June 21st Fatjer's Day! All the best gift ideas. Shop NowJune 21st Fatjer's Day! All the best gift ideas. Shop Now

Science Fiction & Fantasy Books

Step into endless fantastical realms by peeling open the cover of our speculative fiction favorites. Science fiction and fantasy can take you from the sands of Frank Herbert’s Dune, to the depths of Westeros, out into the quiet ether of space with Matt Dinniman and everywhere in between.

The chaos continues for Carl and Donut - Shop Now - $5 Off
The chaos continues for Carl and Donut - Shop Now - $5 Off
Just Announced New from Sarah J. Maas A Court of Thorns and Roses 6 & 7 Available 10/27/26 Available 1/12/27 Pre-Order Now
Just Announced New from Sarah J. Maas A Court of Thorns and Roses 6 & 7 Available 10/27/26 Available 1/12/27 Pre-Order Now
Our May Speculative Fiction Pick - Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds - Shop Now
Our May Speculative Fiction Pick - Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds - Shop Now

Romantasy

The Knave and the Moon (Signed B&N Exclusive Book)
Rites of the Starling (Shield of Sparrows Series #2)
The Ballad of Falling Dragons (Deluxe Limited Edition) (Signed Book) (The Moonfall Series #2)
Starside (Deluxe Limited Edition) (B&N Exclusive Edition)
Fury Bound (Deluxe Limited Edition)

Cozy Fantasy

All Fantasy

Dystopian Fiction

Space Exploration

Children of Time (Children of Time Series #1)
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse Series #1)
Project Hail Mary
Operation Bounce House
Empire of Silence (Sun Eater Series #1)

High Tech and Hard Science Fiction

Dive Deeper Into Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Young Adult Fantasy

Young Adult Science Fiction

Role-Playing & Fantasy Games

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Graphic Novels

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Shop the best selection of science fiction books at Barnes & Noble. Escape into imaginative, thrilling new worlds with thousands of science fiction and fantasy books about time travel, parallel universes, extraterrestrial life, alternate realities and more! Discover immersive sci-fi reads like Star Bringer, a science fiction tale about a dying sun and seven mismatched strangers from different planets escaping an explosion on a space station, or pick up Fourth Wing, an addictive fantasy with epic levels of spice and world-building. Or if you’re looking for something a little low-stakes, get cozy with a fantasy like Swordheart or Accomplice to the Villain.


A good science fiction book or fantasy novel takes its readers on an adventure that pushes the boundaries of their imagination. Such a book needs a well-crafted setting like the Cosmere universe in Brandon Sanderson’s novel, Tress of the Emerald Sea, an enchanting grown-up fairytale inspired by The Princess Bride. Science fiction books often take on complex themes, pointing a spotlight on human nature and contemplating the future of technology. Classic examples of such sci-fi books include Fahrenheit 451, a dystopian novel set in the future where books are banned, and Frank Herbert’s Dune, which delves into the human quest for power and control.

From highly addictive romantasy novels like Kerri Maniscalco’s Throne of the Fallen to popular sci-fi books like Project Hail Mary, there is so much magic waiting to be explored. Find your next fantasy book or science fiction read at your local B&N or shop online. Check out our lists of the best books of 2025 so far to find your next interesting read. Download today’s hottest sci-fi and fantasy eBooks and audiobooks to your smartphone, tablet, or NOOK device and start enjoying immediately!


Some of the Best Sci Fi & Fantasy Books of All Time include:

  • 1984 by George Orwell
  • Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
  • Dune by Frank Herbert
  • Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • Coraline by Neil Gaiman
  • The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • The Martian by Andy Weir
  • Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
  • Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
  • The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia Series #2) by C.S. Lewis
  • The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

10 of the Best Science Fiction Books of 2025

Explore our list of some of the best sci-fi books of the year in no particular order.
  • Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
  • Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
  • Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
  • I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming
  • The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
  • The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar
  • Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab
  • The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
  • A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen
  • Silver Elite by Dani Francis