Latest interviews and book lists

The Best Sci Fi Novels of the Past Decade, recommended by Sylvia Bishop

The Best Sci Fi Novels of the Past Decade, recommended by Sylvia Bishop

Sylvia Bishop

Fans vote every year for the best of sci fi and fantasy, in both the Hugo Awards and the Nebula Awards, and the Best Novel spot in each is always one to watch. Our fantasy and sci fi editor Sylvia Bishop introduces the sci fi winners of the last decade: from titles that are now classics of the genre, to the newest writers making waves.

New Book Recommendations

ChatGPT

The Best AI Books in 2025, recommended by ChatGPT

Cal Flyn

FICTION
Award-Winning Novels of 2024
A concise rundown of the books that won big during the 2024 award season by Five Books deputy editor, Cal Flyn

The Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Audiobooks of 2024, recommended by AudioFile Editors

Stoner by John Williams Stoner by John Williams

FICTION 
Stoner by John Williams
“To me, Stoner is almost the perfect novel. It is very little known but anyone who reads it is completely captivated by it”—Simon Winchester, author

How Economics Explains the World (US)/ The Shortest History of Economics (UK) by Andrew Leigh How Economics Explains the World (US)/ The Shortest History of Economics (UK) by Andrew Leigh

ECONOMICS BOOKS
“If you read just one economics book in 2024—and perhaps if you just read one economics book in your life—it should be this book…How Economics Explains the World is a relatively short and easy read”—Jason Furman, economist, Harvard University

Isabel Hilton

NONFICTION BOOKS
The Best Nonfiction Books of 2024: The Baillie Gifford Prize Shortlist, recommended by Isabel Hilton

“There’s a Zeitgeist feel to them. They’re very much about today, but each…is drawing threads from the past”

Sophie Roell

CRIME FICTION
The best crime novels of 2024
From the latest detective novels and cozy crime to unsettling psychological thrillers

Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway

SPY THRILLERS
Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway
“This is the book of the year for me, he’s knocked it out of the park”—Shane Whaley, host,  Spybrary podcast

Zeinab Badawi

HISTORY BOOKS
Books About African History by African Writers, recommended by Zeinab Badawi
“You need the African voice: African scholars, archaeologists, historians, anthropologists must tell their own story”

Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen

NONFICTION BOOKS
Nuclear War by Annie Jacobsen 
“It’s a completely gripping but utterly terrifying scenario”—Isabel Hilton, journalist

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

PHYSICS BOOKS
“Everybody knows Hawking’s greatest contributions…To hear him describe some of these things with his own word choices, his own phrasing—not to mention his own personal biography and his disability—there’s no other book like it”—Dan Hooper, Astrophysicist, University of Chicago

Glorious Exploits: A Novel by Ferdia Lennon Glorious Exploits: A Novel by Ferdia Lennon

THE FUNNIEST BOOK OF 2024?
NEWS: Glorious Exploits wins the Wodehouse Prize
A historical novel set in 412BCE Sicily by Ferdia Lennon has won the UK’s book prize for comedy.

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