25 Books like The Martian

Project Hail Mary

by Andy Weir

He wakes alone with no memory on an interstellar mission to stop a star-killing plague.

4.51

1.4M+

🔬 Hard Science Fiction 👽 First Contact 🧠 Amnesiac Protagonist 🤝 Interspecies Friendship 😬 Reluctant Hero

Project Hail Mary 92%

He wakes alone with no memory on an interstellar mission to stop a star-killing plague.

by Andy Weir 2021

4.51

1.4M+ ratings

🔬 Hard Science Fiction 👽 First Contact 🧠 Amnesiac Protagonist 🤝 Interspecies Friendship 😬 Reluctant Hero

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

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

We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

by Dennis E. Taylor • 2016

A dead engineer wakes as an AI and is hurled into space inside a self-replicating probe.

4.25

133k+

🧠 Digital Consciousness 🚀 Von Neumann Probe 👥 Multiple Selves ⚖️ Prime Directive 🌍 Humanity's Last Hope

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) 90%

A dead engineer wakes as an AI and is hurled into space inside a self-replicating probe.

by Dennis E. Taylor 2016

4.25

133k+ ratings

🧠 Digital Consciousness 🚀 Von Neumann Probe 👥 Multiple Selves ⚖️ Prime Directive 🌍 Humanity's Last Hope

Mickey7

by Edward Ashton • 2022

An expendable colonist survives a mission and returns to find his duplicate already living his life.

3.78

58k+

🧠 Consciousness Transfer 👥 Accidental Duplicate 👽 Sentient Aliens 🤝 First Contact 🪐 Colony Sci-Fi

Mickey7 90%

An expendable colonist survives a mission and returns to find his duplicate already living his life.

by Edward Ashton 2022

3.78

58k+ ratings

🧠 Consciousness Transfer 👥 Accidental Duplicate 👽 Sentient Aliens 🤝 First Contact 🪐 Colony Sci-Fi

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 89%

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

Ringworld

by Larry Niven • 1970

Four explorers crash-land on a ring encircling a star. Its surface equals three million Earths.

3.93

130k+

🛸 Big Dumb Object 🔬 Hard Science Fiction 👽 Alien Crew 🏕️ Crash Landing Survival 🔧 Engineering Puzzle

Ringworld 89%

Four explorers crash-land on a ring encircling a star. Its surface equals three million Earths.

by Larry Niven 1970

3.93

130k+ ratings

🛸 Big Dumb Object 🔬 Hard Science Fiction 👽 Alien Crew 🏕️ Crash Landing Survival 🔧 Engineering Puzzle

Gateway

by Craig Alanson • 2025

His AI lost inside a star, Bishop faces an ancient enemy opening the galaxy's door.

4.41

4k+

🚀 Military Space Opera 🤖 Snarky AI Companion 🫂 Found Family 😰 Reluctant Leader 😏 Witty Banter

Gateway 89%

His AI lost inside a star, Bishop faces an ancient enemy opening the galaxy's door.

by Craig Alanson 2025

4.41

4k+ ratings

🚀 Military Space Opera 🤖 Snarky AI Companion 🫂 Found Family 😰 Reluctant Leader 😏 Witty Banter

Light of the Jedi

by Charles Soule • 2021

A freighter explodes in hyperspace, raining debris on a system. Jedi unite to stop the cataclysm.

3.92

34k+

💥 Space Disaster ⚔️ Master And Apprentice 🌟 Hopeful Sci-Fi 🎬 Cinematic Action 🚨 Rescue Mission

Light of the Jedi 89%

A freighter explodes in hyperspace, raining debris on a system. Jedi unite to stop the cataclysm.

by Charles Soule 2021

3.92

34k+ ratings

💥 Space Disaster ⚔️ Master And Apprentice 🌟 Hopeful Sci-Fi 🎬 Cinematic Action 🚨 Rescue Mission

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

Artemis

by Andy Weir • 2017

A porter and smuggler on the moon takes a job sabotaging harvesters that goes violently wrong.

3.68

335k+

🚀 Hard Sci-Fi 🌕 Lunar City 💰 Heist Gone Wrong 🏭 Corporate Sabotage 🛠️ Working Class Hero

Artemis 90%

A porter and smuggler on the moon takes a job sabotaging harvesters that goes violently wrong.

by Andy Weir 2017

3.68

335k+ ratings

🚀 Hard Sci-Fi 🌕 Lunar City 💰 Heist Gone Wrong 🏭 Corporate Sabotage 🛠️ Working Class Hero

Operation Bounce House

by Matt Dinniman

A farmer wakes to find his colony turned into a children's live-fire mech game.

3.91

35k+

🎮 Death Game 🤖 Mech Combat 🐝 AI Companion ⚔️ Colonist Uprising 🩷 Found Family

Operation Bounce House 90%

A farmer wakes to find his colony turned into a children's live-fire mech game.

by Matt Dinniman 2026

3.91

35k+ ratings

🎮 Death Game 🤖 Mech Combat 🐝 AI Companion ⚔️ Colonist Uprising 🩷 Found Family

A Fire Upon the Deep

by Vernor Vinge • 1992

A galaxy-devouring intelligence awakens. Stranded on an alien world, two siblings are the only hope.

