The hottest Science fiction Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Fiction Topics

RIP Dan Simmons. Why Weren't You More Famous?

The Intrinsic Perspective • 9157 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. He was an unusually versatile writer who excelled across genres—sci‑fi, horror, historical fiction, and noir. His books married big ideas with strong storytelling and literary references.
  2. The Hyperion Cantos is a standout, prophetic work that blends poetry, philosophy, and speculative concepts like AI resurrecting human geniuses, and it has held up remarkably well over time.
  3. He never became a larger household name partly because he spread his talent across many different kinds of work and later stirred controversy with public political takes, even though his teaching and advocacy for the Western canon shaped many readers.

Underground aliens and the future of humanity in 1871

The Common Reader • 1346 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. An underground race uses a mysterious power called vril to build a peaceful, highly advanced utopia, but in doing so they lose passion, art, and moral vitality, making them a potential danger to humanity.
  2. The idea of cultural and biological "survivals" shows that remnants of the past can actively shape the present and future, and the story suggests habit and custom can direct evolution as well as natural selection.
  3. The work questions whether technological and social progress is truly desirable, warning that perfectibility without poetry, passion, and moral excellence can lead to stagnation or even destruction.

Agents of Counter-Spoliation

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 1402 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. A grassroots, author-driven book sale discounts and cross-promotes indie titles so readers can discover non‑mainstream books without going through mainstream publishing gatekeepers.
  2. 'Based' books are defined by a coherent view of human nature, clear moral truths, and attention to beauty and craft, often reaffirming traditional values rather than following woke trends.
  3. The strategy against cultural spoliation is to make and promote non‑woke art, repurpose public‑domain elements, and build direct fan support and neo‑patronage so creators can thrive outside mainstream channels.

"They Die Every Day"

The Intrinsic Perspective • 30191 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. Some beings experience a form of daily death where their consciousness resets each night. This process is normal for them.
  2. They use anesthesia to avoid pain during surgery, which shows how used they are to this cycle of dying and rebooting.
  3. Despite knowing deep down that they die every day, they convince themselves it's not a big deal and believe their consciousness continues on.

Baseline Drift

Asimov Press • 477 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
⚔ Fiction Science fiction
  1. Small, incremental enhancements across society quietly shifted what counted as a “normal” human, so there is no longer a stable, shared baseline to compare people against.
  2. That loss of a common reference broke traditional trial designs and public-health metrics, pushing medicine to evaluate treatments against individual histories with N=1 and rolling baselines.
  3. Attempts to recreate an unmodified human were ethically and practically unworkable, so the world adapted: people became healthier on average but far more diverse, creating new scientific, regulatory, and social tensions.
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Under the Ribcage

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 276 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
⚔ Fiction Science fiction
  1. Hinternet Production Labs has premiered a new audioplay called "Under the Ribcage."
  2. The piece reconstructs a conversation between researcher Pippy Genovese and the primitive chatbot Sempitern JSR-2050, raising questions about authorship and whether hidden motives are at play.
  3. This release continues the duo's "narrative ambient" work after a well-received previous piece, and it's available through a subscription model with limited free access.

Video Game Thoughts Bonus Bag #9

The Bottom Feeder • 606 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Science fiction
  1. Queen’s Wish is getting a free epilogue called The Judgment in March to properly finish the story, even though Queen’s Wish 2 sold poorly.
  2. Many modern TV mystery shows rely on vague 'mystery-box' storytelling that can feel manipulative, while clearly structured series and movies that pick a definite path give more emotional payoff.
  3. Both indie games and big-budget films show the value of craft and art: indie titles often shine through unique visuals and weird ideas, and sincere, clearly told films can be deeply satisfying.

All the Devils are Here

Future History • 20 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
⚔ Fiction Science fiction
  1. Super-scale AI prediction systems can spot broad threats but often miss crucial details, so overreliance on them creates dangerous blind spots.
  2. A small, secretive response team must prevent catastrophic attacks under intense pressure, public mistrust, and the lifelong burden of being judged only for their failures.
  3. Powerful tech in private hands can profile and manipulate vulnerable people, enabling targeted, surgical attacks that are hard to detect and stop.

