100 Best Planet Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

Foundation (Foundation, #1)

Isaac Asimov

5.0

For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future -- to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save mankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire -- both scientists and scholars -- and br

Recommended by Elon Musk, Adam Gazzaley, Amy Webb, and 7 others.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

In terms of sci-fi books, I think Isaac Asimov is really great. I like the Foundation series, probably one of the all-time best. [source]

Adam Gazzaley

Life-changing for me as a kid, and have still read it multiple times throughout my life. [source]

Amy Webb

Asimov was a masterful fringe thinker, and this first book in the Foundation series shows just how attuned he was to possible and plausible future scenarios. Although it’s 50 years old, Foundation is especially provocative reading given our current state of world affairs — in order to save humankind and the vast knowledge we have accumulated, the main character gathers the smartest thinkers and forms a secret society. But that doesn’t go exactly as planned, either. [source]

2

Dune (Dune Chronicles, #1)

Frank Herbert

4.8

A deluxe hardcover edition of the best-selling science-fiction book of all time—part of Penguin Galaxy, a collectible series of six sci-fi/fantasy classics, featuring a series introduction by Neil Gaiman.

Science fiction’s supreme masterpiece, "Dune" will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, it is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who will become t

Recommended by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Adam Savage, and 15 others.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

Brilliant. The author advocates placing limits on machine intelligence. [source]

Jeff Bezos

Founder/Amazon

I’m a big science-fiction fan. I love this book. [source]

Adam Savage

If you haven't read it, just go read it. It is amazing! [source]

3

Foundation's Edge (Foundation #4)

Isaac Asimov

4.7

At last, the costly and bitter war between the two Foundations had come to an end. The scientists of the First Foundation had proved victorious; and now they return to Hari Seldon's long-established plan to build a new Empire on the ruins of the old. But rumors persist that the Second Foundation is not destroyed after all—and that its still-defiant survivors are preparing their revenge. Now two ex

Recommended by Elon Musk.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

The Foundation series is fundamental to the creation of SpaceX. [source]

4

Forward the Foundation (Foundation: Prequel #2)

Isaac Asimov

4.7

Librarian's Note: Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here

Here, from a grand master of science fiction, is the long awaited final novel of the greatest series ever told. Completed just before his death, Forward The Foundation is the crowning achievement of a great writer's life, a stirring testament to the creative genius of Isaac Asimov.

As Hari Seldon struggles to perfect his revolutionar

Recommended by Elon Musk.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

The Foundation series is fundamental to the creation of SpaceX. [source]

5

Prelude to Foundation (Foundation: Prequel, #1)

Isaac Asimov

4.6

It is the year 12,020 G.E. and Emperor Cleon I sits uneasily on the Imperial throne of Trantor. Here in the great multidomed capital of the Galactic Empire, forty billion people have created a civilization of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Yet Cleon knows there are those who would see him fall—those whom he would destroy if only he could read the future.

Hari Seldon has come t

Recommended by Elon Musk.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

The Foundation series is fundamental to the creation of SpaceX. [source]

6

Anathem

Neal Stephenson

4.6

Fraa Erasmas is a young avout living in the Concent of Saunt Edhar, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers, protected from the corrupting influences of the outside "saecular" world by ancient stone, honored traditions, and complex rituals. Over the centuries, cities and governments have risen and fallen beyond the concent's walls. Three times during history's darkest epochs v

7

Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos #1)

Dan Simmons

4.5

On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all. On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at

Recommended by Primoz Cigler and Yuriy Zaremba.

Primoz Cigler

Here's the non-business one that I'm reading as well. It's a science fiction book by Dan Simmons - Hyperion. It's a pleasure reading, so no expected gains from this one :) [source]

Yuriy Zaremba

Amazing, complex stories, which trigger a lot of thoughts and new ideas. I think what people miss sometimes is how many similar values and ideas these book series communicate. [source]

8

The Martian

Andy Weir

4.5

Note: Alternate-Cover Edition for this ASIN can be found here

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even i

Recommended by Ev Williams, Craig Barrett, Dan Christensen, and 2 others.

Craig Barrett

Former CEO/Intel

This book didn’t really change my mind, but rather reinforced the concept of the power of the individual. At a time when we depend more and more on big institutions to solve our business and social problems the real solutions are crafted by individual actions and initiative. This is true in the business world, where ideas from individual researchers or entrepreneurs can create mega companies overnight, and in the social sector, where such actions as high performing charter schools run circles around a moribund K-12 education system. Best we all remember that the next meaningful advances will come from individual initiative rather than massive governmental programs. After all, Google, Facebook, Uber, microloans and countless other success stories were not products of big government. [source]

Dan Christensen

@EconTalker @cable_co1 The Martian... hey it can’t all be economics and it’s a great book [source]

Fabrice Grinda

I have lots of books to recommend, but they are not related to my career path. The only one that is remotely related is Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. That said here are books I would recommend. [source]

Cover unavailable

9

Matter

Iain M. Banks

4.5

In a world renowned even within a galaxy full of wonders, a crime within a war. For one brother it means a desperate flight, & a search for the one, maybe two, people who could clear his name. For his brother it means a life lived under constant threat of treachery & murder. For their sister, even without knowing the full truth, it means returning to a place she'd thought abandoned forever. Only t

Recommended by Elon Musk.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

Compelling picture of a grand, semi-utopian galactic future. Hopefully not too optimistic about AI. [source]

10

Stranger in a Strange Land

Robert A. Heinlein

4.5

NAME: Valentine Michael Smith
ANCESTRY: Human
ORIGIN: Mars

Valentine Michael Smith is a human being raised on Mars, newly returned to Earth. Among his people for the first time, he struggles to understand the social mores and prejudices of human nature that are so alien to him, while teaching them his own fundamental beliefs in grokking, watersharing, and love.

