iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Replies

John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 17/05/2026

This just in, Old Man's War is apparently perfect PERFECT I SAY Also he nine other novels on this list are okay too I guess (Go ahead and put your favorite "How could they forget [x]" in the comments, mine would be All Systems Red, we stan a Murderbot in this house) www.cbr.com/perfect-sci-...

cbr.com

The 10 Most Perfect Sci-Fi Books of the Last 25 Years, Ranked

Science fiction has increased exponentially in the last 25 years but these literary masterpieces are already considered modern classics of the genre.

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Chet @notoriouschet.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Any list that doesn’t have Banks or Reynolds on it is crap IMHO.

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Pyotr Alexeyevich Kropotkin @wilhelmgere.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

(sigh) More stuff to add to THE LIST.

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Ben Evans @bitpoet.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

“This is how you lose the time war” should have been in there somewhere.

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StanD. @standyck.com · 17/05/2026

I’d nominate Ada Palmer’s Terra Ignota series.

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Galen Strickland @templetongate.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

First off, I hate the bastardized term sci-fi. Most think it means only hard SF, but many other styles can be incorporated into speculative fiction. I would include: The Binti series by Nnedi Okorafor The Centenal Cycle by Malka Older Lady Astronaut stories by Mary Robinette Kowal

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ddouglas 💎 🇺🇦 🦋 @dd9000.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Well-deserved. Agree re Murderbot. (Will keep my disagreements to myself.)

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Carolyn Cee @supermedusa.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

huh, I have read all of these except the two Weir books. the ones I have read def deserve the mention. I would agree that the oversight on All Systems Red is problematic. I think they just need a longer list. (Baru Cormorant, A Memory Call Empire, The Space Between Worlds, I could go on...)

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bobwayne.bsky.social @bobwayne.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

There are clearly omissions here (because there has to be), but this is a great list. All of these books are absolute bangers.

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AL the editor @altheeditor.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Congrats, and well deserved. But 'most perfect'?

static.klipy.com

Twitching Dreyfus

ALT: Twitching Dreyfus

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Dana S @mapperbee.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Thye could stand to include Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh or any of the Locked Tomb books by Tamsyn Muir

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Arcturus SaDiablo @asadiablo.me · 17/05/2026

We already knew this.

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David @paddlingphotog.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Really? Nothing, absolutely nothing, by Reynolds, Morgan, or Banks? I mean, Iain M. Banks doesn't get on the list? WTF? Also, M. John Harrison.

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J. MF Grant @deadcoil.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Huh. I had to go back and check - I could have sworn OMW came out just before 2000. Nope. Time, m i rite?

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Renewable hope 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇮🇱☮️🇵🇸🏳️‍🌈 @stringofnumbers.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

How could they forget The Culture series by Iain M banks, utter travesty

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🇨🇦 Option 1 and No to the Nine. @maggiemay54.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I have read eight of the ten. Happy to see Becky Chambers Wayfarer series there. One of my all time favourites. Also, the Murderbot Diaries should have been in there as well.

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Paul Castle @sleeperpservice.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I've somehow read 5 out of the ten and thoroughly enjoyed them all especially LWTASAP. Guess i better get around to Old Man's War then.

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EchoesAndDan @dan.echoesanddust.com · 17/05/2026

That’s a pretty solid list tbh.

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Dr. Fim @fim.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I just started reading it. Its pretty good.

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Nathan Ziarek @nathan.ziarek.com · 17/05/2026

So… I have followed you for a while without knowing anything about you. One day you mentioned something about being an author & I thought “I’ll just give this up-start dude a shot” only to realize you’re famous, prolific, AND an incredible storyteller. I’ll mirror “perfect”. Got me hooked anyway.

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markwomack.bsky.social @markwomack.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

All of those books are excellent, but leaving out All Systems Red was definitely a miss. It would have taken it to 11!

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Ash on a Star✨️ @ashonastar.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

You're right that this list is missing Murderbot series but other than that, GREAT list

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Ash the cat @ashdct.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

It's a great list for sure. But no Peter Hamilton?

