Science fiction is a catch-all title for a broad genre — trying to mount a mood, a plot or a style into its frame would be futile, as the range of science fiction authors is as varied as, well, the short stories, novellas and space operas that they write. Since the days of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, science fiction writers have tried to ask “What if?” and have come up with a million different answers. Some sprinkle their stories with wit and recognisable cultural references. Others see darker themes and are acting as mine canaries, warning us of impending threats. Exploring the vast catalogue of sci-fi is an enchanting experience that is just as likely to bring hilarity to the table as horror, offering everything from the short stories of Kim Stanley Robinson to the complex world building of Robert A. Heinlein. The best science fiction is just as likely to talk of world war as it is of Martians.
The stories of Dan Simmons are different from those of Ursula K. Le Guin, which are different from the works of Iain M. Banks and China Mieville. William Gibson's cyberpunk (how good is 'Neuromancer'?) is a world away from Shelley's 'Frankenstein', but both fall under the broad spectrum of the science fiction novel. Where else will you get Mary Shelley and Larry Niven in the same conversation? In short, you can't really go wrong with a good science fiction book.
To lose yourself in science fiction is to submit to the ultimate fantasy, to imagine life just outside of our current technological capabilities, comfort zones and often our solar system, to engage in world-building and world wars without leaving the house. If you're new to the genre, choosing any of these as your first book is a very wise decision, but all must be considered must-reads and must-listens. Simply put, these are the best sci-fi audiobooks out there.
1. Alien: Out of the Shadows - Tim Lebbon, Dirk Maggs
Tim Lebbon is an author specialising in horror and dark fantasy, while Dirk Maggs is best known for his pioneering work creating ‘audio movies’ thanks to his expertise in writing and production. Together they created this movie tie-in that’s set between Alien and Alien 2, where Ripley is escaping an alien outbreak. These aren't cuddly Martians, to say the least, inhabitants of a new world that might not be to everyone's enjoyment.
The dialogue is supplemented with sound effects and music, and listeners will recognise the dearly departed Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner, Sin City), as well as Matthew Lewis, Kathryn Drysdale and many other huge talents. It’s essential listening for fans of the Alien universe and the tension of that seemingly-cursed spaceship. This recording has received no small amount of plaudits, particularly for its handling of suspense and horror – exactly what made the movies so iconic. Perfect for those looking for the best science fiction, not so great for those dreaming of becoming an astronaut. This Audible original is either perfect for a road trip or the complete opposite, but that's sort of how science fiction works.
Alien: Out of the Shadows [Recovered Footage]
2. H.G. Wells: The Science Fiction Collection - H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells is often described as being the founder of science fiction and it’s not without reason. There was no such thing as ‘time travel’ before his 1895 book gave us the time machine and it’s hard to imagine a time before an ‘invisible man’. If it works in sci-fi, Wells more than likely had a hand in creating it, from dystopia to cyberpunk via everything in between. But such was Wells’ genius and imagination that these concepts have become part of our everyday vernacular, ideas and tropes that no longer seem to exist in the fictional outer reaches of the solar system.
This collection presents The War of the Worlds (read by David Tennant), The First Men in the Moon (Alexander Vlahos), The Time Machine (Hugh Bonneville), The Invisible Man (Sophie Okonedo) and The Island of Dr Moreau (Jason Isaacs). Classic works, superb actors and inspired performances. You’ll enjoy listening as much as they did reading. If you're looking for an education in the history and evolution of sci-fi writers, starting with H.G. Wells is a must. This is as comprehensive a collection of the best science fiction as you're going to find.
H.G. Wells: The Science Fiction Collection - Behind the Scenes
3. Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
Ben Aaronovitch cut his sci-fi teeth writing spin-off fiction of Doctor Who and Blake’s 7, but it was his 2011 sci-fi novel, Rivers of London, that catapulted him into the firmament of the genre. It also spawned ten more stories and counting. Audiences love the mix of fantasy and humour and are captivated by the fact that this could all be happening around us in our everyday urban lives. Contemporary dystopian science fiction writing doesn't get much better than this.
PC Peter Grant is a masterpiece of characterisation, with enough wit to get him through any encounter with vampires, spirits and other fantastical entities. This audiobook version by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Mary Poppins Returns, Paddington 2) is Crimefest Award-nominated, thanks to the narrator’s ability to get the tone of the stories so perfect, a perfect introduction for first-time science fiction explorers.
4. The War of the Worlds: The Musical Drama - H.G. Wells, Jeff Wayne
H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds has been pivotal in the story of audio fiction, from Orson Welles’ 1938 broadcast that made Americans panic, to Jeff Wayne’s masterful prog-rock treatment. Richard Burton and David Essex helped it to become one of the best selling albums of all time, the least that this most famous of science fiction novels deserves.
Now the story of the Martians invading Great Britain has been re-recorded by Audible, with Michael Sheen, Taron Egerton, Theo James, Adrian Edmondson and Anna-Marie Wayne at the microphone, with Wayne’s splendid songs and music driving the story along. The result is an audio treat that sounds both refreshingly new and respectfully classic. With talent like this, it was always going to be a triumph. One of the best fantasy audiobooks out there? You better believe it.
