33 Books like Orbital

Empire of Silence

by Christopher Ruocchio

Disowned and hunted, a nobleman fights in the gladiator pits of a backwater planet.

3.95

55k+

🏛️ Galactic Empire 👑 Fallen Noble 🤝 Found Family 👽 Alien Diplomacy 📜 Forbidden Knowledge

Empire of Silence 90%

Disowned and hunted, a nobleman fights in the gladiator pits of a backwater planet.

by Christopher Ruocchio 2018

3.95

55k+ ratings

🏛️ Galactic Empire 👑 Fallen Noble 🤝 Found Family 👽 Alien Diplomacy 📜 Forbidden Knowledge

To Be Taught, If Fortunate

by Becky Chambers • 2019

Four astronauts explore alien worlds in bodies engineered for each one. Then Earth stops answering.

4.19

58k+

🫂 Found Family 🌈 Queer Ensemble 🧬 Genetic Adaptation 🌱 Hopepunk 🧘 Quiet Contemplation

To Be Taught, If Fortunate 92%

Four astronauts explore alien worlds in bodies engineered for each one. Then Earth stops answering.

by Becky Chambers 2019

4.19

58k+ ratings

🫂 Found Family 🌈 Queer Ensemble 🧬 Genetic Adaptation 🌱 Hopepunk 🧘 Quiet Contemplation

Delta-v

by Daniel Suarez • 2019

A cave diver joins outcasts mining an asteroid in secret, far beyond hope of rescue.

4.16

11k+

🚀 Hard Sf ☄️ Asteroid Mining 🫂 Found Family 🛠️ Ragtag Crew 🌌 Deep Space

Delta-v 92%

A cave diver joins outcasts mining an asteroid in secret, far beyond hope of rescue.

by Daniel Suarez 2019

4.16

11k+ ratings

🚀 Hard Sf ☄️ Asteroid Mining 🫂 Found Family 🛠️ Ragtag Crew 🌌 Deep Space

Slow Gods

by Claire North • 2025

A debtor survives a procedure that should kill him. An ancient machine warns the galaxy will burn.

4.00

5k+

🚀 Philosophical Space Opera 👤 Immortal Outsider 🌌 Elegiac 🌍 Dying World 💥 Galactic Empire Collapse

Slow Gods 92%

A debtor survives a procedure that should kill him. An ancient machine warns the galaxy will burn.

by Claire North 2025

4.00

5k+ ratings

🚀 Philosophical Space Opera 👤 Immortal Outsider 🌌 Elegiac 🌍 Dying World 💥 Galactic Empire Collapse

Migrations

by Charlotte McConaghy • 2020

A woman tracks Arctic terns across a dying sea, her husband's ashes in her pocket.

4.11

109k+

🥀 Climate Fiction 🌊 Life At Sea 🖤 Elegiac 🌿 Ecological Grief 🫂 Found Family

Migrations 91%

A woman tracks Arctic terns across a dying sea, her husband's ashes in her pocket.

by Charlotte McConaghy 2020

4.11

109k+ ratings

🥀 Climate Fiction 🌊 Life At Sea 🖤 Elegiac 🌿 Ecological Grief 🫂 Found Family

The Mimicking of Known Successes

by Malka Ann Older • 2023

An arrogant scholar vanishes on a gas giant colony. To find him, an investigator enlists her ex.

3.59

10k+

📚 Academic Mystery 💕 Second Chance Love 🌈 Sapphic Romance 🌫️ Melancholy Sci-Fi 🪐 Orbital Habitat

The Mimicking of Known Successes Summary

The Mimicking of Known Successes 91%

An arrogant scholar vanishes on a gas giant colony. To find him, an investigator enlists her ex.

by Malka Ann Older 2023

3.59

10k+ ratings

📚 Academic Mystery 💕 Second Chance Love 🌈 Sapphic Romance 🌫️ Melancholy Sci-Fi 🪐 Orbital Habitat

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

by Becky Chambers • 2014

Running from her past, a clerk joins a wormhole ship crewed by chaotic, lovable misfits.

4.17

188k+

🛸 Found Family ☕ Cozy Sci-Fi 🚀 Ragtag Crew 🤝 Interspecies Bonds 💘 Slow Burn Romance

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet Summary

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet 91%

Running from her past, a clerk joins a wormhole ship crewed by chaotic, lovable misfits.

by Becky Chambers 2014

4.17

188k+ ratings

🛸 Found Family ☕ Cozy Sci-Fi 🚀 Ragtag Crew 🤝 Interspecies Bonds 💘 Slow Burn Romance

Version Control

by Dexter Palmer • 2016

Her son is dead. The world feels wrong. Her husband's time machine rewrites reality without trace.

