Science Fiction
Read Science Fiction Classics in English
114 science fiction books at CEFR A2 to C2 — learn English by reading the stories worth reading. Select any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration read the page aloud, and save the vocabulary you meet. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
What are the best science fiction classics to read in English as a learner?
The best science fiction classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with The Butterfly Kiss, The British Barbarians and The Brain. Each one is labelled with a CEFR level, any word you do not know is one selection away from a translation, and the narration reads the page aloud while it highlights the words.
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Level C1Science FictionThe Butterfly KissWhen Sykin Supcel, a gifted Earth scientist, is kidnapped by the hostile Sur-Malic, tensions rise within the Solar Navy as secrets behind the elite "Uniques"—enhanced individuals t…
Level C1Science FictionThe British BarbariansA bold protest against societal timidity, this novel challenges prevailing norms by boldly expressing unfiltered truths and advocating for purity amidst a world fearful of offense.
Level C1Science FictionThe Boats of the "Glen Carrig": Being an account of their Adventures in the Strange places of the Earth, after the foundering of the good ship Glen Carrig through striking upon a hidden rock in the unknown seas to the Southward; as told by John Winterstraw, Gent., to his son James Winterstraw, in the year 1757, and by him committed very properly and legibly to manuscriptStranded in lifeboats after their shipwreck, survivors navigate a desolate, silent land filled with strange, unsettling vegetation and eerie sounds that hint at mysterious dangers…
Level C1Science FictionThe Bluff of the HawkStranded in space after destroying a hidden asteroid stronghold, Hawk Carse and his comrades face a harrowing 30,000-mile journey in fragile space suits to reach safety, battling i…
Level C1Science FictionThe Blindman's World: 1898An astronomy professor obsessed with Mars discovers an extraordinary vision that blurs the line between scientific observation and otherworldly experience, plunging him into an imm…
Level C1Science FictionThe Blind SpotWhen an ethereal woman from another dimension appears, a mysterious city emerges from the depths, blending fantasy and science in an extraordinary tale.
Level C1Science FictionThe Air TrustIn a world where monopolies control every resource, a ruthless billionaire seeks to dominate the very air we breathe, threatening humanity with slavery or violent revolt.
Level C1MysteryThe Air PirateIn a world where air piracy once threatened the skies, the Chief Commissioner of the British Air Police confronts a new, urgent mystery that could unravel the fragile peace of tran…
Level C1Science FictionThe Age of Science: A Newspaper of the Twentieth CenturyA groundbreaking invention, the Prospective Telegraph, allows communication across time, revealing a newspaper from the year 1977 that showcases a future where science dominates ev…
Level C1Science FictionTales of the UnexpectedA sudden, mysterious seizure leaves Sidney Davidson seeing and interacting with an unseen world, shattering reality in a laboratory where science and perception collide.
Level C1Science FictionTales of Space and TimeIn a grimy London shop, a mysterious crystal egg draws the eager attention of two unusual visitors, sparking a tense negotiation and revealing secrets beyond the ordinary.
Level C1Science FictionTales of Fantasy and FactEmbark on a mysterious voyage through imaginary lands like the City of Destruction and Ultima Thule, guided by the enigmatic Captain Vanderdecken, whose tales intertwine legend and…
Level C1Science FictionSymzonia: Voyage of DiscoveryEmbark on a daring voyage to the mysterious southern polar regions, where a captain discovers an unknown continent and enters a hidden internal world inhabited by advanced beings w…
Level C1Science FictionSweet Their Blood and StickyIn a desolate world where only a mysterious machine endlessly produces sticky pink taffy, two explorers uncover strange, living creatures drawn to its sweet output.
Level C1Science FictionSurvival of the fittestIn a world where androids demand equal rights and threaten rebellion, humans grapple with the rise of near-human robots capable of original thought, sparking a tense struggle for s…
Level C1Science FictionStar-Crossed LoverA chance encounter with a mysterious old woman leads an ordinary man into a bewildering world where nothing is as it seems, forcing him to confront illusions, danger, and secrets b…
Level C1Science FictionSolar StiffStranded on a frozen alien planet with a failing ship, a five-headed Mercurian faces certain death while reflecting on his ambitious wife’s quest to solve their world’s hunger cris…
Level C1Science FictionShock TroopAn alien invasion force prepares to conquer a mysterious, mammalian-inhabited planet using shock tactics and telepathic assault, but their unfamiliarity with the natives and their…
Level C1Science FictionShadows in the MoonlightA desperate girl flees through a wild marshland, hunted by a ruthless conqueror who delights in her torment—until a bloodied stranger emerges, driven by a furious thirst for vengea…
Level C1Science FictionShadows in ZamboulaIn the bustling, dangerous streets of Zamboula, a mighty warrior confronts whispers of a sinister tavern where travelers vanish without a trace—haunted by demons and dark secrets.
Level C1Science FictionRondah; or, thirty-three years in a starLost in a fierce storm, four travelers are swept from Earth to a volcanic star inhabited by mysterious bird-people who hibernate through a twenty-year winter.
