As a child, summer vacation was, no doubt, one of the better parts of the year—a chance to temporarily say goodbye to schoolwork and catch up on my genre reading. And even as an adult, especially with the rising temperatures, I feel that the best way to spend a summer evening is to find a cool and shady spot and escape into another dimension within the pages of a book.
On that note, summer 2026 already brings a plethora of presents to a bookstore near you. From sci-fi adventures unfolding in alien planets, to narratives about dystopian regimes and time-travel shenanigans and even literary thrillers, there’s plenty of exciting science fiction releases to choose from. Take your pick from our most anticipated choices below and update your TBR piles!
Platform Decay
With the release of the Murderbot show on Apple TV last year, more people have been introduced to Martha Wells’ hugely entertaining books. The eighth installment in the series, Platform Decay features the return of the famous TV-show-loving Sec Unit—except this time, Murderbot is on a rescue mission and may have to spend time with human children.
Hilarious, intelligent and cozy, the Murderbot books make for ideal comfort reading, especially during a sweltering summer.
Sublimation
Isabel J. Kim’s debut novel is originally based on a mind-bending short story, published in Clarkesworld Magazine—wherein the very act of crossing a border can lead to “instancing” or a duplication of the self. Sublimation powerfully expands on that premise to tell a story about immigration, identity, corporate secrets, and all the choices we didn’t get to make. Full of sharp observations and literary asides, Sublimation is a memorable page-turner, establishing Kim as a writer to keep an eye out for.
Radiant Star
Ann Lecke’s Imperial Radch trilogy is possibly one of the best sci-fi trilogies to come out in recent years, with thoughtful commentaries on gender, sexuality, and politics among other things. Now Leckie returns to the intricately designed universe of Imperial Radch with a new standalone novel, Radiant Star, delighting fans both old and new. Engagingly written with an ensemble cast, Radiant Star is one hell of a thought-provoking ride.
Voyagers: A Novel
Meg Charlton’s Voyagers blends alien contact, childhood friendship and a hidden conspiracy into one thrilling and engaging narrative. Decades ago, when Alex and Ana were quite young—they both mysteriously disappeared and came back with an account of alien abduction. But now, as humanity braces for a signal from extraterrestrial life, Alex is forced to reconnect with Ana and seek the answers that may or may not be in the past. Full of suspense and twists, Voyagers is an emotional journey about found family and the dark side of fame.
Ignore All Previous Instructions
Ignore All Previous Instructions is a pretty delightful book that unfolds in the futuristic Jovian system, exploring the repercussions of LLMs on storytelling and queer (and neurodiverse) identities. Hoffman’s book alternates between the past and the present, and follows Kelli, an autistic AI script editor who’s recruited by her former best friend Rowan (now a smuggler) on a heist, that makes her break the rules and question the status quo.
The topics discussed in the book, revolving around censorship and stories written by AI, are pretty topical. Combine that with the heartwarming friendship between the endearing main characters, and Ignore All Previous Instructions is a thoughtful and engaging read.
Twenty Something Else
If you’ve always wondered how life could’ve turned out if you’d made a different choice, you’re not alone. Stephanie Mack’s timey-wimey book, Twenty Something Else wonderfully explores that same conundrum, wherein the almost-forty Sutton Leyne gets into a pickleball accident and awakes with the chance to do it all over again—relive her 20s on her own terms.
Exhilarating and wholesome, Twenty Something Else is a story of love, friendship, second chances and living life to the fullest.
The Subtle Art of Folding Space
Award-winning writer John Chu’s debut novel, The Subtle Art of Folding Space melds discourse on physics, generational trauma and really good dim sum in a single, thrilling narrative.
Yes, the dim sum on the cover definitely counts as temptation. The story follows Ellie who has to deal with her mum dying and other family drama, while trying to figure out how to stop the universe from falling apart. With plenty of physics and wacky science bits, this one might be perfect for fans of Everything, Everywhere All at Once.
The Last Contract of Isako
Fonda Lee already regaled her readers with the acclaimed Green Bone Saga, and now she’s returned with a standalone space opera, The Last Contract of Isako. The novel follows our titular world-weary protagonist who can’t say no to the final mission, and once again, she’s thrust into a world of scheming and secrets. Described as “corporate samurai in space”, The Last Contract of Isako is a novel you won’t want to miss.
Ode to the Half-Broken
Finally, if you loved movies like The Wild Robot and Wall-E and you’re in the mood for more fiction where it is a robot who tells the story, you’ll be at home with Suzanne Palmer’s latest, beautifully-written novel, Ode to the Half-Broken. This book unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world where Be, an old robot, has embraced an isolated existence in an abandoned mill—until they’re attacked and vandalized.
Now, with one of their limbs missing, they embark on an adventure to capture the thief, accompanied by a human mechanic and cyborg dog, slowly coming to terms with the past and how the world has irrevocably changed. Contemplative yet gripping, this is a wholesome book whose characters will surely stay with you, long after you’ve closed the last page.
Featured image: Khachik Simonian / Unsplash
