Key Points
Some of the best sci-fi books are Science Fiction: A Literary History and The Sci-Fi Movie Guide: The Universe of Film from Alien to Zardoz.
Some others include: The Golden Age of Science Fiction: A Journey into Space with 1950s Radio, TV, Films, Comics and Books.
We also feel this one should be mentioned: The Big Book of Science Fiction.
There‘s nothing like science fiction. Across all genres — from horror to comedy to drama to romance and everything in between — nothing gets our imagination going like science fiction does. Better yet, it can be found across so many different types of media.
Literature, film, television, podcasts… Wherever stories can be told, science fiction can be found. These 10 titles below are the best books about science fiction in all its glory.
No matter what your preferred method of sci-fi delivery may be, there‘s likely a book about it. From science fiction novels to science fiction movies, science fiction comics to science fiction poems, these 10 titles we‘ve compiled below run the gamut across all the different shapes and sizes of the genre.
Here‘s a rundown of what we found:
Best Book About Sci-Fi Novels: Science Fiction: A Literary History
Best Book About Sci-Fi Movies: The Sci-Fi Movie Guide: The Universe of Film from Alien to Zardoz
Best Book About Sci-Fi TV Shows: Science Fiction Television
Best Book About 1950s Sci-Fi: The Golden Age of Science Fiction: A Journey into Space with 1950s Radio, TV, Films, Comics and Books
Best Book About Sci-Fi Filmmakers: Science Fiction Film Directors, 1895-1998
Best Book About Sci-Fi Authors: The History of Science Fiction
Best Book About Sci-Fi Short Stories: The Big Book of Science Fiction
Best Book About Sci-Fi Poetry: Eccentric Orbits: An Anthology Of Science Fiction Poetry
Best Book About Sci-Fi History: James Cameron‘s Story of Science Fiction
Best Book About Real Life Sci-Fi: Aliens: The World‘s Leading Scientists on the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Best Book About Sci-Fi Novels: Science Fiction: A Literary History
Science Fiction: A Literary History by Roger Luckhurst is undoubtedly the most comprehensive work on science fiction novels ever written. Plus, given its recent publication in 2018, there‘s no doubt you‘ll be getting the most up-to-date information.
Luckhurst‘s work stretches from the early scientific romance of the 1880s to the "Golden Age" of sci-fi literature in the 1930s to the new direction sci-fi writing took from the 1950s to today. He compiles essays and research from a great number of different sources to track the complete literary history of the sci-fi genre.
Here‘s an excerpt about the evolution of sci-fi novels in the 1950s and beyond:
"Science fiction underwent a quite sudden change in literary ambition in the 1950s as a new group of writers entered the field. Figures like Philip K. Dick, Ursula Le Guin, J. G. Ballard and many others introduced more avant-garde narrative techniques and much more critical perspectives on corporate, military and political power that aimed to make their audiences radically rethink their place in the world."
There‘s no doubt Luckhurst‘s book Science Fiction: A Literary History is the best and most comprehensive book on sci-fi novels out there.
Best Book About Sci-Fi Movies: The Sci-Fi Movie Guide: The Universe of Film from Alien to Zardoz
In The Sci-Fi Movie Guide, author and critic Chris Barsanti manages to review close to a thousand must-see sci-fi movies spanning all of film history. No matter what subgenre of sci-fi you enjoy, this guide has extensive coverage on the best examples in comedy, horror, romance, and more.
First published in 2014, the book draws on Barsanti‘s deep knowledge of sci-fi filmmaking from the very beginnings of cinema through today. Here‘s an example analyzing the importance of 1927‘s Metropolis:
"One of the indisputable classics of silent era filmmaking, Metropolis brought scale, grandeur, and state-of-the-art special effects to science fiction cinema. More importantly, Fritz Lang‘s dystopian epic introduced one of the key templates for so much science fiction to follow: anxiety about the dehumanizing aspects of technology."
For any sci-fi movie lover, Chris Barsanti‘s Sci-Fi Movie Guide is the definitive bible you need on your shelf.
Best Book About Sci-Fi TV Shows: Science Fiction Television
With science fiction television, the medium has allowed creators to stretch ideas across seasons, episodes, and evolving characters. In his book Science Fiction Television, author M. Keith Booker explores the depth of sci-fi storytelling unique to TV.
From early favorites like The Twilight Zone to long-runners like Doctor Who and everywhere in between, this book analyzes sci-fi television‘s origins, the key shows audiences have loved, how the genre has grown and changed with the times, and more.