Recommended by Michael Arrington, Timothy Ferriss, and Gunhee Park.

Michael Arrington

Founder/TechCrunch

Valentine Michael Smith is a human raised by Martians on Mars, orphaned when the crew of a human expedition to the planet died. He comes back to Earth as an adult when a subsequent expedition finds him. He is initially weak because of the high gravity of Earth, but recovers. He’s superhuman and psychic, and teaches these skills to others. Just about everyone in power on Earth wants him and his followers dead. In addition to being an absolutely great book, Heinlein also coined the term grok for the first time in the novel. He also invented the notion of the waterbed in the novel. [source]

Timothy Ferriss

Author & Entrepreneur

Ever feel like you don’t quite fit in? Don’t want to follow society’s silly rules? Then you can probably relate to human-born and Martian-raised Valentine Michael Smith. In this controversial 1960’s cult classic, Heinlein questions long held assumptions on religion, government, and sexuality (free Martian love for all!). It’s also where the term “grok” originated. [source]

Gunhee Park

I just finished up Stranger in a Strange Land, and am also reading Churchill, A Life and The Perennial Seller. I can’t really pinpoint what I expect to gain from any books I read, but am hoping to gain perspective and some valuable lesson that I can take away from each book. What that is exactly is different for every book. [source]

11

Shadow of the Giant (Ender's Shadow, #4)

Orson Scott Card

4.5

Bean's past was a battle just to survive. He first appeared on the streets of Rotterdam, a tiny child with a mind leagues beyond anyone else. He knew he could not survive through strength; he used his tactical genius to gain acceptance into a children's gang, and then to help make that gang a template for success for all the others. He civilized them, and lived to grow older. Then he was discovere

12

Planets

Elizabeth Carney

4.5

This brilliantly illustrated book taps into children's natural curiosity about the vast world of space. This level two reader, written in simple language that is easy for young readers to understand, introduces children to our solar system, including all of the planets and dwarf planets, and lots of fascinating fun facts. This reader helps cultivate the explorers of tomorrow!

This high-interest, ed

13

Ender's Game

Orson Scott Card

4.4

Once again, Earth is under attack. An alien species is poised for a final assault. The survival of humanity depends on a military genius who can defeat the aliens. But who?

Ender Wiggin. Brilliant. Ruthless. Cunning. A tactical and strategic master. And a child.

Recruited for military training by the world government, Ender's childhood ends the moment he enters his new home: Battle School. Among the

Recommended by Mark Zuckerberg, Ev Williams, Timothy Ferriss, and 5 others.

Mark Zuckerberg

Founder/Facebook

Oh, it’s not a favorite book or anything like that, I just added it because I liked it. I don’t think there’s any real significance to the fact that it’s listed there and other books aren’t. [source]

Timothy Ferriss

Author & Entrepreneur

At one point, this was the only book listed on Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page. If it’s good enough to be the sole selection of the founder of Facebook, maybe there’s something to it. The plot: In anticipation of another attack from a hostile alien race, the search for a brilliant military strategist has led to Ender Wiggin. In space combat school, Ender stands out, demonstrating exceptional leadership and unconventional strategy. But it is lonely at the top for Ender, as he struggles with relentless pressure from his instructors. Through Ender’s journey, you’ll learn how to capitalize on your strengths and those of your teammates, as well as exploit your adversaries’ weaknesses. Ender is a futuristic Level 5 Leader we can all learn from. [source]

Travis Kalanick

About a kid who is trained by the military to play video games … But he realizes at the end that the video games he was playing were an actual war. [source]

14

Second Foundation (Foundation #3)

Isaac Asimov

4.4

So far the Foundation was safe. But there was a hidden Second Foundation to protect the first. The Mule has yet to find it, but he was getting closer all the time. The men of the Foundation sought it, too, to escape from Mule's mind control. Only Arkady, a 14 year-old girl seemed to have the answer, or did she...?

Recommended by Elon Musk.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

The Foundation series is fundamental to the creation of SpaceX. [source]

15

Ringworld (Ringworld, #1)

Larry Niven

4.4

The artefact is a circular ribbon of matter six hundred million miles long and ninety million miles in radius. Pierson's puppeteers, the aliens who discovered it, are understandably wary of encountering the builders of such an immense structure and have assembled a team of two humans, a mad puppeteer and a kzin, a huge cat-like alien, to explore it. But a crash landing on the vast edifice forces t

16

The Dispossessed

Ursula K. Le Guin

4.4

Shevek, a brilliant physicist, decides to take action. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and attempt to tear down the walls of hatred that have isolated his planet of anarchists from the rest of the civilized universe. To do this dangerous task will mean giving up his family and possibly his life—Shevek must make the unprecedented journey to the utopian mother planet, Urras, to ch

Recommended by Nicholas Whyte.

Nicholas Whyte

The hero of The Dispossessed grows up on a planet which is one of two twin planets in a solar system far away from here. The planet where the hero grows up is essentially a communist-socialist utopia, and the twin planet that they see every day and every night hanging in the sky is a more capitalist society, much more similar to our western society. [source]

17

Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1)

John Scalzi, William Dufris, et al

4.4

John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.

The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-- and alien races willing to fight us for them are common. So: we fight. To defend Earth, and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war

18

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1)

Douglas Adams

4.3

One Thursday lunchtime Earth is unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this is already more than he can cope with. Sadly, however, the weekend has only just begun. And the Galaxy is a very, very large and startling place indeed.

