Goodreads Sci-fi Nominees that should have made it || 2024 Sci-fi Releases

[@joemountains1539]

You’ve spoken the words of my heart in reaction to the SF/F Goodreads lists. (Horror was okay.) Science fiction is coming back in 2025!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

We can only hope!

[@esmayrosalyne]

The exasperation in this video is such a big mood hahahah. Really, they had ONE job, it's not that hard to give us actual genre sci-fi books friends 🤣 Really hope we get to see the return of the write-ins someday because I think you had some great picks that really could and should have made the list!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Making this list took me like 15 minutes TOPS, like truly not that hard

[@saturnhas-rings5611]

Your science fiction list here is definitely better than the Goodreads one! I like that you included different types of sci-fi as well! :) A good showcase of what the genre can offer readers! Also, yes, Mercy of the Gods does have aliens in it :) 👽And yes, the newest Sun Eater book should be on there

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Yea I think ideally the goodreads list should show a wide range of what's been popular in the genre. Not just the lit fic books it advertises all year

[@joannatrefethen1197]

It's been announced that the authors and production team behind The Expanse have a development deal with Amazon MGM to bring The Mercy of Gods to TV. Not sure how long it will take or even where the series will go (this is only the first book of a series), but the success of The Expanse show apparently tempted Amazon to continue with them.

[@bookmama26]

Your frustration in this video was quite entertaining 😂. But I also really appreciated your list as someone who read more sci-fi this year than expected and have really enjoyed the genre!!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Its such a fun time! I feel like it gets a bad rap for being intimidating but really its like any genre with accessible and challenging books

[@Jane42.]

"I don't think people will recognize the truth...ever." I feel this emotion! Sad but true. Thanks for this great list.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

People spit in the truth's face CONSTANTLY and its very exhausting

[@katyannfuller]

I made a spreadsheet to predict the sci-fi nominees this year and correctly guessed 16 of the 20. The four I missed I had on my considerations spreadsheet but I thought they might not be seen as sci-fi first so I disqualified them. For example, I thought Moon of the Turning Leaves would be considered horror before sci-fi. What I've found is that other than the general requirements of being published in the correct time frame and being above a 3.5 rating, it is just the total number of people that have shelved the book (read, want to read, or any other shelf they've made - which you can see under "Book Statistic") and if the Goodreads' employee ends up counting it as sci-fi first. For example, Playground by Richard Powers had better numbers than more than half the sci-fi nominees, but it was put in the Fiction category. Also, all but two of the nominated books were ones that were included in Goodreads' recommendation articles over the last year (e.g. "The Most Anticipated Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror Books of 2024"). I assume a chunk of the shelving that happened for the nominees were users browsing those lists and casually adding books to their want to read shelf. So while The Blueprint was a debut literary sci-fi and had less than 1,000 ratings at the time of the nominee release date, it had over 20,000 users who had shelved it total, which was probably boosted by the fact that it was on five different Goodreads recommendations articles this year. Whereas Disquiet Gods, while having over 3,000 ratings by the nominee announcement date, had less than 11,000 users who had shelved it total, never appearing on any Goodreads recommendation lists. For reference, The Blueprint was the least shelved book of the twenty nominees, just bumping out Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Unfortunately every book you mentioned in this video had less shelvings than The Blueprint, even with some appearing in the occasional recommendation article. Ocean's Godori was the closest with just over 19,000 shelvings at the nominee release date - it was listed in two recommendation articles. (The two nominees not found in any recommendation articles were John Marrs and Jasper Ffordes' books.) So in one way Goodreads does just follow the numbers (or at least it appears they did for the sci-fi category this year). But it also affects those numbers by recommending books to their users throughout the year, and those recommendations seem to lean more literary sci-fi than genre sci-fi. Also I think the average Goodreads user leans less genre fiction and Goodreads is just looking at overall interest numbers, not choosing nominees based on the interests of specific genre fans.

[@onkookietime]

I LOVED ocean’s godori! I’ll admit the beginning third was a bit slow and I almost didn’t continue but once the plot actually hits, it’s so much fun! I can’t wait for the sequel that comes out next year(?)

[@thefuzzybookdragon]

Ocean's Godori is my favourite book that came out this year! I think the sequel is supposed to be released next September.

[@ChantaalReads]

The frustration is palpable and I share it 😤 And you should definitely start the Bethany Jacobs series! The first book was so overlooked and underrated.

[@ThatsSoPoe]

It is interesting how heavily literary SF is represented on the Goodreads list. I wonder why? Does it sell more copies than genre SF, or is it just some weird skew on Goodreads?

