Books like The Martian

Explore the mind-boggling world of space travel and weightlessness with an entertaining twist. This book delves into the oddities of life in space and the unique challenges that come with it, from crash tests for new space capsules to space shuttle training toilets. Join the author as she takes you on a journey through the science of space and everyday life on our planet.

This Hugo-winning sci-fi novel tells the story of Tyler, Jason, and Diane who witness the Big Blackout - a worldwide phenomenon that changes the course of their lives. The sun is now a heat source, not a celestial object, and an alien-made barrier cuts off Earth from the rest of the universe. Time moves faster outside the barrier, and the death of the sun is only decades away. Jason works to avert this apocalypse while Diane falls into hedonism and cultish religion. As Earth sends terraforming machines to Mars, they discover an identical barrier has appeared around the planet. Spin is a mind-bending and unforgettable journey of cosmic proportions.

This space opera from sci-fi master C. J. Cherryh transports readers to a future history spanning 5,000 years of human civilization. The novel explores the rebellion between Earth and its far-flung colonies, making it a must-read for fans of epic interstellar conflict.

This gripping sci-fi tale tells the story of a planetary liberation movement on Mars, where corporate interests from Earth are holding back the hardworking citizens of Mars. The revolution is seen through the eyes of Casseia Majumdar, an extraordinary woman fighting for her planet's independence. With rich details and an audacious scientific concept, Moving Mars is an epic tale of courage, love, and political struggle.

Desolation Road takes readers on a wild and imaginative journey to the town of the same name, situated in the red Martian desert. From an educational extravaganza boasting a captive angel to a mystical hobo with a way with machines, the town's inhabitants are nothing but ordinary. The episodic scope of the novel is flavored with the delightful prose of Jack Vance and the idiosyncratic stylings of Cordwainer Smith. Fans of sci-fi and fantasy will love this extraordinary and imaginative book.

Leaving Orbit is a poignant exploration of the end of human spaceflight as we know it. In the 1960s, space travel opened up a universe of possibilities, but now in a time of austerity, that dream has ended. Author Margaret Lazarus Dean bears witness to the last three space shuttle launches in Florida to explore the history of NASA and what the end of space travel means for a nation. With interviews from NASA workers, astronauts and fans, Leaving Orbit is a breathtaking tribute to a waning era.

Transport yourself to the fantastical world of ancient Mars in this riveting adventure tale. Join archaeologist Matt Carse as greed leads him to the tomb of the Martian god Rhiannon, where he is forced to confront the planet's incredible past full of vast oceans, Sea-Kings, and terraced palaces. Written by renowned sci-fi author Leigh Brackett, co-writer of The Big Sleep film and original screenwriter for The Empire Strikes Back, The Sword of Rhiannon is a must-read for anyone seeking thrilling escapism to another world.