Recommended by Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Michael Arrington, and 6 others.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

I guess when I was around 12 or 15... I had an existential crisis, and I was reading various books on trying to figure out the meaning of life and what does it all mean? It all seemed quite meaningless and then we happened to have some books by Nietzsche and Schopenhauer in the house, which you should not read at age 14 (laughter). It is bad, it’s really negative. So then I read Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy which is quite positive I think and it highlighted an important point which is that a lot of times the question is harder than the answer. And if you can properly phrase the question, then the answer is the easy part. So, to the degree that we can better understand the universe, then we can better know what questions to ask. Then whatever the question is that most approximates: what’s the meaning of life? That’s the question we can ultimately get closer to understanding. And so I thought to the degree that we can expand the scope and scale of consciousness and knowledge, then that would be a good thing. [source]

Richard Branson

Founder/Virgin Group

Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. [source]

Michael Arrington

Founder/TechCrunch

Not sure what you’ll learn from HHGTTG, but it’s one of the funniest series of books of all time and if you haven’t read it you pretty much have to. It’s actually a five book series that’s called a trilogy, and if Adams hadn’t died of a heart attack at age 49 in 2001 there would have likely been more books written. HHGTTG and the WWII epic Catch-22 are among my favorite books when contemplating the meaninglessness and hilarity of life (HHGTTG begins with the Earth being destroyed to to make way for a hyperspatial express route). Like Dune, skip the movie, it doesn’t do the books justice. [source]

19

A Place for Pluto

Stef Wade, Melanie Demmer

4.3

Pluto got the shock of his life when he was kicked out of the famous nine. His planet status was stripped away, leaving him lost and confused. Poor Pluto! On his quest to find a place where he belongs, he talks to comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. He doesn't fit it anywhere! But when Pluto is about to give up, he runs into a dwarf planet and finally finds his place in the solar system. This feel-

20

Naked Lunch

william s. burroughs

4.3

The book is structured as a series of loosely connected vignettes. Burroughs stated that the chapters are intended to be read in any order. The reader follows the narration of junkie William Lee, who takes on various aliases, from the U.S. to Mexico, eventually to Tangier and the dreamlike Interzone.

The vignettes are drawn from Burroughs' own experiences in these places and his addiction to drugs

Recommended by Andrew Lees.

Andrew Lees

In my book I explain how, after reading Naked Lunch, Burroughs and I drew up a Faustian pact. [source]

21

Contact

Carl Sagan

4.3

At first it seemed impossible - a radio signal that came not from Earth but from far beyond the nearest stars. But then the signal was translated, and what had been impossible became terrifying. For the signal contains the information to build a Machine that can travel to the stars. A Machine that can take a human to meet those that sent the message. They are eager to meet us: they have been watch

Recommended by Sean Seton-Rogers.

Sean Seton-Rogers

Currently reading Contact, by Carl Sagan. Not expecting to gain anything...I just love scifi books. [source]

22

Heretics of Dune (Dune Chronicles, #5)

Frank Herbert

4.3

Leto Atreides, the God Emperor of Dune, is dead. In the fifteen hundred years since his passing, the Empire has fallen into ruin. The great Scattering saw millions abandon the crumbling civilization and spread out beyond the reaches of known space. The planet Arrakis-now called Rakis-has reverted to its desert climate, and its great sandworms are dying.

Now, the Lost Ones are returning home in pur

Recommended by Elon Musk.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

Brilliant. The author advocates placing limits on machine intelligence. [source]

23

March Upcountry (Empire of Man, #1)

David Weber, John Ringo

4.3

Prince Roger MacClintock is a spoiled young princeling hardly worth the space he takes up. Now he must become a man, or the entire galaxy will suffer arrested adolescence.

24

Xenocide (Ender's Saga, #3)

Orson Card

4.3

The war for survival of the planet Lusitania will be fought in the hearts of a child named Gloriously Bright.

On Lusitania, Ender found a world where humans and pequininos and the Hive Queen could all live together; where three very different intelligent species could find common ground at last. Or so he thought.

Lusitania also harbors the descolada, a virus that kills all humans it infects, but whi

Recommended by Ev Williams.

25

Pluto Gets the Call

Adam Rex, Laurie Keller

4.3

Pluto gets a call from Earth telling him he isn’t a planet anymore, so he sets out on a journey through the solar system to find out why in this funny and fact-filled romp that’s perfect for fans of The Scrambled States of America.

Pluto loves being a planet. That is, until the day he gets a call from some Earth scientists telling him he isn’t a planet anymore! You probably wanted to meet a real pl

26

Crystal Singer (Crystal Singer, #1)

Anne Mccaffrey, Michael Whelan

4.3

Her name was Killashandra Ree. And after ten grueling years of musical training, she was still without prospects. Until she heard of the mysterious Heptite Guild who could provide careers, security, and wealth beyond imagining. The problem was, few people who landed on Ballybran ever left. But to Killashandra the risks were acceptable....

27

There's No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library)

Tish Rabe

4.3

Learn about outer space with the help of everyone's favorite Cat in the Hat!

The Cat in the Hat takes readers on an out of this world reading adventure in this nonfiction book all about our solar system. Learn about the planets, the constellations, and astronauts, and explore the wonders of space. Perfect for aspiring astraunauts, or any kid who loves learning and science.

The universe is a mysteri

28

Out of the Silent Planet (The Space Trilogy, #1)

C. S. Lewis

4.3

In the first novel of C.S. Lewis's classic science fiction trilogy, Dr Ransom, a Cambridge academic, is abducted and taken on a spaceship to the red planet of Malacandra, which he knows as Mars. His captors are plotting to plunder the planet's treasures and plan to offer Ransom as a sacrifice to the creatures who live there. Ransom discovers he has come from the 'silent planet' – Earth – whose tra

29

That Hideous Strength: A Modern Fairy-Tale for Grown-Ups

C. S. Lewis

4.2

In the final chapter in the cherished Space Trilogy, a sinister technocratic organization is gaining force throughout Europe with a plan to recondition society, and it is up to Ransom and his friends to squelch this threat by applying age-old wisdom to a brave new universe dominated by science.

