In this blog post, Jules Arbeaux shares their passion for science fiction and fantasy books that linger in the mind and touch the heart. With a particular love for rich, imaginative universes and deeply memorable characters, Jules recommends some standout reads—from mind-bending space adventures to poignant explorations of identity and connection across universes. Here are their top picks for anyone who craves SFF stories that pack an emotional punch.
I’ve always loved science fiction and fantasy (and unholy blends thereof) but maybe more than that, I’ve always enjoyed stories with characters and/or relationships that stick with me long after I’ve finished a book and burrow close enough to my heart to hurt me. Here are some science fiction books I’ve recently enjoyed!
Nophek Gloss by Essa Hansen is a delightful book that deserves a readership as wide as its universe is vast. Brutal and incredibly imaginative, this book explores a fascinating and complicated series of universes. With a found family to die for, a broad scope, a deeply compelling antagonist, and mind-blowingly cool concepts, Nophek Gloss has the creativity and color and genre-blend of Star Wars (but better). Better yet, it’s part of a trilogy!
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson grabbed me from its first line. The concept makes this book incredible, but it’s Micaiah Johnson’s gorgeous prose that makes it unforgettable. The concept of a world where multiverse travel was achievable but only survivable in worlds where your counterpart is dead is already a fascinating one, and writing it from the perspective of a character whose counterpart only lives in eight of over 300 universes makes it better still.
I have the biggest soft spot for books that focus on profoundly compelling relationship dynamics that aren’t romantic, and Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas scratches that itch in a big way. It’s a great read for classic sci-fi fans who love both well-sketched action (the book involves a virus that destroys worlds) and big feelings. It has a snarky cast to die for, and I truly was not expecting it to go for my throat like it did! Anyone who’s read will know what I mean. There are two scenes (almost back-to-back) that hit me in the feels so hard I think they broke something.
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone is a must-read. I love relationship-centric sci-fi, especially when the relationship is as evocative and fraught and intimate and ruinously lovely as it is between Red and Blue. An epistolary novella told by characters from warring factions that battle each other through time, its dense and gorgeous narrative reads like poetry.
All Systems Red / The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells is a delightful snack of a novella series. Every socially-awkward person who’s ever wished to curl up in a dark place away from the ever-evolving and endlessly complicated layers of human interaction will fall in love with the titular Murderbot, who would much rather watch space sitcoms than do just about anything else.
