Science Fiction
Read Science Fiction Classics in English
205 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 B2Science FictionThe BrainA scientist is flown with a mysterious cargo of termites to Cephalon, a dazzling, uncharted city in the desert that defies maps and understanding.
Level B2Science FictionThe Blue GermAfter a mysterious concussion caused by a seemingly magical black cat, a scientist unlocks a groundbreaking discovery: the transformation of one germ into another.
Level B2Science FictionThe Bell ToneA scientist discovers a mysterious bell-like tone emitted by ants, unlocking a powerful communication system that transmits thoughts across distances.
Level B2Science FictionThe Beast of SpaceIn the shadowy caves of Asteroid Moira, a lone prospector and his telepathic spacehound uncover a mysterious cache of abandoned ships and a chilling signal from a captive girl—spar…
Level B2Science FictionThe Bacillus of Beauty: A Romance of To-dayIn the bustling heart of New York, a man returns to find the woman he loved transformed beyond recognition, plunging him into a surreal mystery where beauty and identity blur in a…
Level B2Science FictionThe Automatic Maid-of-All-Work: A Possible Tale of the Near FutureIn a near-future household, an inventor unveils his creation: an automatic maid-of-all-work powered by electricity, designed to handle every chore from lighting fires to making bre…
Level B2Science FictionThe Animated PinupA pragmatic agent is pulled from his comfortable evening by an anxious illustrator whose mysterious troubles challenge his down-to-earth worldview, thrusting him into a strange, un…
Level B2Science FictionThe AmateursIn a future where society mandates assisted death at a prescribed age, a man faces his final days in a luxurious palace offering personalized, theatrical farewells.
Level B2Science FictionThe Alternate PlanA man faces a radical surgery that could strip him of his identity and voice, but he refuses to surrender.
Level B2Science FictionThe Affair of the BrainsIn a universe shadowed by cunning space-pirates and deadly rivalries, a fearless adventurer known as Hawk Carse prepares to confront the sinister genius Ku Sui at a perilous rendez…
Level B2Science FictionThe Abandoned of YanIn a harsh society where the Abandoned have no rights or hopes, Marigold faces the brutal reality of being left alone and stripped of her family, forced to navigate a future filled…
Level B2Science FictionThe Abandoned Country; or, Frank Reade, Jr., Exploring a New Continent.A daring explorer and a seasoned sailor recount their harrowing journey through icy seas to an uncharted, volcanic land beyond the Antarctic Circle—teeming with forests and wildlif…
Level B2Science FictionThe 4-D DoodlerIn a lab where fourth-dimensional space is dismissed as fantasy, a young assistant’s strange "four-dimensional doodles" hint at a hidden reality—and a breakthrough that could solve…
Level B2Science FictionTest Rocket!A mysterious rocket identical to their own but built on an unknown scale lands unexpectedly, carrying an alien man who cannot read his instruments.
Level B2Science FictionTest ProblemA student faces a high-stakes final exam that challenges him to mentally recreate an entire star system—including all its life forms—from raw space materials.
Level B2Science FictionTape JockeyIn a society stratified by Echelon levels, the Melopsych Center broadcasts therapeutic music tailored to each class, while an interviewer uncovers the peculiar dedication of a man…
Level B2Science FictionSurvivorsIn a post-atomic war world, survivors navigate a harsh wilderness where remnants of old technology and mutated humanity collide.
Level B2Science FictionSuch Blooming TalkA scientist’s breakthrough in giving plants the ability to walk and talk unleashes a lively and unexpected world where flowers not only move—but have plenty to say.
Level B2Science FictionStopoverIn a post-war world fractured by atomic devastation, a weary young Searcher with mysterious powers arrives in a small town, seeking lost family and a place to belong.
Level B2Science FictionStellar VengeanceTrapped in a remote cabin with a captured alien warning of impending doom, a geologist faces a tense standoff as extraterrestrial reinforcements arrive seeking their comrade’s free…
Level B2Science FictionSteel Giants of ChaosGene Drummond returns from a perilous Venus expedition only to find Earth caught in chaos, where mysterious forces threaten survival and loyalty is tested.
Level B2Science FictionStar of RebirthA desperate tribe faces starvation as their last hunt yields no game, forcing their leader Atanta to confront fading gods and dwindling hope within the icy expanse.
Level B2Science FictionSpoilers of the SpacewaysIn a desperate bid against alien conquerors, a man undergoes a radical transformation to become a Trygonian officer, inheriting not only their knowledge but the burden of espionage…
Level B2Science FictionSpacemen are bornTrase Barnes, born on the Moon with a normal ear and grounded by gravity, dreams of joining the elite spacemen born for the stars.