Recommended by Casey Mattox.

Casey Mattox

@CrawfordStuff @senatorshoshana I'm currently on book 3 of the Ransom Trilogy. Love it. [source]

30

Leviathan Wakes (Expanse, #1)

James S. A. Corey

4.2

Humanity has colonized the solar system - Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond - but the stars are still out of our reach.

Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, "The Scopuli," they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing

Recommended by Bill Liao and Sean Kerner.

Bill Liao

The human world occurs in language so best get good at it! [source]

Sean Kerner

@campuscodi the Expanse series is awesome (first book is Leviathan Wakes) The Culture series from Iain M. Banks (starting with Consider Phlebas) are classic too.. [source]

31

Perelandra (The Space Trilogy, #2)

C. S. Lewis

4.2

The second book in C. S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, which also includes Out of the Silent Planet and That Hideous Strength, Perelandra continues the adventures of the extraordinary Dr. Ransom. Pitted against the most destructive of human weaknesses, temptation, the great man must battle evil on a new planet — Perelandra — when it is invaded by a dark force. Will Perelandra succumb to this ma

Cover unavailable

32

Surface Detail (Culture #9)

Iain M. Banks

4.2

It begins in the realm of the Real, where matter still matters. It begins with a murder. It will not end until the Culture has gone to war with death itself. Lededje Y'breq is one of the Intagliated, her marked body bearing witness to a family shame, her life belonging to a man whose lust for power is without limit. Prepared to risk everything for her freedom, her release, when it comes, is at a p

Recommended by Elon Musk.

Elon Musk

Founder/SpaceX

I recommend all of Banks' books. Especially this book. [source]

33

A Fire Upon The Deep (Zones of Thought, #1)

Vernor Vinge

4.2

In 1992 Vernor Vinge amazed the science fiction world with this epic novel of star-spanning adventure. It won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, and has since become a landmark in the field. Now, with the long awaited sequel The Children of the Sky about to be published, we are proud to offer the first-ever trade paperback edition of this big-screen SF classic.

A Fire Upon The Deep is the winner of the

Recommended by Benjamin Humphrey.

Benjamin Humphrey

This is an immense science fiction space opera which came out in 1992. It covers a lot of themes including AI, aliens, love, betrayal, genocide, and racism. I found the book spectacular in its scale and detail, and original in its ‘zones of thought’ concept, where the galaxy is split into four zones, each with their own laws of physics. There's also the unusual ‘Tines’ race, where each animal is comprised of a group mind of 3 – 5 members. [source]

34

Tunnel in the Sky (Heinlein's Juveniles, #9)

Robert A. Heinlein

4.2

A classic novel from the mind of the storyteller who captures the imagination of readers from around the world, and across two generations. The final exam for Dr. Matson's Advanced Survival class was meant to be just that: only a test. But something has gone terribly wrong...and now Rod Walker and his fellow students are stranded somewhere unknown in the universe, beyond contact with Earth, at the

35

How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming

Mike Brown

4.2

The solar system most of us grew up with included nine planets, with Mercury closest to the sun and Pluto at the outer edge. Then, in 2005, astronomer Mike Brown made the discovery of a lifetime: a tenth planet, Eris, slightly bigger than Pluto. But instead of its resulting in one more planet being added to our solar system, Brown’s find ignited a firestorm of controversy that riled the usually se

Recommended by Philip Plait.

Philip Plait

Mike Brown was finding objects that were as big or possibly bigger than Pluto in the outer solar system. It’s a great story. [source]

36

All the Weyrs of Pern (Pern, #11)

Anne McCaffrey

4.2

For generations, the dragonriders had dedicated their lives to fighting Thread, the dreaded spores that periodically rained from the sky to ravage the land. On the backs of their magnificent telepathic dragons they flew to flame the deadly stuff out of the air before it could reach the planet's surface. But the greatest dream of the dragon riders was to find a way to eradicate Thread completely, s

37

Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern, #1)

Anne McCaffrey

4.2

HOW CAN ONE GIRL SAVE AN ENTIRE WORLD?

To the nobles who live in Benden Weyr, Lessa is nothing but a ragged kitchen girl. For most of her life she has survived by serving those who betrayed her father and took over his lands. Now the time has come for Lessa to shed her disguise—and take back her stolen birthright.

But everything changes when she meets a queen dragon. The bond they share will be dee

38

Changer of Worlds (Worlds of Honor, #3)

David Weber

4.2

WELCOME AGAIN TO THE MANY WORLDS OF HONOR

Lady Dame Honor Harrington—starship captain, admiral, Steadholder, and Duchess—has spent decades defending the Star Kingdom of Manticore against all comers. Along the way, she has become the legend known as "the Salamander" from her habit of always being where the fire is hottest . . . and also a national bestseller (Ashes of Victory: #7, The Wall Street Jo

39

The Renegades of Pern (Pern, #10)

Anne McCaffrey

4.2

As long as the people of Pern could remember, the Holds had protected them from Thread, the deadly silver strands that fell from the sky and ravaged the land. In exchange for sanctuary in the huge stone fortresses, the people tithed to their Lord Holders, who in turn supported the Weyrs, whose dragons were Pern's greatest weapon against Thread.But not everyone on Pern was part of that system of mu

40

Lost in the Solar System (The Magic School Bus, #4)

Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen

4.2

On a special field trip in the magic school bus, Ms. Frizzle's class goes into outer space and visits each planet in the solar system.

41

The Masterharper of Pern (Pern, #15)

Anne McCaffrey

4.2

MasterSinger Merelan and Harper Petiron were a brilliant and devoted couple. Merelan was the most outstanding soprano ever heard on Pern, and was often the only one who could master Petiron's technically accomplished compositions. When, after a long and difficult birth, Robinton was born to them, it should have been the culmination of a unique partnership.

