Space sci-fi gives authors a chance to explore mysteries on an epic scale. These five science fiction novels were all written in 2025 and include alien planets, intelligent spaceships, and dynamic characters. Many sci-fi readers dream of leaving the solar system or encountering an alien race. These space books each allow you to indulge your fantasy, and get swept along in a story where the fate of the universe hangs in the balance. Not only do they have all the essentials that make a great sci-fi book, they also have the essential of any great book – they’re well written, with relatable characters, human or otherwise, and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
1
The Visualiser is a fast-paced science fiction novel that plunges the reader into the action right from the Prologue. An alien star has turned dark and triggered an intergalactic war. Alex Porath is called on to create a visualisation with a powerful message of peace. Can he stop the ultimate weapon being launched before it destroys our whole dimension? Opening paragraph: As the Defence Cruiser launched its first missile, JAG knew she was doomed. A second, then a third projectile followed. Soon the space between them was full of rapidly approaching dots screaming at her sensors. What makes it different? A space adventure with incredible world building and memorable characters. A lot of space operas contain war on an immense scale, however the solution pursued is normally to kill the bad guys. The goal of Alex, the Visualiser, is to change the alien's beliefs, so they become peaceful. This is particularly challenging, as he's currently being hunted by them. This creates a dynamic story with plenty of mystery.
2
Outcasts Oath is about a crew of misfits onboard an AI spaceship that's struggling too. In order to escape an alien doomsday cult, the crew, led by Flight Lieutenant Carter Maxwell, must unravel the mystery of why the most advanced ship ever-built, the CSS Eudoxus, vanished while on a top secret mission. Opening paragraph: The storms on the world below had raged for thousands of years, and would likely rage for thousands more. In the distant past, some unimaginable cataclysm had struck, turning what had once been a lush, vibrant ecosystem into a nightmare that would have haunted Dante. The shuttle's sensors swept the brutal landscape, hunting for the goal that had brought them here, deep into the Outmarch, a dozen light-years from the ostensible frontier. What makes it different? This fast-paced space opera has action, humour, and intrigue. Will the crew solve the mystery that sent Eudoxus and her crew into the dark, lest humanity’s fragile peace be torn asunder forever, and the shadow of war return to a battered, weary Earth?
3
Elara Morgan, a daring astrophysicist, investigates the Stellar Graveyard in 'Where the Stars Go to Die'. Driven by a haunting message from her long-lost brother, Elara joins a ragtag crew of space adventurers aboard the starship Seraphim, each member harbouring their own hidden agendas. Opening paragraph: The darkness of space was a blanket thick enough to smother the brightest of hopes, yes, in that vast expanse, a glimmer of light pierced through the void. Elara Morgan stood on the observation deck of the Astrophysics Research Station, he gaze fixed on the swirling nebulae and distant stars that twinkled like scattered diamonds across an endless expanse. What makes it different? With emotional depth and memorable characters, Where the Stars Go to Die follows Elara and her team as they journey deep into uncharted darkness, facing cosmic wonders and unimaginable dangers. Will she uncover the secrets of the stars before they disappear forever, or will she become just another ghost in the void?
4
An action-packed military space opera featuring explosive space battles and heroes worth rooting for. Major Ethan Irons thought surviving Earth's near-extinction event was the pinnacle of disaster, but when the remnants of humanity are catapulted into a galactic conflict beyond their wildest nightmares, he's plunged into an unimaginable odyssey. Opening paragraph: My name is Major Ethans Irons. Former Marine. Current space fighter pilot. And as of five minutes ago, the last human being still alive in the entire galaxy. What makes it different? A fast paced sci-fi adventure with a great cast of characters and a delightfully snarky A.I. Armed with nothing but his wits, a sardonic AI companion, and unlikely alliances with enigmatic alien species, Ethan Irons must navigate the treacherous waters of intergalactic politics and warfare. Can Ethan and his ragtag band of survivors rekindle the flame of hope for humanity?
5
While Alien Clay was published in 2024, rather than 2025, a list of sci-fi space books wouldn't be complete without mentioning Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky. Alien Clay is a far-future epic in which a political prisoner must unlock the secrets of a strange and dangerous planet. The planet of Kiln is where the tyrannical Mandate keeps its prison colony, and for inmates, the journey there is always a one-way trip. One such prisoner is Professor Arton Daghdev, xeno-ecologist and political dissident. Soon after arrival, he discovers that Kiln has a secret. Humanity is not the first intelligent life to set foot there. Opening paragraph: They say never start a story with a waking, but when you've been hard asleep for thirty years it's difficult to know where else to begin. What makes it different? With a world of mind-boggling complexity and an incredible cast of characters, Alien Clay is set in the midst of a ravenous, chaotic ecosystem. Can Arton Daghdev survive both the harsh rule of the camp commandant and the alien horrors of the world around him? If he succeeds, he might make a discovery that will transform not only Kiln, but distant Earth as well.
