Goodreads' Top 15 Most Read Science Fiction Books Of 2026 (So Far), Ranked By Reviews

It's been nearly a century since the term science fiction first appeared in print, yet it remains more popular than ever. According to IngramSpark, science fiction and fantasy novels accounted for between 10% to 15% of annual fiction book sales (as of September 2026). It's easy to understand why. Science fiction offers the perfect escape from day-to-day life. It can transport us to futuristic and/or dystopian worlds where science and technology save the day — or not, as the case may be.

No matter if you're a newbie to the genre or a stalwart sci-fi lover, it's important to know what readers are actually enjoying. Because, let's face it, no one wants to dedicate their precious time to a book that turns out to be as big of a dud as Microsoft's Zune (remember those?). So we've compiled Goodreads' top 15 most read science fiction books of 2026 (so far) and ranked them according to their Goodreads reviews and average score on the site out of 5.0. From the major novels turned into blockbusters to lesser known but equally thrilling epics, Goodreads users haven't been able to put these inspired books down.

"Tender Is the Flesh" by Agustina Bazterrica has an average Goodreads score of 3.77 at the time of writing based on over 493,700 ratings. We meet Marcos, a down-on-his-luck worker at a plant that processes human meat. Cannibalism has been legalized after animal meat became poisonous to humans, only, those being killed for their meat are no longer considered human. Amid this disturbing new normal, Marco struggles with his moral compass when a woman selected for her meat arrives alive. His compassion gets the better of him and he decides to take care of her rather than kill her, which has an indescribably deep impact on his life and work.

The dystopian fantasy sci-fi has been praised extensively by readers for its horror elements. "'Tender Is the Flesh' is one of those books that crawls under your skin and stays there. It's horrifying, confronting and incredibly difficult to look away from," wrote one Goodreads user. A second stated, "If you enjoy dystopian fiction with a sharp edge and a touch of sci-fi eeriness, this one is worth picking up."

"Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro has proven popular with Goodreads users, who gave it a 3.85 score from over 922,600 ratings at the time of writing. In this British-set dystopian novel, Kathy, a former private school student, reconnects with old friends from her past academic life. As the group reminisces about their young lives, they realize they all have dark memories about their time at Hailsham — a school that holds many secrets after cutting its students off from the world.

Multiple Goodreads users compared the book to Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," while another wrote of the novel's mesh of genres, "Sci-fi meshes impeccably with allegory which is played out in the manner of a Gothic romance." Another review read, "Very sharp, engaging and emotional storytelling that dealt so well with truly complex characters in an unfathomable situation." Ishiguro's novel is also one of the best modern classics to pick for your next book club read and one of author Emily Henry's favorite books, so you'll be in good company if you pick this one up.

With a Goodreads score of 3.88 at the time of writing, "Operation Bounce House" by Matt Dinniman has been rated over 44,900 times and is the first of multiple Dinniman books on our rundown. Oliver Lewis lives on a planet called New Sonora. For years, travel and communication between Earth and New Sonora has been cut-off, but new rules have finally opened the gates for connection. There's just one complication. Earth's leaders have created a system where its citizens can control the actions of AI soldiers placed on New Sonora. With his life, and the lives of those he loves on the line, Oliver decides to fight back.

"The characters, plot, theme, and world-building are so unique that it caught me totally by surprise. I love a good, fresh look at sci-fi and this sure is!" one Goodreads user stated in a five-star review. A second reader shared, "The concept is both chilling and entertaining, the characters are interesting and have great chemistry, and the world building is really immersive."

Classic sci-fi horror novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley may have been first released in 1818, but it's as popular as ever in 2026 (likely aided by the buzz of the movie "The Bride!" starring Jessie Buckley and Maggie Gyllenhaal.) With more than 2.02 million Goodreads reviews at the time of writing, it's amassed a 3.93 score. It follows Dr. Frankenstein's story as he creates the monster from deceased human parts, delving into questions of morality and the consequences of playing God.

In a five-star review, one user wrote, "This is the only classic I've read that kept me consistently engaged from beginning to end." They added, "'Frankenstein' is a beautifully told story of the profound, aching longing to belong, and the despair that follows when one is repeatedly rejected and wounded." Another gushed, "'Frankenstein' is a rare piece of art, a stunning achievement for its time, and worthy of its classic status today."

Stephen King wrote "The Long Walk," his first novel, under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. At the time of writing, it has a 3.98 average score from over 316,600 reviews on Goodreads. First published in 1979, the sci-fi story details the events of a potentially lethal physical challenge that requires young boys, including our protagonist Ray Garraty, to walk four miles every hour for as long as they can. The winner? The last man standing, who is granted whatever his heart desires.

