The Greatest Science Fiction of All Time

The literati often scorn science fiction works as "space operas", as if they're all about starships zipping around the galaxy battling aliens. And, to tell the truth, this does describe a part of the field—a small part. But serious science fiction readers appreciate it as literature exploring all possibilities of human experience. Past or future. In this reality or elsewhere. With or without a focus on science and technology.

This speculative literature may be as psychologically, philosophically, politically or sexually charged as so-called mainstream literature. Indeed, it's often difficult to know where to draw the line between it and other genres.

Whether you call it science fiction, speculative fiction, SF, scifi or something else, for this list we are selecting from among the works that a consensus of readers and writers think comprise the genre. Titles are chosen based on the same two decades of research and surveys that created the Greatest Literature of All Time and all our other "greatest" lists. Hundreds of sources have been consulted.

Recently we split short stories and novel series off from our main science fiction listing. The resulting list below is for only major works in the field (mainly novels, novellas, series and collections). Briefer works are reserved for the Greatest Science Fiction Stories list while multiple works are found on our Greatest Science Fiction Series list.

Like all our lists, this one is a continual work in progress.

Latest update: March 5, 2024

The 222 greatest works of science fiction

In chronological order

See also:

What is Science Fiction?

Greatest Literature of All Time

Greatest Novels of All Time

Greatest Stories of All Time

Greatest Crime and Mystery

Greatest Fantasy

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