The War of the Worlds: The Musical Drama - Behind the Scenes
5. Valkyrie - Craig Alanson
Valkyrie is named for Odin’s servants who guide slain warriors to the afterlife in Norse mythology. In Craig Alanson’s 9th book of the Expeditionary Force audiobooks, you’ll find out why. Listeners familiar with the series will know the backstory – Earth’s last survivors trying to defeat alien invaders as they buccaneer their way around the known universe.
But here there’s perhaps a sense that the tables are turning, although, with a foe so all-powerful, nothing is certain. The series has garnered uncountable devotees of Alanson’s witty sci-fi mastery, and R.C. Bray – a multi-award winning narration maestro – conducts the story with all the sardonic breathlessness it deserves. If you’ve not discovered Alanson's sci-fi books and the Expeditionary Force stories, you really need to catch up. Fans of the We Are Legion series will find plenty to enjoy in this Audible favourite.
6. The Chemist - Stephenie Meyer
Listeners of a certain age will know the name Stephenie Meyer from her New York Times bestseller Twilight stories, which brought to life a whole new genre of vampire romance. Now she’s writing adult thrillers, and has followed up The Host with The Chemist. It tells the tale of Alex (not her real name, and subject to change), an ex-government interrogator who could get anything out of anyone with her potent mix of chemical compounds.
But now she’s on the run from her former employers after their professional relationship…well, let’s say it lost some of its chemistry. The Chemist is read by Ellen Archer, one of the audiobook world’s most sought-after narrators, and for very good reason. If you already love the author, you’re going to adore this new venture. J.K. Rowling successfully made the leap between genres, and it looks like Meyer has done the same, keeping toes dipped in the waters of the science fiction novel.
7. Doctor Who: The Pirate Planet - Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams left us far too soon in 2001, but his body of work remains astounding in scope and in the sheer quality of his craft. Alongside his celebrated Hitchhiker’s Guide books, he also wrote Doctor Who stories The Pirate Planet, City of Death and Shada, and became the show’s script editor in 1979. When it comes to the pantheon of science fiction authors, Douglas Adams is up there with Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick and the very best.
Listening in the present day, it’s unmistakably clear who the author is – it was always important to Adams to inject plenty of humour and philosophy, sideways looks and memorable characters into his stories of Earth and decidedly not-Earth. It takes someone with impeccable timing to narrate these masterpieces, so it’s over to Jon Culshaw, who has been making us laugh for decades on Spitting Image, Dead Ringers and Newzoids, among many other shows.
8. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
It’s hard to believe Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale is more than 30 years old because it has been a cultural constant ever since. The 2017 TV series introduced this story of a miserable dystopia in the near future to a whole new audience, and it has gained unstoppable traction through its association with the #MeToo movement, thanks to its stark representation of womanhood and the harsh reality of being a young woman, not to mention the perilous position of morality in the modern United States.
If you’ve only seen the show, or are only tangentially aware of the central message for the human race at the heart of the story, the original deserves a listen, so you can judge for yourself whether Atwood sits alongside George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Octavia Butler and Ray Bradbury as a prophet, a social critic, a peerless storyteller or (as seems most likely) all three rolled into one. Elisabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, Amy Landecker and Ann Dowd capture the despondent mood perfectly in their powerfully low-key performances. The Handmaid's Tale is one of the most important science fiction books ever made, and it takes on new life in this authoritative and eloquent rendition.
9. Dune - Frank Herbert
The Dune series made Frank Herbert a household name in the 1960s, winning him a Hugo Award, a Nebula Award and giving birth to stories and tropes that have proved popular outside the world of science fiction fanatics. Its immense plot takes place over millennia and explores planetary travel, evolution, the survival of humanity and the ecological stewardship of the places humans settle on.
Every one of these subjects has remained a hot topic and yet they somehow feel even more relevant today. The series inspired spin-off books, comics, graphic novels, TV shows and a 1984 David Lynch film adaptation (available on Amazon Prime). The audiobook series has a number of hugely talented narrators, including Scott Brick and Simon Vance, two of the art form’s true stars.
10. Doing Time - Jodi Taylor
Devoted sci-fi fans will be familiar with Jodi Taylor’s best loved series of stories, The Chronicles of St Mary’s, which have more than twenty titles and follow St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research as they time-hop through history to investigate major events. Doing Time is a spin-off from the series, focusing on the Time Police, an organisation whose job it is to make sure time travellers don’t mess up the continuum of time, now that the technology is there for all to use.
If you’ve already listened to more than a couple of Jodi Taylor audiobooks, you’ll almost certainly have listened to Zara Ramm, one of the best interpreters of Taylor’s unique view of the human condition. Doing Time, along with the Chronicles stories, is a respectful – and amusing – nod to the genius of H.G. Wells, instrumental in putting the idea of stepping through time into the public consciousness.
For more sci-fi inspiration, you can find all of our sci-fi articles here. Or you can check out our extensive collection of sci-fi titles here, with more from the authors above along with other iconic science fiction writers such as Anne McCaffrey, Andy Weir (Artemis, stunningly narrated by Rosario Dawson)and Neal Stephenson. You'll also find legendary titles like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Fahrenheit 451, The Left Hand of Darkness and Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game series, along with excellent audiobook performances by Wil Wheaton (Ernest Cline's Ready Player One), Tim Gerard Reynolds (Pierce Brown's Red Rising), Ray Porter (Dennis E. Taylor's We Are Legion: We Are Bob) and Stephen Fry. Who doesn't love Stephen Fry?.