"This quick little story sure manages to pack a punch. The commentary and character work are a masterclass in how to pull your audience in and make them feel invested," one Goodreads user shared. Another shared, "This is a solid read for psychological and philosophical sci-fi fans," as they praised the novel's message of endurance. "The Long Walk" was turned into a movie in 2025, which may explain it's renewed success this many decades later.

Cracking our top 10 with a 4.03 average Goodreads score from over 738,900 ratings at the time of writing is "I Who Have Never Known Men" by Jacqueline Harpman. This dark sci-fi thriller sees 40 women kidnapped and trapped in an underground cage. They have no recollection of how they got there, why they've been captured, or how to break free. But, as the years roll by, it becomes clear there's one prisoner, a girl who has never truly connected with her fellow captives, who is vital to everyone escaping.

In an in-depth five-star review shared to Goodreads, one user wrote, "It is part eerie pastoral dystopia, part a deeply introspective novel about hope, loneliness and the things that give life meaning." A second simply stated, "Haunting, beautiful and poetic." A third shared, "This isn't the kind of book that's here to comfort. It's dark, bleak, terrifying, yet also profound." It could also be considered a feminist sci-fi book that smashes the male-driven genre.

In Steven L. Peck's "A Short Stay in Hell," Soren Johansson dies and finds himself in hell, sent there by a God he never worshipped or even knew about. Johannsson, a devout Mormon, learns the only way he can escape this bleak fate and transcend to heaven is by finding a book about his life in a vast library. At the time of writing, the dark novel has a 4.12 average Goodreads score from more than 125,400 ratings.

One Goodreads user compared the 2012 sci-fi book to another book on our list, "We Who Have Known Men," writing, "Both books are dark, grim and bleak. And they stick with you." They added, "A short and compelling read that is highly recommend to anyone who likes science fiction or horror." Another highlighted "A Short Stay in Hell"'s genre blending in a four-star review, writing, "What a phenomenal blend of horror, science fiction, psychology, sociology, theology, and more."

With a 4.13 Goodreads average score from over 825,000 ratings at the time of writing, it's little surprise "Dark Matter" by Blake Crouch sits comfortably inside the top 10. The book (a nominee for the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards in the Readers' Favorite Science Fiction category) was initially released in 2016 but was adapted into a TV series in 2024, with its second season airing in 2026. Jason Dessen is kidnapped and wakes up strapped to a gurney surrounded by hazmat-suited strangers after seemingly using science to wake up in another world. He can't be too sure if he's being told the truth. Was his old life and everyone he loved in it real, or nothing but a dream?

"If there ever was a science fiction story that could appeal to everyone, this is it," wrote one Goodreads user, urging even those who aren't usually sci-fi readers to pick up the novel. "Even though this book is science fiction, it reads like a thriller," they added (if disturbing thriller books are more your thing, we've rounded up the best of those too). A second gushed, "I genuinely cannot stop thinking about it. This book was bonkers! SO good!"

"Red Rising" by Pierce Brown, the first in the series of the same name, and a book to read if you miss The CW's "The 100," has an impressive 4.27 average Goodreads score from more than 1.01 million ratings at the time of writing. The book, a nominee in the Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction category at the 2014 Goodreads Choice Awards, takes place in a dark future where everyone is given a color as a sign of status. Darrow is a Red, the lowest possible color. His job is undertaking back breaking labor to make the surface of Mars is hospitable. Only, he finds out he's been duped by the ruling class and his efforts have been nothing but busy work designed to keep him oppressed. So, he goes on a mission for justice and hatches a plan to take down the dominant Golds.

"I would classify 'Red Rising' somewhere between Lite Science Fiction and Adult High Fantasy. An interesting crossing of genres that absolutely worked well together. It's complicated enough to keep me guessing, savage enough to keep my horrified, and written well enough to have me swooning," wrote one Goodreads user. A second shared, "Filled with imaginative, vivid world-building and characters with rich internal depth, it is a suspenseful, high-stakes story about what it takes to truly dedicate one's life to a cause."

The second Matt Dinniman sci-fi book on our rundown, "The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook" has amassed an impressive 4.37 average score at the time of writing from over 380,000 ratings. Don't let the title fool you though, because this isn't a cook book. The third instalment in the "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series sees Carl and Donut compete on the "Dungeon Crawler World" gameshow. The two are faced with near-impossible tasks, but as their popularity grows, they've got more to contend with than just another round of potentially lethal challenges to amuse the masses.

In a four-star review, one reader stated, "It is full of richly imaginative worldbuilding that increases in complexity and storytelling, as well as incredibly funny satire and sarcastic reflections on human life." A second suggested the series is best read in order, writing, "'The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook' successfully expands the mythology, raises the stakes, develops its characters and delivers another exhilarating mix of humour, action and biting social commentary."

