The 11 Best Sci-Fi Audiobooks You Can Listen To Today

Listening to an audiobook is a great way to keep your brain engaged and active whilst doing everyday activities, and one of the best genres you can listen to, which is guaranteed to make that drive to work even more exciting in the morning, is sci-fi.

The beauty of sci-fi is how broad it is as a genre. You can have a story that looks more into the spectacle and wonder of the universe or something that takes us on an intense and suspenseful journey across faraway planets full of mystery.

Because there are so many wonderful sci-fi authors out there whose books have been replicated into audio form, it can be a little difficult to decide which are worth your time, which is why we’ve listed the 11 very best sci-fi audiobooks below to make this choice much easier.

Best Sci-Fi Audiobooks You Should Listen To

Along with many of the stories being set off-planet and some even involving otherworldly creatures and characters, another big reason the sci-fi genre has so many fans is because of just how much choice you get, especially when it comes to audiobooks since they are so accessible.

Here are some of the very best that you can download today.

Ender’s Game By Orson Scott Card

Considered a classic by long-time sci-fi fans, Ender’s Game follows Ender Wiggin, a courageous and bright young man who must undergo a ruthless military program so that he can become the leading commander of humanity, and defend humankind against a genocidal alien race bent on destruction.

While Orson Scott Card keeps the dialogue in this book lighthearted and friendly, as the story goes on, a much bigger emphasis is put on the war, and how the hope of an entire species can fall on one single person.

With themes of compassion, love, and what it means to be a true leader running throughout the entire story, this is a sci-fi classic you’re going to want to download as soon as possible.

Pros

• The story slowly becomes more intense and dramatic as it progresses.
• Ender is an extremely well-written and relatable protagonist.
• Side characters get a lot of development.

Cons

• Not as much attention is given to the aliens.
• A lot of filler by the middle of the story.

The Martian By Andy Weir

You may have heard of The Martian thanks to the academy award winning 2015 movie featuring Matt Damon, but what you may not know is that the story was actually inspired by the 2011 novel of the same name, which follows a stranded astronaut trying to stay alive on Mars after getting separated from his crew.

The descriptions Andy Weir uses in this book really help to make Mars feel like an anxiety-inducing prison that our protagonist, Mark Watney, must find a way to escape with his limited resources.

Wil Wheaton of Star Trek fame narrates this sci-fi cult classic and does a fantastic job at making the reader feel suspense and fear when the story demands it.

Pros

• Fascinating insight into Mars and the dangers of exploring other planets.
• Great balance of intense and more intimate scenes.
• Very unexpected twists throughout the story.
• Gripping right from the first chapter.

Cons

• Not completely scientifically accurate.
• The third act is fairly long-winded.

Red Rising By Pierce Brown

Darrow and his fellow Red miners work tirelessly toiling beneath the surface of Mars in the hope that one day, other humans will be able to live on the planet and form new colonies.

However, despite what Darrow has been told, he and the other members of the Red caste soon discover that they have been lied to and that humans have already been living on the surface for decades, including members of the higher-up Gold caste.

What ensues is a story centered around betrayal and exploitation in this sci-fi classic that seems eerily realistic, despite how many otherworldly concepts and gadgets are introduced throughout the story.

Pros

• The world-building of the Mars colonies is very detailed and expansive.
• The pacing never slows down and remains consistent throughout.
• Plenty of sequels to jump into after the first book.
• Threatening and multi-layered antagonists.

Cons

• The romance subplot is relatively weak and absent for much of the story.
• Side characters don’t get much development after the first few chapters.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy By Douglas Adams

Just seconds before Earth is destroyed and blown to smithereens, Arthur Dent, a jolly and fairly oblivious middle-aged man, is transported to the safety of space by his mysterious new friend, Ford Perfect, where they embark on an eye-opening and exciting adventure.

Douglas Adams’ sci-fi classic has been a fan-favorite for many years, and when listening to this witty and lighthearted story narrated by the immensely talented Stephen Fry, makes it all the more enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a sci-fi story that doesn’t take itself too seriously which you can casually listen to at any time of the day no matter what you’re doing, this is the audiobook for you.

Pros

• Writing is very fun and lighthearted.
• Still some very emotional and memorable moments.
• Absurdity and randomness are very prominent themes.
• Arthur and Ford make a hilarious duo.

Cons

• The tone can start to feel inconsistent as the story progresses.

Space Opera By Catherynne Valente

While many authors will portray extraterrestrials as mean-spirited and threatening creatures that want nothing more than to harm humans, Catherynne Valente takes a slightly different approach in Space Opera when humans that have left Earth are actually invited by aliens to participate in an intergalactic civilization.

Before they can join, there is one trial they must pass, and that is taking part in the Mega Galactic Grand Prix, a talent show where each participant must impress the alien onlookers to earn their spot in this new civilization.

With funny and quirky characters being introduced with every chapter and Heath Miller providing a fantastic over-the-top narration to make every scene even more memorable and hilarious, it’s hard to press pause on this classic sci-fi story once you start listening.

Pros

• The story only gets funnier as it goes on.
• Worldbuilding is very in-depth and detailed.
• The stakes still feel very high.
• Pays homage to many classic sci-fi tropes.

Cons

• It takes a while for the story to begin properly.

The Stand By Stephen King

If you’re a fan of horror sci-fi stories, you’re not going to want to miss out on this epic tale written by the king of horror himself.

When 99% of the global population is wiped out due to a ravaging deadly virus, those that remain must learn to adapt to this bleak new world where the line separating good and evil becomes thinner each and every day.

While the story is definitely longer than most sci-fi stories, this is why listening to it as an audiobook is the best way to go, especially since it is narrated by the passionate Grover Gardner who fills this story with enthusiasm and makes those moments of tension feel even more frightening.

