There are dozens of excellent science fiction books and series out there, many of which are considered classics and remain in circulation even decades after their original publication.
But while most people have heard of, and likely read works by, famous sci-fi authors like Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia Butler, H.G. Wells, and Philip K. Dick, there are tons of other lesser-known writers whose works have gone tragically overlooked. The following list highlights 10 of the most underrated sci-fi authors and lists some of the works that you should check out when you have the chance.
7. Sheri S. Tepper
Looking back at some of Sheri S. Tepper's most notable works reveals a forward-thinking woman author delivering a prescient warning of what was to come, predicting many of the societal and cultural problems we're all still working through today. Her books were known for covering polarizing topics such as feminism, particularly ecofeminism, which delves into the connection between gender and the environment.
Some of Tepper's best known works include the speculative fiction novel The Gate to Women's Country (1988), about a world where women live completely cut off from men; and her Arbai Trilogy, especially the first novel in the series, Grass, which was praised for its revelatory ecofeminist themes.
It's interesting to look back at Tepper's novels and draw direct parallels between these fictional worlds and modern times, where debates about women's rights and environmentalism are still raging on with seemingly no end in sight.
6. M. John Harrison
M. John Harrison's works are often lauded in literary circles and by his writing peers, but his novels haven't quite managed to become widespread or mainstream. The reason for this is likely because Harrison's novels buck a lot of traditional science fiction tropes and norms, and are designed for close, introspective readings.
One of his most popular novels is Light (2002), which was published as part of the Kefahuchi Tract trilogy. Set in contemporary London, Light follows three unique individuals: a serial killer, a woman who merges with a spaceship, and an adventurer with an addiction to alternate realities. It's an incredibly operatic story spanning different dimensions and quantum worlds.
Harrison also created the Viriconium universe, which include novels and stories that take place on a future version of Earth that is dying. These books explore themes of societal collapse, identity, and the illusive nature between what is real and what isn't.
5. Ann Leckie
Ancillary Justice (2013) is Ann Leckie's most popular and acclaimed novel, having won the Nebula Award, Hugo Award, Arthur C. Clarke Award, and more. Like many great sci-fi and fantasy authors, Leckie crafted her own immersive fictional world. In it she set her space opera trilogy Imperial Radch: Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Sword and Ancillary Mercy. Several of her other works (like her other notable novel Provenance (2017), are also set in the same universe.
Ancillary Justice is set in the future of a sprawling interplanetary empire. The empire uses human bodies, called "ancillaries," to host fragments of artificial intelligence (AI) to then use for military purposes. With the rise of generative AI over the couple years, now feels like an optimal time to check out a novel like this.
Leckie's books have received some criticism because they aren't easily accessible to beginners. Her works are challenging and pose philosophical questions, making them difficult to get into for readers who aren't familiar with the genre. But that just makes the investment in this rich world and multiple timeline-spanning story all the more rewarding.
4. Becky Chambers
Becky Chambers's Wayfarers series is like a warm hug set in the cold vacuum of space, ideal for anyone who cannot get enough found families. Her books are highly character-driven, and they tend to be a little more optimistic than other science fiction novels.
It's a nice change of pace from the typical cynicism or "grimdark" vibes that run rampant throughout the sci-fi genre. I'm a huge fan of the Mass Effect series, and Wayfarers filled the void perfectly when I wrapped up all the Mass Effect games. They definitely share some similarities, especially in the way they handle interactions between humans and the various alien races.
The Wayfarers series begins with The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet in 2014 and concludes with The Galaxy, and the Ground Within in 2021. There are four books total in the series.
3. Rivers Solomon
Rivers Solomon is a science fiction author that I believe will become more popular as time passes. Their debut novel, An Unkindness of Ghosts (2017), has emotionally riveting and sharp social commentary addressing structural racism. It's set on a starship where the passengers have formed different castes based on their race.
An Unkindness of Ghosts follows main character Aster Gray, a healer who explores the mystery surrounding her mother's suicide decades earlier. Perhaps one of the most exciting elements of Solomon's works is that they are unapologetically queer, making them a genre standout. Solomon's novella The Deep (2019) is also an engaging read that takes place in a fantastical underwater world.
2. N. K. Jemisin
While N.K. Jemisin might be a Hugo Award-winning author, it still feels like not enough sci-fi fans are reading her works. Her Broken Earth trilogy is a masterclass in storytelling, particularly when it comes to worldbuilding and character development. The first book in the trilogy, The Fifth Season (2015), is easily her most popular. It takes place on a supercontinent referred to as the Stillness, where every few centuries the denizens experience a world-ending catastrophe.
Jemisin's works have been favorably compared to those of other iconic sci-fi authors such as Ursula K. Le Guin. But while Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy is her most well known, more people should check out her short story collection Emergency Skin, and if you enjoy high fantasy, you could take a look at her Dreamblood and Inheritance series.
Jemisin's books stands apart from other sci-fi novels. It's easy to get lost in her bizarre fictional worlds.
1. Leigh Brackett
Leigh Brackett has been dubbed the "Queen of Space Opera" for a good reason. As one of the few popular female writers around during what is considered the "Golden Age of Science Fiction" (the era when books like Foundation by Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein's Future History were published), Brackett's works demands attention. She became one of the top writers of her era thanks to her emotional stories set on alien frontiers and dying planets.
It helps that her characters were always complex and layered, veering away from common "hero" tropes into something far more enriching. Many of her novels are known for implementing elements of film noir, which makes sense when you learn that she had a screenplay-writing background, having worked on an early draft of The Empire Strikes Back. For her novel The Long Tomorrow (1955), Brackett became the first woman ever shortlisted for the Hugo Award for Best Novel.
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