But Petiron, almost from the first day, ha

42

The Currents of Space (Galactic Empire #2)

Isaac Asimov

4.2

High above the planet Florinia, the Squires of Sark live in unimaginable wealth and comfort. Down in the eternal spring of the planet, however, the native Florinians labor ceaselessly to produce the precious kyrt that brings prosperity to their Sarkite masters. Rebellion is unthinkable and impossible. Not only do the Florinians no longer have a concept of freedom, any disruption of the vital kyrt

43

March to the Sea (Empire of Man, #2)

David Weber, John Ringo

4.2

A Bad Neighborhood

"Always Faithful." That was the IMC motto, and the Marines of Bravo Company, Bronze Battalion, of the Empress' Own Regiment, lived by it...even if they did occasionally wonder why they bothered. After all, Prince Roger MacClintock, Tertiary Heir to the Throne of Man, was a real piece of work. A spoiled rotten, arrogant, whiny, terminally handsome, thoroughly useless young pain

44

The Dolphins of Pern (Pern, #13)

Anne McCaffrey

4.2

Two boys, one of them a dragonrider, re-establish crucial contact with the wise dolphins, the legendary "shipfish" of Pern.

From the Paperback edition.

45

Revenge of the Sith (Star Wars: Novelizations, #3)

MATTHEW STOVER

4.2

The turning point for the entire Star Wars saga is at hand

After years of civil war, the Separatists have battered the already faltering Republic nearly to the point of collapse. On Coruscant, the Senate watches anxiously as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine aggressively strips away more and more constitutional liberties in the name of safeguarding the Republic. Yoda, Mace Windu, and their fellow Master

46

Red Planet (Heinlein's Juveniles, #3)

Robert A. Heinlein

4.2

Jim Marlow and his strange-looking Martian friend Willis were allowed to travel only so far. But one day Willis unwittingly tuned into a treacherous plot that threatened all the colonists on Mars, and it set Jim off on a terrfying adventure that could save--or destroy--them all!

From the Paperback edition.

Cover unavailable

47

David H. Levy's Guide to the Stars

Ken Graun

4.2

This 11-inch diameter circular star chart is a convenient reference tool to help find the constellations. You simply "dial-in" your observing time and date to find the visible constellations. Usable for latitudes 30° to 60° north which covers the US and Canada. Includes yearly meteor showers table, factual information on the planets, and summer/winter constellation tours. Over 26 binocular/small t

48

March to the Stars (Empire of Man, #3)

David Weber, John Ringo

4.1

Stranded on Marduk with his Royal Marine protectors, spoiled prince Roger MacClintock experiences a change in attitude during a long journey back to civilization across a sea filled with dangerous monsters and well-armed enemies.

49

Notes on a Nervous Planet

Matt Haig

4.1

A follow-up to Matt Haig's internationally bestselling memoir, Reasons to Stay Alive, a broader look at how modern life feeds our anxiety, and how to live a better life.

The societies we live in are increasingly making our minds ill, making it feel as though the way we live is engineered to make us unhappy. When Matt Haig developed panic disorder, anxiety, and depression as an adult, it took him a

50

The 12th Planet (Earth Chronicles 1)

Zecharia Sitchin

4.1

THE 12TH PLANET

In whose image was Adam made?

Over the years, startling evidence has been uncovered, challenging established notions of the origins of life on Earth - evidence that suggests the evidence of an advanced group of extraterrestrials who once inhabited our world.

The first book of the revolutionary Earth Chronicles series offers indisputable documentary evidence of the existence of the mys

51

We Few (Empire of Man, #4)

David Weber, John Ringo

4.1

Prince Roger MacClintock was an heir to the galaxy's Throne of Man-and a self-obsessed spoiled young brat . . . until he and the Royal Marines sent to protect him were stranded on Marduk with only their feet to get them half way around the entire planet. So far, they've traversed a continent, crossed a sea full of ship-eating monsters, taken over an enemy spaceport, and hijacked a starship. But th

52

Traitor (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, #13)

Matthew Woodring Stover

4.1

From the depths of catastrophe, a glimmer of hope.

After the capture of Coruscant, the mighty heart of the New Republic, a stunned galaxy fears that nothing can stop the Yuuzhan Vong. Still, that crushing defeat produces one small miracle: Jacen Solo is alive. Yet he can scarcely imagine himself in stranger circumstances.

The young Jedi Knight is in the care of Vergere, a fascinating creature of mys

53

The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World

Lonely Planet

4.1

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher

Take a journey through every country in the world. 850 images. 230 countries. One complete picture.

With details of every United Nations-approved country in the world, and a few more principalities and dependencies besides, Lonely Planet's Travel Book is the ultimate introduction to a world of travel and the essential travel reference book fo

54

Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years

Stacy McAnulty, David Litchfield

4.1

"Hi, I’m Earth! But you can call me Planet Awesome."

Prepare to learn all about Earth from the point-of-view of Earth herself! In this funny yet informative book, filled to the brim with kid-friendly facts, readers will discover key moments in Earth’s life, from her childhood more than four billion years ago all the way up to present day. Beloved children's book author Stacy McAnulty helps Earth te

55

Outbound Flight (Star Wars)

Timothy Zahn

4.1

It began as the ultimate voyage of discovery–only to become the stuff of lost Republic legend . . . and a dark chapter in Jedi history. Now, at last, acclaimed author Timothy Zahn returns to tell the whole extraordinary story of the remarkable–and doomed–Outbound Flight Project.

The Clone Wars have yet to erupt when Jedi Master Jorus C’baoth petitions the Senate for support of a singularly ambitiou

56

National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky

National Audubon Society

4.1

The most comprehensive field guide available to the fabulous mysteries above--a must-have for any enthusiast's day pack or home library--from the go-to reference source for over 18 million nature lovers.

