10 SCARY Sci-Fi Book Recommendations

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for having me on. This was a really fun idea for a collab!

[@WordsinTime]

I will let you know how much sleep each of these books cause me to lose haha

[@cjcrashoveride]

Hyperion is one of the books that got me back into reading sci-fi after years or reading horror. One of the all time greats.

[@WordsinTime]

Totally agree, glad you loved it too!

[@dalejones4322]

I really like these collaborations where we are introduced to different sci Fi reviewers. That's how I came across Whitney's channel and now I look forward to checking out Rachel's. Thanks Jonathan

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Dale! It’s definitely worth checking out Rachel’s channel!

[@Scottlp2]

Only a short story but Harlan Ellison’s “I have no mouth and must scream” is 10/10 on disturbing scale. I’m sure he has novels if you are interested.

[@WordsinTime]

I’ve heard crazy things, I need to read it!

[@Scottlp2]

@@WordsinTime crazy describes Ellison. His publisher violated his contract and put a cigarette ad in one of his books. He took revenge by mailing a dead animal 3rd class mail to the publisher (imagine the smell when it eventually got to publisher)

[@WordsinTime]

@@Scottlp2 That is quite the response haha

[@trudymeans3520]

I was a huge Ellison fan as a teen. "A Boy and His Dog" was one that my older brother got me to read. Afterward, he told me "Don't ever trust a guy that would pick you over his dog." ;-)

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

yes! that one's on my Master TBR!

[@robertlynn7746]

I was so excited to see you two doing a video together! I watch and love both of your channels! I was also happy to hear that Rachel is Canadian because I am too! Great video I love the concept 😊

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Hello to a fellow Canadian

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Robert, I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🇨🇦

[@cindywingetbooks]

I was very excited to see this video. You are the only two main sci-fi channels that I watch so it was fun to see you do a Collab. I think Hyperion was a good choice because Dan Simmons also writes horror novels so there is cross over appeal if you like his writing style. I have added some of these to my tbr. I am still reluctant to read Tender is the Flesh. Not sure if it would be too much for me or not.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Cindy, I’m glad you enjoyed the collab! I will try some of these, although Tender is the Flesh sounds pretty out there haha

[@benhillman1673]

This was so wholesome! You guys are my two favorite booktubers, just love the amount of excitement that you both bring to your videos! Thank you for collabing!

[@WordsinTime]

Haha thanks for the kind words Ben! It was great to chat with Rachel, so I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@muttineni03]

This is a fun Collab!! I follow Rachel's channel and i like her recommendations and her enthusiasm when she's explaining the book premise, would be fun to have part 2 🙂, i really need to check out Tender is the flesh lol.

[@WordsinTime]

Rachel is awesome! You’ll have to let us know what you think of Tender is the Flesh haha

[@jackhurley1428]

Some interesting recommendations from Rachel, I’d be curious to check out Tender is the Flesh! Thanks for reminding me to add Roadside Picnic to my tbr Jonathan!

[@WordsinTime]

That one sounds nuts haha

[@jamesmitchell2114]

This was a really great collaboration thank you both. On a side note I always watch both of your reviews and recommendations, you have helped me expand my mind thank you both for that.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks for the kind words James, I’m glad we have been able to help share some enjoyable reading experiences!

[@chokog2446]

Great collaboration! Thank you!😊

[@WordsinTime]

@@chokog2446 Glad you enjoyed it!

[@martinridgway7455]

Also John Campbell: Who Goes There?

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll check it out!

[@trudymeans3520]

What a wonderful guest you had in Rachel! I was one of the lucky ones to read "A Handmaid's Tale" when it first came out. Mind you, this was just (maybe even before) as it became commonplace to pay for things with a debit card. There's a scene in the book where Offred goes to pay for her cigarettes with her debit card and the cashier informs her that her money has been confiscated by the bank and only her husband can withdraw it. It's been over 35 years since I read that and I don't think I've ever paid with anything using a debit card that that scene doesn't briefly flash in my mind. As for my pick for "scary sci-fi", I would recommend Ray Bradbury's "The October Country". It's a collection of short stories that run the gamut from bittersweet to terrifying. My fave at his best!