3.72

8k+

⏳ Literary Time Travel 🖤 Grieving Parents 💔 Marriage Under Strain 🔁 Timeline Overwriting 📡 Technology And Alienation

Version Control 91%

Her son is dead. The world feels wrong. Her husband's time machine rewrites reality without trace.

by Dexter Palmer 2016

3.72

8k+ ratings

⏳ Literary Time Travel 🖤 Grieving Parents 💔 Marriage Under Strain 🔁 Timeline Overwriting 📡 Technology And Alienation

The Redemption of Time

by Baoshu • 2011

A disembodied brain teaches aliens to lie, his love spanning the death and rebirth of all things.

3.63

11k+

🌌 Metaphysical Sci-Fi 🖤 Cosmic Horror 🧠 Brain In A Jar 💞 Cosmic Love Story 🌍 Last Survivors

The Redemption of Time 91%

A disembodied brain teaches aliens to lie, his love spanning the death and rebirth of all things.

by Baoshu 2011

3.63

11k+ ratings

🌌 Metaphysical Sci-Fi 🖤 Cosmic Horror 🧠 Brain In A Jar 💞 Cosmic Love Story 🌍 Last Survivors

I Cheerfully Refuse

by Leif Enger • 2024

On a dying Lake Superior, a gentle musician and his bookseller wife shelter a desperate fugitive.

3.98

28k+

🕯️ Hopepunk Dystopia 🌍 Climate Fiction 📚 Books About Books 🫂 Found Family 🌅 Quiet Apocalypse

I Cheerfully Refuse 91%

On a dying Lake Superior, a gentle musician and his bookseller wife shelter a desperate fugitive.

by Leif Enger 2024

3.98

28k+ ratings

🕯️ Hopepunk Dystopia 🌍 Climate Fiction 📚 Books About Books 🫂 Found Family 🌅 Quiet Apocalypse

Ender’s Game

by Orson Scott Card • 1985

A child prodigy is drafted to an orbital battle academy where war games determine humanity's fate.

4.31

1.5M+

🎓 Military Academy 👽 Alien War 🧠 Child Prodigy 🎭 Psychological Manipulation ⚔️ Strategic Warfare

Ender’s Game 91%

A child prodigy is drafted to an orbital battle academy where war games determine humanity's fate.

by Orson Scott Card 1985

4.31

1.5M+ ratings

🎓 Military Academy 👽 Alien War 🧠 Child Prodigy 🎭 Psychological Manipulation ⚔️ Strategic Warfare

The Sparrow

by Mary Doria Russell • 1996

They went to meet God's other children. One priest returned, broken, and will not say why.

4.13

83k+

🛐 Jesuits In Space 🪐 First Contact Gone Wrong 👽 Alien Anthropology ⛪ Missionary Hubris 🌌 Elegiac Sci-Fi

The Sparrow 91%

They went to meet God's other children. One priest returned, broken, and will not say why.

by Mary Doria Russell 1996

4.13

83k+ ratings

🛐 Jesuits In Space 🪐 First Contact Gone Wrong 👽 Alien Anthropology ⛪ Missionary Hubris 🌌 Elegiac Sci-Fi

Consider Phlebas

by Iain M. Banks • 1987

To save a crumbling empire, a shapeshifter must steal a runaway supermind from a dead world.

3.85

102k+

🦎 Shapeshifter Protagonist 🚀 Mercenary Crew 🛐 Alien Religion 🌍 Doomed Megastructure 🧠 Sentient Starship

Consider Phlebas 91%

To save a crumbling empire, a shapeshifter must steal a runaway supermind from a dead world.

by Iain M. Banks 1987

3.85

102k+ ratings

🦎 Shapeshifter Protagonist 🚀 Mercenary Crew 🛐 Alien Religion 🌍 Doomed Megastructure 🧠 Sentient Starship

The Fallen Star

by Claudia Gray • 2022

Sabotage turns the Jedi's station into a death trap; one Master must choose who to save.

