Chinese Science Fiction Novels (19 books)

This reading list is obviously a work-in-progress, as there are not many translated Chinese science fiction novels currently available on the Western mass market. Chinese science fiction is not the black hole genre most believe it to be, but is in fact quite popular in mainland China, with a number of dedicated journals and magazines since the 1970s as well as its own annual literary award.

Yet overseas publishers have been reluctant to translate and publish these works, as they are seen as "constrained" by culture and politics (including an outright ban of science fiction in the 1960s and again in the 1980s) compared with Western authors. Liu Cixin's recent groundbreaking "Three-Body" trilogy proved them wrong, and will hopefully open more publishing doors for Chinese science fiction writers.

Please keep your additions restricted ONLY to science fiction published by Chinese authors (including those of Chinese heritage eg Taiwan, Hong Kong, Chinese-American et al). Anthologies that include a Chinese author are welcome. Please NO fantasy, steampunk or anime.

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past, #1) by Liu Cixin (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 489,442 ratings score: 1,291, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Dark Forest (Remembrance of Earth’s Past, #2) by Liu Cixin (Goodreads Author) 4.40 avg rating — 218,028 ratings score: 594, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Death's End (Remembrance of Earth’s Past, #3) by Liu Cixin (Goodreads Author) 4.41 avg rating — 170,543 ratings score: 592, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	仰望星空之遥远的问候 by Bryant Johnson it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings score: 500, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Vagabonds by Hao Jingfang 3.39 avg rating — 2,300 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Invisible Planets: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation by Ken Liu (Goodreads Author) (Editor, Translator) 4.04 avg rating — 5,359 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang 4.25 avg rating — 124,840 ratings score: 196, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Ball Lightning by Liu Cixin (Goodreads Author) 3.79 avg rating — 14,978 ratings score: 190, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu (Goodreads Author) 3.44 avg rating — 20,276 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Membranes by Chi Ta-wei 3.94 avg rating — 7,956 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	HumAIn: Navigating the Impact of AI in a Jobless Future by Amanda Gibbs (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Redemption of Time by Baoshu 3.63 avg rating — 10,743 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere by John Chu 3.81 avg rating — 1,875 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	膜 by Chi Ta-wei 3.72 avg rating — 18 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Supernova Era by Liu Cixin (Goodreads Author) 3.30 avg rating — 8,116 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Uncanny Magazine Issue 2: January/February 2015 by Lynne M. Thomas (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 3.84 avg rating — 1,020 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The City of Silence by Ma Boyong 4.39 avg rating — 69 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Cat Country: A Satirical Novel of China in the 1930's by Lao She 3.63 avg rating — 1,371 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Year of the Rat by Chen Qiufan 3.93 avg rating — 70 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars