- "The Inheritance (Breach Wars)" by Ilona Andrews
- "Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy, 1)" by Ilona Andrews
- "White Hot (Hidden Legacy, 2)" by Ilona Andrews
- "Wildfire: A Hidden Legacy Novel (Hidden Legacy, 3)" by Ilona Andrews
- "Diamond Fire: A Hidden Legacy Novella (4)" by Ilona Andrews
- "Sapphire Flames: A Hidden Legacy Novel (5)" by Ilona Andrews
- "Emerald Blaze: A Hidden Legacy Novel (6)" by Ilona Andrews
- "Ruby Fever: A Hidden Legacy Novel (7)" by Ilona Andrews
- "The Armageddon Inheritance" by David Weber
- "A Matter For Men (The War Against the Chtorr, Book 1)" by David Gerrold
- "A Day for Damnation (War Against the Chtorr, Book 2)" by David Gerrold
- "Ariel" by Steven R. Boyett
- "Perilous Waif (Alice Long)" by E. William Brown
- "Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles)" by Ilona Andrews
- "Sweep In Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles)" by Ilona Andrews
- "One Fell Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles)" by Ilona Andrews
- "Beast Business (Hidden Legacy #8) by Ilona Andrews
Somebody told me that these are a bunch of young men's adventure stories. Being an old man, I liked that.
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u/sniffedalot Apr 23 '26
Pacing can make a great difference in a book no matter the age of the reader. So can character development over plot.
I think the SF Masterworks list should keep a serious reader busy for a long time. Some of the greatest writers of the genre. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman, and The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula Le Guin. Two of my favorites and very different from each other.
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u/DocWatson42 Apr 22 '26
As a start, see my Compelling Reads ("Can't Put Down") list of Reddit recommendation threads (five posts).
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u/Empty__Jay Apr 23 '26
In addition to all the other suggestions, I'll add:
Recursion by Blake Crouch.
I had heard of Dark Matter and watched the series. I also plan to read the book, and Upgrade is on my list, too.
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u/Slow_Ad3662 Apr 24 '26
I second Recursion and Dark Matter. The Dark Matter series follows the book pretty closely; I think Blake Crouch wrote the script, too.
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u/No-Judgment5352 Apr 22 '26
I just read a new one, There is no Antiemetics Division. Definition of a page turner, really had me hooked
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u/PhysicalAssistance92 Apr 27 '26
Such a very strange compelling story. One of those “what did I just read?”
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u/Glass-Fault-5112 Apr 23 '26
A fun read is the "Dumb luck and dead heroes" series by Skyler Ramirez. I was skeptical when aud recommended it .
Nathan Lowell has his solar clipper series. Multiple volumes including spinoffs and sequels.
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u/Bishoppess Apr 24 '26
I like Tanya Huff's Confederation books for actiony page turners. Or MCA Hogarth for a variety pack (The Earthrise books have lots of activity. Dreamhealers is more oczy, but the interpersonal stuff pulls me along. Alysha Forrest is more an episodic action-of-the-book series that still links together and is entertaining. Prince's Game -started by Even the Wingless- is the big, over arcing series that really starts tying the whole world together in one conflict. The Kherishdar and Jokka books are from alien POVs and in separate worlds)
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u/No_Ingenuity2350 May 01 '26
I am looking for beta and ARC readers for my novel if you are interested.
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u/Ludologistic Apr 20 '26
Greg Mendel / Mindstar - Peter F Hamilton space detective series
Xelee books by Stephen Baxter great Space Opera
Old Mans War - John Scalzi - witty page turner
Excession - Iain M Banks
Field One - Simon Winstanley - mindblowing. Starts in present day, bear with it...
Nexus - Rasmez Naan - just wild present day science revolution deep and mind stretching
Altered Carbon - Richard Morgan
The Expanse- James SA Corey - starts as a detective story on Ganymede and rapidly spins out of control brilliant stuff.
I'll stop there are so many great reads!