Matt Dinniman's "Dungeon Crawler Carl" is the first in the zany "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series. Carl and the cat Princess Donut get caught up in an alien invasion and end up appearing on a gameshow show that's broadcast across the galaxy. They have to work together to make it through the near impossible levels, well aware that every challenge could kill them. It has been rated more than 697,100 times and has amassed a 4.42 average rating at the time of writing.

"The novel combines action, humor, science fiction, and fantasy in a unique way. Beyond the exciting battles, it explores themes such as friendship, survival, human resilience, and the abuse of power for entertainment," read one Goodreads review. Another suggested the novel, which is also one of Goodreads' most read fantasy books of 2026 (so far), is a cross between "The Hunger Games" and "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series' while complimenting its unique humor.

"The Martian" by Andy Weir, which was adapted into a 2015 movie starring Matt Damon, was the 2014 Goodreads Choice Awards winner for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction. More than a decade later, the novel has a 4.42 average Goodreads score from a massive 1.39 million ratings. Mark Watney is an astronaut who's stuck on Mars after his crew left the red planet believing he was dead. With very limited resources, he has to figure out a way to let the world know he's still alive — or at least he'll die trying.

One Goodreads user complimented the novel's scientific elements, while multiple others noted the book relies heavily on technical science to tell its story. "This book is part serious science-fiction, part an hilariously dark comedy that imagines a horrifying situation infused with humour and the overwhelming human desire to stay alive," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "A celebration of scientific ingenuity and man's unfailing spirit to survive, 'The Martian' left me astounded and exhilarated," said another.

Another of Matt Dinniman "Dungeon Crawler Carl" books to make our list, the second in the series, "Carl's Doomsday Scenario," is the highest rated on our rundown. It's been rated on Goodreads more than 464,100 times for an average score at the time of writing of 4.47. Carl and Princess Donut are back having made it to the third floor. They're forced to put their lives on the line again as the gameshow continues, this time on the city streets. But they'll need to have their wits about them, because danger lurks around every corner — and even falls from the sky.

One reader praised the immense action in the book (which is best read in series order), writing, "This book is even weirder, funnier, and more emotional than the first book, and I loved every minute of it." A second commented, "[It's an] absurdist, comedic, and dark piece of science fiction."

Another sequel that's proved more popular than its predecessor is "Golden Son" by Pierce Brown. The sci-fi offering is the second in the "Red Rising" saga and reunites us with Darrow. He's now a Gold caste member after infiltrating the elite with his trojan horse style plan. But he's not ready to bring down the bourgeoisie just yet. Before he can execute his plan, Darrow must learn to assimilate in the privileged futuristic world that seems so foreign to him. The novel has a high 4.51 average Goodreads score at the time of writing from more than 631,400 ratings.

While one Goodreads user recommended the book as an introduction into the sci-fi genre, another wrote, "With 'Golden Son,' Brown has created a rich, heart-felt novel, more science fiction than dystopian, with characters who both maim and inspire." Another reviewer detailed why they preferred the sequel to the first novel, writing, in part, "Better plot, more epic scope, improved prose, incredible action, and plot twists galore. The character work is deeper, the villains more intriguing, and the relationships more complex."

It's official. "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir is Goodreads' highest ranked, most read science fiction book of 2026 (so far) thanks to its huge 1.91 million Goodreads ratings and average score of 4.51. Though first released in 2021, the sci-fi novel gained popularity after being became a movie starring Ryan Gosling in 2026. Set in space, we meet Dr. Ryland Grace, who is floating aimlessly after a disastrous mission. We soon learn that he and his team took on an all-or-nothing mission to save Earth, but a catastrophic incident left him as the only survivor. To add to the stakes, Dr. Grace has no idea what he's doing up there. But he doesn't have long to remember and complete the mission, because he — and Earth — are in imminent danger.

"Thoroughly imaginative, scientifically sound, and emotionally stirring, 'Project Hail Mary' slayed me," stated one Goodreads user. Another complimented the conversation tone Weir use when writing the sci-fi novel, while a third gushed, "I truly do not know how Andy Weir makes his books so readable and yet so comprehensive in terms of the science. This is a page-turner. It's so much fun!"

With the sheer volume of science fiction novels on the market, curating a list of the most popular ones is no easy task. To make the cut for our list, the book had to feature on Goodreads' Most Read Books Of The Year as of October 2026 and/or Goodreads' list of the Most Read Books of the Reading Challenge (so far), which details the most read books by users as part of Goodreads' 2026 reading challenge. Science fiction had to be listed as one of the main genres on each book's Goodreads landing page. We ranked each book in ascending order according to its Goodreads average score of out 5.0 at the time of writing. In instances where two or more books had the same score, the sci-fi novel with the larger number of ratings ranked higher.