There are dozens of science fiction books that can truly be considered exceptional. However, that number considerably shrinks when it comes to sci-fi series that can claim S-Tier status, with the condition that all of their installments are excellent reads, without a single bad book in the series. While good and bad are obviously very subjective terms, there are seven series that sci-fi fans, for the most part, can agree are without fault.
Screen Rant highlights seven series, but that doesn't mean there aren't more sci-fi series that, subjectively, don't have a bad book. This list also doesn't discount series that are technically ongoing; it does, in fact, consider and highlight series that aren't complete yet.
So, if we didn't include a sci-fi series that you think deserves to be on this list, then drop the name in the comments below. But without further ado, these are Screen Rant's top choices for sci-fi series without a single bad book.
7 Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Published: 2014–present; Notable Subgenre(s): Space Opera / Dystopian
While there may be a few outlying naysayers, most sci-fi fans can agree that Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series is beyond epic and more than deserving of a spot on this list. The divide in opinion may stem from the fact that the series was originally a trilogy before expanding into three additional books, with a fourth on the way.
Some fans struggled with the transition from the original trilogy to its sequels, notably because of the expanded POVs, with the sequels following characters outside of Darrow. However, for those who could get past this hang-up, the series is a 10/10, with many fans desperate for Brown’s final book, Red God, to finally be released.
6 The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
Published: 1986–2016; Notable Subgenre(s): Adventure / Comedy
Lois McMaster Bujold’s The Vorkosigan Saga truly deserves a standing ovation, with the series standing out thanks to its roughly 16 primary books when counting the main novels and novella-length works. The sheer size and unusual structure of this series make its claim to “no bad books” all the more impressive.
From military adventures to political intrigue to romance and comedy, this series truly has it all. If you haven’t read the series but love Star Wars, we highly recommend checking it out, as it brings the epic space battles and family drama that define Star Wars.
5 Wayfarers by Becky Chambers
Published: 2014–2021; Notable Subgenre(s): Hopepunk / Space Opera
If you’re more of a Star Trek fan than a Star Wars fan, then Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers series is a must-read. Like Star Trek, Wayfarers strongly emphasizes a multicultural interstellar civilization. Unlike Star Trek, though, Wayfarers focuses less on wars, major political conflicts, and constant crises and more on friendship, family, community, cultural differences, and what it means to coexist.
Made up of four books, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (2014), A Closed and Common Orbit (2016), Record of a Spaceborn Few (2018), and The Galaxy, and the Ground Within (2021), Wayfarers notably won the 2019 Hugo Award for Best Series.
4 The Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie
Published: 2013–2015; Notable Subgenre(s): Space Opera
For those who love intellectually demanding reads, The Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie should skyrocket to the top of your TBR. This truly brilliant space opera brings together the best of military, AI, and political science fiction in a three-part series.
The first book is Ancillary Justice, followed by Ancillary Sword and Ancillary Mercy. All three books are highly acclaimed among readers and critics, with Ancillary Justice notably winning the Hugo, Nebula, Arthur C. Clarke, BSFA, and Locus Awards.
3 The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
Published: 2017–present; Notable Subgenre(s): Space Opera / AI & Robot
While still technically an ongoing series, there’s no denying that Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries deserves a top spot on this list. The series starts with All Systems Red in 2017 and eventually expands from short novellas into full-length novels. Network Effect, the first novel-length book in the series, won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, with The Murderbot Diaries winning the Hugo Award for Best Series in 2021.
While this series stars an AI protagonist, Murderbot, readers will find this bot to be one of the most relatable and hilarious characters they’ve ever read. Truly, who wouldn’t love a sarcastic, socially anxious security android who yearns to be left alone so it can watch its favorite TV shows?
