The most recommended interstellar travel books

Who picked these books? Meet our 191 experts.

191 authors created a book list connected to interstellar travel, and here are their favorite interstellar travel books.
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Book cover of Path of Destruction: A Novel of the Old Republic

Timothy A. Terra Author Of Aska

From Timothy's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Timothy's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Timothy A. Terra Why did Timothy love this book?

A good old story of an underdog rising against the odds and learning all he can to survive the challenges thrown at his life. I enjoyed this story a lot for the gripping plot and for the author facing full-on the ruthlessness of historical times, especially when it came to those in power.

By Drew Karpyshyn,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Path of Destruction as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Once the Sith order teemed with followers. But their rivalries divided them in endless battles for supremacy. Until one dark lord at last united the Sith in the quest to enslave the galaxy–and exterminate the Jedi. Yet it would fall to another, far more powerful than the entire Brotherhood of Darkness, to ultimately realize the full potential of the Sith, and wield the awesome power of the dark side as never before.

Since childhood, Dessel has known only the abuse of his hateful father and the dangerous, soul-crushing labor of a cortosis miner. Deep in the tunnels of the desolate…


Book cover of Wreck of the Nebula Dream

Pauline Baird Jones Author Of Relatively Risky

From my list on thrilling, chilling, romantic, blush-free reads.

Why am I passionate about this?

I feel like I’ve read all of my life—though I know at some point someone had to teach me—but stories and storytelling are in my DNA. The first four books were my writing “primers.” I learned more about storytelling from them than any how-to book. They also fueled my passion to write in different genres. You will notice the words “blush free” in some of my recommendations. That is because I love well-told stories that live between prim and steamy, books where I don’t have to flip past the steamy stuff to get back to the story. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

Pauline's book list on thrilling, chilling, romantic, blush-free reads

Pauline Baird Jones Why did Pauline love this book?

This recommendation is a little different from the others on my list. This “Titanic in Space” story really caught my imagination. It’s intense, romantic, and wildly believable. It does have romantic tension, but nothing steamy—the characters don’t have time or the safety for messing around. That is also another reason for my recommendation. It is an action and adventure story that includes great world-building and character interactions that make sense. I also love the author’s other books, but they aren’t blush-free. I do have to flip some pages to get past the steam. But it’s the Titanic! In space! Super fun read.

By Veronica Scott,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Wreck of the Nebula Dream as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A reimagining of the Titanic disaster set in the far future among the stars…

Traveling unexpectedly aboard the luxury liner Nebula Dream on its maiden voyage across the galaxy, space marine Captain Nick Jameson is ready for ten relaxing days, and hoping to forget his last disastrous mission behind enemy lines. He figures he’ll gamble at the casino, take in the shows, maybe even have a shipboard fling with Mara Lyrae, the beautiful but reserved businesswoman he meets.

All his plans vaporize when the ship suffers a wreck of Titanic proportions. Captain and crew abandon ship, leaving the 8000 passengers…


Book cover of Speaker for the Dead

Skyler Ramirez Author Of The Worst Ship in the Fleet

From my list on character-driven sci-fi for faith in humanity.

Why am I passionate about this?

I love sci-fi because it’s so optimistic about humanity’s future. I’m fascinated by new worlds and technologies and the vision of mankind spreading through the stars. But my favorite part about sci-fi is the freedom authors have to develop intriguing characters and let the story revolve around them and their decisions. I love it when a writer takes an imperfect person (someone I could see myself in) and shows them growing in unexpected ways and doing incredible things. That’s the theme of all my writing: no matter what we’ve done or had done to us, we can pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off, and do some good!


Skyler's book list on character-driven sci-fi for faith in humanity

Skyler Ramirez Why did Skyler love this book?

Ender Wiggin is such a fascinating and deep character. Those who read only Ender’s Game miss out on so much! I was floored when I read this second book in the series. The main character, Ender Wiggins, goes from a boy soldier trained to destroy the enemy to a grown man desperate to prevent another genocide.

I also love the idea of using relativistic travel to stay alive for millennia and witness humanity's development. Card does an excellent job of writing a deep set of characters, making us feel like we could step into their shoes if called upon.

By Orson Scott Card,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Speaker for the Dead as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'There aren't too many recent sf novels we can confidently call truly moral works, but Speaker for the Dead is one. It's a completely gripping story.' - The Toronto Star

'Achieves and delivers more than almost anything else within the science fiction genre, Ender's Game is a contemporary classic' - New York Times on Ender's Game

A FALLEN HERO - HAUNTED BY HIS PAST, BUT CAN HE CHANGE THE FUTURE?

Ender Wiggin was once considered a great military leader, a saviour for mankind.
But now history judges his destruction of an alien race as monstrous rather than heroic.

In the…


Book cover of Dark Orbit

Richard Sparks Author Of New Rock, New Role

From Richard's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Adventurer Humorist Recovering RPG addict Banjo player

Richard's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Richard Sparks Why did Richard love this book?

