Keep your commercial space flights, Elon Musk. People with stars in their eyes (and a conspicuous lack of millions of dollars in their bank accounts) know that the real gateway to the galaxies lies deep within the best science fiction audiobooks.
There’s no shortage of good sci-fi audiobooks out there. But when it comes to separating good from out-of-this-world-unforgettable, it’s all about the narration. The top sci-fi audiobook narrators are more than just capable storytellers — they’re passionate performers who can bring murderous AI bots to life and whisk you away on intergalactic adventures.
Even over 100 years after publication, sci-fi cornerstones like H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine get a new lease on life thanks to the talents of John Banks, a prolific UK narrator. Others, like Pierce Brown’s 2014 YA dystopian Red Rising, get the full-cast, dramatized adaptation treatment
Get ready to jump into a portal to worlds unknown with this list of must-listen sci-fi audiobooks.
1. All Systems Red by Martha Wells
This is the Hugo Award-winning novella that kicks off the beloved Murderbot Diaries series. It’s a fun, fast-paced read full of dry humor that’s balanced by a poignant examination of the ethics of artificial intelligence.
With over 450 audiobooks under his belt, Audie Award-winning narrator Kevin Free does a fantastic job infusing the sassy yet lovable Murderbot with passion and character.
There’s also a full-cast version of the series, if that’s more your speed.
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
If it seems like Clarke’s 1968 sci-fi classic, 2001: A Space Odyssey, was made for an audiobook adaptation, you’re not wrong. Clarke worked in tandem with Stanley Kubrick on both the novel and the screenplay for the eponymous film, making his seminal work the perfect source material to adapt for a listening experience.
Narrated by three-time Audie Award winner Dick Hill (whose portfolio includes the thrilling Harry Bosch series), 2001 is a master class in science fiction space exploration. As American scientists journey through space following a mysterious encounter with an alien monolith, they must grapple with questions about AI, extraterrestrial life, and humanity’s place in the universe.
3. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Sometimes fresh starts come in faded packages. Looking to shake off her past, Rosemary Harper takes a road trip through the galaxy aboard the Wayfarer, a spaceship decidedly past its prime.
Chambers originally self-published this feel-good start to the Wayfarers series, which has now won both the Hugo and Prix Julia Verlanger awards. Unlike other space operas that come with an abundance of bloodshed and violence, Chambers’ cozy sci-fi is a gentle read full of complex emotions, delightful humor, and epic adventure. An absolute must-listen sci-fi audiobook that stands out within its genre.
4. The Future by Naomi Alderman
The Future takes place in a world that feels eerily familiar — where tech billionaires hold all the cards, usually to the detriment of everyone else. But from this familiar setting, Alderman creates something wholly original. AI, cults, survivalists, and an impending apocalypse — this novel is the definition of propulsive.
Ever since her feminist dystopia, The Power, took the literary universe by storm, Alderman’s works belong on pretty much any and all sci-fi “best-of” lists.
5. Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc by Ash Bishop
When Russ and Nina find an old family heirloom, they naively believe their money troubles are over. The last thing the friends expect is to attract malicious extraterrestrials — and the titular Intergalactic Exterminators.
Even more surprising, the exterminators want Russ to join their team. Bishop accomplishes a great feat in his debut, penning a heartwarming and thrilling sci-fi story teeming with character depth. It’s no surprise this title took home the 2023 Audie Award for Science Fiction.
6. How High We Go In the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Nagamatsu masterfully twists science fiction’s greatest tropes in a series of interconnected dystopian stories about the discovery of a deadly virus. This quietly devastating novel full of isolated, lonely people still has a heart that’s fully human, one whose beat tethers us across tragedy, time, and space.
Hauntingly beautiful prose lends itself well to an audiobook adaptation, which undoubtedly helped earn a spot as a finalist for the 2023 Audie for Science Fiction.
7. Noor by Nnedi Okorafor
Celebrated Africanfuturist Okorafor (Remote Control, Binti) delivers an action-packed, cyberpunk sci-fi adventure. Set in the near future, a woman whose many biotech body manipulations keep her alive is forced to flee across the deserts of Nigeria, all while the world watches via live streaming.
Actress/filmmaker Délé Ogundiran’s rich voice adds a layer of depth to Okorafor’s imaginative world. Like How High We Go In the Dark, Noor was a finalist for the 2023 Audie for Science Fiction.
8. Terms of Enlistment by Marko Kloos
Kloos’ old-school military sci-fi audiobook — which includes excellent dystopian world-building — will leave you hanging on narrator Luke Daniels’ every word. Economic inequality runs rampant in the North American Commonwealth, leaving welfare rats like Andrew with little opportunity to escape poverty — unless they’re willing to join the military.
Die-hard fans of military sci-fi will appreciate that Kloos’ real-life service experience shines through in his self-published novel. Kloos, a German military vet, says, “The first novel, Terms of Enlistment, is particularly littered with actual anecdotes from my own basic training.”