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Its like this when they have "best sci fi of ____" the list is always so heavily skewed literary for some reason. My guess is sci fi genre readers are just a low percentage of goodreads users and they don't have a genre sci-fi person on staff in charge of those lists

[@booksvsmovies]

Your passion for stock art sci-fi covers reminds me of my passion for real people touching each other on romance covers.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

I want old romance covers back so bad and I'm not even a romance reader lol

[@Lekktu]

"Exordia" is a great book. It has a milSF vibe, but it leans hard in themes of colonialism, and it's sort of a space opera, but it takes place in Earth, and definitely is big-ideas science-fiction. Perhaps the name rings a bell because Dickinson made some noise with his debut, "The Traitor Baru Cormorant", a wonderful book that looks like fantasy but it is in fact SF. (Also, it's the first one of a tetralogy, though the fourth book is still unpublished).

[@avsambart]

I agree with your snubs completely!! The selection for Sci-Fi made me so angry this year (too much Lit-SF again) that I've now got a list of over 110 TradPub Sci-Fi books that came out this year and I am going to read them all because I refuse to believe those are the top 20 for the entire year. I refuse to believe Lit-Sci-Fi is better than hard/space opera/genre sci-fi 😭 Goodreads please understand what actual sci-fi is!

[@CityGirlWriter]

🪐🚀 Your list was more intriguing to me than the Goodreads nominees. Honestly, I was disappointed Toward Eternity by Anton Hur wasn’t on there. A translator of language talking about human existence and evolution with a strong a connection to language sounds like a good book to have on such a list, but alas. Vajra Chandrasekera’s sophomore novel, Rakesfall, really should have been on that list as well, but his debut novel wasn’t nominated last year either. At least The Saint of Bright Doors is getting buzz from other awards, but I wish Rakesfall got more attention as well. Looking forward to your Goodreads Fantasy list next week 😊

[@sphinxinherhat]

Plant Based Bride set herself the task of reading all of this year's nominees. And, of course, a lot of them disappointed her, But she had nice things to say about I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger. Apparently this is sf lit fic that is worth checking out. It really got her in the feels. Good character work.

[@thefuzzybookdragon]

This is a much better list! I had to vote for something I hadn't read (but was on my TBR) because I hadn't read anything on the list for SF. Ocean's Godori is my absolute stand out favourite this year, so I was super disappointed that it wasn't up for consideration.

[@rouxellereads]

I definitely agree with a lot of these. They were missing quite a few and I’m very surprised by the sun eater series book not behind there.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Yea like even by the numbers it had a fair few ratings and is for sure a popular series right now!

[@sarafairchild2588]

Thanks for making this video. I have been using Netgalley to find the new sci fi, but their selection is not always the greatest either. I do find a few more by scouring Edelweiss. I wanted to note that Ocean’s Godori was pretty good! Its a cozy pilot story to me with a touch of mystery. The only let down is it is kind of like someone wrote a longer book and then only released the middle. The ending is abrupt. Worth the read. Also loved this year the novella by Beth Revis - Full Speed to a Crash Landing. Full of snark and sci fi action, fun and short. Stardust Grail was good but a bit long, loved the found family as you said, one of which was a giant jellyfish being. Keep the videos coming!

[@LoopsLorewithMeg]

Great list!!

[@teatablereads]

Ocean's Godori was wonderful! It's really interesting how Korea was the world leader in space travel in this book and what that entailed. Definitely worth a read 👽

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

I will have to put it higher up on the tbr!

[@Neverrgreen]

I really wanted Cascade Failure to be on the list.

[@t.a.summers]

I enjoy the I Robot movie with Will Smith, so you're not alone. 😊 I felt like there were suggestions missing and you reminded me of books that did release this year and didn't make, so I'm like "Aww nooo, why?" I hope we get better lists in 2025, but ehhh, I don't know how GR will be.

[@marisagettas]

Love the energy you brought to this! How are your kittens doing? Any better?

[@jennyking1773]

The one I really don’t understand is the new Peter F Hamilton book as he is a powerhouse Sci-fi author!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Someone else brought that one up as well!

[@zinaak4194]

Yay! Excited to watch this video!

[@secretsauceofstorycraft]

Usurpation was goooood!!!!

[@Fabulist]

I do wonder how the Goodreads algorithm works, because it doesn’t seem to be based purely on popularity. Are editors/librarians putting their thumbs on the scale? Is owner Amazon trying to move product? Some of these I’ve read, most I haven’t. The ones I have read I liked well enough. The James S.A. Corey book I liked apparently since I gave it 3 stars but I don’t recall a single thing about it, despite having read it within the last two months.

[@TheFancyHatLadyReads]

I'm so slow on new releases, I haven't actually read any sci-fi published this year yet, but I nevertheless have some theories on why the Goodreads Choice Awards list looks like this that are probably too long-winded for a KZbin comment. But... does it seem like it was just a really slow year for high-profile science fiction releases from actual sff imprints, or is it just me? And the ones I'm aware of, including the ones you've listed, have surprisingly low (to my mind) numbers of Goodreads ratings compared to a bunch of these literary nominees in the category.

