C.S. Lewis once said, “Two heads are better than one, not because either is infallible, but because they are unlikely to go wrong in the same direction.”
Collaborations can be of many kinds—whether it’s a writer and artist teaming up for a comic, a patient editor or a translator bringing an author’s vision to life, or even two authors working together on the same novel. Co-authored books are not extremely common nowadays—but they aren’t unheard of—and they can certainly bring out the best in each other. Indeed, one may even argue that all art is a process of collaboration—be it feedback from a trusted friend, inspiration from the artists you look up to, or working with publishing professionals to get the best version of your story across.
From SF classics to contemporary masterpieces, we bring you a list of the best co-authored SFF fiction to add to your TBR pile. Who knows—maybe these books will even inspire you to pick up a pen and write that fantasy novel with your best friend!
Roadside Picnic
Roadside Picnic is widely regarded as one of the best science fiction novels of all time. Originally published in Russian in 1972, the book was the work of two brothers—Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. The duo collaborated on several novels throughout their prolific careers.
A deeply philosophical science fiction tale, Roadside Picnic explores a world where unexplained alien visitations are common (with those areas being labeled “zones”), with governments and organizations trying their best to stop scavengers from breaking into these zones and looting alien artefacts. The story follows Redrick "Red" Schuhart over several years, as he breaks into these zones to steal artifacts that he can later sell for profit.
Edge of Apocalypse: A Joshua Jordan Novel (The End Series Book 1)
If you’re in the mood for a sci-fi action thriller, try Edge of Apocalypse—the first book in “The End” series by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall. Set during the Biblical “end times,” the novel delves into American weaponry, Christian belief systems and economic collapse to narrate a suspense-ridden story where nation states go to war against one another.
This Is How You Lose the Time War
Easily a modern classic, This is How You Lose the Time War is an epistolary novella told from the alternating points-of-view of two time-traveling agents, Red and Blue, who fall in love with each other despite being on the opposite sides of an epic multidimensional war. Ambitious, carefully crafted and devastatingly beautiful, This is How You Lose the Time War is perfect if you’re looking for a short and sublime queer love story where the prose actually reads and feels like poetry.
The Mask of Mirrors
The first in the Rook and Rose trilogy, The Mask of Mirrors unfolds in a medieval fantasy world, reminiscent of a decadent Venice, peppered with class inequality and unrest. The tale follows Ren, a con artist and former street urchin who attempts to infiltrate the nobility, and unwittingly sets off a chain of events. The worldbuilding is gorgeously detailed and the magic systems are a delight to unravel—drawing upon tarot cards, astrology, numerology and more.
M.A. Carrick, the supposed author, is actually the pseudonym for Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms—both talented authors in their own right, with a passion for worldbuilding and table-top roleplaying that clearly comes through in their writing.
Tunnels (Tunnels #1)
If you’ve always been fascinated by caves, archeological excavation, and the possibility of life underground, Tunnels is the book for you. I read this book in middle school—roughly the same age as Will Burrows, the young protagonist who uncovers a secret subterranean society after his father mysteriously disappears. But this underground society is riddled with supernatural dangers, with the inhabitants ruled by the merciless Styx. Compelling and original, Tunnels makes for a fun read, with several sequels to keep you interested.
Illuminae
If you’re interested in stories told through mixed media elements and found footage, you should check out Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. It’s a space opera detailing the adventures of teenage colonists Kady Grant and her boyfriend Ezra Mason who are caught up in a political crossfire—they’re up against BeiTech, a corrupt mega corporation. The entire narrative is framed as a court case with reports, emails, interviews, and other “found” elements masterfully conveying the events.
The Steel Seraglio
The Steel Seraglio is a wonderfully crafted novel that tells the story of a large group of concubines who are exiled and cast into the desert; now, they have to rely on each other, topple the usurper sultan and take back their power. It’s a powerful story of women empowerment, self-determination, and wresting power away from patriarchal rulers, cleverly told with short stories and folk tales carefully embedded within the novel itself, reflecting Arabian storytelling traditions.
Norby the Mixed-Up Robot
Husband-and-wife duo Janet and Isaac Asimov teamed up to write this fantastically fun series about a space academy student and his time-traveling robot. The first entry in the 10-book series follows 14-year-old Jeff Wells, who discovers a robot called Norby. The robot is supposed to help Jeff with his studies, but it turns out that Norby is far more than that.
When a villain named Ing, set on conquering the whole solar system, begins to target Jeff's older brother, Norby and Jeff will have to procrastinate their studies and find a way to save the day.
Time's Eye (Time Odyssey Book 1)
Finally, A Time Odyssey series brought together two of the best sci-fi writers for three compelling co-written novels—although the series remains unfinished, due to the unfortunate death of Arthur C. Clarke in 2008. The novels are based on Clarke’s Space Odyssey books, focusing on multiple characters displaced in time, offering a glimpse of alternate histories and unfamiliar futures.
