Science Fiction
Read Science Fiction Classics in English
207 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 Mr. Chipfellow's Jackpot, Moonlight and Robots and Moon Glow. 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 FictionInvader From InfinityWhen a mysterious alien sphere invades the Solar System, Commander Jon McPartland must lead humanity’s fastest, deadliest space fighter in a desperate battle to protect Earth from…
Level C1Science FictionIn the year 2889In a dazzling 29th-century world where humanity harnesses infinite energy and aerial travel reigns, a pioneering newspaper revolutionizes journalism by delivering news through spok…
Level C1Science FictionIn the Year Ten ThousandIn a distant future where humans communicate through thought, an ancient man reveals to a boy the strange and brutal past of humanity—when books, war, and crude art shaped a world…
Level C1Science FictionIn the Wrong Paradise, and Other StoriesA fiercely devout missionary confronts the clash between rigid faith and ancient pagan customs in a series of tales where civilization’s gaze meets the untamed spirit of the natura…
Level B2Science FictionIn the Sargasso Sea: A NovelA young mechanical engineer secures a risky, cheap passage aboard the brig Golden Hind, bound for Africa’s West Coast, where adventure and danger lurk on the mysterious Sargasso Se…
Level C1Science FictionIn the Days of the CometAs a comet approaches Earth, a man reflects on a transformative event he calls the Great Change—an upheaval that reshapes society and challenges the boundaries between past and fut…
Level C1Science FictionIn Search of the UnknownAn ex-government official takes on a new role managing exotic waterfowl at a New York zoological garden, where a mysterious letter hints at the existence of a legendary, supposedly…
Level B2Science FictionIf at First You Don't...In a future where satellites are relics of a bygone era, a historic orbital satellite faces destruction, sparking fierce political debates about preservation versus progress.
Level B2Science FictionHoles, IncorporatedTwo inventors unveil a mysterious device that creates holes into the fourth dimension, defying all logic and revolutionizing construction.
Level C1Science FictionHistory of a World of Immortals without a GodA bitter misanthrope and surgeon turned traveler, Gervaas Van Varken abandons his profession to explore the East, seeking answers in a world where immortality reigns without divine…
Level B2Science FictionHigh ManCaught in a whirlwind of suspicion and silence, a man becomes entangled with a renegade professor whose anti-gravity belt promises to defy the limits of Earth—and launch them into…
Level B2Science FictionHeavenly GiftsIn a quiet lab, a humble janitor’s midnight prayers are answered in extraordinary ways when mysterious gifts begin appearing—transforming faith into a cosmic connection that blurs…
Level C1Science FictionHarilekAmid the rugged landscapes of Central Asia, a soldier’s mysterious diary reveals encounters with enigmatic tribes, mystical lands, and shadowy figures, blurring the line between ha…
Level B2Science FictionHandymanTrapped alone on a post-apocalyptic Earth, James Ypsilanti battles cold and confinement by chopping up his prison doors for firewood—while a relentless, emotionless carpenter robot…
Level C1Science FictionGulliver of MarsA disillusioned Navy lieutenant crosses paths with a mysterious, otherworldly stranger who collapses in the streets of New York, setting off a surreal adventure that will challenge…
Level B2Science FictionGrove of the UnbornStranded alone on a mysterious alien planet, a starship engineer uncovers unsettling secrets beneath a seemingly peaceful civilization—where strange creatures are sacred and a fana…
Level B2Science FictionGreen Grew the LassesWhen a mysterious green plant overtakes a town, women and girls begin turning green overnight, sparking panic and isolation in Mimosa Beach.
Level B2Science FictionGoslingsIn early 20th-century London, George Gosling, a respectable family man and head clerk, navigates the delicate balance between social respectability and hidden desires, revealing th…
Level B2Science FictionGoodbye, Dead Man!In a tense mountain reactor installation under Outsider control, two friends face the deadly menace of Orley Mattup, a guard whose lethal power and sinister card games threaten the…
Level B2Science FictionGoma's FolliclesStranded on the remote mining colony of Procyon IV, a weary traveler faces unexpected dangers just trying to get a haircut aboard a starship.
Level B2MysteryGold of the GodsWhen a priceless ancient Peruvian dagger is stolen from a university museum, a determined explorer and a keen investigator uncover hidden clues, including mysterious shoeprints and…
Level C1Science FictionGods of the NorthIn a frozen wasteland where brutal clans clash and gods linger in shadows, a lone warrior named Amra confronts a mysterious, enchanting woman whose allegiance—and power—defy the ha…
Level B2Science FictionGet Out of My Body!An alien fugitive hides by possessing a young girl in Knoxville, sparking a tense hunt as a human tour-chief races against a looming alien intervention to capture him before disast…
Level B2Science FictionGenerals Help ThemselvesIn a tense future where a devastating defeat on Venus has shattered hope, an admiral entrusts a disgraced commander with the critical defense of Base Q, the Federation’s vital ener…
Level C1Science FictionG-r-r-r...!In a cloister steeped in piety, Brother Ambrose seethes with hatred for the sanctimonious and lustful Brother Lorenzo, whose false devotion and secret vices drive Ambrose to desper…
Level C1Science FictionFrom the Earth to the moon; and, round the moonInventors of colossal artillery in post-war Baltimore redirect their genius toward an audacious new venture: launching a projectile to the moon.