[@WordsinTime]

Rachel is awesome! It’s interesting how long a single scene or idea can stay with you. I have read some Bradbury but not The October Country, I’ll check it out!

[@TheSwiftSpark]

What a crossover! I never would have guessed it haha! Great video :D

[@WordsinTime]

I’m glad I was able to collab with Rachel and that you enjoyed it!

[@Tetsujin-28]

For short stories that are horrific: "Bloodchild" by Octavia Butler (ScFi Horror) "“Eumenides in the Fourth Floor Lavatory,” by Orson Scott Card (Disturbing Horror) "The Atlas of Hell" by Nathan Ballingrud (Fantasy Horror) Great content on this channel.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks for the recommendations Robert! I’ve read some Butler and Card, I’ll have to check out Ballingrud as well. I’m glad you’re enjoying the channel!

[@seanmonahan]

I'm so glad to see someone acknowledge 'Eumenides in the Fourth Floor Lavatory'. I don't personally know anyone else who has read it. I first read this story in 1989 in his collection Maps in a Mirror. It was the first one out of that collection I read. It set the tone for the rest of the collection. Every other story I read after that in that collection, I was afraid to turn the page. It was truly disturbing.

[@Tetsujin-28]

@@seanmonahan Same here. I read this story mid-late 80's. I think it was in one of those Ellen Datlow annuals. Another tale that stuck with me , but I could never remember the title was THE WINDOW by Bob Leman. Another disturbing tale. The Weird edited by Jeff/Ann Vandermeer: As soon as I saw the title, I knew. In The Penal Colony by Franz Kafka is in this collection too.

[@Deosis]

Great collab! I saw Ellison mentioned already, and I think especially some of the short stories in Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space universe are pretty scary on quite a few levels.

[@WordsinTime]

@@Deosis I love Alastair Reynolds! Revelation Space has a gothic feel to it.

[@Deosis]

@@WordsinTime I loved his novels, but his short stories and novellas also left a big impression on my teenage self. Diamond Dogs is amazing and Grafenwalder's Bestiary is a feast for people into body horror. Probably something Shades of Orange would enjoy!

[@secretsauceofstorycraft]

What a fun collab!! Love seeing friends talking about books!! Love you guys and wonderful reccs! I've read many of these and can say-- they aren't too too scary. Don't worry Jonathan, cannabalism has a purpose in Tender is the flesh. And its more than just trying to convince you to be vegan (haha)... it a reflection of humanity in a way we don't like to look at much. And its short! It is worth the read.....

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Whitney! I’m glad you enjoyed the video and didn’t think the books were too scary. I will give them a try haha

[@LucSchots]

The Dark Forest was pretty scary to me

[@WordsinTime]

Yes! The Dark Forest theory spooked me!

[@mikesnyder1788]

"I like those two," says my non-SF reading wife as she passes by the TV screen last evening during this excellent program. She sees and hears enough of you both throughout the week as I catch up on the latest in science fiction books and intelligent conversation. You must be doing a great job when my wife (who reads mystery novels) starts asking me questions about you and your respective programs. Best to you both from N.E. Ohio!

[@WordsinTime]

Haha that’s awesome! Thank you to your wife for the kind words!

[@MrWeezer55]

Gonna check out Starfish for sure. The scariest (and one of the best) sci-fi books I've ever read is Queen of Angels by Greg Bear (RIP). Trapped in the dreams of a psychotic killer....

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks for the recommendation Cory, I’ll check out Queen of Angels!

[@jrson5000]

This couldn’t have been a better time to post this! Im a huge horror fan and am looking for some sci-fi horror. Im happy you read Blindsight because im thinking about picking it up. What are your thoughts on it? Ive heard good things but also that it can be hard to follow.

