I think 'The Grace of Kings' by Ken Liu was also quite popular. It has a great blend of Asian - inspired mythology and science fiction elements. It's about kingdoms and power struggles in a world that has some advanced technological aspects.
One of the books could be 'The Fifth Season' by N.K. Jemisin. It has a unique world - building with a post - apocalyptic setting and elements of magic and geology combined in an interesting way.
I think 'The Fifth Season' was quite popular. It won a Hugo Award, which is a great indication of its popularity and quality. Its unique take on a post - apocalyptic world really caught readers' attention.
Probably 'The Fifth Season' was quite popular. Its unique take on post - apocalyptic settings and magic made it stand out. People liked the way it explored different cultures within its world.
Probably 'Ancillary Justice' too. It was praised for its fresh ideas regarding AI and its exploration of different forms of consciousness. The story's scope, spanning across different planets and cultures in a far - flung future, made it stand out among other books in the genre in 2013.
The 'Divergent' series was also very popular. People were drawn to its unique concept of the factions in society. The idea of having to choose a path in life based on a certain trait and then dealing with the consequences was really interesting to readers. The action scenes and the development of the relationship between Tris and Four added to its appeal.
One well - known book could be 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It's a classic in the genre, with a richly imagined desert planet, complex political intrigue, and a hero's journey.
In the fantasy realm, 'The Chronicles of Narnia' by C.S. Lewis is a great choice. It has a magical world that children enter through a wardrobe. Regarding science fiction, 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury is important. It's about a future where books are burned and a fireman starts to question his role.
Well, 'Ancillary Mercy' by Ann Leckie is also a notable one. It's part of a great series. The story is complex, involving interesting characters and a far - reaching space - based civilization. It has elements of artificial intelligence and political intrigue.
I'm not sure which ones are the most popular exactly, but 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson is often highly regarded. It's set in a future where the world has been transformed by a new form of technology and virtual reality, and it has a really unique and engaging plot.
Another popular one might be 'The Uplift War' by David Brin. It's part of a series and in 1989 it was attracting a lot of attention for its unique take on the evolution of intelligent species and the politics between them.