[@Octobig]

the GR scifi nominations always make me feel like i live in a parallel universe that has completely different book releases 🙈 so i love this idea for a video!! especially if you consider that there's still many people who look to GR noms & winners to get into a new genre 🛸🚀

[@maiiau]

I will defend Absolution's place on the list but also you're not wrong

[@tyghe_bright]

Completely agree that literary fiction is overrepresented in the genre fiction categories, but especially SF. It's like they were chosen by people who don't actually read genre fiction... like publishers have lost touch with the core audience for the genres and are trying to make everything as broadly appealing as possible.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Yea and I think some genre sci-fi can have broad appeal. Like sci-fi thrillers perform VERY well, and people do like a hard sci-fi when its written for a wide appeal (look at you Martian)

[@epiphoney]

Peter F. Hamilton's Exodus. The Brits get snubbed.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

I have heard of that! Will have to go look into it a bit more

[@caitcoy]

The Goodreads sci-fi list has gotten so frustrating. This year felt so dominated by literary fiction. Appreciate getting to see a wider range of sci-fi in your list!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Figured other people might want to see what came out this year 😂 since goodreads hates us

[@caitcoy]

@@LiteratureScienceAlliance as someone who would like to read more sci-fi, deeply appreciate this! It's clear that I won't be rely on GR for that lol.

[@JohnSaxon-vw5vi]

Thanks miss teach for adding to my tbr list prayers and blessings for you and your family love your Aussie family friend John xxx

[@TiffReadsBooks]

I'm still new to sci-fi and finding my footing. So, I'm loving this list!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Happy to help!!

[@margaretparker5450]

This channel had a video breaking down sci-fi recs by categories: thriller, romance, adventure, philosophical, etc.

[@zan8152]

I'd have loved if Exordia made it, just anything to get Dickinson some more visibility. I feel like he puts out these wonderful, thoughtful works and gets relegated tot he back of the line. Granted, all his stuff is *very* dark, and *very* heavy to deal with, so it's not going to be popular, but... visibility, y'know? I'd put Exordia in that same Michael Chritchon Science Thriller category. There's spaceship and aliens, but it's more about earth scientists working together (or mostly failing to because of politics). Still, it'd fit here so well.

[@ReadBecca]

Exordia was great (and you will very likely really love it) but I don't think it has mass appeal/accessibility. I have not seen a single person other than myself who has actually read it. I loved Mountain in the Sea, but somehow still haven't read Tusks, so this is probably my fault it isn't on the list. I haven't seen a single positive response to Oceans Godori, though it certainly got the marketing and does have a lovely cover. I'm definitely more interested in Service Model and Annie Bot than most other SF this year so far. Maybe Moonbound is the one I'm interested in most not on your list, but it feels like slim pickings.

[@dash648]

I’m almost interested in how GR made their list because yea, some of the misses you mentioned are baffling 🚀

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

They do it by numbers and have generally always leaned more heavily on lit fic sci-fi when they make sci-fi lists in general, not just for goodreads choice awards

[@AnotherTurning]

I've read Tusks of Extinction, and despite the very sci-fi, off-the-wall premise, it still leans very literary 😂 I found myself pretty disappointed in it for that reason. Much less science and intrigue than expected and much more tepid takes on trophy hunting.

[@lauras9071]

i keep seeing Bethany Jacobs books, but never the first one. One day.

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

You said offhandedly you didn't like the Sun Eater series. Is there a video where you discuss why? Or could you tell me?

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

I never made a video since it was a dnf after 100 pages. For me it came down to not like Hadrian (at any age) and finding the writing style denser than I would like for what I was getting from the world building, characters, plot etc.

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

@@LiteratureScienceAlliance Thank you for your response. I appreciate it! And merry Christmas! :)

[@natasagajic1061]

I'm not really a sci-fi reader, so I don't expect to pick it up (according to my Goodreads, I have read 466 fantasy and only 38 sci-fi books and like 8 out of these 38 are Artemis Fowl books so they are part sci-fi in my eyes 😆), but that cover for Ocean's Godori is so pretty 🤩 Also, loving the sassy commentary! 😁

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Glad it was entertaining 🤣

[@natasagajic1061]

@@LiteratureScienceAlliance Looking forward to seeing the fantasy video and the commentary on that one 😁

[@lindqvistsandra]

Prob. not enough people shelving it but Toward Eternity by Anton Hur came out in July and is great!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

What subgenre would you describe this one as??