Pros

• Sci-fi story that still manages to remain fairly grounded and relatable.
• Good themes centered around morality in times of crisis.
• The ending is very satisfying and ties up every loose end.

Cons

• A very long story with a fair amount of filler content by the mid-point.

Dune By Frank Herbert

You can’t talk about classic fan-favorite sci-fi books and not mention Dune, a captivating tale that has become so popular, it even spawned its own movie.

The story follows the young and gifted Paul Atreides, who is born into a great destiny and eventually thrust into the many conflicts that affect his world.

With nail-biting battle scenes, plenty of political intrigue, and even some fantastic creature designs, many have called Dune an all-in-one sci-fi package, and we would be inclined to agree, so now that it is finally on audiobook, it really is a must-buy for all those sci-fi fans out there.

Pros

• Incredible world-building, especially with the noble houses.
• Very detailed and threatening otherworldly creatures.
• Plenty of intense action scenes.
• Lots of political drama.

Cons

• Fairly weak subplots harm the pacing.
• Some futuristic concepts are poorly explained.

Brave New World By Aldous Huxley

After witnessing the horrors of World War 1 and the emergence of devastating weaponry, Aldous Huxley set out to write a novel warning about the dangers of future technology, and more specifically, how we would use it as humans.

In this dystopian future, each person is a product of genetic modification, which determines their intelligence in order to place them in a specific social group.

The story offers a fascinating insight into how terrifying the future seemed to someone writing back in the 1930s, while still serving as a warning for how things could turn out even today.

Narrator Michael York, who is well known for voicing over the Romeo & Juliet audiobook, does a fantastic job here portraying each of the characters by slightly altering his voice to make each one feel unique in their own ways, making for a captivating dystopian sci-fi story.

Pros

• The captivating story focused on the dangers of genetic modification.
• The good length makes for a quick listen.
• The chapters aren’t too long.
• Double-protagonist is very unique and allows us to see the world from two perspectives.

Cons

• A few gruesome experimentation scenes can be off-putting to some listeners.

Binti By Nnedi Okorafor

Binti has won both the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for Best Novella because of how effortlessly Nnedi Okorafor manages to make a planet-jumping story still feel so relatable and personal as we follow Binti, the first member of the Himba to be offered a position at the Oomza university, one of the most prestigious institutions in the galaxy.

As she travels among the stars and traverses unknown planets, Binti must learn how to retain her own cultural customs in the face of those who may not acknowledge or respect them, while also doing battle with the fierce Meduse who have been at war with the students and teachers of Oomza University for many years.

There are so many different concepts and themes introduced in this book that it makes it easy to understand why it is so beloved by fans, and now that it is accessible in audiobook form, you can download it and start listening today.

Pros

• The perfect blend of futuristic settings with realistic concepts of culture and identity.
• Binti constantly develops and never feels bland.
• Each planet has a very unique atmosphere and culture.
• A lot of background information on Binti and her family.

Cons

• Meduse can seem fairly weak as antagonists.

2001: A Space Odyssey By Arthur C. Clarke

While you may be aware of the Stanley Kubrick film of the same name that was released in 1968, British author Arthur C. Clarke actually wrote the book concurrently with the development of the film, and while the year 2001 may have already passed us, the messages in this book are still as relevant as they were when it first released.

This horror sci-fi classic takes an unnerving look at the horrors of space travel, the danger of artificial intelligence, and the frailty of humanity when the researchers working on the moon’s Clavius Base are thrown into an intense and life-threatening mission to get back home after their mission goes sideways, and their own ship technology starts to turn against them.

Pros

• One of the most unnerving horror sci-fi stories ever written.
• Eerie look into the dangers of AI and our reliance on it.
• All scientific terms and futuristic concepts are explained very clearly.
• The suspense never slows down throughout the story.

Cons

• A few inaccuracies in terms of space travel.

We Are Legion By Dennis E. Taylor

While many people would be happy to survive a car crash thanks to cryogenic freezing, Bob Johansson is less than thrilled when it is revealed that he has actually been preserved so that he can be turned into a software device with the purpose of scanning the skies for habitable planets.

What starts as a boring job quickly becomes much more exciting as Bob is thrown into the middle of a scientific arms race with multiple nations relying on him to find them a planet they can conquer, with this hilarious story hiding some messages about space travel and the conflicts that can occur from colonizing planets.

Pros

• A hilarious comedy that never gets stale.
• Bob is a lovable and fairly relatable main character.
• Ship designs and software are explained in great detail.
• An honest look at the dangers of colonizing planets.

Cons

• The tone can become inconsistent by the third act.

Final Thoughts

There are so many different kinds of stories that fall under sci-fi that it makes it the perfect genre for listeners to experiment with so that they can find a story that interests them the most.

With that being said, be sure to download these fantastic planet-hopping audiobooks today, who knows, you might just find your new favorite book.

How To Choose The Right Sci-Fi Audiobook

Tone And Themes

Because there is so much we don’t know about space and the stars that we see in the night sky, it allows authors to use their imagination to portray what space travel and other planets may really be like, whether it’s a hilarious encounter with friendly aliens or a spine-chilling journey into the depths of the abyss.

Therefore, before you download a sci-fi audiobook, make sure you know the kind of tone you want the story to take, and what kind of themes you would want to be packed into the story depending on how complex and thought-provoking you want the book to be.

Chapter Length

Many of us will listen to audiobooks in small chunks while we go about our daily lives, so finding a book with small to medium-length chapters, usually less than an hour long, allows you to listen in shorter periods at a time without breaking the flow of the story.

Specific Scientific Details

If you have a specific interest in sci-fi, such as starship designs or the threat of AI for example, there are many books that hone in on these specific sci-fi elements in their stories.

Frequently Asked Questions