[@WordsinTime]

I’m glad it was helpful! Blindsight is one of Rachel’s favourite books and I will be reading it in April!

[@Joe-lb8qn]

Just started watching this. I wonder if Ship of Fools by Richard Paul Russo will come up? Slow start the last half scared the bejazus out of me. It has an alternative title but I can't recall it. I agree some parts of Hyperion are scary. And yes just jumped ahead and see ship is there! ETA Rachel sums it up perfectly. ETA2 I have no mouth and I must scream is of course the most scary sf story ever but obvs not a novel

[@WordsinTime]

Haha you called it Joe! I have heard a lot of praise for I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, I need to check it out!

[@splifftachyon4420]

I'm in the middle of reading Blindsight right now and yep, there are definitely some terrifying moments! Really enjoying it. Here's a few I would recommend: Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant I Am Legend by Richard Matheson Wayward Pines Trilogy by Blake Crouch Psychlone by Greg Bear The Hunger by Whitley Strieber The Migration by Helen Marshall If watery tales of sci-fi horror is Rachel's thing, I'm sure she'd enjoy Into the Drowning Deep!

[@WordsinTime]

I look forward to being able to discuss Blindsight! Thanks for the recommendations. I Am Legend and Wayward Pines are on my TBR. I’ll have to check out the others!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh yes that's another one of my favourites! I almost recommended it

[@duckhive]

BLINDSIGHT gave me goosebumps.

[@WordsinTime]

Awesome! I’m looking forward to reading that one soon!

[@joebrooks4448]

More engaging SF discussion! I would add 2 by Van Vogt, The World Of Null A, written 5 years before 1984. Nineteen Eighty - Four substitutes Van Vogt's General Semantics of time binding history's lessons through maintaining word meanings, with Newspeak. Orwell explains all of that issue very well in the Appendix of 1984. Van Vogt's "The Voyage Of The Space Beagle". The basis for Star Trek, Forbidden Planet, Alien, etc. You will find Spock and many other concepts. Van Vogt created a book from several of his short stories, very common in The Golden Age. And "A Plague Of Demons" by Keith Laumer. A lesson in Global intrigue and other intrigues. More recently, you will probably not find anything scarier than "Flashback" by Simmons. You can certainly see real event relationships, there.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks for the recommendations Joe! I have heard a bit about Van Vogt, that is an author I need to get to!

[@joebrooks4448]

@WordsinTime For a minimum time preview of Van Vogt, his "Black Destroyer" short is widely considered to be the first short story and kickoff of "The Golden Age" of SF. It is contained in multiple anthologies and is the first challenge to the crew of The Space Beagle. I like the stand-alone version, more than the novel version.

[@nasteho6614]

Dead Silence is by SA Barnes is pretty for the whole “can I trust my mind” vibe. Some body horror and psyc thriller elements as well

[@WordsinTime]

That sounds interesting, I’ll look it up!

[@gypseysurprise]

Here would be my personal choices: Solaris, Metro series, Tender is the Flesh, A Canticle for Leibowitz

[@WordsinTime]

Nice! Solaris is on my upcoming TBR and I have read A Canticle for Leibowitz. I’ll have to check out the Metro series!

[@gypseysurprise]

@@WordsinTime you're in for a treat with Solaris.

[@archnof0]

Somebody earlier already mentioned "I have no mouth...." so let me add slaughterhouse five

[@WordsinTime]

Slaughterhouse-Five is one of my favourite books!

[@dalejones4322]

This channel is on the rise. Help it grow. Just like, subscribe, and put a little comment down. KZbin will recommend it to others if you'll do these small things. Thanks fellow viewers

[@WordsinTime]

Dale is the MVP 🤝

[@bookspin]

Great recommendations! Check out Stephen King's short story The Jaunt if you haven't already. It's truly chilling and the perfect blend of sci-fi and horror.