The National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky provides a concise guided tour of the heavens, from planets in our solar system to the constellations in both the Northern and Southern he

57

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings

Douglas Florian

4.1

Blast off with Douglas Florian's new high-flying compendium, which features twenty whimsical poems about space. From the moon to the stars, from the Earth to Mars, here is an exuberant celebration of our celestial surroundings that's certain to become a universal favorite among aspiring astronomers everywhere.
Includes die-cut pages and a glossary of space terms.

58

The Dragonriders of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern, #1-3)

Anne McCaffrey

4.1

Alternate cover edition can be found here.

Finally together in one volume, the first three books in the world's most beloved science fiction series, THE DRAGONRIDERS OF PERN, by Anne McCaffrey, one of the great science fiction writers of all time: DRAGONFLIGHT, DRAGONQUEST, THE WHITE DRAGON. Those who know these extraordinary tales will be able to re-visit with Lessa, F'lar, Ruth, Lord Jaxon, and a

59

Star Wars: Survivor's Quest

Timothy Zahn

4.1

After fifty years, the remains of Outbound Flight—a pioneering Jedi expedition viciously destroyed by the alien warlord Grand Admiral Thrawn—have been found on the planet Nirauan. The beings who reside there wish to turn over to the New Republic the remnants of the doomed mission. Accepting the gesture will mean a long voyage into the treacherous cluster of stars where the thousands of souls aboar

60

The Tower and the Hive (The Tower and the Hive, #5)

Anne McCaffrey

4.1

61

Rebel Stand (Enemy Lines, #2) (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, #12)

Aaron Allston

4.1

Not since Emperor Palpatine have the Jedi battled such monstrous evil. Unless they succeed against staggering odds, the galaxy is doomed.

Luke Skywalker’s daring mission to halt the Yuuzhan Vong’s nefarious plot to overthrow the New Republic is struggling on all fronts. And time is slipping away for Han and Leia Organa Solo, trapped on a small planet whose rulers are about to yield to Yuuzhan Von

62

The Unifying Force (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, #19)

James Luceno

4.1

At long last, the New York Times bestselling series that launched the Star Wars saga into the next generation and into thrilling new territory reaches its spectacular finale. Side by side, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo, their children, and their comrades in the Galactic Alliance rally for their last stand against the enemy that threatens not only the galaxy, but the Force itself.

The G

63

Lyon's Pride (The Tower and the Hive, #4)

Anne McCaffrey

4.1

The survival technique of the Hivers was terrifying -- and brilliant. Their huge Sphere ships, controlled by the Many Mind of ten to sixteen queens, surged out into space. When an appropriate planet was found, the Hivers destroyed any and every variety of indigenous life, the queens propagated, and when the new world was full, more ships were sent out. the colonization was repeated until no planet

64

The Ringworld Engineers (Ringworld, #2)

Larry Niven

4.1

"This rousing sequel to the classic Ringworld continues the adventures of Louis Wu and Speaker-to-Animals on that fantastic planet."--School Library Journal

65

Conquest (Edge of Victory, #1) (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, #7)

Greg Keyes

4.1

The dazzling Star Wars space adventure continues in The New Jedi Order as Luke Skywalker, Anakin Solo, Mara Jade Skywalker, and others battle their deadliest enemy in a tale of nonstop action, shadowy evil, and spectacular triumph . . .

No longer content with the destruction the Yuuzhan Vong have already sown, Warmaster Tsavong Lah has demanded the heads of all the Jedi. Now the Jedi Knights are in

66

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)

Becky Chambers

4.1

Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space-and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe-in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explor

67

Bitter Gold Hearts (Garrett P.I., #2)

Glen Cook

4.1

The Stormwarden's children have been kidnapped and Garrett, P.I. is on the case. But caught between the bewitching beauty of a half-elf and the fearsome power of a horde of ogres, Garrett has to think twice before sacrificing all for a fortune in gold-after all, even in this enchanted land, he's only human.

68

Vortex (Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi, #6)

Troy Denning

4.1

In a stunning turn of events, Luke Skywalker and his son, Ben, joined forces with members of the Sith armada sent to kill them—and turned their combined might against the monstrous being Abeloth. But with one menace dealt with, a new and even more insidious threat looms.

Now Luke and Ben must go on the run, taking along the inscrutable—and ever dangerous—Sith apprentice Vestara Khai. With a host of

69

Life on Mars

Jon Agee

4.1

In this sneaky, silly picture book for fans of Oliver Jeffers and Jon Klassen, an intrepid but not so clever space explorer is certain he s found the only living thing on Mars

A young astronaut is absolutely sure there is life to be found on Mars. He sets off on a solitary mission, determined to prove the naysayers wrong. But when he arrives, equipped with a package of cupcakes as a gift, he sees n

70

Space Dictionary for Kids: The Everything Guide for Kids Who Love Space

Amy Anderson and Brian Anderson

4.1

Packed with hundreds of illustrated definitions about astronomy and space, Space Dictionary for Kids is certain to spark any kid's enthusiasm for the solar system and galaxy. Explore cosmology, stars and galaxies, the solar system, space exploration, and exoplanets and astrobiology. Hop on an astronomy timeline to learn the story of how primitive ancient beliefs evolved over centuries to become a

71

Super Cool Space Facts: A Fun, Fact-filled Space Book for Kids

PhD Bruce Betts

4.1

72

Crown of Slaves (Honorverse: Wages of Sin, #1)

David Weber, Eric Flint

4.1

Beginning a new blockbuster series set in the "Honorverse"-the universe of Honor Harrington. The Star Kingdom's ally Erewhon is growing increasingly restive in the alliance because the new High Ridge regime ignores its needs. Add to that the longstanding problem of a slave labor planet controlled by hostile Mesans in Erewhon's stellar back yard, a problem which High Ridge also ignores. Finally, th