[@orladdin]

It's not a 2024 release but I just read Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta and really enjoyed it. It's my first foray into YA sci-fi and my first real encounter with mechs in media. The two protagonists are both fierce, skilled and unapologetically angry young women, who start to fall for each other. It was an entertaining and cathartic read given recent events, though the author doesn't shy away from the violence or ethical ambiguity which come with revolution.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

That book had great buzz when it first game out, might have even made it to the goodreads YA sff list that year (don't quote me) unfortunately I have not gotten around to it myself yet

[@orladdin]

@@LiteratureScienceAlliance I had no idea, I think I just saw it in the sci-fi listings on my Libby app!

[@zinaak4194]

The sequel in Kritika H. Rao's Rages series came out this year! I'm luke warm about it tbh, but it should have been on the list!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Is the second book a bit more sci-fi? I felt like after reading the first one it was sci-fi fantasy with a bigger lean towards fantasy (although its incredibly subjective)

[@zinaak4194]

@LiteratureScienceAlliance haha I guess it is, for me it feels like a more sci-leaning SFF

[@cj1986x]

I'm just stuck on how VanderMeer's Absolution made the list when it's been out for less than a month and hardly anyone has had the chance to read it. As for books on the list, I only have read 2--In Ascension, which got my vote because I loved it and want to reread, and Service Model, that I hated because it was like Tchaikovsky trying to be the next Douglas Adams by making a SF Wodehouse novel...and I hate Wodehouse. I did read Tusks of Extinction and thought it was very good but I can see it not being popular enough to make the list. I've read a little of Ocean's Godori, wasn't really wowed by it but I'm open to revisiting it.

[@maiiau]

Absolution is a sequel-after-ten-years to the Southern Reach series, so that's presumably why. I think it does belong in this genre--here or horror, but it's weird blendy fiction.

[@ortija4383]

🤖/🚀/🤝/🚄

[@libraryho]

I, Robot is a fantastic movie! Also, Tusks of Extinction was excellent and I fully recommend it if it interests you. 👽🚀🦖

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Good to know and happy to have another I, Robot fan!

[@lisaswartz4633]

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh 😊

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Such a great book! It was nominated last year ☺️

[@lisaswartz4633]

Whoops. My bad😂

[@anne-marie339]

🚀 I also love iRobot the film 😅 I haven’t read too many 2024 scifi releases since I’m still exploring a lot of recent backlist titles. But I did read Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles and Lost Ark Dreaming enjoyed them! The latter I had a deeper appreciation for after hearing the author speak at a recent event about it.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

I bet, you can tell how much thought and care went into it. I just think I liked the action pacing a bit more than what happened after some of the reveals

[@LaughingStockfarm1]

Colony 🌍

[@AccipiterF1]

"Exordia" and "cozy" are two words that do not belong in the same paragraph. 🤣🚀🛸

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Nobody said I knew what cozy is 😂😂

[@teaonarainyday5497]

🪐

[@suecarol1563]

[@jynxdcoffee8498]

🌱

[@RejectAnticipatoryObedience]

You are stupidly endearing. As in endearing to a ridiculously high degree.

[@manolitita_gafotas]

🚀

[@ianp9086]

And what is Orbital doing on the sci-fi list? It’s set on the international space station which actually does exist and nothing ‘speculative’ happens. It’s about a group of astronauts watching the earth go by. I really liked it but science fiction it ain’t!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

That's what I think!

[@toniweller6008]

📚👽

[@myosotis3058]

👽🚀🚀🛸

[@paigebatey7056]

☄️🛸

[@ScribeWarden]

🌌🚀

[@zixaz00]

Science fiction is my favorite genre but I DNFed/disliked so many of the books on this list 😂 personally I don’t think it was a great year for sci-fi releases!

[@rachelny5209]

🌙☄️

[@MrRorosuri]

🚀🚀🚀

[@toweringtbr]

I've read the first 3. The Mercy of Gods 5 stars, The Stardust Grail, 4 stars, Service Model was 3 and a disappointment. The humor was weak. Orbital was a 3 but definitely not science fiction. I DNFed Ocean's Godori.

[@KristinKravesBooks]

🤖🤖🤖

[@Codyline]

🤖

[@devlyn873]

🤖👽

[@bookmarcreads]

🤖👾👽

[@jasisreading]

👽👽

[@hannahandherstories]

🌍 🪐

[@alexisdeselms3201]

🦕🦖

[@enonknives5449]

Stardust Grail was annoying. I think the story sounded interesting, but the writing was terrible. I quit reading after about 90 pages. I seriously didn't like Lost Ark Rising. I only finished it because it was short. I haven't read any of the others yet.

[@borninabook]

🚀

[@sgaston3969]

🚀🚀

[@yuhalane]

🌌🪐🌠

[@thiadesg]

🤖🤖🤖

[@ffridiejr]

🚀

[@k-statekev6987]

👽🪐

[@RodgersReads]

👾👽⭐🪐

[@lda1737]

🚀