Level C1MysteryRomance IslandA sudden inheritance transforms a struggling journalist into a yacht owner, thrusting him into a world of wealth and mystery.
Level C1Science FictionRipeness is AllIn a future where androids satisfy every desire and human connection feels hollow, a man drifts through a world of artificial pleasures, searching for meaning beyond flesh and flee…
Level C1Science FictionRex Ex MachinaA dying father reveals a secret weapon: a device capable of hypnotizing the entire world, forged in Cold War espionage and moral conflict.
Level C1Science FictionReinsternJourney through a vast, desolate landscape to a mysterious, idyllic community where government-provided abundance and education in natural history shape a society free of poverty a…
Level C1Science FictionRed NailsIn a vast, silent forest, a fierce warrior woman named Valeria discovers a mysterious city beyond the trees, sparking a journey filled with danger and dark secrets in a world where…
Level C1Science FictionRadio V-raysTwo engineering students bond over their passion for radio, building a cutting-edge superheterodyne receiver that captures distant signals with astonishing clarity.
Level C1Science FictionQueen of the Black CoastA fierce warrior escapes the law after defending a friend, forcing him to flee on a swift galley bound for distant Kush.
Level C1Science FictionPygmalion's SpectaclesStep into a groundbreaking invention that transforms dreams into vivid reality, where a mysterious professor offers a device that immerses you fully in a story—sight, sound, taste,…
Level C1Science FictionPossessedIn a New York gathering charged with eerie prophecies and occult séances, a fiercely beautiful woman wrestles with forbidden desires and a tragic marriage, while unseen forces and…
Level C1Science FictionPolaris of the SnowsIn an isolated Arctic refuge, a young man named Polaris confronts the haunting death of his father and the chilling wilderness that surrounds him, as howling dogs and relentless wi…
Level C1Science FictionPolaris and the Goddess GlorianIn the frozen Antarctic wilderness, Polaris Janess embarks on a perilous journey to rescue a lost kingdom of ancient Greeks threatened by vanishing volcanic fires.
Level C1Science FictionPharaoh's Broker: Being the Very Remarkable Experiences in Another World of Isidor WernerA prominent Chicago broker vanishes mysteriously after a final plunge in the wheat market, leaving behind a strange steel rocket and a cryptic farewell.
Level C1Science FictionPellucidarA chance discovery of a mysterious telegraph instrument buried in the Sahara sparks a thrilling journey beneath the earth’s surface, where hidden worlds and unimaginable adventures…
Level C1Science FictionPastoral AffairOn a desolate Arabian island, Colonel Glinka searches for the elusive Sidi Doctor Stephens amid wary locals and harsh landscapes, uncovering a strange microcosm where survival and…
Level C1Science FictionOut of MindAmid bureaucratic tensions and compulsory vacations, a mysterious and little-known planet called Nirva beckons with secrets hidden beneath its idyllic surface, challenging a rigid…
Level C1Science FictionOlga RomanoffIn a future where aerial fleets dominate and tyrants threaten global peace, a secret brotherhood rises to challenge oppression.
Level C1Science FictionOff on a Comet! a Journey through Planetary SpaceA sudden cosmic collision sweeps a diverse group of people onto a comet, transforming it into a strange new home with air, water, and fragments of Earth.
Level C1Science FictionNordenholt's MillionAs society faces an impending catastrophe, a successful industrialist with a background in engineering is drawn into a mysterious scientific crisis through an enigmatic figure whos…
Level C1Science FictionNew Bodies for OldEight skeptical friends gather for a séance that unexpectedly summons a mysterious message predicting a future writer's fate.
Level C1Science FictionMizora: A Prophecy: A MSS. Found Among the Private Papers of the Princess Vera ZarovitchA Russian aristocrat defies fate and societal expectations by embarking on a daring, unprecedented journey to Mizora—a mysterious civilization shaped by advanced science and ideal…
Level C1Science FictionMiss Ludington's SisterA young woman’s vibrant youth is shattered by a devastating illness that leaves her disfigured and isolated, forcing her to confront a life overshadowed by loss and fading memories…
Level C1Science FictionMinos of SardanesAmidst a cataclysmic volcanic eruption in the Antarctic, a daring crew races against time through ice and fire toward Sardanes, where the fate of a nation hangs in the balance.
Level C1Science FictionMicromegasA towering philosopher from Sirius embarks on a cosmic journey to Saturn, challenging earthly perspectives with wit and wisdom.
Level C1Science FictionMercia, the astronomer royal: A romanceIn a future where peace is enforced by the terrifying power of science, women rise to claim their rightful place alongside men, challenging centuries of inequality and forging a ne…
Level C1Science FictionMeleagerA mysterious metal cylinder discovered in the Andes contains a manuscript written in English, revealing the strange disappearance of its author.
Level C1Science FictionMaza of the MoonA determined inventor risks everything to win a million-dollar prize by launching the first projectile to touch the moon, harnessing revolutionary atomic power and cutting-edge tec…
Level C1MysteryMaster of His FateIn a vibrant London club where art, science, and literature mingle, Julius Courtney captivates with his restless curiosity and enigmatic presence.