Booker notes that one advantage of sci-fi TV is it allows new perspectives rarely seen in traditional media:
"Science fiction television…has frequently managed to escape the constraints placed on it by commercial pressure and has often been able to present more radical critiques of American society than one is likely to encounter in more mainstream television forms."
For coverage of sci-fi‘s unique home on the small screen, Science Fiction Television is a must-read.
Best Book About 1950s Sci-Fi: The Golden Age of Science Fiction: A Journey into Space with 1950s Radio, TV, Films, Comics and Books
No decade was more pivotal for launching sci-fi into the cultural stratosphere than the 1950s. And in The Golden Age of Science Fiction, author John Wade expertly covers how sci-fi dominated radio, film, print, comics, and television in that decade.
Here‘s just one excerpt looking at sci-fi‘s growth on TV at the time:
"Science Fiction Theatre was introduced to American TV screens in 1955. The written introductions informed viewers about scientific theory while the dramas that followed speculated in an entertaining way about what could happen if those theories were developed further."
Published in 2019, this book draws on loads of thorough research into all the ways mid-century audiences experienced the sci-fi genre. For coverage of sci-fi‘s extremely influential 1950s boom, it‘s a must-read.
Best Book About Sci-Fi Filmmakers: Science Fiction Film Directors, 1895-1998
Author Dennis Fischer set himself an ambitious goal: cataloguing the entire century-spanning history of sci-fi film directors in one book. Yet that‘s exactly what he accomplished with Science Fiction Film Directors, 1895-1998.
The book includes over 750 pages covering directors ranging from the biggest household names like James Cameron down through obscure low-budget filmmakers you‘ve likely never heard of before.
Fischer makes sure to explore each director‘s unique impacts on the genre. As an example, when writing about pioneering French filmmaker Georges Méliès, Fischer notes:
"In retrospect, the cinema science fiction pioneer Méliès was the first person to grasp the dreams and poetry possible in cinematic science fiction."
For the most comprehensive history of the visionaries who built sci-fi filmmaking, this is the ultimate reference guide.
Best Book About Sci-Fi Authors: The History of Science Fiction
In The History of Science Fiction, author Adam Roberts manages to pack the entire history of sci-fi authors into a single readable volume. He covers the landscape all the way from early progenitors in Ancient Greece through today‘s contemporary writers.
The book explores all the key movements and voices that moved sci-fi forward through the years. Discussing acclaimed author Philip K. Dick, Roberts observes:
"Dick was producing some of the most interesting, strange and exciting Science Fiction in America. He very rapidly established himself as a counter-cultural hero."
While it‘s quite a feat compressing so many centuries of writers into one binding, Roberts pulls it off with an insightful and entertaining style throughout. For sci-fi literary history, it‘s a joy to read.
Best Book About Sci-Fi Short Stories: The Big Book of Science Fiction
Editors Ann and Jeff VanderMeer had a herculean task with this project: cramming over 100 years of seminal sci-fi short fiction into one volume. Yet that‘s exactly what they managed to achieve with The Big Book of Science Fiction, a hugely enjoyable 1200-page collection.
Spanning early pioneers like H.G. Wells all the way up through today‘s most creative contemporary voices, the editors leave no stone unturned in showcasing sci-fi‘s greatest hits in short form.
Discussing a story included from sci-fi legend Robert Heinlein, the editors write:
"Heinlein‘s talent is to make the science part of his science fiction subordinate to the humanity of his all too human characters. ‘The Man Who Sold the Moon‘ is his homage to the can-do spirit of engineering, the entrepreneurship of the American inventor…It‘s a great example of science fiction at its most shamelessly optimistic."
For the passionate sci-fi reader, this brilliant collection is essential.
Best Book About Sci-Fi Poetry: Eccentric Orbits: An Anthology Of Science Fiction Poetry
While sci-fi poetry is a less widely known corner of the genre, editor Ada Hoffmann has done a stellar job curating an enjoyable overview with Eccentric Orbits. Published in 2020, the collection contains acclaimed poets like Sue Burke and Sonya Taaffe alongside talented up-and-comers.
Hoffmann writes in the introduction about sci-fi poetry‘s boundless creativity:
"Speculative poets have broad interests and broad reading histories. A single issue of a speculative poetry magazine may contain a climate fiction poem next to a moon landing poem next to a poem about ancient Egyptian mathematics."
By showcasing sci-fi poetry‘s diversity and depth, Eccentric Orbits makes a strong case for why adventurous readers should give this niche genre a try.