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RandomAnt @agnosaur.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Good list, but I like mind blowing sci-fi. Children of Time fit that bill, but also There is No Antimemetics Division more recently.

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Liz Schiller #DefundthePolice @lizzzs.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Serious recency bias in this list, and unconscionable to include two books by the same writer. Where is Bujold, Kage Baker, yes Murderbot, where the HELL is Ursula K. Le Guin? Leigh Brackett, The Stars My Destination by Bester? Ellison didn't write good novels but Zelazny? Valley? Tiptree?

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colin @coolcolin.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

No Blindsight?

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Alicia Z. Ramos @aliciazramos.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

+1000 to Murderbot

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See Reeves @seereeves.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Also. I’ve read them all. Is this where I admit I didn’t like Project Hail Mary. Or the Three Body Problem?

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See Reeves @seereeves.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Murderbot 100%. Expanse 100%. The Road. Station Eleven. Maybe: the Monk & Robot series? The Teixcalaan series? Klara and the Sun? Seveneves? Our Missing Hearts? The Memory Police? Cyber Mage?

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Just Jocelyne @jocelyne.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

I did enjoy several of these books (I think Robert Sawyer is missing) but there’s a lot of dudes on this list. That said, I’m more on the fantasy edge of the spectrum so maybe my expectations are skewed towards a little more representation.

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Simon Craven @simoncraven.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

What I will add, as I approach completion of a big re-listen of the entire series on audiobook, is that the audio performances are pretty much perfect too

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Doug Merrill 🌻 @bagatsen.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Cloud Atlas is in there as the multi-genre, linked-narrative bit of mindbending metafiction, and it's a terrific book, no argument. But the book that takes that approach and dials it all up to 11 is Gnomon by Nick Harkaway. It is the bee's knees, the cat's meow, and the whole & entire enchilada.

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Michael Baudis @mbaudis.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I check 9 out of 10 as read (and yes, Murderbot would be a worth while addition). Missing: Tim Maughan’s “Infinite Detail”. And stuff by M. John Harrison.

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Chris Taylor @chrtay.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space series should be on this list.

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susieb451.bsky.social @susieb451.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

ps Also loved Memory Called Empire

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susieb451.bsky.social @susieb451.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I adore the Old Man's War series, the Radch Empire series, the Wayfarers and Murderbot. Always in the market for more character and idea-based sci-fi (as opposed to "hard sci-fi") and fantasy, and very keen to receive good recommendations!

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Muncha @munchadow.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I feel almost personally attacked by the lack of Kameron Hurley in that listo (especially the Light Brigade)

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Steam Powered Cthulhu @lostshadows.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I'm sure they made a good case for all their choices, but I've dnfed two of their "perfect" books

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hbthayer.bsky.social @hbthayer.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Station Eleven And Murderbot, of course

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Jess @jessilin79.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I'm glad they mentioned Wayfarers. Becky Chambers books are like my church.

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Michelle @rolandsmimi.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Haven’t read Old Man’s War yet but absolutely loved Starter Villain. My cat has a mythical name “Buffy”. Can’t believe that killer dolphins were in the news just after I read it.

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Simon Wolfe @sgwolfeauthor.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Lee and Miller’s Liaden books are excellent space opera. Their best ones were too early, but Trade Secret is good in in the correct time frame.

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bjkeefe @bjkeefe.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I'd add "Saturn Run" by @johnsandford.bsky.social and Ctien to the list. Amazing how an author who writes my favorite police procedurals also wrote about the best SF book I've ever read, just like that.

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papierabreisser.bsky.social @papierabreisser.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

- Seveneves by Neal Stephenson - Delta-v & Critical Mass by Daniel Suarez (also: Daemon & Darknet are great!) - The Expanse by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck - really anything by Andreas Brandhorst Honorable mentions: - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - The Nexus Trilogy by Ramez Naam

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Josh “Please Ask To Read My Novel” Berman @boshthejerm.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

City in the middle of the night is a glaring omission

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J Alan Williams @jaredwill.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Seeing The Three-Body Problem on so many best of lists makes me disliking it feel like a personal failure. I would add The Interdependancy Trilogy to this list.