2 The Expanse by James S. A. Corey
Published: 2011–2021; Notable Subgenre(s): Space Opera
You’d be hard-pressed to find a sci-fi fan who hasn’t loved, let alone heard about, The Expanse. Hence, it shouldn’t be surprising that James S. A. Corey’s nine-book masterpiece claimed a top spot on this list. However, fans should also note that there are roughly eight additional works outside the main novels that add to the legacy of the series, truly making it even more impressive that there isn’t a single bad book in the entire series.
OPA Broadcast · Belt Intelligence How Well Do You Know The Expanse? “Doors and corners, kid. That’s where they get you.”
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01
What is the name of the legitimate Martian warship that James Holden and his crew commandeer and rename the Rocinante? We’re asking for the original Martian Congressional Republic Navy designation.
ACanterbury BDonnager CTachi DScirocco
✓ Correct! The MCRN Tachi was a Corvette-class fast-attack ship stationed aboard the battleship Donnager. When the Donnager was destroyed, Holden’s crew escaped in the Tachi and renamed her the Rocinante — after Don Quixote’s horse, meaning “no longer a workhorse.”
✗ Airlock breach! The answer is the Tachi. The Canterbury was the ice hauler where Holden worked before its destruction, the Donnager was the massive MCRN battleship that carried the Tachi, and the Scirocco was another MCRN vessel. The Tachi became the Rocinante — the crew’s beloved home for the entire series.
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02
Which actor plays James Holden, the idealistic captain of the Rocinante who keeps getting the crew into galaxy-shaking trouble by broadcasting the truth?
AWes Chatham BSteven Strait CCas Anvar DDominique Tipper
✓ Correct! Steven Strait brought James Holden to life across all six seasons of the show. Strait captured Holden’s transformation from a reluctant XO on an ice hauler to a man carrying the weight of humanity’s future — all while keeping that stubborn moral compass pointed true north.
✗ Airlock breach! The answer is Steven Strait. Wes Chatham played the unforgettable Amos Burton, Cas Anvar portrayed pilot Alex Kamal, and Dominique Tipper was engineer Naomi Nagata. Strait’s Holden served as the moral center of the Rocinante crew through all six seasons of the series.
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03
The mysterious alien substance called the protomolecule — capable of repurposing any biological matter it touches — was first discovered on which moon of Saturn?
APhoebe BTitan CEnceladus DIo
✓ Correct! The protomolecule was discovered on Phoebe, an irregularly shaped moon of Saturn. Scientists at a Protogen research station found it locked in the ice. Phoebe was actually a delivery system — an alien projectile sent billions of years ago, aimed at Earth but captured by Saturn’s gravity instead.
✗ Airlock breach! The answer is Phoebe. Titan and Enceladus are Saturn moons but not where the protomolecule was found, and Io is a moon of Jupiter (though it later becomes a key protomolecule location). Phoebe was actually an alien-built delivery system that Saturn’s gravity intercepted billions of years before humanity arrived.
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04
Chrisjen Avasarala is a ruthless UN politician known for her elegant saris and devastating profanity. Which Iranian-American actress won acclaim for bringing her to life on screen?
ANazanin Boniadi BGolshifteh Farahani CSarah Shahi DShohreh Aghdashloo
✓ Correct! Shohreh Aghdashloo’s Avasarala became one of the show’s most beloved characters, blending razor-sharp political maneuvering with a grandmotherly warmth that made her impossible to predict. Her Oscar-nominated voice and commanding presence made Avasarala iconic — especially when dropping uncensored profanity on Amazon.
✗ Airlock breach! The answer is Shohreh Aghdashloo. Nazanin Boniadi is known for Homeland and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Golshifteh Farahani for Paterson and Extraction, and Sarah Shahi for Person of Interest. Aghdashloo’s gravelly voice and fierce performance made Avasarala a fan-favorite powerhouse throughout the series.
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05
The Expanse is based on a book series written under the pen name James S.A. Corey. How many authors actually write under this shared pseudonym?
