The Best Sci-Fi Novellas You’ve Read This Year
The Read Harder Halfway Check-In Survey generated a ton of useful information, but the best part has been looking through your favorite books you’ve read for the challenge so far this year.
One of the tasks that was the most successful in terms of inspiring your favorite reads of the year was task #5: Read a sci-fi novella. Eight of you read your favorite book of the year based on that task — including two people who answered with the Murderbot series by Martha Wells, so that’s the clear winner!
In fact, there were so many people who named favorite sci-fi novellas that I decided to give them their own round-up. Some of these are ones I recommended, and I feel all warm and fuzzy about those successful recommendations. Others, though, are sci-fi novellas you discovered for yourself.
If you’re still looking for a book to complete this task with — or you’re a new fan of sci-fi novellas in general — I’ve also included a handful of new upcoming sci-fi novellas, like Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard, to add to your TBR.
The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler
This one was not on the original list, but it’s on my TBR now! It’s a sci-fi thriller about mammoths, which have been brought back from extinction. Their new matriarch is Dr. Damira Khismatullina, an elephant behaviorist who died while trying to protect the last remaining elephants from ivory poachers. Now, her digitized consciousness has been uploaded into a mammoth’s brain, but can she protect her herd from poachers? And what is the real reason Moscow has brought mammoths back from extinction?
And What Can We Offer You Tonight by Premee Mohamed
This 80-page Nebula award-winning novella takes place in a dystopian future, where Jewel works as a courtesan. When her friend is murdered by a client — and then somehow comes back to life — she’s determined to get revenge. This was published by Neon Hemlock Press, which puts out a ton of great queer speculative fiction.
The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente
Tetley Abednego lives in Garbagetown, which floats on a drowned, polluted Earth devastated by climate change. Tetley knows Garbagetown is the best place in the world, and she has a lot of hope, but she’s fighting against people who are angry about her vision of the future. Then she makes a new friend — and discovers a terrible secret that changes everything.
Ogres by Adrian Tchaikovsky
In this sci-fi/fantasy novella, the world is ruled by Ogres: tyrants whose appetite for power, money, and even human flesh is insatiable. Then Torquell raises a hand against an Ogre Landlord, which changes his life forever — and leads him to knowledge about the dark genetic manipulation experiments that brought Ogres to life.
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Binti is the first Himba person to attend the prestigious Oomza University. Going there means leaving her family and community behind, but before she can even begin, she has to travel there — which is easier said than done. Her journey will take her across the path of the alien race Meduse, who are currently at war on the opposing side from Oomza University. This won the Hugo and Nebula awards.
A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers
If you’re a fan of cozy fantasy, you need to pick up this cozy sci-fi duology. Hundreds of years ago, the robots of Panga retreated to the forest, slowly fading from the memory of humans. Until, that is, one reappears to check in with humanity. They find a tea monk and ask, “What do people need?” Together, they’ll try to find the answer. This is another Hugo winner!
Bonus: New and Upcoming Sci-Fi Novellas
Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard
This World Is Not Yours by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor
Countess by Suzan Palumbo
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis
What’s your favorite sci-fi novella? Let’s chat in the comments!
Check out all the previous 2024 Read Harder posts here.
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