I met Carolyn Ives Gilman at Norwescon in Seattle. She was reading New Rock New Role, and enjoying it. We bonded over all things writerly. By the time I bumped into her again at Worldcon in Glasgow I had read Dark Orbit. It starts off seemingly as a classic deep space mission, but soon morphs into something quite magical. I found it a very successful blend of SF and F -- a feat that is by no means easy to pull off. Without giving spoilers, what the explorers encounter is really quite charming.

Book cover of Embers of War

Michael Shotter Author Of Shards

From my list on speculative fiction universes.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always firmly believed that, being an all-encompassing genre, speculative fiction represents nearly everything I love about writing and storytelling. I’m therefore very proud to have established myself in that world over the past several years and hope to positively impact others in the way I’ve been positively impacted by the sorts of works I’ve mentioned here.

Michael's book list on speculative fiction universes

Michael Shotter Why did Michael love this book?

This book’s charming combination of sentient spaceships, quirky and interesting alien races, a touch of horror, and a rag-tag group of main characters thrust into a do-or-die situation apparently way beyond their respective abilities pushed a lot of my buttons in all the right ways.

Thus, this series has become another fast favorite of mine. I often recommend it to new science-fiction readers as I feel it’s a near-perfect introduction to the “space opera” sub-genre.

By Gareth L. Powell,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Embers of War as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From BSFA Award winning author Gareth L. Powell comes the first in a new epic sci-fi trilogy exploring the legacies of war The sentient warship Trouble Dog was built for violence, yet following a brutal war, she is disgusted by her role in a genocide. Stripped of her weaponry and seeking to atone, she joins the House of Reclamation, an organisation dedicated to rescuing ships in distress. When a civilian ship goes missing in a disputed system, Trouble Dog and her new crew of loners, captained by Sal Konstanz, are sent on a rescue mission.

Meanwhile, light years away, intelligence…


Book cover of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars

Cassandra Lynn King Author Of Peak of the Panthers

From my list on helping you escape reality.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have loved reading since I was very young, and would bring home an armful of books from the library. I first discovered the dystopian genre while in junior high, and it quickly became my favorite genre. My favorite aspect of dystopias is the new world created within each book. When I began writing my own stories, I spent several hours building the world within my book. Even today, nearly 20 years after I first began writing, I spend hours drawing and designing everything within each book, whether or not it’s dystopian. My hope is that my readers find my worlds as fascinating as I found the worlds of the stories on my list!

Cassandra's book list on helping you escape reality

Cassandra Lynn King Why did Cassandra love this book?

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a bold, futuristic epic that immediately sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go. Starting on the far-off world of Adrasteia, the story follows Kira across the galaxy after she mistakenly walks into an interstellar war. Paolini perfectly paints this fantastical story, leaving you desperate for more. Having read Eragon at a young age, I wasn’t expecting Paolini to write this genre, but I am so impressed by his work. While I’d recommend any of his books, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is my new favorite. His world-building is amazing and wildly entertaining!

By Christopher Paolini,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked To Sleep in a Sea of Stars as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Now a New York Times and USA Today bestseller!

Winner of Best Science Fiction in the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards!

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a brand new epic novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eragon, Christopher Paolini.

Kira Navárez dreamed of life on new worlds.

Now she's awakened a nightmare.

During a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet, Kira finds an alien relic. At first she's delighted, but elation turns to terror when the ancient dust around her begins to move.

As war erupts among the stars, Kira is launched into a…


Book cover of Aurora

Larry Haley Author Of Escape To Cadrius: Life and Philosophy in a Distant Future

From my list on explore strange worlds and new societies.

Why am I passionate about this?

When I look at the challenges our world faces, I find myself imagining how things could be better. For years, I've been captivated by the solutions that could bring about a better future. Through science fiction, especially in the books on this list, I seek out visions of better societies and ideas that could help shape a more hopeful world.

Larry's book list on explore strange worlds and new societies

Larry Haley Why did Larry love this book?

This is a captivating and thought-provoking novel set on a multi-generation starship traveling to another star. Robinson skillfully develops the characters' backgrounds and personalities.

I found the meticulous detail Robinson provides about the ship's design and operation particularly fascinating. The rotating artificial gravity, the precarious workings of the ship systems, and the ecological balance required to sustain life on the starship are described with such precision that Aurora feels like a real place.

The story takes unexpected turns, and through the struggles of the characters and the harsh realities of space colonization, he emphasizes that our home planet is irreplaceable and that it's a better choice to preserve it than to depend on the hope of life in outer space.

By Kim Stanley Robinson,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Aurora as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'What a saga! Scifi with honest, complex humanity, physics, biology, sociology' - Tom Hanks

'Aurora is a magnificent piece of writing, certainly Robinson's best novel since his mighty Mars trilogy, perhaps his best ever' - Guardian

Our voyage from Earth began generations ago.

Now, we approach our destination.

A new home.

Aurora.

Brilliantly imagined and beautifully told, Aurora is the work of a writer at the height of his powers.

