Most Popular Science Fiction Books of the 1980s

Discover popular Science Fiction books from the 1980s, with reader ratings and new favorites to explore.

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Books in this list

Walking on Glass

Iain M. Banks

Science Fiction · Mainstream

1985

7.3/10 29 ratings

Arc One #1

Devil on My Back

Monica Hughes

Science Fiction · Young Adult

1984

7.3/10 26 ratings

Contact

Carl Sagan

Science Fiction · Locus Award

1985

7.3/10 48 ratings

Job: A Comedy of Justice

Robert A. Heinlein

Science Fiction · Locus Award

1984

7.2/10 27 ratings

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #4

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Douglas Adams

Science Fiction

1984

7.2/10 150 ratings

Sprawl #3

Mona Lisa Overdrive

William Gibson

Science Fiction · Cyberpunk

1988

7.4/10 32 ratings

The VALIS Trilogy #3

The Transmigration of Timothy Archer

Philip K. Dick

Science Fiction

1982

7.3/10 21 ratings

Across Realtime #2

Marooned in Realtime

Vernor Vinge

Science Fiction · Military Science Fiction

1986

7.1/10 30 ratings

Oswald Bastable #3

The Steel Tsar

Michael Moorcock

Science Fiction · Steampunk · Alternate History

1981

6.9/10 15 ratings

Sprawl #2

Count Zero

William Gibson

Science Fiction · Cyberpunk

1986

7/10 35 ratings

Interstellar Pig #1

Interstellar Pig

William Sleator

Science Fiction · Young Adult

1984

6.8/10 19 ratings

Rama #2

Rama II

Arthur C. Clarke, Gentry Lee

Science Fiction · Hard Science Fiction

1989

6.9/10 36 ratings

Extended Foundation series #1

Foundation's Edge

Isaac Asimov

Science Fiction · Hugo Award · Locus Award

1982

6.9/10 49 ratings

Dirk Gently #1

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

Douglas Adams

Science Fiction

1987

7/10 90 ratings

Dinner at Deviant's Palace

Tim Powers

Science Fiction · Post-Apocalyptic · Philip K. Dick Award

1985

6.9/10 19 ratings

Dragon's Egg #1

Dragon's Egg

Robert L. Forward

Science Fiction · Hard Science Fiction · Locus Award

1980

7.1/10 22 ratings

Across Realtime #1

The Peace War

Vernor Vinge

Science Fiction · Military Science Fiction

1984

6.8/10 42 ratings

The Complete Robot

Isaac Asimov

Science Fiction · Short Stories

1982

6.9/10 38 ratings

The Stainless Steel Rat #5

The Stainless Steel Rat for President

Harry Harrison

Science Fiction

1982

6.7/10 18 ratings

Space Odyssey #2

2010: Odyssey Two

Arthur C. Clarke

Science Fiction

1982

6.9/10 49 ratings

The Robot Series #3

The Robots of Dawn

Isaac Asimov

Science Fiction

1983

6.8/10 32 ratings

The Green Futures of Tycho

William Sleator

Science Fiction · Young Adult

1981

6.6/10 20 ratings

Dirk Gently #2

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

Douglas Adams

Fantasy · Science Fiction

1988

6.7/10 107 ratings

The Robot Series #4

Robots and Empire

Isaac Asimov

Science Fiction

1985

6.9/10 23 ratings

Sphere

Michael Crichton

Science Fiction · Thriller

1987

6.6/10 23 ratings

The VALIS Trilogy #2

The Divine Invasion

Philip K. Dick

Science Fiction

1981

6.8/10 22 ratings

Extended Foundation series #2

Foundation and Earth

Isaac Asimov

Science Fiction

1986

6.6/10 43 ratings

The Way #2

Eternity

Greg Bear

Science Fiction

1988

7.0/10 23 ratings

Nemesis

Isaac Asimov

Science Fiction

1989

6.5/10 28 ratings

Kiteworld

Keith Roberts

Science Fiction

1985

6.4/10 17 ratings

Extended Foundation series #3

Prelude to Foundation

Isaac Asimov

Science Fiction

1988

6.4/10 41 ratings

Galápagos

Kurt Vonnegut

Science Fiction

1985

6.8/10 21 ratings

Mindplayers

Pat Cadigan

Science Fiction · Cyberpunk

1987

6.5/10 25 ratings

Congo

Michael Crichton

Science Fiction · Thriller

1980

6.3/10 15 ratings

Heinlein's Future History

The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

Robert A. Heinlein

Science Fiction

1985

6.2/10 17 ratings

Cradle

Arthur C. Clarke, Gentry Lee

Science Fiction

1988

5.9/10 25 ratings