[@WordsinTime]

I’m glad you enjoyed! I’ll have to check out The Jaunt!

[@twosometwosome3698]

I would add Charles Pellegrino's THE KILLING STAR to the list. This is where we first ran into the idea of The Dark Forest. WHat makes Pellegrino scarier than Cixin Liu is the idea that we have already shouted out our location to the Universe, and that we are unified. THis is a real event, we really did it, and that is SCARY! You need to read the book to see what blunder we have already made. I will just give a hint that it involved the single loudest broadcast we have sent outward.

[@WordsinTime]

That sounds very interesting and scary indeed! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@akaidatenshi]

Existential dread is my jam

[@WordsinTime]

Hahaha this is the video for you!

[@TheMike28212]

Love the video. Some great recommendations from both of you!

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Mike! Let us know if you read any of them!

[@TheMike28212]

@@WordsinTime I have read Hyperion, 1984, Full Immersion, Ship of Fools, The Three Body Problem, and Tender is the Flesh. They are all among my favorites and I was excited to see them mentioned. The books listed that I haven’t read are all on my tbr and I look forward to reading them.

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

the last one she mentioned reminded me of a book called under the skin debut novel by michel faber it had somewhat the same gruesome theme but very suspenseful and well-written but whatever you do DON'T see the film based on it unless you're a scarlett johansen fanatic

[@WordsinTime]

I have seen the movie and I did not enjoy it either Frank haha

[@gypseysurprise]

Excellent collab!

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Eric, it was a lot of fun!

[@travisporco]

blindsight

[@WordsinTime]

Yes! I read this recently and it was haunting!

[@bartsbookspace]

Hi Johnathan. For me Solaris would make the top of the list as well as Greg Bear’s Blood Music; I read it recently and it definitely fits the sci-fi horror label.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks for the recommendations! Solaris is on my TBR for May, and Blood Music is one I should check out as well!

[@bartsbookspace]

@@WordsinTime I think you’ll enjoy both. There are some creepy aspects to each book but they’re a lot more thought-provoking than outright scary.

[@paulallison6418]

Great list Mr Words in Time and Shades of Orange I really love Science Fiction so thought I'd check this out, I never read pure horror so I was curious what the reviewers here mean by scary sciFi? I have read HYPERION, ROADSIDE PICNIC, HANDMAIDS TALE, 1984, PANDORAS STAR, THREE BODY PROBLEM from this list, all really great books but I didn't think that any of these were particularly scary? From the books I have read perhaps Annihilation is scary and maybe Alien for the tension but even these are not really scary I don't think in the horror sense. Does anyone agree?

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Paul! Yes, these are not particularly scary when compared to pure horror, although I think that they have moments or concepts that could be considered scary.

[@paulallison6418]

@@WordsinTime Hi, yes I could see where you were coming from in terms of the frightening elements of the plot lines. I was quite surprised I had read so much of this list, this is rare when I read top 10 lists, that was refreshing. I will be back!😊

[@WordsinTime]

@@paulallison6418 Cheers Paul, welcome to the channel!

[@EricMcLuen]

If you consider Wolfe as sci fi I would add Bakker's, what's up with Canadian authors, Prince of Nothing / Aspect Emperor to the list. The series has about every trigger warning there is and later almost goes anime, so it is difficult to recommend. But his prose is amazing. However, the books get more horror as the become darker. One sequence that stands out is he riffs on Moria but makes it really scary.

[@WordsinTime]

I haven’t read Bakker but it seems like his writing is pretty dark. I hear mostly good things though!

[@EricMcLuen]

@@WordsinTime Bakker is the only author I have found outside 40k I can call grimdark. But his writing is beautiful but incredibly disturbing which turns a lot of people away. But imagine the second crusade led by a psycopathic Bene Gesserit on a planet where aliens crashed after coming through a white hole.

[@noeditbookreviews]

Two channels I really enjoy!

