Before Katy Perry and her all-female crew mission swept the headlines with their brief, 11-minute commercial cruise to the edge of space, there was another, far more enduring way of commuting into this vast unknown. This age-old mode of transportation was books set in space.
From astronauts documenting their missions to space to fiction writers cooking up interplanetary governance, these novels shaped our understanding and our imagination of what this unexplored world could look like. They have filled the void with philosophy, adventure, and wonder.
In this curated list of space books, you will find a little something for every kind of space aficionado; from the one who wants to understand the hustle of floating after one’s belongings endlessly on a spaceship to the one who seeks the imagination of a life beyond this world.
1. The Martian by Andy Weir
Genre: Science Fiction, Space, Fiction
It’s always a delight to come across a book that fractures your relationship with sleep for its entire reading length, and The Martian by Andy Weir was one such book for me.
The plot revolves around one astronaut’s unfailing will to survive when he gets stuck on Mars with resources meant only for a few weeks and the next ride out of there is four years away. To top it all off, everyone who knows him back at home thinks he is dead.
While it is a survivor thriller, what sets this novel apart is the witty humour it is peppered with throughout. Here is one such example of this in the protagonist’s journal entry, which had me cackling while reading the novel:
“[MARK’S JOURNAL ON MARS]: LOG ENTRY: SOL 61
How come Aquaman can control whales? They’re mammals! Makes no sense.”
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001:A Space Odyssey was all anyone talked about whenever there was a conversation around popular culture centering space. The parallel releases of both the book and the movie made this novel a must for beginners in science fiction.
At its heart, 2001: A Space Odyssey depicts a space mission to Jupiter which was initiated after spotting a strange black monolith buried on the moon. Admittedly, I did not understand much the first time I read this book. But the book had an insane name dropping value for a budding astrophile so I gave myself several chances with it.
Several re-reads later, I have come to realize the vision that Arthur C. Clarke has put together in this book. Clarke has brewed up a perfect concoction of science, mysticism, fantasy, and theory and I certainly couldn’t get enough of it.
3. Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly, Margaret Lazarus Dean
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography
I picked this book up to understand the difference between space fiction and real space travel and it did not disappoint. The detailing done by Scott Kelly might go over your head at times because the technicalities of what it takes to keep a space station running are not something that an average person can understand.
Scott Kelly’s journey, however, as an astronaut who spent a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station, is inspiring and deeply moving.
This novel is equal parts biography and space nonfiction, and one can learn many things about space from this manuscript, including the fact that space smells “slightly burnt, slightly metallic” and that the sun rises and sets every 90 minutes on the ISS.
My one shot at persuading anyone to read this book would be this sentence from Scott Kelly when he launched into space for the first time: “This is a really dumb thing to be doing.”
4. After the Flare by Deji Bryce Olukuton
Genre: Space, Science Fiction, African Literature
After the Flare unfolds against the backdrop of a solar flare that has destroyed the West’s space programs, leaving only one agency still standing. The Nigerian Space Program embarks on a daring mission to rescue an astronaut stranded in orbit, a symbol of both human fragility and resilience in the face of cosmic catastrophe.
While this is the second part of Nigerians in Space, and it retains some of the characters from the first book. Also, this one can be enjoyed as a standalone as well and it is one of the most important books set in outer space for astrophiles because it takes place in a world that departs from the centrality of Western nations in space programmes.
5. Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen
Genre: Science Fiction, Graphic Novels
As a veteran enjoyer of the genre, this one reminded me of all the reasons I fell in love with all things astronomy. Coupled with Dustin Nguyen’s amazing watercolor illustrations, this is one of the best space books for beginners in science fiction.
The stunning artwork tells the story of a boy robot who wakes up after a 10-year-long sleep to find that his kind has long been banned from the galaxy. Lemire’s world is one where humanity is pitted against robots and glaring rifts exist between the different planetary governments.
RELATED READING: The 9 Best Time Travel Books Of All Time From All Genres
6. Dune by Frank Herbert
Genre: Space Opera, Classics
This list would be incomplete without mentioning the masterpiece, Dune. Set in the desert planet of Arrakis, the story is woven around the pursuit of ‘spice’, a drug capable of enhancing the longevity and quality of one’s life.
While Dune is technically science fiction, author Frank Herbert seems to prefer classifying it as a visionary blueprint for the future of humanity. It often feels less like a book and more like you’ve found ancient texts full of prophecy, philosophy, and political strategy.