Level B2Science FictionFrom Zone to Zone: Or, The Wonderful Trip of Frank Reade, Jr., with His Latest Air-ShipA visionary inventor unveils his revolutionary airship, promising to conquer the uncharted polar regions deemed unreachable by traditional means.
Level C1Science FictionFriend IslandAmid a fierce sea storm, a tough sea-woman recalls her harrowing last voyage aboard the sturdy turbine-powered Shouter, where disaster strikes and survival depends on courage and u…
Level C1Science FictionFreudian SlipWhen the Earth vanishes beneath his feet, Herman Raye faces a surreal reality where solid ground is replaced by invisible voids and the familiar world dissolves into eerie nothingn…
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr., with his new steam man in Mexico: or, hot work among the greasersWhen a letter arrives from Mexico revealing the disappearance of Frank Reade Jr.
Level B2MysteryFrank Reade, Jr., with his new steam horse in the great American desert: or, The sandy trail of deathIn the wild West, a brilliant inventor sets out on a daring journey aboard his revolutionary Steam Horse, a mechanical marvel built to brave the harsh desert.
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr., and his new steam man; or, the young inventor's trip to the far westA young inventor challenges his father’s legendary Steam Man by creating an even more remarkable machine, embarking on a secret project that promises thrilling adventures across th…
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr., and His Electric Ice Ship; or, Driven Adrift in the Frozen Sky.When seventeen-year-old Walter Grey is drugged and kidnapped under mysterious orders, a daring rescue attempt plunges him into a perilous adventure aboard a whaling ship bound for…
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Man in Central AmericaAn ingenious inventor faces a daring rescue mission in the perilous jungles of Central America, armed with his incredible Steam Man to save a lost friend and uncover a legendary tr…
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr., Fighting the Terror of the CoastA man races against time to find a young inventor who has just launched his revolutionary flying machine, hoping to enlist his help to save a child from a deadly threat known as th…
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr.'s Search for the Silver Whale: Or, Under the Ocean in the Electric "Dolphin"An ingenious young inventor builds the "Dolphin," a submarine modeled after a fish, promising to unlock the mysteries of the deep ocean.
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade and His Steam HorseA teenage inventor unveils his latest marvel: a steam-powered mechanical horse capable of remarkable speed and endurance.
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade Jr.'s Submarine Boat; or, to the North Pole Under the Ice.A young inventor unveils a revolutionary steel submarine designed to reach the North Pole beneath the ice, embarking on a daring underwater expedition with his loyal companions.
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade Jr.'s Air Wonder, The "Kite"; Or, A Six Weeks' Flight Over the AndesStranded in the perilous Andes with a treasure beyond imagining, two rivals clash in a deadly struggle fueled by greed and love.
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade Jr. and His Engine of the Clouds: Or, Chased Around the World in the SkyIn a cold Chicago night, young Joe Crosby escapes captivity to confront his treacherous stepfather, whose greed for Joe’s inheritance threatens his life.
Level C1Science FictionFoundling on VenusOn a hostile, divided Venus where survival is brutal and hope scarce, a mysterious toddler found abandoned in the mud holds a secret that could change the fate of its fractured col…
Level B2Science FictionFormula for ConquestWhen a brilliant formula promises to speed Venusian evolution and tip the balance in an interplanetary war, a soldier of fortune and a determined professor must navigate treacherou…
Level C1Science FictionForbidden flightA daring crew of young space explorers defies official warnings to embark on a forbidden mission beyond the known universe, risking everything to uncover the mysteries of distant p…
Level B2Science FictionFlight Into the UnknownA rookie astronaut faces the terrifying realities of space travel as mysterious creatures and deadly dangers close in on his crew during their mission beyond Saturn.
Level C1Science FictionFive Weeks in a Balloon: Or, Journeys and Discoveries in Africa by Three EnglishmenThree Englishmen embark on a daring aerial expedition across Africa in a revolutionary balloon, navigating unknown landscapes and encountering thrilling adventures that challenge t…
Level B2Science FictionFive Thousand Miles Underground; Or, the Mystery of the Centre of the EarthA brilliant professor and two adventurous youths prepare to test a revolutionary airship and submarine on daring quests beneath the ocean and beyond the poles.
Level B2Science FictionFirst Stage: MoonA crew returns from the first manned Moon mission, carrying the hopes of a divided Earth eager for unity and glory.
Level B2Science FictionFifteen Hundred Miles an HourJourney beyond Earth begins with a mysterious meteorite crash in the Sahara, leading to a daring expedition aboard the spaceship Sirius as explorers venture through space toward Ma…