Science fiction can be split into two major subgenres: soft and hard science fiction. While soft science fiction typically prioritizes emotional depth and character relationships (two classic examples being Ender’s Game and Fahrenheit 451), hard science fiction is characterized by its scientific accuracy and logic.1 “Hard” could refer to either focus on the hard sciences, such as physics, or the rigor (“hardness”) of the science discussed in the novel.2 Either way, these novels require authorial excellency in both scientific research and compelling storytelling. Below is a selection of some of the most widely acclaimed and influential hard science fiction novels, with publication dates spanning from 1966 to 2020. Click on each to learn more and check them out from UBC or VPL!
1 2 Hard science fiction. (2022, October 1). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_science_fiction