The Fremen, the indigenous people of Arrakis, are the most haunting part of the story. Misunderstood and underestimated by imperial outsiders, the Fremen are featured as one of the strongest and most badass cults in literary fiction. (Frank Herbert, we see your political science brain, and we are totally here for it.)
7. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Genre: Science Fiction, Humour, Fantasy
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy might just be one of the best books set in outer space because of its humor. You may not agree with me right now, but just wait until you are up at 3 AM, unable to stop laughing at every absurd page.
Douglas Adams takes space exploration and flips it completely on its head, serving up a wildly entertaining, hilariously chaotic journey through a galaxy that’s as ridiculous as it is vast. The story bounces across strange planets and even stranger characters, all held together by razor-sharp wit and a deep love of satire.
If you are looking for something lighter, sillier, and utterly unforgettable, this book is hands down one of the easiest (and most joyful) space reads out there.
8. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Queer
If you love female characters that are fleshed out well, thriving amidst adventure and exploration, you need to pick this one and inhale through its pages like I did. Undoubtedly, one of the best space books for beginners in science fiction.
A trailblazer in the genre, this novel introduces a diverse, gender-fluid cast of humans and aliens, redefining who gets to take up space. This book is a breath of fresh air and one of the few that addresses the questions of ‘othering’ aliens by creating a possibility that these unexplored worlds might also love, care, dance, and sing like the residents of our world.
9. An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield
Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir
Colonel Hadfield’s journey is articulately expressed in the pages of this book, and yes, he is a real astronaut. The novel deals with a lot of the astronaut-y aspects of his life, but what makes this one of the best books set in space for astrophiles is the Col. Hadfield’s zest for life. Reading this was transformatory for me, not just as a space lover but also as someone who feels that life has been passing me by.
If I had to persuade anyone to read this book, I would send them Col. Hadfield’s response to one of the questions he was asked in his Ask Me Anything session on Reddit:
“Decide in your heart of hearts what really excites and challenges you, and start moving your life in that direction. Every decision you make, from what you eat to what you do with your time tonight, turns you into who you are tomorrow, and the day after that. Look at who you want to be, and start sculpting yourself into that person. You may not get exactly where you thought you’d be, but you will be doing things that suit you in a profession you believe in. Don’t let life randomly kick you into the adult you don’t want to become.”
10. Cosmos by Carl Sagan
Genre: Nonfiction, Science
Needless to say, any list, at least on this planet, is amiss without mentioning this genre-defining work by Carl Sagan. Sagan attempts to tie humanity, space, life, death, and hundreds and thousands of years of evolution in this book, and is wildly successful at it as well.
Despite being published almost half a decade ago, it provides us with lenses that are still effective at examining our societies and that is exactly the reason that this book finds its place in this list. Sagan leverages the cosmos and its various mysteries to urge humanity to unite under the banner of citizens of this Cosmos and he does it really well.
11. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Genre: Space Fiction, War
A departure from a classic genre trope of enlisting young men and women in any and all space wars, this book is unique in that it privileges the wisdom of ages over the strength of youth. It is set in an interstellar space world where older people are enlisted in the defense forces as their experience is considered more important for space combat than the recklessness of the youth.
In this world, the author has stitched excellent characters that will have you rooting for their victory throughout. Old Man’s War’s strength is in its 75-year-old protagonist and his group of friends, the self-proclaimed Old Farts. Like it or not, I can guarantee that you will not be able to put this one down.
Conclusion
These books set in space have played a crucial role in sparking a generation’s curiosity about space and the genre that’s grown from that curiosity often feels just as wondrous as space itself. This list of 11 titles is only a starting point. Each book reveals a different facet of space fiction.
From the rigors of hard science to the deep human emotions tied to discovery and adventure. But don’t stop here. Let this list launch you into your own exploration of the genre, beyond Earth and beyond limits, because every journey to the stars begins with a single book.
FAQs
1. What is the most realistic book about space travel?
The Martian by Andy Weir has been applauded by many critics and astronauts themselves for its accuracy in capturing the technical details of space travel.
2. Which book is considered the greatest space novel of all time?
While there are many great contenders for this title, I believe based on the amount of time that 2001: A Space Odyssey has managed to stay relevant and an important part of popular culture around space that it should be the most deserving of this title.
3. Can space fiction inspire real-life discoveries?
While a piece of space fiction has not done this yet, NASA has credited the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clarke, with predicting geostationary communication satellites in one of his essays published in 1945