73

Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living

Robert Hand

4.1

This book covers complete delineations of all the major transits - conjunction, sextile, square, trine and opposition - that occur between transiting Sun, Moon and all planets to each planet in the natal chart and the Ascendant and Midheaven, as well as complete delineations of each planet transiting each house of the natal chart. These 720 lucid delineations are full of insight for both the profe

74

Nemesis

Isaac Asimov

4.1

In the twenty-third century pioneers have escaped the crowded earth for life in self-sustaining orbital colonies. One of the colonies, Rotor, has broken away from the solar system to create its own renegade utopia around an unknown red star two light-years from Earth: a star named Nemesis. Now a fifteen-year-old Rotorian girl has learned of the dire threat that nemesis poses to Earth's people--but

75

Ringworld's Children (Ringworld, #4)

Larry Niven

4.1

Welcome to a world like no other.

The Ringworld: a landmark engineering achievement, a flat band 3 million times the surface area of Earth, encircling a distant star. Home to trillions of inhabitants, not all of which are human, and host to amazing technological wonders, the Ringworld is unique in all of the universe.

Explorer Louis Wu, an Earth-born human who was part of the first expedition to Rin

76

Blue Mars (Mars Trilogy, #3)

Kim Stanley Robinson

4.1

The red planet is red no longer, as Mars has become a perfectly inhabitable world. But while Mars flourishes, Earth is threatened by overpopulation and ecological disaster. Soon people look to Mars as a refuge, initiating a possible interplanetary conflict, as well as political strife between the Reds, who wish to preserve the planet in its desert state, and the Green "terraformers". The ultimate

77

Destiny's Way (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, #14)

Walter Jon Williams

4.1

In the war against the ruthless Yuuzhan Vong, the fall of Coruscant leaves the New Republic divided by internal strife and on their verge of bowing to conquest. But those who refuse to surrender - Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo and their children and comrades-in-arms are determined to seize victory against overwhelming odds.

78

Blindsight (Firefall, #1)

Peter Watts

4.0

Two months since the stars fell.
Two months since sixty-five thousand alien objects clenched around Earth like a luminous fist, screaming to the heavens as the atmosphere burned them to ash. Two months since that moment of brief, bright surveillance by agents unknown.
Two months of silence while a world holds its breath.
Now some half-derelict space probe hears a whisper from the edge of the solar sy

Recommended by Ben Brode.

Ben Brode

People on Twitter care a lot about books, apparently! I just finished Blindsight by Peter Watts - was totally insane. If you love super dense hard sci fi, there’s a lot of crazy concepts to chew on. Also, space vampires. (This should not be your first sci fi book!!) https://t.co/YZUsO6zuk1 [source]

79

The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars: The Dark Lord Trilogy, #3)

James Luceno

4.0

Throughout the galaxy, it was believed that Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker the Chosen One had died on Coruscant during the siege of the Jedi Temple. And, to some extent, that was true. Anakin was dead.
From the site of Anakin Skywalker s last stand on the molten surface of the planet Mustafar, where he sought to destroy his friend and former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi a fearsome specter in black has ris

80

Sentenced to Prism (Humanx Commonwealth, #12)

Alan Dean Foster

4.0

The company had a big problem, it was illegally exploiting a fabulously rich planet maned Prism, a world where even the tiniest creatures were living jewels. But somehow, all contact had been lost with the scientist of the survey team. The Company didn't want to draw attention to itself by sending in a rescue mission so they assigned Evan Orgell, a self-confident problem-solver, to investigate. He

81

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Jack Finney

4.0

On a quiet fall evening in the small, peaceful town of Mill Valley, California, Dr. Miles Bennell discovered an insidious, horrifying plot. Silently, subtly, almost imperceptibly, alien life-forms were taking over the bodies and minds of his neighbors, his friends, his family, the woman he loved—the world as he knew it. First published in 1955, this classic thriller of the ultimate alien invasion

82

Grass (Arbai, #1)

Sheri S. Tepper

4.0

The new novel by the author of The Gate to Women's Country is about an indomitable woman sent to the one planet in a plague-ridden galaxy that may have the cure for the deadly illness that threatens all human life.

Recommended by Laura Klein.

83

The Dreaming Void (Void, #1)

Peter F. Hamilton

4.0

The year is 3589, fifteen hundred years after Commonwealth forces barely staved off human extinction in a war against the alien Prime. Now an even greater danger has surfaced: a threat to the existence of the universe itself.
At the very heart of the galaxy is the Void, a self-contained microuniverse that cannot be breached, cannot be destroyed, and cannot be stopped as it steadily expands in all d

Recommended by Ovidiu Drugan.

Ovidiu Drugan

Fascinating space opera for relaxation after work, this is the second saga from him. I became fan of Peter Hamilton. [source]

84

The Sun Is Kind of a Big Deal

Nick Seluk

4.0

Oh hey, guess what? The Sun never stops working to keep things on Earth running smoothly. (That's why it's been Employee of the Month for 4.5 billion years.) So why does the Sun get to be the center of attention? Because it's our solar system's very own star!
This funny and factual picture book from Awkward Yeti creator Nick Seluk explains every part of the Sun's big job: keeping our solar system

85

Jedi Healer (Medstar, #2)

Michael Reaves, Steve Perry

4.0

While the Clone Wars wreak havoc throughout the galaxy, the situation on the far world of Drongar is desperate, as Republic forces engage in a fierce fight with the Separatists. . . .

The threatened enemy offensive begins as the Separatists employ legions of droids into their attack. Even with reinforcements, the flesh and blood of the Republic forces are just no match for battle droids’ durastee

86

Solaris

Stanisław Lem

4.0

A classic work of science fiction by renowned Polish novelist and satirist Stanislaw Lem.

When Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the ocean that covers its surface, he finds a painful, hitherto unconscious memory embodied in the living physical likeness of a long-dead lover. Others examining the planet, Kelvin learns, are plagued with their own repressed and newly corporeal memories

87

David Falkayn: Star Trader (Technic Civilization #2)

Poul Anderson

4.0

1. Poul Anderson remains one of science fiction's most popular writers, and this generous volume of his best work, with wide-ranging themes and settings, will attract his thousands of fans and win him many new ones.

2. Included is a complete novel, Satan's World, and a number of equally exciting short novels.

3. A book with strong appeal to readers of David Drake's RCN series.

4. Many of the works in

88

Vector Prime (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, #1)

R.A. Salvatore

4.0

Twenty-one years have passed since the heroes of the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star, breaking the power of the Emperor. Since then, the New Republic has valiantly struggled to maintain peace and prosperity among the peoples of the galaxy. But unrest has begun to spread and threatens to destroy the Republic's tenuous reign.

Into this volatile atmosphere comes Nom Anor, a charismatic firebra

89

National Parks of America: Experience America's 59 National Parks

Lonely Planet

4.0

To celebrate America's amazing national parks, Lonely Planet, the world's leading travel publisher, takes you on an informative and gorgeous tour of all 59 parks with our lavishly finished hardcover gift guide packed with detailed itineraries and practical tips on what to do and see in each park to get you started planning your next adventure.

America's national parks are full of timeless marvels t

90

The Planets

Dava Sobel

4.0

With her bestsellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, Dava Sobel introduced readers to her rare gift for weaving complex scientific concepts into a compelling narrative. Now Sobel brings her full talents to bear on what is perhaps her most ambitious topic to date-the planets of our solar system. Sobel explores the origins and oddities of the planets through the lens of popular culture, from astro

91

The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney

Alice B. McGinty, Elizabeth Haidle

4.0

An empowering, inspiring--and accessible!--nonfiction picture book about the eleven-year-old girl who actually named the newly discovered Pluto in 1930.

When Venetia Burney's grandfather reads aloud from the newspaper about a new discovery--a "ninth major planet" that has yet to be named--her eleven-year-old mind starts whirring. She is studying the planets in school and loves Roman mythology. "I

92

Midnight at the Well of Souls (Saga of the Well World, #1)

Jack L. Chalker

4.0

Nathan Brazil, a cargo ship-for-hire owner, detours from his route to answer a distress call. A hidden stargate hurls him and his passengers to the Well World, the master control planet for the cosmos created by the now-gone godlike race who designed the universe. Now someone wants to find the Well of Souls to seize control of all the cosmos--and it's up to Nathan to stop them.

93

501st (Star Wars: Republic Commando, #5)

Karen Traviss

4.0

The Clone Wars are over, but for those with reason to run from the new galactic Empire, the battle to survive has only just begun. . . .

The Jedi have been decimated in the Great Purge, and the Republic has fallen. Now the former Republic Commandos–the galaxy’s finest special forces troops, cloned from Jango Fett–find themselves on opposing sides and in very different armor. Some have deserted and

94

Metal Swarm (The Saga of Seven Suns, #6)

Kevin J. Anderson

4.0

The alien hydrogues have been defeated, driven back into the cores of their planets by an alliance of the Earth Defence Forces, the ancient Ildiran Empire, the Roamer clans and water elemental beings as well as gigantic living 'treeships'. But as the various factions try to pick up the pieces and recover, the wounds may be fatal.

95

Rebel Dream (Enemy Lines, #1) (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, #11)

Aaron Allston

4.0

As the Yuuzhan Vongâ��s spectacular conquests continue unchecked, Luke Skywalker, Han and Leia Solo , and Wedge Antilles are forced to destroy what they have risked their lives to create. . . .

Scattering like rats before the Yuuzhan Vongâ��s invasion of Coruscant, the panic-stricken members of the New Republic Advisoryâ��s Council pause just long enough to set up a mock defense on nearby Borleia

Cover unavailable

96

The Universe And Beyond

Terence Dickinson

4.0

97

Planets (Explore My World)

Becky Baines

4.0

Curious kids will learn about the different planets in our solar system, including our own precious planet, Earth! Interactive spreads help young readers learn basic concepts while sweet, poetic text helps them understand how special our solar system is in the grand context of outer space. These engaging Explore My World picture books on subjects kids care about combine simple stories with unforge

98

Of Fire and Night (The Saga of Seven Suns, #5)

Kevin J. Anderson

4.0

The Barnes & Noble Review
Kevin J. Anderson's super-sized space opera, the Saga of Seven Suns, continues in Of Fire and Night, the fifth installment of the shelf-bending science fiction series that has been compared to Frank Herbert's Dune chronicles and Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy.

Of Fire and Night begins with the all-out extermination of humankind looming. The Terran Hanseatic League's war

99

Battle Surgeons (Medstar, #1)

Michael Reaves, Steve Perry

4.0

A novel of healers in wartime, in which a unit of medics struggles against the worst possible circumstances to save lives as the Clone Wars rage around them. With a special appearance by Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee, who will gain her Knighthood in the course of this exciting duology. A little of M*A*S*H, a little of ER, a lot of Star Wars! A must-read for everyone who saw STAR WARS: ATTACK OF THE C

100

The Shiva Option (Starfire, #4)

David Weber, Steve White, James Baen

4.0

In the long-awaited sequel to In Death Ground, the Grand Alliance of Humans, Orions, Ophiuchi, and Gorm continue their galactic battle against the Arachnids--a carnivorous legion of insects that regard any competing sentient species as a food source. With billions of civilians already slaughtered and their armed forces ravaged beyond repair, the Grand Alliance may be forced to their last resort--t