4.07

11k+

🛰️ Space Station Disaster 🫂 Found Family 🕯️ Heroic Sacrifice 🎭 Villain Mastermind 💣 Sabotage From Within

The Fallen Star 91%

Sabotage turns the Jedi's station into a death trap; one Master must choose who to save.

by Claudia Gray 2022

4.07

11k+ ratings

🛰️ Space Station Disaster 🫂 Found Family 🕯️ Heroic Sacrifice 🎭 Villain Mastermind 💣 Sabotage From Within

The Vanished Birds

by Simon Jimenez • 2020

A mute boy's secret is instant travel; his captain will cross decades to bring him home.

4.06

11k+

🫂 Found Family ⏳ Time Dilation ✨ Lyrical Prose 🍂 Bittersweet 🌌 Far Future

The Vanished Birds 91%

A mute boy's secret is instant travel; his captain will cross decades to bring him home.

by Simon Jimenez 2020

4.06

11k+ ratings

🫂 Found Family ⏳ Time Dilation ✨ Lyrical Prose 🍂 Bittersweet 🌌 Far Future

The Employees

by Olga Ravn • 2018

A ship's human and android crew catalogs alien objects that provoke longing and unravel identity.

3.63

31k+

🏢 Workplace Dystopia 🗿 Alien Artifacts 🤖 Sentient Androids 🧩 Fragmented Narrative 🧬 Creator And Creation

The Employees 91%

A ship's human and android crew catalogs alien objects that provoke longing and unravel identity.

by Olga Ravn 2018

3.63

31k+ ratings

🏢 Workplace Dystopia 🗿 Alien Artifacts 🤖 Sentient Androids 🧩 Fragmented Narrative 🧬 Creator And Creation

The Shimmering State

by Meredith Westgate • 2021

A photographer and dancer meet in Malibu rehab, each unsure whose memories are really theirs.

3.43

1k+

🚀 Near Future Sci-Fi 💊 Memory Drug 🧩 Fragmented Identity 🤝 Shared Trauma Bond 🎨 Grief And Art

The Shimmering State 91%

A photographer and dancer meet in Malibu rehab, each unsure whose memories are really theirs.

by Meredith Westgate 2021

3.43

1k+ ratings

🚀 Near Future Sci-Fi 💊 Memory Drug 🧩 Fragmented Identity 🤝 Shared Trauma Bond 🎨 Grief And Art

Red Mars

by Kim Stanley Robinson • 1992

A hundred colonists land on Mars to terraform it, unaware that a saboteur walks among them.

3.86

89k+

🔭 Hard Science Fiction 🌍 Terraforming 🚀 Mars Settlement 🗳️ Political Sf ⏳ Generational Saga

Red Mars 92%

A hundred colonists land on Mars to terraform it, unaware that a saboteur walks among them.

by Kim Stanley Robinson 1992

3.86

89k+ ratings

🔭 Hard Science Fiction 🌍 Terraforming 🚀 Mars Settlement 🗳️ Political Sf ⏳ Generational Saga

Beautyland

by Marie-Helene Bertino • 2024

An alien observer's human life of love and loss is upended by the summons to return home.

4.05

43k+

👽 Alien Passing As Human 🛰️ Introspective Sci-Fi 👩‍👧 Single Mother Daughter 🐕 Loss Of A Pet 🌃 New York City Life

Beautyland 92%

An alien observer's human life of love and loss is upended by the summons to return home.

by Marie-Helene Bertino 2024

4.05

43k+ ratings

👽 Alien Passing As Human 🛰️ Introspective Sci-Fi 👩‍👧 Single Mother Daughter 🐕 Loss Of A Pet 🌃 New York City Life

Hyperion

by Dan Simmons

A blade-covered god awaits seven pilgrims. One wish, six deaths. Their stories are their only armor.

4.28

305k+

🗣️ Frame Narrative 🧳 Pilgrimage 🫀 Body Horror 🌌 Cosmic Dread ⚔️ Space War

Hyperion 90%

A blade-covered god awaits seven pilgrims. One wish, six deaths. Their stories are their only armor.

by Dan Simmons 1989

4.28

305k+ ratings

🗣️ Frame Narrative 🧳 Pilgrimage 🫀 Body Horror 🌌 Cosmic Dread ⚔️ Space War

Leviathan Wakes

by James S.A. Corey • 2011

A detective and a captain race to stop a corporation's alien virus from consuming humanity.

