9 Space Westerns That Quickly Draw You In

Santiago is a legend, well-regarded as the greatest killer and thief alive. He's a cautionary tale that parents use to make their children behave. He’s the target of every bounty hunter in the universe. Sebastian Nightingale Cain, know widely as the Songbird, is a wildly successful bounty hunter, but he is still searching for the biggest bounty there is—the one on Santiago’s head.

The chase between these two cutthroat rivals also features aliens, evangelists, journalists, and an art dealer known as The Swagman. And every single member of this book’s sprawling cast of characters has an interest in protecting or apprehending Santiago. This book spins an epic yarn of money and mavericks.

Drifter follows Pik Lando, an interplanetary smuggler who learned the trade from his notorious father and grandfather. His success in his field is largely based on one core principle: go for small, safe deals. However, when the womanizing Lando gets a job from a gorgeous client, he can’t refuse. 

This job leads Lando down a dangerous path, into a world filled with zealous rebels and a greedy corporation that will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. With its charming, morally ambiguous protagonist and thrilling plot, Drifter is a prime example of a Space Western done right.

The Earth is dead, and humanity’s last hope is a space station orbiting the remnants of our former planet. Riley Hale is tracer for Outer Earth, meaning she runs cargo on the station. After one delivery for a mysterious package, Hale is drawn into a deep conspiracy, one that threatens to end humanity for good. Tracer promises to keep readers sprinting through its pages.

“Tracer sets a new standard for all-action SF.” — Ken MacLeod, author of Cosmonaut Keep

Rosemary Harper joins the ragtag crew of the Wayfarer in search of a place to sleep and a chance to push aside her troubled past. But soon after she comes aboard, the crew is offered the job of a lifetime: tunneling wormholes through space. It doesn’t take long before Rosemary and her crewmates are faced with perilous obstacles and shocking twists in this novel that’s impossible to put down. 

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers is also heralded for its treatment of LGBTQ+ identities, including sapphic interspecies romance and gender-fluid characters. This novel delivers a fresh take on the genre and gives readers a wonderful example of found family.

Captain Malcolm Reynolds has been kidnapped by the Browncoats, who have placed him on trial under penalty of death. As Reynolds’ crew attempts to rescue him, Reynolds fights to prove his innocence but is faced with staggering evidence against his case. Will the culprit be found, or will Reynolds be forced to pay the ultimate price? 

This original story takes readers into the world of Firefly. Joss Whedon even contributes as a consulting editor for this can’t-miss title.

This surreal book is another undeniable classic from sci-fi virtuoso Ray Bradbury. The Martian Chronicles tells the story of humanity’s repeated attempts to colonize the red planet. From tales of lethal disease outbreaks to Martian shapeshifters, this interwoven short story collection details the survivors and victims of the denizens of Mars. It also documents how small-minded and misguided Earthlings can often be. 

Hayden Duke is a man to be feared if you have something to be guilty about. He prowls an Earth ravaged by alien war, dispensing justice at his discretion. Maybe he is a wayward vigilante. Maybe he is a hero. Either way, he is sheriff. This gunslinging novel is for fans of Westworld and Mad Max.

Ten Low is trying her best to isolate herself from the world by hiding away on Factus, a remote desert moon, but after rescuing Gabriella Ortiz, she is thrown back into the battle-plagued world she left behind. 

Unbeknownst to her, Ortiz is a super soldier, sent on a mission to end Ten’s life. As Ten and Ortiz make their way through an unfriendly universe, they are pursued by criminals and soldiers, but the real threat is something much, much more powerful. 

“A fantastic, punchy SF action story, full of blood and grit and bitter pasts.” —Adrian Tchaikovsky, award-winning author of Children of Time