Books by Ray Nayler
“It takes a little while of perspective-hopping for the reader to sort out how the elephant-defenders of Kenya are linked to the threatened mammoths of Siberia – which is a satisfying process in itself. You spend much of the book joining dots and appreciating links between past and present” Read more...
The Mountain in the Sea
by Ray Nayler
⭐ Shortlisted for the 2024 Arthur C Clarke Award for Science Fiction
“The point of The Mountain in the Sea is that someone discovers a fully sapient octopus civilization. That aspect is not in any way dystopian. And there is also AI, which is a proper AI…The reason I’m bringing The Mountain and the Sea in as a dystopian novel is the B-plot, which is not the octopuses. It is set on an automated fishing vessel with a crew that are essentially slaves, who have been taken on board this ship and made to do the various menial tasks that it is not worth getting machines to do. The point is what this says about global capitalism in the world that Naylor is writing about… They have an uprising, and they kill the exceedingly oppressive crew of the ship. But they can’t overthrow the ship itself, because the ship itself also has a kind of artificial intelligence.” Read more...
Adrian Tchaikovsky, Novelist
Interviews where books by Ray Nayler were recommended
Dystopian Sci Fi Books, recommended by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Sci fi dystopias are often, paradoxically, hopeful: they show oppressive systems, but they also show resistance. Award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky picks out five titles that deserve more readers, ranging from near-futures to space operas, but all featuring complex humans responding to dire circumstances.
The Best Science Fiction: The 2024 Arthur C. Clarke Award Shortlist, recommended by Andrew M. Butler
Every year, the judges for the Arthur C. Clarke Award highlight the best of the latest batch of science fiction books. In 2024, the six-strong shortlist includes an exploration of octopus intelligence, a queer space opera, and a dystopian novel hailed as the new Hunger Games. Andrew M. Butler, academic and chair of the judges, talks us through the finalists for the title of sci fi novel of the year. See all our best science fiction books.
The Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy Novels, as Chosen by Fans: the 2025 Hugo Awards, recommended by Sylvia Bishop
The Hugo Awards are an annual celebration of fantasy and sci fi work, chosen by fans. Our fantasy editor Sylvia Bishop introduces this year’s winners, with something for everyone to escape into – from the short story winner for a busy day, to the epic series for long winter evenings.
Award-Winning Sci Fi Novels of 2025, recommended by Sylvia Bishop
This year’s crop of sci fi award-winners encompasses sentient AI, lost species revival, and genetic mutations, with novels, graphic novels and novellas all scooping prizes. Our fantasy and sci fi editor Sylvia Bishop introduces the prize-winning page-turners that have taken this year’s top spots.