AOne BTwo CThree DFour
✓ Correct! James S.A. Corey is the pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. Abraham is an established fantasy and sci-fi author, while Franck was George R.R. Martin’s personal assistant. The “James” comes from James (the first name they agreed on), and “Corey” combines their middle names.
✗ Airlock breach! The answer is two — Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. Abraham brought decades of sci-fi and fantasy writing experience, while Franck (who was George R.R. Martin’s assistant) created the original Expanse universe as a tabletop RPG setting. Together, they wrote all nine novels and the novellas.
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06
Amos Burton, the Rocinante’s mechanic, is known for his blunt pragmatism and murky moral code. What is his signature catchphrase when he’s about to do something violent?
A“I am that guy.” B“That’s fair.” C“I’m not a murderer.” D“Nothing personal.”
✓ Correct! “I am that guy” is Amos Burton’s chilling warning, usually delivered right before extreme violence. Wes Chatham made the line iconic — when someone asks “Are you the kind of guy who…” and Amos calmly responds, you know things are about to get very bad for somebody.
✗ Airlock breach! The answer is “I am that guy.” While Amos does say “That’s fair” often (usually when accepting harsh truths), his signature pre-violence line is the cold, matter-of-fact “I am that guy.” Wes Chatham delivered it with such understated menace that it became one of the show’s most quotable moments.
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07
The Expanse originally aired on Syfy before being cancelled after Season 3. A massive fan campaign — including sending a model Rocinante to space — convinced which streaming service to save it for its final three seasons?
ANetflix BHulu CAmazon Prime Video DApple TV+
✓ Correct! Jeff Bezos himself announced the rescue at the 2018 National Space Society conference, reportedly influenced by the fan campaign and his own love of the books. Amazon produced Seasons 4, 5, and 6, giving the show higher production values and uncensored dialogue — much to Avasarala fans’ delight.
✗ Airlock breach! The answer is Amazon Prime Video. The #SaveTheExpanse campaign was one of the most successful fan-driven rescues in TV history. Fans flew a banner over Amazon HQ, sent a model Roci into the stratosphere, and rallied so effectively that Jeff Bezos personally announced the pickup at a space industry event.
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08
What is the term used by Belters to refer to people from Earth and Mars — the inhabitants of the “inner planets” who exploit Belt resources while Belters struggle to survive?
ADusters BWellwallas CSkinnies DInners
✓ Correct! “Inners” is the Belter term for anyone from Earth or Mars, spoken with a mix of resentment and contempt. While “Dusters” specifically refers to Martians and “Wellwalla” is Belter slang for Earthers (gravity well dwellers), “Inners” is the catch-all term for both inner planet populations.
✗ Airlock breach! The answer is Inners. “Dusters” specifically refers to Martians (from the red dust), and “Wellwalla” is Belter slang for Earthers who live at the bottom of a gravity well. “Skinnies” is what Inners sometimes call Belters (due to their elongated frames from low gravity). “Inners” covers both Earth and Mars.
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The fact that The Expanse won the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Series and was adapted into a six-season TV series spanning 62 episodes should also speak to the brilliance of Corey’s work. For the best reading experience, readers should read the primary works in order of their publication dates, starting with 2011’s Leviathan Wakes.
1 The Broken Earth by N. K. Jemisin
Published: 2015–2017; Notable Subgenre(s): Post-Apocalyptic / Science Fantasy
Ranking at number one on our list is N. K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth series. This series is perfect for lovers of the science fantasy genre, or fantasy lovers who are looking to venture into the sci-fi genre for the first time. This is one of those series that is truly unforgettable and worth every single minute invested in reading it, a sentiment that is further supported by the fact that all three books consecutively won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.
Published in 2015, the first book is aptly named after the enormous geological catastrophe that sets the tone for the rest of the story: The Fifth Season. The Obelisk Gate and The Stone Sky, respectively, serve as the second and third installments of the series.
If you think we forgot a sci-fi series without a single bad book, then let us know in the comments!
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