Editorial selection · not a reader-score ranking

Science fiction to start with

Ten entrances into science fiction through humour, human questions, robots and space travel, including stories and novellas.

1. #1

   Lumi editionProject Hail Mary✦Andy Weir9.0LumiScore

   First published 2021

   Project Hail Mary

   Andy Weir

   5–9 raters

   A lone astronaut must reconstruct his mission and tackle a scientific problem, giving a concrete starting point with high stakes.

   Source and selection

   Editorial choice for worldbuilding, perspective or speculative ideas.

   Bibliographic source

   +Want to read
2. #2

   Lumi editionThe Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy✦Douglas Adams—LumiScore

   First published 1979

   The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

   Douglas Adams

   Insufficient ratings

   Arthur Dent’s involuntary space journey offers a comic entrance into alien worlds and impossible bureaucracy.

   Source and selection

   Editorial choice for worldbuilding, perspective or speculative ideas.

   Bibliographic source

   +Want to read
3. #3

   Lumi editionI, Robot✦Isaac Asimov8.8LumiScore

   First published 1950

   I, Robot

   Isaac Asimov

   3–4 raters

   The robot stories each explore a different problem involving rules and human behaviour in manageable episodes.

   Source and selection

   The source note supports this story premise; this is an editorial choice.

   Bibliographic source

   +Want to read
4. #4

   Lumi editionFlowers for Algernon✦Daniel Keyes—LumiScore

   First published 1966

   Flowers for Algernon

   Daniel Keyes

   Insufficient ratings

   Charlie Gordon’s changing intelligence keeps one human life at the centre of a scientific experiment.

   Source and selection

   The source note supports this story premise; this is an editorial choice.

   Bibliographic source

   +Want to read
5. #5

   Lumi editionThe War of the Worlds✦H. G. Wells—LumiScore

   First published 1898

   The War of the Worlds

   H. G. Wells

   Insufficient ratings

   A Martian invasion begins in recognisable places on Earth, making this an early classic with a clear threatening premise.

   Source and selection

   The source note supports this story premise; this is an editorial choice.

   Bibliographic source

   +Want to read
6. #6

   Lumi editionThe Giver✦Lois Lowry7.8LumiScore

   First published 1993

   The Giver

   Lois Lowry

   3–4 raters

   Jonas discovers what his apparently ideal community conceals, offering a short entrance into social science fiction.

   Source and selection

   Social control, autonomy or inequality in an imagined future.

   Bibliographic source

   +Want to read
7. #7

   Lumi editionFoundation✦Isaac Asimov—LumiScore

   First published 1951

   Foundation

   Isaac Asimov

   Insufficient ratings

   The predicted fall of a galactic empire turns history and social choices into science-fiction material.

   Source and selection

   Editorial choice for worldbuilding, perspective or speculative ideas.

   Bibliographic source

   +Want to read
8. #8

   Lumi editionTo Be Taught, If Fortunate✦Becky Chambers8.0LumiScore

   First published 2019

   To Be Taught, If Fortunate

   Becky Chambers

   3–4 raters

   A compact expedition novella shows how wonder and research can work together without starting an entire series.

   Source and selection

   The source note supports this story premise; this is an editorial choice.

   Bibliographic source

   +Want to read
9. #9

   Lumi editionThe Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet✦Becky Chambers8.0LumiScore

   First published 2014

   The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

   Becky Chambers

   3–4 raters

   A mixed crew offers a character-centred entrance into space opera, starting from differences between cultures.

   Source and selection

   Editorial choice for worldbuilding, perspective or speculative ideas.

   Bibliographic source

   +Want to read
10. #10

    Lumi editionAll Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries✦Martha Wells9.3LumiScore

    First published 2017

    All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries

    Martha Wells

    3–4 raters

    A security robot with a will of its own gives artificial intelligence a personal, often deadpan voice.

    Source and selection

    Editorial choice for worldbuilding, perspective or speculative ideas.

    Bibliographic source

    +Want to read