most read science fiction books

The 'Foundation' series by Isaac Asimov is highly read. It's about a mathematician who uses his knowledge to predict the fall of a galactic empire and tries to reduce the coming dark age. Its concepts of psychohistory and the grand scale of the galactic civilization are very appealing. Also, 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams is quite popular. It's a humorous take on space travel and the universe, filled with strange aliens and absurd situations.

I think 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson is one of the most read. It has a really cool cyberpunk setting, with a virtual reality metaverse and a post - apocalyptic world outside of it. The main character, Hiro Protagonist, has to navigate this strange world filled with hackers, corporations, and various threats. Another popular one is 'Hyperion' by Dan Simmons. It has a frame - story structure and tells the tales of different pilgrims on a journey to a mysterious place called Hyperion, with each story being unique and full of mystery.

One great 2018 science fiction book to read is 'The Collapsing Empire' by John Scalzi. It presents an interesting interstellar empire on the verge of collapse with complex political intrigue and engaging characters.

'Gateway' is also very popular. Its exploration of human nature in the face of the unknown, along with the unique setting of the alien space station, has attracted a large number of readers. People are drawn to the mystery of the ships and the potential for discovery, as well as the well - developed characters.

'Wool' by Hugh Howey was quite popular too. It's set in a post - apocalyptic silo, and the mystery and the characters' struggles within that confined space were really engaging for readers. The story gradually unfolds, revealing more about the world outside the silo as it progresses, which kept readers hooked.

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.

I'm not entirely sure which ones were the most popular, but 'Doomsday Book' was widely talked about. It had an interesting premise of time - traveling historians.

The 'The Handmaid's Tale' is influential in a different way. It has made people think more deeply about social and political issues in the context of a possible future. It has also influenced the way we view dystopian literature and how it can be used as a warning about the direction our society could take if certain trends continue.

Another popular one could be 'The Uplift War'. It was part of a well - known series and had a lot of fans who were into the idea of the uplift concept, where lower species are 'uplifted' to sentience by higher ones. It had exciting battles and interesting alien species interactions.

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.