1
The Visualiser is a fast-paced science fiction novel that plunges the reader into the action right from the Prologue. An alien star has turned dark and triggered an intergalactic war. Alex Porath is called on to create a visualisation with a powerful message of peace. Can he stop the ultimate weapon being launched before it destroys our whole dimension? Opening paragraph: As the Defence Cruiser launched its first missile, JAG knew she was doomed. A second, then a third projectile followed. Soon the space between them was full of rapidly approaching dots screaming at her sensors. What makes it different? A space adventure with incredible world building and memorable characters. A lot of space operas contain war on an immense scale, however the solution pursued is normally to kill the bad guys. The goal of Alex, the Visualiser, is to change the alien's beliefs, so they become peaceful. This is particularly challenging, as he's currently being hunted by them. This creates a dynamic story with plenty of mystery.
2
Outcasts Oath is about a crew of misfits onboard an AI spaceship that's struggling too. In order to escape an alien doomsday cult, the crew, led by Flight Lieutenant Carter Maxwell, must unravel the mystery of why the most advanced ship ever-built, the CSS Eudoxus, vanished while on a top secret mission. Opening paragraph: The storms on the world below had raged for thousands of years, and would likely rage for thousands more. In the distant past, some unimaginable cataclysm had struck, turning what had once been a lush, vibrant ecosystem into a nightmare that would have haunted Dante. The shuttle's sensors swept the brutal landscape, hunting for the goal that had brought them here, deep into the Outmarch, a dozen light-years from the ostensible frontier. What makes it different? This fast-paced space opera has action, humour, and intrigue. Will the crew solve the mystery that sent Eudoxus and her crew into the dark, lest humanity’s fragile peace be torn asunder forever, and the shadow of war return to a battered, weary Earth?
3
Elara Morgan, a daring astrophysicist, investigates the Stellar Graveyard in 'Where the Stars Go to Die'. Driven by a haunting message from her long-lost brother, Elara joins a ragtag crew of space adventurers aboard the starship Seraphim, each member harbouring their own hidden agendas. Opening paragraph: The darkness of space was a blanket thick enough to smother the brightest of hopes, yes, in that vast expanse, a glimmer of light pierced through the void. Elara Morgan stood on the observation deck of the Astrophysics Research Station, he gaze fixed on the swirling nebulae and distant stars that twinkled like scattered diamonds across an endless expanse. What makes it different? With emotional depth and memorable characters, Where the Stars Go to Die follows Elara and her team as they journey deep into uncharted darkness, facing cosmic wonders and unimaginable dangers. Will she uncover the secrets of the stars before they disappear forever, or will she become just another ghost in the void?
4
An action-packed military space opera featuring explosive space battles and heroes worth rooting for. Major Ethan Irons thought surviving Earth's near-extinction event was the pinnacle of disaster, but when the remnants of humanity are catapulted into a galactic conflict beyond their wildest nightmares, he's plunged into an unimaginable odyssey. Opening paragraph: My name is Major Ethans Irons. Former Marine. Current space fighter pilot. And as of five minutes ago, the last human being still alive in the entire galaxy. What makes it different? A fast paced sci-fi adventure with a great cast of characters and a delightfully snarky A.I. Armed with nothing but his wits, a sardonic AI companion, and unlikely alliances with enigmatic alien species, Ethan Irons must navigate the treacherous waters of intergalactic politics and warfare. Can Ethan and his ragtag band of survivors rekindle the flame of hope for humanity?
5
While Alien Clay was published in 2024, rather than 2025, a list of sci-fi space books wouldn't be complete without mentioning Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky. Alien Clay is a far-future epic in which a political prisoner must unlock the secrets of a strange and dangerous planet. The planet of Kiln is where the tyrannical Mandate keeps its prison colony, and for inmates, the journey there is always a one-way trip. One such prisoner is Professor Arton Daghdev, xeno-ecologist and political dissident. Soon after arrival, he discovers that Kiln has a secret. Humanity is not the first intelligent life to set foot there. Opening paragraph: They say never start a story with a waking, but when you've been hard asleep for thirty years it's difficult to know where else to begin. What makes it different? With a world of mind-boggling complexity and an incredible cast of characters, Alien Clay is set in the midst of a ravenous, chaotic ecosystem. Can Arton Daghdev survive both the harsh rule of the camp commandant and the alien horrors of the world around him? If he succeeds, he might make a discovery that will transform not only Kiln, but distant Earth as well.
© Five Books 2025