Best Book About Sci-Fi History: James Cameron‘s Story of Science Fiction
As one of the most successful sci-fi writer/directors ever, James Cameron has the credentials to author an definitive insider‘s history of the genre. In James Cameron‘s Story of Science Fiction, he manages to pack in a remarkably thorough and engaging overview.
While the book is a great resource on its own, Cameron also paired it with an AMC miniseries of interviews with icons like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, and more.
In one interview snippet, Kubrick discusses his sci-fi masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey:
"I tried to create a visual experience, one that bypasses verbalized pigeonholing and directly penetrates the subconscious with an emotional and philosophic content."
For an entertaining oral history direct from some of sci-fi‘s greats, you can‘t go wrong with this book/TV project combo.
Best Book About Real Life Sci-Fi: Aliens: The World‘s Leading Scientists on the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
While science fiction takes plenty of imaginative liberties, many of the concepts it explores have origins in real scientific possibility. Aliens: The World‘s Leading Scientists on the Search for Extraterrestrial Life is a fascinating look at how much "truth" there could be in common sci-fi themes.
Respected editor Jim al-Khalili compiles writing from top researchers on the chances of finding alien life, establishing communication across space, exploration of Mars, and more theories that feel pulled right from the pages of a sci-fi book.
In the chapter "Mars: The Great Beyond Next Door", writer Leonard David discusses discoveries that inspire some scientists to believe primitive life may have once existed on Mars:
"As revealed by NASA‘s robotic spacecraft, Mars was once, billions of years ago, a much more Earth-like planet, with liquid water on its surface, a thick atmosphere, and warmer conditions."
For readers curious just how plausible some of sci-fi‘s wildest concepts could be, this collection from today‘s top scientific thinkers is engrossing.
Finding the Best Books About Sci-Fi: Step by Step
When trying to locate the best books about science fiction, there are a few places you can look. First, you just have to know how. These three sources are a great place to start:
Searching the Library
If you‘re looking for the best books about science fiction, a great first step is to venture out to your local library. Either by asking a librarian or searching the computer yourself, you shouldn‘t have any trouble finding some great sci-fi books available to you completely free of charge. (Just make sure you return it on time!)
Searching a Book Store
If you‘re looking to do more than just borrow a sci-fi book, you can try a local book store instead. While the selection might be limited to only the most recent sci-fi books on the market, your local book store is still likely to have a nice little selection of sci-fi books to choose from and enjoy. (Plus, no late fees.)
Searching Online
If you‘ve come up empty both at the library and at a local book store, there‘s always the internet. Amazon or other online retailers will have sci-fi books new and old, big and small, popular and obscure for you to browse through. Plus, you can probably find some cheaper used copies so that you don‘t have to shell out the full price if you don‘t want to.
What to Know Before Buying Books About Sci-Fi
Before you buy one of the best books about science fiction, it‘s worth mentioning that some of these titles might contain ideas that are a little beyond the basics. In other words, they might be a little heady.
(All great science fiction is at least a little unfathomable, right?)
Fear not: While some science fiction can get a little complex, it almost always works hard to help walk you through it as you go. Don‘t give up — If a sci-fi author or historian leaves you feeling confused at first, it‘ll almost always be worth the struggle in the end.
(If all else fails, you can always turn to Google.)
Reading Books About Sci-Fi: What It‘s Like
When reading one of the best books about science fiction, you can expect to see familiar concepts from the real world of science shifted and reshaped into unique fictional forms. After all, that‘s the great and enduring appeal of science fiction, isn‘t it?
Factual science pushed to its most fantastical limits, reworked, and reworded to present scenarios that might possibly happen in the future. Reading about sci-fi engages our intelligence and imagination simultaneously. That‘s what it‘s like, and that‘s why we love it so much.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best sci-fi writer of all time?
While it‘s hard to narrow down such an expansive list of writers to one single winner, there are a couple of names that come up again and again: Isaac Asimov and Ursula K. Le Guin.
What was the first science fiction book?
While this is another question with a difficult — and often subjective — answer, many critics and historians agree that Mary Shelley‘s Frankenstein (1818) was the first science fiction book.
What was the first science fiction movie?
The first science fiction movie ever made is an honor widely considered to belong to George Méliès‘s A Trip to the Moon (1902).
Has science fiction ever come true?
Because all good science fiction is based on ideas that have the potential to come true one day, science fiction has become science reality on numerous occasions…