[@WordsinTime]

I’m glad you’re a fan of Rachel’s channel as well. It’s great!

[@noeditbookreviews]

@@WordsinTime yeah I've always felt when I'm watching her it's like hanging out with people I'd hang out with, haha.

[@OurRawHeart]

This is a great syncing of the book world. Love it. Best wishes from Ireland.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🇮🇪

[@OurRawHeart]

@@WordsinTime I think I'm with you on Rachel's final book choice. I too, never hear tell of the horror in Hyperion when it's discussed. The crucifix chapter is wholly disturbing and brilliant all at once.

[@WordsinTime]

@@OurRawHeart Yes! Going through that over and over again would be unimaginable!

[@Bookwyrmskeep]

I'm going to say " Swan song by Robert r. Mccammon, to me it was scary and sad but the realism of it , is what stuck with me " it's been 2 years and I still think about it here and there.

[@WordsinTime]

I’ve heard great things about McCammon. I’m glad you found it impactful Ava!

[@joannkirk-il3mo]

THE VANG: THE MILITARY FORM. Makes xenomorphs look like butterflies

[@WordsinTime]

@@joannkirk-il3mo Thanks for the recommendation!

[@Nixx0912]

Hi Rachel 👋

[@WordsinTime]

Hi Nixx!

[@Nixx0912]

@@WordsinTime I follow you both, I got some good recommendations from Rachel. Nice to see your colab.

[@WordsinTime]

@@Nixx0912 It was great to get to chat with Rachel. Let us know if you read any of these books!

[@Nixx0912]

@@WordsinTime Orwell but I prefer "The animal farm" though, but I agree this one is more terrifying. On the subject of Watts, there is a short story of his taking on "The thing" where you get the perspective of the alien. It's in "Beyond the rifft" collection.

[@WordsinTime]

@@Nixx0912 Ooohh, that sounds interesting!

[@hahahahaha662]

Check out "The Last Astronaut "

[@WordsinTime]

Sounds ominous! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@thatfuzzypotato1877]

If you want a good sci fi horror for ONE thing that happens: Ring by Stephen Baxter. Anyone who has read it knows what I'm referencing. It randomly pops into my brain and haunts me to this day

[@WordsinTime]

I actually just read Ring this month and LOVED it!

[@thatfuzzypotato1877]

@@WordsinTime it's honest to god one of my favorite books ever

[@DJYoue]

As a diver "Starfish" really appeals to me, added to the wishlist now!

[@WordsinTime]

Nice! Let me know what you think of it if you read it! 🤿

[@DJF7819]

I'm reading it now, it's really good! Watts is a master of enjoyable yet hard sci fi.

[@ericneff9908]

Two of my favorite booktubers! Double the pleasure.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Eric, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@VarunStream]

Nothing scarier than ‘1984.’ In 2023 it qualifies as non-fiction.

[@WordsinTime]

Scary indeed!

[@nicholasjones3207]

That book legit scared me

[@lisacole6037]

This video was great guys. 🙂🙂

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it Lisa!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks!

[@dipanjanbiswas6580]

I found the whole premise of the Dark Forest theory - to be bone chilling

[@WordsinTime]

I felt the same way!

[@JamesI88]

I loved eternal sunshine, I'll have to look into this full immersion book

[@WordsinTime]

It’s an amazing film, Rachel got me intrigued in that book as well!

[@Whalesong7]

Scott Sigler’s Infected Series is beyond terrifying. I recommend everything he writes. I am a Sigler junkie.

[@WordsinTime]

I’ll have to look it up!

[@fernbedek6302]

The first few times I heard about Hyperion, I thought people were saying the Time Dunes, not the Time Tombs.

[@WordsinTime]

Haha that sounds like a Hyperion/Dune crossover

[@wburris2007]

I am Canadian, and I haven't read any Margret Atwood.