'An accessible novel packed with big ideas, wonders, jeopardy and, at the end, a real emotional punch' SFX

'Aurora is Robinson's best book yet . . . Heart-wrenching, provocative' Scientific…


Book cover of So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Annemarie Musawale Author Of In the Shadow of the Styx

From my list on supernaturals who don’t sparkle in the sunlight.

Why am I passionate about this?

My name is Annemarie and I’ve been reading stories almost as soon as I was taught how to read. I’ve also been writing them. My fascination with the supernatural came about, I guess because an active imagination for a small child comes almost naturally from a fear of the dark. The dark held many terrors for me, and in a perverse contrariness, this prompted an interest in supernatural beings. As far as I’m concerned, it’s all real, and the more we know about them, the better. Or at least, that’s what I deduce from my never flagging interest, and I guess that’s why there’s always an element of the supernatural/paranormal in all my stories. 

Annemarie's book list on supernaturals who don’t sparkle in the sunlight

Annemarie Musawale Why did Annemarie love this book?

My cousin gave me this book off his bookshelf, and I thought it’d just be some funny shit. And it was very funny. But it was also original and thought provoking and kind of accurate. Dolphins aren’t technically supernatural, though…or are they?

But again, the thing that sets this book apart is the originality of the premise. Dolphins as aliens? Living on earth and just letting us feed them? I mean, come on. The plausibility of it is kind of intriguing is it not?

By Douglas Adams,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish is the fourth installment in Douglas Adams' bestselling cult classic, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 'trilogy'.

This edition includes exclusive bonus material from the Douglas Adams archives, and an introduction by Neil Gaiman.

There is a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. It's not an easy thing to do and Arthur Dent thinks he's the only human who's been able to master this nifty little trick - until he meets Fenchurch, the girl of his dreams.

Fenchurch knows how the…


Book cover of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Geoffrey Morrison Author Of Budget Travel For Dummies

From my list on inspire travel road trips to international fun.

Why am I passionate about this?

For the last decade, I’ve spent the majority of each year traveling. I’ve been to 60 countries across 6 continents and every US state. My love of travel was inspired and encouraged by my parents from a very early age. I’ve also been inspired by a wide variety of other sources, like movies, TV, photography, and, of course, books. Often, I’ll plan an adventure around a cool location I saw or read about and then just go. I’ll just show up and see what happens. All it takes is that little initial nudge, like what I found in these books.

Geoffrey's book list on inspire travel road trips to international fun

Geoffrey Morrison Why did Geoffrey love this book?

No book has had a bigger influence on me as a person or a writer than this one. I suppose a lot of hoopy froods could say the same. It’s an adventure on a galactic scale, and yet, at its core, it’s just about a guy who wants to go home and have a cup of tea.

It’s a brilliantly funny satire and full of jokes and moments I’ll never forget. All four books in the series are amazing, and I’ve re-read them countless times. The fifth and final book is a downer worth skipping. 

By Douglas Adams,

Why should I read it?

38 authors picked The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This box set contains all five parts of the' trilogy of five' so you can listen to the complete tales of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Bebblebrox and Marvin the Paranoid Android! Travel through space, time and parallel universes with the only guide you'll ever need, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Read by Stephen Fry, actor, director, author and popular audiobook reader, and Martin Freeman, who played Arthur Dent in film version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He is well known as Tim in The Office.

The set also includes a bonus DVD Life, the Universe and…


Book cover of Nyxia

Justin Doyle Author Of Embargo on Hope

From my list on space opera with a hint (or a whole lot) of magic.

Why am I passionate about this?

As an engineer for multiple space projects (including the ISS, Gateway, and commercial space), it seems like I should be a strict sci-fi person. But I love sci-fi and fantasy equally, and I love books that break through the wall between them. Especially in space opera, you can play with how much technology and how much magic shaped a world and a culture. Zooming in, that will greatly influence the characters. Some make it esoteric and exclusive, where others make it more common. All of them transport readers to magical, expansive universes.

Justin's book list on space opera with a hint (or a whole lot) of magic

Justin Doyle Why did Justin love this book?

Nyxia, the first in a young adult trilogy, introduces the reader to an Earth that has found a foreign substance called nyxia on another planet. Use of nyxia basically grants magical abilities to the user, and the more clever the user, the more capability it has. The cast is very diverse, the main character’s voice is refreshing, and the dialogue is realistic. It’s a fast, easy read with a relatable main character. And the plot only thickens as the series goes on…

By Scott Reintgen,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Nyxia as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

“A high-octane thriller . . . Nyxia grabs you from the first line and never lets go.” —Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Warcross

Every life has a price in this sci-fi thriller—the first in a trilogy—that has the nonstop action of The Maze Runner and the high-stakes space setting of Illuminae. 
 
What would you be willing to risk for a lifetime of fortune?
 
Emmett Atwater isn’t just leaving Detroit; he’s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping…


Book cover of Path of Destruction: A Novel of the Old Republic
Book cover of Wreck of the Nebula Dream
Book cover of Speaker for the Dead

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