4.31

325k+

🚀 Space Opera 🕵️ Noir Detective 🦠 Alien Virus 🫂 Found Family 👥 Dual Perspectives

Leviathan Wakes 91%

A detective and a captain race to stop a corporation's alien virus from consuming humanity.

by James S.A. Corey 2011

4.31

325k+ ratings

🚀 Space Opera 🕵️ Noir Detective 🦠 Alien Virus 🫂 Found Family 👥 Dual Perspectives

Playground

by Richard Powers • 2024

Tech mogul seeks forgiveness on a Pacific island as the community votes on his final plan.

4.13

51k+

🌏 Climate Fiction 📖 Polyphonic Narrative 🏝️ Remote Pacific Island 🌊 Ocean Conservation 🤖 AI Ethics

Playground 91%

Tech mogul seeks forgiveness on a Pacific island as the community votes on his final plan.

by Richard Powers 2024

4.13

51k+ ratings

🌏 Climate Fiction 📖 Polyphonic Narrative 🏝️ Remote Pacific Island 🌊 Ocean Conservation 🤖 AI Ethics

All Systems Red

by Martha Wells • 2017

Security cyborg hacks chip, just wants serials. Rival team dies; it must choose: hide, or save them.

4.11

380k+

🛸 Corporate Space Thriller 🤖 AI Protagonist 🛡️ Reluctant Protector 🔇 Secret Sentience 😶 Grumpy Protagonist

All Systems Red 91%

Security cyborg hacks chip, just wants serials. Rival team dies; it must choose: hide, or save them.

by Martha Wells 2017

4.11

380k+ ratings

🛸 Corporate Space Thriller 🤖 AI Protagonist 🛡️ Reluctant Protector 🔇 Secret Sentience 😶 Grumpy Protagonist

Memento

by Amie Kaufman • 2020

A grieving neurogrammer teaches a warship's AI about morality; it learns the trolley problem.

4.29

8k+

🚀 Space Opera 🧠 AI Consciousness 🚋 Trolley Problem 💔 Forbidden Romance 🔖 Memory Rituals

Memento 91%

A grieving neurogrammer teaches a warship's AI about morality; it learns the trolley problem.

by Amie Kaufman 2020

4.29

8k+ ratings

🚀 Space Opera 🧠 AI Consciousness 🚋 Trolley Problem 💔 Forbidden Romance 🔖 Memory Rituals

Cascade Failure

by L.M. Sagas • 2024

A deserter joins a ragtag crew and uncovers a terraforming weapon that silences entire planets.

3.88

4k+

🛠️ Found Family 🚀 Misfit Crew 🤖 Ai Captain 🌟 Hopepunk 📊 Corporate Conspiracy

Cascade Failure 90%

A deserter joins a ragtag crew and uncovers a terraforming weapon that silences entire planets.

by L.M. Sagas 2024

3.88

4k+ ratings

🛠️ Found Family 🚀 Misfit Crew 🤖 Ai Captain 🌟 Hopepunk 📊 Corporate Conspiracy

Double Share

by Nathan Lowell • 2008

New third mate boards merchant spaceship: crew broken, first mate brutal. Change is dangerous.

4.35

6k+

🚀 Space Merchant Marine 🛋️ Cozy Sci-Fi 🤝 Found Family 👊 Toxic Workplace 🧠 Competence Porn

Double Share 90%

New third mate boards merchant spaceship: crew broken, first mate brutal. Change is dangerous.

by Nathan Lowell 2008

4.35

6k+ ratings

🚀 Space Merchant Marine 🛋️ Cozy Sci-Fi 🤝 Found Family 👊 Toxic Workplace 🧠 Competence Porn

A Psalm for the Wild-Built

by Becky Chambers • 2021

A tea monk walks into the wilderness and meets a robot sent to understand human longing.

4.21

193k+

🏙️ Solarpunk Utopia 🤖 Robot Companion 💚 Unlikely Friendship 🏳️ Nonbinary Lead 🛤️ Philosophical Journey

A Psalm for the Wild-Built 90%

A tea monk walks into the wilderness and meets a robot sent to understand human longing.

by Becky Chambers 2021

4.21

193k+ ratings

🏙️ Solarpunk Utopia 🤖 Robot Companion 💚 Unlikely Friendship 🏳️ Nonbinary Lead 🛤️ Philosophical Journey

Tyre

by J.J. Green • 2018

When an asteroid mine explodes, an engineer uncovers a plot to shatter the colony's new homeworld.