[@WordsinTime]

Haha we won’t tell the citizenship office

[@malking5226]

Roadside Picnic - I'm stalking this one down. Authors Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, used this 1972 novel as the basis for "STALKER "(1979) awesome and moody by Andrei Tarkovsky dir. of SOLARIS (1972).

[@WordsinTime]

Hope you enjoy the book!

[@biggie25x]

The Gap Cycle was pretty good and I’m surprised it doesn’t make more lists.

[@WordsinTime]

I’ve heard it’s quite good and very dark!

[@biggie25x]

@@WordsinTime it was fantastic. It was a hard read but one I ultimately was glad I did. I read it twice. The characters were quite well developed with a lot of twists.

[@silasthegod333]

ShadesofOrange my favorite booktuber ever.

[@WordsinTime]

Rachel is awesome!

[@MeganHeath52]

Tender is the flesh !

[@WordsinTime]

That one sounds pretty wild haha

[@MeganHeath52]

I was also happy to see ship of fools mentioned. You might also consider voyage of the space beagle :)

[@WordsinTime]

@@MeganHeath52 Thanks for the recommendation Megan, I’ll check it out!

[@coughcool3]

Great show thanks

[@WordsinTime]

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@cacuinwildstar]

I would recommend Infected by Scott Sigler. Body horror, insanity, alien invasion.

[@WordsinTime]

Sounds scary already haha

[@RodneyAllanPoe]

HYPERION and FALL OF HYPERION have other horror elements that have stuck in my mind.

[@WordsinTime]

Yes! Hyperion is great and it has some horror elements such as The Tree of Pain.

[@wnctube1]

Fun horror collaboration! 💀

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Michael!

[@LivingDeadEnby]

Yeah! SF and Horror are my favourite genres. Books that have it both are the best thing ever. And I'm the opposite of Jonathan: jumpscare over bungee jump anytime. Come on, you're more likely to die jumping off a great height than by reading something scary in a book.

[@WordsinTime]

Hahaha I’ll have to read a horror book while skydiving to take it to the next level.

[@LivingDeadEnby]

@@WordsinTimeThat would be hardcore 😂

[@twosometwosome3698]

1984 was originally written as a satire. The constant surveilance is very ofter mistated. Our protagonist makes it very clear that only about 20% of the population is being watched (the Party members) and that the rest , the proetariat, are left alone.

[@WordsinTime]

Interesting! I will look forward to a re-read.

[@xenobeers]

Jonathan would be like "Top 10 nonfiction books about 18th century composers" Number 5- Hyperion and I absolutely love the commitment. I consider Thus Spake Zarathustra by Nietzsche and the Metamorphosis by Kafka as Science Fiction just to keep pushing those boundaries

[@WordsinTime]

Hahaha this is true. I’ve read Metamorphosis but not Thus Spoke Zarathustra, I need to check it out!

[@gypseysurprise]

John Keats was born in 1795. And I'm pretty sure he might have made music at one point. So it counts!

[@fiberartsyreads]

This was great!

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@carolelaforge5318]

I would add The Windup Girl to this list

[@WordsinTime]

I’ve heard good things, I’ll have to add it to my list!

[@dqan7372]

Huh. Just came from her site.

[@WordsinTime]

Nice!

[@BookInvasion]

Tender is the Flesh was quite vivid and i had to take a long shower after reading it cause just ewww.

[@WordsinTime]

Haha that sounds about right!

[@Avzigoyhbasilsikos]

She’s awesome

[@WordsinTime]

Agreed!

[@Secomav]

Philip Palmer should be on this list. Disturbing scifi horror...all packaged in a well written story.

[@WordsinTime]

@@Secomav I’ll have to look him up!

[@donovanmedieval]

Spoiler: Arkady and Boris stole the idea from Gary Larson.

[@WordsinTime]

Interesting! I will look up Gary Larson.

[@rachelthompson9324]

I hate scarry so I'm watching to know what not to read

[@WordsinTime]

@@rachelthompson9324 Haha good thinking