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cfales.bsky.social @cfales.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Wool by Hugh Howey

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Dr. Joe Sarsero, PhD @joesarsero.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

I’ve literally read every book/series in the article except one, which I’ve now added to my TBR list. I would include the Bobiverse series by Dennis E Taylor.

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Llarian @llarian.net · 17/05/2026

The Expanse would be the top of my list of omissions. All Systems Red is right up there though.

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Jonathan @jpevarnek.net · 18/05/2026

As much as I love the rhetorical flourish of "more perfect union" and such, it bothers me that the article is implying there are many more perfect books that just aren't quite as perfect as these ten. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN‽‽‽

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Rose Fortune @rosethingamajig.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Just clicked through to make sure they had The Fifth Season on there, but they do, so no arguments from me.

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I Like Birds @i-like-birds.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Alastair Reynolds was f'ing robbed!

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Coinneach Spookybaldguy Fitzpatrick @coinfitz.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Stross' Eschaton series, except that he wrote himself into a corner with the ReMastered (his take, not mine).

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Dovaskus-the-Krys @dovaskus.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

It really is though

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Diana @dianakdesign.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Agree about Murderbot, also I'm so glad to see Becky Chambers on the list. I loved the entire Wayfarers series, but The Galaxy and the Ground Within was especially touching and wonderful.

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kaybaer.bsky.social @kaybaer.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Honestly, I’m kind of surprised that Old Man’s War hasn’t been picked up by Amazon or Hulu for a miniseries yet.

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Tony Fisk @arfisk.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I must confess I haven't read a lot of SF recently, so am no authority. Still, David Brin's Existence is worth a nod. This serious attempt to cover the question 'Where is everybody?' incorporates several of his earlier short stories, but contains enough new material to merit consideration.

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JackMcgraw 🇨🇦 @redmcgraw.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Station Eleven too

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Joan @finishflag.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky The City & the City by China Mieville

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Testaroscia @testaroscia.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I have read all except one , and except for Ancillery justice loved all of them. I would remove Jemesin, not because it isn't an awsome 5 star book but because i do not consider it SciFi. In its place i would put Seveneves as Banks is over 25 years. Murderbot is very cvery deserving

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Scott Armitage @astroscott.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

When they say “most perfect”, do they mean “closest to being perfect”? Or are they being ranked on their “transfinite perfectness”?

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The Mighty Quinn - Looking for a local ANTIFA unit to join @buffaloquinn.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Congratulations!

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Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes? @cronencrown.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

1st: Congrats! Well deserved, imo 2nd: since they apparently haven't been mentioned - Marko Kloos "Terms of Enlistment" (Frontlines series) and Joel Shepherd "Renegade" (Spiral Wars series)

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Jacob Pooter @flooterpooter.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I meeeaaaaan it started off with Ancillary Justice so I can be peaceful in these comments

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Marijo Cook @marijocook.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Perhaps just for the novel tone, I'd suggest @older.bsky.social 's "The Mimicking of Known Successes". Very SF, but also very different from the usual.

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Nick The Time Miser @nscottg.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I'd also argue your Lock-In novels are pretty solid sci-fi , ALSO both books are self-contained, so franchise optional

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👻Kennedy reads spooky books @kennedy-reading.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

The Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal and Sea of Rust by C Robert Cargill should be on this list.

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Ioana Patringenaru @ioanapatrin.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin, or the Dispossessed

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Rosewind @rosewind.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Where is All Systems Red and the rest of The Murderbot Diaires? We also seriously stan Murderbot* in this house *and its humans and augmented humans

Me holding All Systems Red by Martha Wells

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Paweł Ausir Dembowski @ausir.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

I've only read the first Old Man's War book, maybe I'll catch up on the series thanks to the Hugo packet

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Eerookah @eerookah.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Snow Crash still makes my list.