9. You Have Been Judged by Craige Martelle and Michael Anderle
You don’t have to be familiar with the Kurtherian Gambit universe (although I highly recommend diving in simply because it’s an awesome universe) to read and appreciate You Have Been Judged, a standalone novel that lives up to the OG series in every way.
Badass barrister Rivka Anoa stands accused of murder. Ready to accept the consequences, she receives a surprising second chance to travel the cosmos acting as judge, jury, and executioner.
Narrator Chloe Cannon takes readers on a rollicking journey of justice through the cosmos in this fun twist on the space opera genre.
10. How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu
Calling all quantum-physics-and-time-travel-story-loving nerds! This postmodern science fiction audiobook is definitely for you. Every sci-fi trope receives a hilarious spin in this existential crisis of a novel.
James Yaegashi’s narration is on point and poignantly conveys a wide range of emotions. Which is fitting, since Yu (The Only Living Girl on Earth) is just as likely to make you laugh as he is to break your heart and then leave you pondering the meaning of life and the nature of mortality.
11. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Wells’ iconic work of science fiction was ahead of its time in more ways than one. This is the original time travel story that influenced an entire subgenre of sci-fi that uses time machines as a plot device. (You’re welcome, Doctor Who fans.) It’s also one of the first truly dystopian stories due to its exploration of social Darwinism.
UK voice actor John Banks, who also narrated Wells’ The War of the Worlds, uses his theater background to bring Wells’ must-read sci-fi classic to life.
12. Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Aoki’s latest novel gives you everything you didn’t know you needed: an alien donut shop run by an interstellar refugee, a wildly gifted transgender violinist, and a cursed violin teacher desperately caught up in a Faustian bargain.
AudioFile Magazine says narrator Cindy Kay “masterfully narrates this unique audiobook … to tell a story of self-acceptance and finding safety in the bleakest of times.” This Earphones Award recipient is a heartbreaking, hilarious, and unflinchingly honest look at the lived experiences of trans women framed against a cozy sci-fi adventure.
13. Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill
Pounce, an AI nannybot, accompanies Ezra, his young ward, as the world around them crumbles in the wake of the robot revolution. Vikas Adam’s gripping narration of Cargill’s dystopian novel — particularly his ability to bring Pounce to life — earned Day Zero a nomination for the 2022 Audie for Science Fiction.
Pounce’s deeply personal narrative — which includes AI beings set against a terrifying apocalyptic backdrop and themes that explore friendship versus possession — makes for a beautiful tale.
14. Pastel Pink by Nikki Minty
Two stories, one main character. That’s the intriguing hook for Minty’s 2022 Audie for Science Fiction finalist.
There’s Ruby, a brutally murdered human whose ghost remains on Earth. And then there’s Harlow, the Pastel Zeek reincarnation of Ruby, who was born on a planet riddled with prejudice and racial division.
Dual narrators voice Harlow and Ruby, giving them distinct yet similar voices. This makes for an intriguing listening experience as the two grapple with dangerous politics, love triangles, and identity struggles.
15. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
In Butler’s dystopian classic, the world has been ravaged by climate change. Communities wall themselves off for safety, but gates and barbed wire can’t keep desperate thieves away.
Despite the dire circumstances, Parable of the Sower shows the power of hope when all seems lost and the strength in being vulnerable when surrounded by those who would do you harm.
You can’t go wrong reading the works of Hugo Award-winning author Butler in any form.
16. The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Starting in 1967 but spanning decades, Liu’s Hugo-winning trilogy opener blends sci-fi, mystery, and political commentary. The tightly wound plot covers everything from alien invasion to China’s Cultural Revolution in a labyrinth of shocking reveals.
The Netflix adaptation stars Benedict Wong, Eiza Gonzalez, and Jovan Adepo.
17. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Equal parts riveting sci-fi, daring dystopian, and epic war fantasy, Red Rising paints a bleak picture of a futuristic, color-coded caste society. Members of the Red caste are relegated to backbreaking underground work to make the surface of Mars inhabitable for upper castes.
Enter Darrow, a young Red who makes a world-shattering discovery: The colony broke through to the surface years ago and the Red caste has been living a life of slavery while others enjoy a self-indulgent lifestyle above. As Darrow infiltrates the elite Gold caste, a full-cast dramatization ratchets up the political intrigue, betrayals, and the risk of discovery of Darrow’s double life.
18. Dogs of War by Adrian Tchaikovksy
Move over, Cujo. There’s a new canine killer in town and his name is Rex. As a Bioform (a genetically modified being built for war), Rex is designed to obey his master’s commands, which typically involve obliterating the enemy.
On the surface, this seems like a literal interpretation of a war dog story. In reality, it’s a thoughtful and insightful look into the ethics and morality of AI, the concept of free will, and transhumanism rights. While there are many compelling characters involved, Rex’s story (and the voice of his narrator, Nathan Osgood) is unforgettable.
Tchaikovsky pulls no punches in this brilliant, enthralling, and heartbreaking tale of a good dog torn between his master and a burgeoning conscience.
