Top New Science Fiction Novels to Read in June 2026: Featuring Adrian Tchaikovsky and M. John Harrison

As I write this amid an unprecedented May heatwave in Britain, it’s clear why so many science fiction writers are envisioning bleak futures characterized by extreme temperatures where their characters battle for survival. I’m eager to discover what sci-fi luminary M. John Harrison’s next dystopian narrative will unveil. If post-apocalyptic scenarios aren’t your preference, there’s another enticing option for sci-fi enthusiasts this month: the time-travel adventure Traveler, penned by Joseph Eckert. We’ll also delve into Isabel J. Kim’s captivating explorations of immigration in her forthcoming work Sublimation. Additionally, I’ll be sharing some soothing tracks from Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Green City Wars.

I’m thrilled about M. John Harrison’s latest offering, which resonates deeply with me. Set in a near-future affected by an unexplained “crisis,” this story follows Philip, a collector of tide-washed remnants, as he encounters bizarre new sea creatures.

This weekend, I started Traveler and instantly felt captivated. It’s a thrilling, time-traveling tale centered on the profound bond between a father and son. The narrative unfolds as Scott Trader, a devoted husband and father, suddenly slips through time on his way to work—one moment he’s in his car, and the next, it’s vanished. Each morning at 7:52 a.m., this time-slippage escalates, propelling him through weeks, years, and decades, while his son Lyle desperately tries to catch up with the father who keeps evading him.

Isabel J. Kim, a Nebula Award winner, introduces a compelling premise where emigration results in leaving fragments of oneself behind. Soyeon Rose Kang, who left home at just 10 years old, has lost touch with her other “instances.” Now living in New York, she faces the challenge of returning home for her grandfather’s funeral.

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s latest book, Children of Conflict, continues the trend. Set in a solar-powered utopia where humanity flourishes, this luxury is upheld by unseen “helpers”—enhanced animals that follow one main directive: “Don’t disturb humans.” Scotch, a raccoon detective, embarks on a thrilling case involving an escaped rat scientist while upholding this vital rule.

A cozy romance emerges from a post-apocalyptic survival tale, featuring Kayla, who resides in Canada’s Pacific Northwest when her sister becomes ill. Their journey to Salt Spring Island, one of the last bastions of medical care, forces Kayla into an arranged marriage with Sid, an ambitious politician, to secure treatment, but their connection starts to transform into something deeper.

In a striking premise, Philip K. Dick Award winner Meg Ellison envisions billionaires manipulating the U.S. by cloning the Founding Fathers, raising them in secrecy before restoring the nation to its “former glory.” However, “Ben” (likely Franklin) stumbles upon a smartphone, leading him and his fellow clones to reclaim agency over their destinies.

Future worlds are often grim, and in South Korea, students use virtual reality to escape their dreary realities. Spoo, a high schooler bullied for lacking VR access, longs to meet K-Pop icon Yi Chae, who is filming a music video at his school.

Young-ah, a schoolteacher constrained by societal expectations, breaks free after embarking on an emotional regulation program, discovering the exhilaration of expressing her true self.

In a secluded feminist community, Mila grapples with instability while dealing with the mysterious pregnancies of the women, culminating in the birth of her son amid this chaotic backdrop.

With Attendant by JP LaCramp

Rhino, a humanoid robot, isn’t thrilled about guiding his owner’s son, Grayson (35), out of his rut. Yet when Grayson learns of a potential corporate takeover, he devises a bold plan, creating a story that pays homage to Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster.

In 1977, the U.S. inaugurated its space program. Mitch joins the Space Guard, motivated by his estranged girlfriend, Flynn. Their paths converge on a remote moon base, leading to unexpected revelations when Flynn returns with news of an alien emissary.

This sequel to Hamilton’s EXODUS: Archimedes’ Engine transports us to a dystopian future, where a human populace exists in a state of serfdom under the Celestials. Will Finn and his companions break free?

Unzipped by Christina Leport

This gripping medical thriller follows scientist Peter and his wife, Monica, as they awaken from cryopreservation two centuries in the future, discovering a dystopian world threatened by the ominous “Might Gun.”