Science Fiction
Read Science Fiction Classics in English
596 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 Zero Data, Zeritsky's Law and Zarlah the Martian. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Level B2Science FictionPlanet in ReverseIn a forbidden zone beyond Uranus, a lone pilot encounters a mysterious, backward-walking girl on Neptune—her presence defying reality and challenging everything he knows about spa…
Level B2Science FictionPirates of the GormIn a solar system rife with alien intrigue, a secret agent aboard a space-flier awakens to an assassination attempt by a mysterious Ganymedan pirate.
Level B2Science FictionPioneerA trained canine faces a bewildering and nerve-wracking journey as he is strapped into a mysterious, roaring machine and launched into an unknown adventure filled with strange smel…
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 B2Science FictionPeril OrbitTrapped in a tiny spaceship orbiting perilously close to the sun, pilot Jim MacDonald battles scorching heat and dwindling hope as he drifts helplessly on a deadly, inescapable pat…
Level B2Science FictionPemrose Lorry, Camp Fire GirlA spirited Camp Fire Girl stands at the brink of a groundbreaking space adventure, ready to launch the Thunder Bird rocket and send humanity’s first message beyond Earth’s atmosphe…
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 B2Science FictionPalos of the Dog Star PackOn a stormy night, a doctor is summoned to investigate the mysterious condition of Jason Croft, a man rumored to be dead or in a deep sleep, whose eyes hint at hidden mystical know…
Level B2Science FictionOut of the EarthIn a dystopian future where dissent means death, a group of condemned prisoners is sent through the terrifying Black Passage, facing darkness and despair as they struggle to surviv…
Level B2Science FictionOut of Time's AbyssFive men explore a lush, perilous island teeming with prehistoric beasts and deadly dangers, testing their courage and survival skills as they navigate an ancient wilderness where…
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 B2Science FictionOrdeal in SpaceIn the depths of space, Lieutenant Mike Logan faces a deadly mission: transport the man who murdered his brother to Earth for execution, all while wrestling with his burning desire…
Level B2Science FictionOperation LorelieIn a post-apocalyptic world where war has wiped out life, two men venture into a ruined city to uncover the fate of missing teams.
Level B2MysteryOne-Way Ticket to NowhereA space traveler returns to Earth to find his twin brother entangled in a dangerous web of family conflict and business intrigue.
Level B2Science FictionOne Out of TenA charming contestant on a new TV quiz show reveals she's from Mars and hints at a secret invasion underway, with Martians blending invisibly among Earthlings and wielding telepath…
Level B2Science FictionOne Martian AfternoonOn a harsh, sun-scorched Mars, young Marilou struggles with her desire to escape to Earth and the realities of Martian life, including dark survival secrets and cultural clashes th…
Level B2Science FictionOnce Upon A PlanetOn a war-torn planet, the mightiest warrior-king Miotis faces an unprecedented crisis: his subjects have abandoned war, leaving him restless and powerless.
Level B2Science FictionOn a lark to the planets: A sequel to "The wonderful electric elephant"Soaring beyond Earth’s atmosphere in a magical balloon, young travelers embark on a breathtaking journey through the solar system, encountering dazzling planets and mysterious cele…
Level B2Science FictionOn a Torn-Away World; Or, the Captives of the Great EarthquakeTwo adventurous college friends unveil their groundbreaking airship, the Snowbird, ready for a daring trial flight that promises speed and innovation.
Level C1Science FictionOlga RomanoffIn a future where aerial fleets dominate and tyrants threaten global peace, a secret brotherhood rises to challenge oppression.
Level B2Science FictionOld ShagWhen a brakeman faces a deadly crisis aboard a high-speed freight train loaded with dynamite, a mysterious shaggy-haired stranger appears to guide him through the chaos—unveiling s…
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 B2Science FictionNothing But the BestA man discovers he can travel between parallel worlds—each subtly different—and seeks out his counterpart to reveal the astonishing truth and the secrets that might change everythi…
Level B2Science FictionNot a Creature Was StirringIn a world where the sun sickens and humanity has mysteriously vanished, Tom Gannett awakens alone in a desolate Nevada desert, unaware he may be the last man on 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 B2Science FictionNo Sons Left to Die!In a rigid, star-faring society where boys are prized for telepathic battle skills and rules are deadly, Susan risks everything to find Darth Brady, a young man lost to the mysteri…
Level B2Science FictionNo Moving PartsWhen an emergency light flashes for the first time in centuries, Hansen contacts the elusive Captain Fromer, who reveals a bizarre crisis: their ship's door won’t open, grounding t…