4.13

67k+

🤝 First Contact 🧠 Alien Consciousness 👁️ Ancient Superintelligence 🌑 Cosmic Horror 🌌 Galactic Civilization

A Fire Upon the Deep 89%

A galaxy-devouring intelligence awakens. Stranded on an alien world, two siblings are the only hope.

by Vernor Vinge 1992

4.13

67k+ ratings

🤝 First Contact 🧠 Alien Consciousness 👁️ Ancient Superintelligence 🌑 Cosmic Horror 🌌 Galactic Civilization

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 89%

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

The Road to Roswell

by Connie Willis • 2023

A maid of honor's alien abduction in Roswell is a rescue mission, not an invasion.

3.71

9k+

🛸 Comic Science Fiction 👽 First Contact 🖤 Interspecies Friendship 🎭 Oddball Ensemble 💕 Forced Proximity

The Road to Roswell 89%

A maid of honor's alien abduction in Roswell is a rescue mission, not an invasion.

by Connie Willis 2023

3.71

9k+ ratings

🛸 Comic Science Fiction 👽 First Contact 🖤 Interspecies Friendship 🎭 Oddball Ensemble 💕 Forced Proximity

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 89%

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

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 89%

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

Orbital

by Samantha Harvey • 2023

One day in orbit: six astronauts, sixteen sunrises, a typhoon's eye, and a beautiful fragile Earth.

3.49

150k+

🧘 Meditative Fiction 🚀 Introspective Sci-Fi 👥 Crew Dynamics 🌍 Earth From Space 🌪️ Climate Grief

Orbital 89%

One day in orbit: six astronauts, sixteen sunrises, a typhoon's eye, and a beautiful fragile Earth.

by Samantha Harvey 2023

3.49

150k+ ratings

🧘 Meditative Fiction 🚀 Introspective Sci-Fi 👥 Crew Dynamics 🌍 Earth From Space 🌪️ Climate Grief

Service Model

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

A robot valet kills his master, then crosses a dead civilization to find out why.

4.03

23k+

🎭 Philosophical Satire 🤖 Robot Self-Discovery 📋 Bureaucratic Absurdity 🫖 Loyal Servant Narrator 😐 Deadpan Narrator

Service Model 89%

A robot valet kills his master, then crosses a dead civilization to find out why.

by Adrian Tchaikovsky 2024

4.03

23k+ ratings

🎭 Philosophical Satire 🤖 Robot Self-Discovery 📋 Bureaucratic Absurdity 🫖 Loyal Servant Narrator 😐 Deadpan Narrator

A Rover's Story

by Jasmine Warga • 2022

When a Mars rover starts to feel, his search for water becomes a search for belonging.

4.28

10k+

🌱 Robot Coming Of Age 🚀 Mission To Mars 🫂 Found Family 📝 Letters From Home 🌿 Gentle Sci-Fi

A Rover's Story 90%

When a Mars rover starts to feel, his search for water becomes a search for belonging.

by Jasmine Warga 2022

4.28

10k+ ratings

🌱 Robot Coming Of Age 🚀 Mission To Mars 🫂 Found Family 📝 Letters From Home 🌿 Gentle Sci-Fi

The Android's Dream

by John Scalzi • 2006

A diplomatic fart kills a negotiator. Peace requires one extinct sheep: a woman who never knew.

3.99

24k+

🛸 Comic Space Opera 🦸 Reluctant Hero 🤖 AI Companion 🤪 Absurdist Humor 🌌 Interstellar Politics

The Android's Dream 90%

A diplomatic fart kills a negotiator. Peace requires one extinct sheep: a woman who never knew.

by John Scalzi 2006

3.99

24k+ ratings

🛸 Comic Space Opera 🦸 Reluctant Hero 🤖 AI Companion 🤪 Absurdist Humor 🌌 Interstellar Politics

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 88%

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

Trading in Danger

by Elizabeth Moon • 2003

A disgraced cadet captains a rusty freighter into a star system collapsing into war.

4.00

16k+

🚀 Interstellar Trade ⚔️ Space Mutiny 👥 Ragtag Crew 💰 Space Mercenaries 👩‍✈️ Woman Ship Captain

Trading in Danger 88%

A disgraced cadet captains a rusty freighter into a star system collapsing into war.

by Elizabeth Moon 2003

4.00

16k+ ratings

🚀 Interstellar Trade ⚔️ Space Mutiny 👥 Ragtag Crew 💰 Space Mercenaries 👩‍✈️ Woman Ship Captain

Gravity

by Tess Gerritsen • 2000

An alien organism devours the ISS crew from within. Earth condemns them all. One doctor refuses.

4.10

18k+

🩺 Medical Thriller 👽 Alien Pathogen 🦠 Body Horror 🔒 Claustrophobic Tension 🚀 Near Future Space

Gravity 88%

An alien organism devours the ISS crew from within. Earth condemns them all. One doctor refuses.

by Tess Gerritsen 2000

4.10

18k+ ratings

🩺 Medical Thriller 👽 Alien Pathogen 🦠 Body Horror 🔒 Claustrophobic Tension 🚀 Near Future Space

Old Man's War

by John Scalzi • 2005

A seventy-five-year-old widower joins the army for a new body and gets an interstellar war.

4.23

227k+

🪖 Military Sci-Fi 🧬 Consciousness Transfer 👽 Alien Warfare 😏 Wry Humor 💪 Boot Camp Training

Old Man's War 88%

A seventy-five-year-old widower joins the army for a new body and gets an interstellar war.

by John Scalzi 2005

4.23

227k+ ratings

🪖 Military Sci-Fi 🧬 Consciousness Transfer 👽 Alien Warfare 😏 Wry Humor 💪 Boot Camp Training

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