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Rivikah @rivikah.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Two Andy Weir books, but no Murderbot and no Memory Called Empire? I have a beef with this list-maker.

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…. Meep …. WDW vacation mode go for November @coaster-fan.dissky.com · 17/05/2026

Awesome!

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Foggy @fogbow-foggy.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Wow, congrats, John. Perfect!

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Rick Cowling @rickcowling.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

All very good choices but it’s a shame there’s nothing a bit older. 🤔 Three particular favourites of my own is Descent of Anansi by Larry Niven, Earth by David Brin and The Forever War by Joe Haldeman.

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El Spotto @spotto.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Yours is perfect and Caitlin ordered a second set for her shop when I ordered tree copies. But while I enjoyed them, Wier, Tchaikovsky, and Liu are all a feedback loop on any sci-fi forum. People want EVERYTHING to be like them. Project Hail Mary being there because the movie was popular? 😂🤣

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JZS @jzsamm.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Just saw this- thank you for sharing. They did a pretty good job. Definite at the top of my list- Ancillary Justice, OMW and The Martian. But leaving out Murderbot Diaries?? What were they thinking?

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RedPlaidGoose 🇨🇦 @redplaidgoose.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I'm gonna offer up Marko Kloos' Frontlines series, imho he does not get enough flowers for this work

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alifeinretail.bsky.social @alifeinretail.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

All Systems Red is a glaring omission. But glad you made the list

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Tana @tanalam.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Congratulations! 🎉

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StuartStories @stuartstories.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I guess I should reread this, then. TBH I thought it was pre-2000.

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grt97pg.bsky.social @grt97pg.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Honestly, it’s one of my favourite sci-fi books! Read the whole series

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bluewren63.bsky.social @bluewren63.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Love all of these I’ve read plus now I have a few more for my tbr. I’d also add The Space between Worlds by Michaela Johnson. Remarkable world building with some astonishing twists!

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Samuel Day Wharton @fakeourway.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

A Memory Called Empire?

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Korowjew @korowjew.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Where is Spin by Robert Charles Wilson? It has to be on this list.

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The Commissioner @ffkl.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Pleased to say I’ve read every book on the list and they were all great.

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Lance Haig @lhaig.haigmail.com · 17/05/2026

I just loved the book

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Erik Squarebear @erik-squarebear.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

No shade on any of the books but damn does CBR have a problem with over-using superlatives (sometimes arguably undeserved) in their headlines.

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SharonSB @sharonsb.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

I think I just added a bunch of books to my reading list from this thread! Nice!!!

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mxhrad @mxhrad.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Haven’t read annihilation or fifth season. Loved everything else on the list. So, looks like I got two more books to read.

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nowimnothing.bsky.social @nowimnothing.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

If I just focus on the last few years, I might add We Are Legion, and, depending on how broad you paint with the sci-brush, then The Book That Wouldn't Burn.

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StarGrid @stargrid2.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

How no one is playing playstargrid i would add

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Mnem @mnemonicer.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Embassytown needs to be on the list.

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globelimper.bsky.social @globelimper.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Well Murderbot obvs, also The Peripheral by @greatdismal.bsky.social. Am I allowed to say I prefer The Collapsing Empire to OMW?

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Kathryn @katkyns.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

So glad that some of the #booktok pushed SF has not appeared on this list.

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Paulo Candido @paulocandido.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

The four last books in the Culture series were published this century, Ian Banks should definitely be on this list.

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K* Smith @ksmithmi.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Do YOU think that your book Old Man's War is "perfect"? Or do you look back at it and think that parts of it could have been better? I haven't read it yet. Though I do want to in the near future.

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Dustin Mueller @sqlcheesecake.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I’m reading Children of Time now, and absolutely LOVING the perspectives in the book!

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Colin Rafferty @colin.rafferty.net · 17/05/2026

Dammit, I read them all already. I agree with them each being on the list, but wish there was one I’d missed.

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redlishka9.bsky.social @redlishka9.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Neal Stephenson?

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