If you want to know the essential science-fiction books to read that were published in the last 25 years, this is your go-to guide.”

–Kirkus

INSPIRED by David Pringle’s landmark 1985 work Science Fiction: 100 Best Novels, this volume supplements the earlier selection with the present authors’ choices for the best English-language science fiction novels during the past quarter century. Employing a critical slant, the book provides a discussion of the novels and the writers in the context of popular literature. Moreover, each entry features a cover image of the novel, a plot synopsis, and a mini review, making it an ideal go-to guide for anyone wanting to become reacquainted with an old favorite or to discover a previously unknown treasure. With a foreword by David Pringle, this invaluable reference is sure to provoke conversation and debates among science fiction fans and devotees. Click here to order your copy (paper or ebook).

OUR selections in this volume, if we have done our job well, will illustrate not only the immense changes of the past two-and-a-half decades, but also science fiction’s vast reach and power, which of course we will need even more in the wild quarter century ahead!”

— From the introduction

Trade paper edition now shipping.

___________

DAMIEN BRODERICK is a writer whose works include the novel The Judas Mandala and critical studies Ferocious Minds and X, Y, Z, T: Dimensions of Science Fiction. He is a five-time recipient of the Australian SF Ditmar Award and a runner-up for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. He lives in San Antonio, Texas.

PAUL DI FILIPPO is a two-time Nebula Award finalist and a Philip K. Dick finalist. He is the author of The Steampunk Trilogy, and Top Ten: Beyond the Farthest Precinct,Creature from the Black Lagoon, Ribofunk and the editor of the forthcoming Freaks in a Box: The Myths of Media. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

DAVID PRINGLE is a writer and editor. He is the author of several guides, including Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels, Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels, and The Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction. He served as the editor of Foundation, and founded the English science fiction magazine Interzone.

Complete Table of Contents

Foreword            6

Introduction            8

  1. The Handmaid’s Tale (1985)            13
  2. Ender’s Game (1985)            16
  3. Radio Free Albemuth (1985)            19
  4. Always Coming Home (1985)            21
  5. This Is the Way the World Ends (1985)            24
  6. Galápagos (1985)            27
  7. The Falling Woman (1986)            30
  8. The Shore of Women (1986)            32
  9. A Door Into Ocean (1986)            35
  10. Soldiers of Paradise (1987)             38
  11. Life During Wartime (1987)            41
  12. The Sea and Summer (1987)            44
  13. Cyteen (1988)            47
  14. Neverness (1988)            50
  15. The Steerswoman (1989)            53
  16. Grass (1989)            56
  17. Use of Weapons (1990)            58
  18. Queen of Angels (1990)            61
  19. Barrayar (1991)            64
  20. Synners (1991)            67
  21. Sarah Canary (1991)            70
  22. White Queen (1991)            73
  23. Eternal Light (1991)             76
  24. Stations of the Tide (1991)            79
  25. Timelike Infinity (1992)             82
  26. Dead Girls (1992)             85
  27. Jumper (1992)            87
  28. China Mountain Zhang (1992)            89
  29. Red Mars (1992)             91
  30. A Fire Upon the Deep (1992)             94
  31. Aristoi (1992)            97
  32. Doomsday Book (1992)            100
  33. Parable of the Sower (1993)            103
  34. Ammonite (1993)            105
  35. Chimera (1993)            107
  36. Nightside the Long Sun (1993)             109
  37. Brittle Innings (1994)            113
  38. Permutation City (1994)            115
  39. Blood (1994)             118
  40. Mother of Storms (1995)            121
  41. Sailing Bright Eternity (1995)             124
  42. Galatea 2.2 (1995)            127
  43. The Diamond Age (1995)            130
  44. The Transmigration of Souls (1996)            133
  45. The Fortunate Fall (1996)            135
  46. The Sparrow/Children of God (1996/1998)            138
  47. Holy Fire (1996)            141
  48. Night Lamp (1996)            143
  49. In the Garden of Iden (1997)            146
  50. Forever Peace (1997)            149
  51. Glimmering (1997)            152
  52. As She Climbed Across the Table (1997)            154
  53. The Cassini Division (1998)            156
  54. Bloom (1998)            159
  55. Vast (1998)            162
  56. The Golden Globe (1998)            165
  57. Headlong (1999)            168
  58. Cave of Stars (1999)            170
  59. Genesis (2000)            173
  60. Super-Cannes (2000)            176
  61. Under the Skin (2000)            179
  62. Perdido Street Station (2000)            182
  63. Distance Haze (2000)            185
  64. Revelation Space trilogy (2000)            188
  65. Salt (2000)            190
  66. Ventus (2001)            192
  67. The Cassandra Complex (2001)            195
  68. Light (2002)            198
  69. Altered Carbon (2002)            201
  70. The Separation (2002)            203
  71. The Golden Age (2002)            205
  72. The Time Traveler’s Wife (2003)            208
  73. Natural History (2003)            211
  74. The Labyrinth Key / Spears of God             214
  75. River of Gods (2004)            217
  76. The Plot Against America (2004)             220
  77. Never Let Me Go (2005)            223
  78. The House of Storms (2005)            226
  79. Counting Heads (2005)            229
  80. Air (Or, Have Not Have) (2005)            231
  81. Accelerando (2005)            234
  82. Spin (2005)            237
  83. My Dirty Little Book of Stolen Time (2006)            240
  84. The Road (2006)            243
  85. Temeraire /His Majesty’s Dragon (2006)            245
  86. Blindsight (2006)            248
  87. HARM (2007)            251
  88. The Yiddish Policemen’s Union (2007)            253
  89. The Secret City (2007)            255
  90. In War Times (2007)            257
  91. Postsingular (2007)            260
  92. Shadow of the Scorpion (2008)            263
  93. The Hunger Games trilogy (2008-2010)            265
  94. Little Brother (2008)            268
  95. The Alchemy of Stone (2008)            271
  96. The Windup Girl (2009)            273
  97. Steal Across the Sky(2009)            275
  98. Boneshaker (2009)            277
  99. Zoo City (2010)            280
  100. Zero History (2010)            283
  101. The Quantum Thief (2010)            286