The most effective new science fiction books of January 2026 embody new titles from Peter F. Hamilton and George Saunders

Welcome to January, a month when many people are eager to flee from the world into the pages of a guide. Fortunately, science fiction is right here to assist, whether or not that’s with a narrative set on a technology ship the place issues aren’t as they appear, courtesy of Peter F. Hamilton, or journeying to an alternate model of this world the place the Roman Empire continues to be in cost, in Solitaire Townsend’s Godstorm. Add to the combination a time-loop homicide, a UFO romance and a few eco-horror, and there’s loads of selection for sci-fi followers this month.

Huge hitter Peter F. Hamilton units his newest outing on a technology ship in quest of a brand new world, the place individuals are solely allowed to stay for 65 years in order that they don’t deplete the ship’s sources. When a youngster Hazel’s brother has an accident which means he’s not productive, he’s set to be killed off. She discovers that a lot of what the ship’s passengers have been informed for the previous 500 years is unfaithful. That is the primary in a trilogy, all three of which shall be printed this yr.

Vigil by George Saunders

Our sci-fi columnist Emily H. Wilson admits that this isn’t sci-fi, however says “it has a declare to being local weather fiction… as a result of it centres on the dying of a robust oil tycoon”, so I’m together with it right here. As Emily says, this novel from the Booker prize-winning writer takes place on the deathbed of oil firm CEO Okay. J. Boone, as he’s ushered in direction of the afterlife and faces a reckoning.

What a haunting thought: the final zoo on this planet is on Alcatraz island and outdoors its partitions, nature is falling aside. Zookeeper Camille cares for chimps and jaguars, till new arrival Sailor tells her a few secret sanctuary the place wild animals can roam free. This was printed earlier within the US and Australia, however is out there this month within the UK.

Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart

Cop Ryan Crane is given the possibility to affix the primary crewed mission to Titan. The 2-year expedition will carry him an enormous pay cheque, guaranteeing take care of his son, who’s disabled. However when he and the workforce return to Earth, they uncover it isn’t the place they left behind – and mysterious figures are following them.

Godstorm by Solitaire Townsend

On this alternate historical past, environmentalist Solitaire Townsend think about an oil-fuelled model of the Roman Empire, which by no means fell and the place fossil fuels have prolonged the Romans’ conquest of the world. I’m unsure fairly how a lot it will swerve into fantasy, however none aside from Kim Stanley Robinson calls it a “vivid, ferocious journey, because the heroine struggles towards a world much more violent than our personal— or so it appears till you think about issues of scale, and notice this novel is a type of allegory for our struggle too”. I’ll positively be giving it a strive.

Godfall by Van Jensen

Is {that a} huge asteroid hurtling in direction of Earth, or is it a three-mile-tall alien determine that lands outdoors Little Springs, Nebraska, and rapidly turns into often known as the Large? It’s the latter, and Little Springs sheriff David Blunt finds himself coping with a city that has morphed right into a top-secret authorities analysis web site, surrounded by crowds of conspiracy theorists. He’s additionally on the path of a killer and is troubled by goals of a cosmos in chaos… he has lots happening, principally.

As smuggler Rosi and her crew drive by means of the Romanian mountains, they discover a radio sign that hints at impending doom. The world goes fully darkish – however transmissions begin trickling in from novice radio fans and different remoted individuals. Rosi and her crew got down to rescue them in a world turned apocalyptic. Is that this horror or science fiction? I’m not positive from this synopsis, however I’m intrigued.

Seven by Joanna Kavenna

We’re promised a journey by means of time and area on this literary dystopia, by which a younger thinker units out for Greece to seek out the pinnacle of the Society of Misplaced Issues, and finally ends up on a quest that strikes from the earliest human societies to the arrival of synthetic intelligence.

El is a social media influencer in Los Angeles who captures footage of an alien ship, drawing the eye of Agent Carter Brody – who simply occurs to have had his personal extraterrestrial sighting. Romance and UFOs? What a January deal with!

This eco-horror novel is described as “Jordan Peele and Jeff Vandermeer meet The Overstory” by its writer. Set in northern California’s redwood forests, psychological well being nurse Jasmine is returning house to the logging city the place her grandfather made a dwelling deforesting the countryside. Buried within the woods are darkish secrets and techniques, and entities manufactured from human flesh and petrified bark who’re out for revenge…

I’m going to incorporate this homicide thriller on this month’s round-up as a result of it has a time loop in it (time loop = physics), and since it feels like enjoyable. Vivian is pressured to go to a household gathering the place everybody hates her – and the place she is murdered by being pushed off a balcony. However then she wakes up, and is murdered once more, and once more… Together with her sole ally a waiter who solely needs to complete his shift, will she work out what’s happening?

The Hope by Paul E. Hardisty

It’s 2082 and the world is in ruins, because of local weather change, famine and warfare. On this remaining guide of the Forcing trilogy, a 16-year-old lady and her uncle try to cover the final surviving books in a secret library, in a future the place the architects of local weather collapse are in cost.