Best New Sci-Fi Books of 2022
From time-bending stories and genetic engineering to alien mysteries and a world transformed by climate change, 2022 offered science-fiction readers plenty to explore. Whether you’re after a thoughtful literary novel or a fast-paced adventure, these are some of the year’s most memorable new sci-fi books.
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Moving between a forest in 1912, a moon colony in 2401 and other points in between, Sea of Tranquility follows characters whose lives are connected by an unsettling event. Emily St. John Mandel combines time travel and speculative technology with questions about memory, art and the stories people tell themselves. It’s an elegant, accessible choice for readers who like their science fiction thoughtful and character-led.
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
This linked collection of stories begins in a near-future Arctic, where scientists uncover an ancient virus released by melting permafrost. The consequences ripple across generations, shaping lives in unexpected and sometimes heartbreaking ways. Nagamatsu’s novel blends pandemic science fiction with a larger meditation on grief, resilience and how people find meaning after catastrophe.
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler
What would it mean to encounter another intelligent species on Earth? Ray Nayler explores that question through the discovery of unusually capable octopuses, alongside storylines involving artificial intelligence, corporate power and a remote island. Atmospheric and idea-rich, the novel is a strong pick for readers interested in marine life, consciousness and the ethical consequences of scientific discovery.
Upgrade by Blake Crouch
Blake Crouch brings his trademark pace to a thriller about genetic engineering. When Logan Ramsay is exposed to a technology that alters his genome, his intelligence and physical abilities begin to change. But the transformation raises a troubling question: if humanity could be improved, who should decide what “improvement” means? Upgrade is a gripping option for readers who like their science fiction packed with action and moral dilemmas.
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
For a lighter read, try this lively adventure about a secret organisation that protects enormous creatures in an alternate dimension. Jamie Gray takes a job transporting supplies and discovers that the animals in question are far bigger — and more dangerous — than expected. Fast-moving, funny and full of monster-movie spirit, it’s an entertaining change of pace from more serious dystopian fiction.
Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty
Mallory Viridian has spent years avoiding murder mysteries: wherever she goes, she seems to attract them. Hoping to escape her reputation on Earth, she moves to a space station inhabited by aliens. Naturally, a killing soon complicates matters. This first instalment in the Midsolar Murders series mixes a locked-room-style mystery with space opera and a wry sense of humour.
The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
In this science-fiction mystery, wealthy newlyweds Amber and her husband, the retired detective Tesla, are travelling aboard a luxury interplanetary liner when a murder takes place. With Tesla under suspicion, Amber must investigate among the ship’s passengers. Inspired in part by classic detective fiction, The Spare Man combines a whodunnit with a vivid vision of life among the stars.
Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The third book in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time series takes readers to a planet where a human colony appears to have survived against the odds. But the world is not quite what it seems. The novel builds on the series’ fascination with evolution, intelligence and what makes a civilisation, while offering a strange new mystery for returning readers. It can be read on its own, though the earlier books provide useful context.
Which 2022 sci-fi book should you read first?
- For literary, time-bending science fiction: Sea of Tranquility.
- For an emotional, far-reaching story: How High We Go in the Dark.
- For big ideas about intelligence: The Mountain in the Sea.
- For a fast-paced techno-thriller: Upgrade.
- For fun and adventure: The Kaiju Preservation Society.
- For mystery in space: Station Eternity or The Spare Man.
- For an expansive series: Children of Memory.
These books show just how varied contemporary science fiction can be. Whether you’re drawn to plausible technology, distant worlds, alien life or mysteries among the stars, 2022 has a novel to suit your next reading list. Publication dates can vary between countries and editions, so check your local bookseller or library for availability.
7 of the Best New Sci-Fi Books of 2022 to Add to Your Reading List
- Try *Sea of Tranquility* by Emily St John Mandel for an elegant time-travel mystery.
- Pick *The Mountain in the Sea* by Ray Nayler for thoughtful first-contact fiction.
- Read *Upgrade* by Blake Crouch for a fast-paced genetic-engineering thriller.
- Choose *The Kaiju Preservation Society* by John Scalzi for a witty monster adventure.
- Give *The Spare Man* by Mary Robinette Kowal a go for a cosy murder mystery in space.
- Explore *The Daughter of Doctor Moreau* by Silvia Moreno-Garcia for a gothic science-fiction reimagining.
- Read *How High We Go in the Dark* by Sequoia Nagamatsu for an inventive, moving pandemic-era novel.
Try *Sea of Tranquility* by Emily St John Mandel for an elegant time-travel mystery.
For an elegant time-travel mystery, try Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. Spanning centuries and moving between Earth and a lunar colony, the novel follows characters linked by a strange event that may point to a glitch in reality. Thoughtful and beautifully written, it blends speculative intrigue with reflections on memory, art and human connection.
Pick *The Mountain in the Sea* by Ray Nayler for thoughtful first-contact fiction.
For thoughtful first-contact fiction, pick *The Mountain in the Sea* by Ray Nayler. Set against the discovery of remarkably intelligent octopuses, the novel explores what it means to communicate with another species—and whether humans are prepared to recognise intelligence on its own terms. With its atmospheric setting and ideas about consciousness, technology and the natural world, it’s an absorbing choice for readers who enjoy science fiction that leaves them thinking.
Read *Upgrade* by Blake Crouch for a fast-paced genetic-engineering thriller.
For a fast-paced genetic-engineering thriller, pick up Upgrade by Blake Crouch. When Logan Ramsay is exposed to a technology that alters his genome, his mind and body begin to change — but the potential benefits come with unsettling consequences. Packed with suspense and thought-provoking questions about who gets to decide what counts as human “improvement”, it’s an exciting choice for readers who like their science fiction grounded in bold ideas.
Choose *The Kaiju Preservation Society* by John Scalzi for a witty monster adventure.
For a witty monster adventure, pick The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. When Jamie Gray takes a job delivering supplies, they discover that the “large animals” they’re helping to protect are enormous, Godzilla-like creatures living in another dimension. Packed with fast-paced action, playful humour and plenty of monster-movie fun, it’s an entertaining choice for readers looking for lighter science fiction.
Give *The Spare Man* by Mary Robinette Kowal a go for a cosy murder mystery in space.
Give The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal a go if you fancy a cosy murder mystery with a science-fiction twist. Set aboard a luxury spaceship, it follows newlyweds Amber and Tesla as they investigate a killing among the passengers. With its classic whodunnit feel, interplanetary setting and engaging characters, it’s a fun choice for readers who like their space adventures served with a puzzle.
Explore *The Daughter of Doctor Moreau* by Silvia Moreno-Garcia for a gothic science-fiction reimagining.
For a gothic take on classic science fiction, explore The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Inspired by H. G. Wells’s The Island of Doctor Moreau, the novel moves the story to nineteenth-century Yucatán, where Carlota grows up on her father’s isolated estate among his unsettling experiments. Blending eerie atmosphere with questions of identity, power and colonialism, it’s a compelling pick for readers seeking a richly imagined sci-fi novel from 2022.
Read *How High We Go in the Dark* by Sequoia Nagamatsu for an inventive, moving pandemic-era novel.
Read How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu for an inventive and moving take on life in the wake of a pandemic. Beginning with the discovery of an ancient virus in the Arctic, the novel follows a cast of characters across generations as they face loss, change and an uncertain future. Its interconnected stories blend speculative science with warmth and humour, making it a thoughtful choice for readers looking for science fiction that is both imaginative and deeply human.