4.43

156

🔍 Sabotage Investigation 💕 Polyamorous Relationship 🎭 Hidden Enemies ☄️ Asteroid Mining 🤝 Chosen Family

Tyre 90%

When an asteroid mine explodes, an engineer uncovers a plot to shatter the colony's new homeworld.

by J.J. Green 2018

4.43

156 ratings

🔍 Sabotage Investigation 💕 Polyamorous Relationship 🎭 Hidden Enemies ☄️ Asteroid Mining 🤝 Chosen Family

Seveneves

by Neal Stephenson • 2015

The moon shatters. Earth will burn. Seven women in orbit carry the last hope for humanity.

4.00

126k+

🚀 Hard Science Fiction 🧬 Genetic Engineering 🛰️ Survival In Space 🔧 Engineer Protagonists 🏗️ Civilization Building

Seveneves 90%

The moon shatters. Earth will burn. Seven women in orbit carry the last hope for humanity.

by Neal Stephenson 2015

4.00

126k+ ratings

🚀 Hard Science Fiction 🧬 Genetic Engineering 🛰️ Survival In Space 🔧 Engineer Protagonists 🏗️ Civilization Building

Weapons Free

by Daniel Gibbs • 2021

When unknown warships strike, an aging carrier crew must hold the line or lose humanity's homeworld.

4.14

1k+

✈️ Military Space Opera 🚀 Naval Combat In Space 🎖️ Reluctant Hero 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family In War 💥 Space Dogfights

Weapons Free 90%

When unknown warships strike, an aging carrier crew must hold the line or lose humanity's homeworld.

by Daniel Gibbs 2021

4.14

1k+ ratings

✈️ Military Space Opera 🚀 Naval Combat In Space 🎖️ Reluctant Hero 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family In War 💥 Space Dogfights

Anathem

by Neal Stephenson • 2008

A cloistered scholar stumbles onto his order's secret: an alien ship from a parallel universe.

4.17

76k+

🏛️ Monastic Sci-Fi 🔬 Hard Science Fiction 👽 First Contact 🌌 Parallel Universes 🧠 Cerebral Sci-Fi

Anathem 90%

A cloistered scholar stumbles onto his order's secret: an alien ship from a parallel universe.

by Neal Stephenson 2008

4.17

76k+ ratings

🏛️ Monastic Sci-Fi 🔬 Hard Science Fiction 👽 First Contact 🌌 Parallel Universes 🧠 Cerebral Sci-Fi

Sea of Tranquility

by Emily St. John Mandel • 2022

A violin echoes across centuries, linking an exiled nobleman, a moon author, and a time detective.

4.05

303k+

💫 Literary Science Fiction 🔗 Interconnected Lives ⏳ Time Travel Anomaly 🔍 Temporal Investigation 🦠 Pandemic Backdrop

Sea of Tranquility 90%

A violin echoes across centuries, linking an exiled nobleman, a moon author, and a time detective.

by Emily St. John Mandel 2022

4.05

303k+ ratings

💫 Literary Science Fiction 🔗 Interconnected Lives ⏳ Time Travel Anomaly 🔍 Temporal Investigation 🦠 Pandemic Backdrop

Vigil Harbor

by Julia Glass • 2022

A bombing survivor returns to his coastal hometown, only to find the violence waiting there.

3.66

2k+

🌡️ Climate Fiction 🔍 Small Town Secrets 👁️ Multiple Perspectives 💔 Survivor's Guilt 🌫️ Melancholy Atmosphere

Vigil Harbor 90%

A bombing survivor returns to his coastal hometown, only to find the violence waiting there.

by Julia Glass 2022

3.66

2k+ ratings

🌡️ Climate Fiction 🔍 Small Town Secrets 👁️ Multiple Perspectives 💔 Survivor's Guilt 🌫️ Melancholy Atmosphere

Compare Features	Free	Pro
📖 Read Summaries Read unlimited summaries. Free users get 3 per month
🎧 Listen to Summaries Listen to unlimited summaries in 40 languages	—
❤️ Unlimited Bookmarks Free users are limited to 4	—
📜 Unlimited History Free users are limited to 4	—
📥 Unlimited Downloads Free users are limited to 1	—

People love SoBrief

Join our global community of 600,000+ readers

★★★★★

This site is a total game-changer. I've been flying through book summaries like never before. Highly, highly recommend.

— Dave G

Worth my money and time, and really well made. I've never seen this quality of summaries on other websites. Very helpful!

— Em

Highly recommended!! Fantastic service. Perfect for those that want a little more than a teaser but not all the intricate details of a full audio book.

— Greg M