Level B2Science FictionSpace BatLou Flint defends a fragile ecosystem on a wild planetoid from ruthless hunters wielding deadly ice-ray pistols.
Level B2Science FictionSouth to PropontisStranded in a scorching Martian desert, Don Moffat escapes a deadly betrayal only to be forced into a perilous journey south toward Propontis, Mars' capital, alongside two ruthless…
Level B2Science FictionSolid SolutionIn a vast desert owned by the enigmatic genius David Adam Smith, expelled students struggle with their fate while uncovering a groundbreaking method to enlarge geological specimens…
Level B2Science FictionSolander's Radio TombWhen the wealthy Remington Solander enlists a radio-enthusiast lawyer and cemetery trustee to craft a mysterious clause in his will, the boundaries between life, death, and radio t…
Level B2MysteryShuddering castleIn a secluded Long Island castle, a reclusive family’s quiet life shatters when a scientist’s quest to contact Mars via radio sparks eerie phenomena and a mysterious visitor from t…
Level B2Science FictionShipwreck in the SkyA pioneering pilot's record-breaking spaceflight turns perilous when he discovers a mysterious, tiny second moon orbiting Earth—its gravity threatening a deadly collision with his…
Level B2Science FictionSequelStranded in the void with dwindling oxygen, a failed Academy dropout drifts toward a lonely asteroid, haunted by betrayal and the ruthless mutiny that sealed his fate.
Level B2Science FictionSee?Four hobos bound by hardship navigate the Road’s harsh realities until Dirty Pete discovers a mysterious, repulsive object that threatens their fragile camaraderie and challenges t…
Level B2Science FictionSecurityTrapped in a high-security lab where every discovery is censored, a frustrated scientist battles stifling restrictions that choke the free flow of knowledge and threaten the very s…
Level B2Science FictionScent Makes a DifferenceA physicist plagued by bizarre sleep disturbances seeks help from an experimental psychiatrist using powerful new tranquilizers.
Level B2Science FictionSay "Hello" for MeStranded alone on Mars for twenty years, Professor Pettibone awaits rescue while adapting mysteriously to the alien world.
Level B2Science FictionSales TalkA determined salesman inherits a time machine and, convinced Earth is on the brink of disaster, plans a daring escape into the distant future with his wife and two fox-terriers—lea…
Level B2Science FictionRuth's Marriage in Mars: A Scientific NovelIn a mystical hilltop sanctuary blending ancient faiths and psychic visions, a mysterious princess finds healing and spiritual awakening among a royal family dedicated to soul deve…
Level B2Science FictionRobur the ConquerorStrange trumpet-like sounds echo mysteriously across the globe, baffling scientists and igniting international curiosity.
Level B2Science FictionRestricted ToolA hunter stumbles upon a mysterious forbidden device, triggering a tense encounter with alien explorers bound by strict interstellar laws—forcing him to decide the fate of a powerf…
Level B2Science FictionRescue SquadLost in space and drifting helplessly toward the Sun, a young, inexperienced mail pilot battles fear and isolation while struggling to survive against an overwhelming cosmic force.
Level B2Science FictionRats in the BelfryA determined couple commissions a wildly eccentric home that defies all architectural logic, pushing their contractor to the brink as he struggles to build their bizarre "dream cas…
Level B2Science FictionRabbits Have Long EarsA cautious spaceship crew investigates a green, oxygen-rich planet teeming with endless radio chatter from many languages, hoping to discover intelligent life similar to their own…
Level B2Science FictionQuiet, PleaseOn a silent planet where the tiny inhabitants communicate without words, a music-loving visitor struggles with unbearable noise and baffling customs, only to discover that his grea…
Level B2Science FictionQueen of the Flaming DiamondIn a bustling night club, a mysterious dancer captivates the crowd with a dazzling diamond that seems almost otherworldly, drawing a reluctant, troubled man into a night of intrigu…
Level B2Science FictionPsychotennis, Anyone?In a future where telekinesis revolutionizes sports, a high-stakes psychotennis match turns deadly as players wield their minds against each other in a dangerous battle for control…
Level B2Science FictionPreferred RiskIn a world where a powerful Company controls every risk and weapon, an Adjuster arrives in Naples amid sudden, tense security measures and an urgent manhunt.
Level B2Science FictionPolitical ApplicationIn a near-future world where matter transference is real, a physicist’s disappearance triggers a bodyguard’s hunt through political intrigue and scientific wonders—like a living Ne…
Level B2Science FictionPoint of DepartureAn administrative officer is caught in a web of mystery involving a missing $300,000, stolen letters, and a secretive expedition to Egypt.