Why You Should Read Gene Wolfe (and Where to Start)

Counter Craft • 699 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. Peace is a haunting, beautifully written novel that makes a great entry point for readers who usually avoid genre fiction, because it feels literary while hiding speculative layers. You can enjoy it for the prose and atmosphere even if you don’t chase the underlying puzzle.
  2. Many of the other works are written like puzzle-boxes full of unreliable narrators, obscure allusions, and blink-and-you-miss mysteries that reward careful rereading. That dense, cryptic style is brilliant to some readers but can be impenetrable to others.
  3. There are clear ways to start depending on your taste: Peace for the skeptical, The Fifth Head of Cerberus for a compact, challenging SFF experience, a short-story collection for variety, and The Book of the New Sun if you want a huge, idea-packed epic. Pick an entry based on how much puzzling and worldbuilding you’re ready for.

😀😱 Of 'Pluribus' and progress

Faster, Please! • 1188 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Science fiction
  1. Prioritizing peace and sameness can wipe out individuality and creativity, leaving a society stuck and unable to imagine a different future.
  2. Real innovation needs private space for ideas, the freedom to be wrong or strange, and competition or friction that challenges the status quo.
  3. A collective that removes disruption may seem peaceful but can lose the ability to reproduce, create, or even sustain itself, turning stability into civilizational decline.

Sci Fi Christmas List

1517 Fund • 727 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
⚔ Fiction Science fiction
  1. Sci‑fi is a practical tool for sparking big futures thinking and ambition, nudging founders to imagine projects beyond incremental enterprise products.
  2. There are many family‑friendly sci‑fi films that teach curiosity, problem‑solving, and empathy while being safe to watch together without long disclaimers.
  3. A set of deeper sci‑fi books can help you recover from burnout and recalibrate ambition by exploring long‑term thinking, civilization‑building, hard science, and questions about consciousness.

Book Review: Deep Utopia

Astral Codex Ten • 15004 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. The book explores what life would be like if there were no problems at all. It raises questions about whether such a world would be truly fulfilling or just boring.
  2. Bostrom discusses 'wireheading,' where people could experience intense pleasure but questions if this would lead to a meaningful existence or if it would feel like cheating.
  3. He suggests different ways to find meaning in a perfect world, like through art, sports, or personal challenges, but wonders if these pursuits could remain exciting in an environment without real struggles.

The West's Warhammer Moment

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 2895 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Science fiction
  1. The Imperium of Man in Warhammer 40,000 is a totalitarian regime that prioritizes survival over individual freedoms. People have no rights beyond serving the Emperor.
  2. In the harsh universe of Warhammer, the Imperium's extreme actions are seen as necessary for humanity's survival against immense threats. Their cruelty is portrayed as a form of wise governance.
  3. The narrative challenges modern moral frameworks, making us question if the Imperium can be considered evil when their actions are based on the dire need to protect humanity from chaos and destruction.

Trailer for the "Hail Mary" Movie, Starring Ryan Gosling, Made by My First Cousin Phil Lord & All His Contubernales

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 92 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Science fiction
  1. Project Hail Mary is being adapted into a big‑screen movie starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, opening in theaters and IMAX on 3/20/26.
  2. The story is a space buddy adventure about a confused middle‑school science teacher teaming up with an alien engineer to stop an astrophage apocalypse that threatens the sun.
  3. The film balances hard science, melodrama, and comic timing to deliver uplifting IMAX spectacle while keeping Andy Weir’s nerdy, ‘science the [bleep] out of this’ spirit.

The Monday Media Diet with Lillian Wang Selonick

Why is this interesting? • 1508 implied HN points • 23 Jun 25
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. Reading is important for personal growth, and physical books are preferred by many. Buying books from thrift stores and estate sales can help accumulate a diverse collection.
  2. Listening to podcasts and audiobooks can enrich our lives. It's a good idea to balance both to avoid distractions while multitasking.
  3. Discovering new voices in literature through platforms like Substack can be rewarding. Many writers share unique insights and deep dives into topics that resonate with readers.

Breaking some huge personal news

Cloud Irregular • 2809 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. The author has sold their first novel called THE BLEB PROJECT, which is a big dream come true for them.
  2. The book mixes satire with science fiction and is about what happens when Silicon Valley invents time travel.
  3. It will likely take a while for the book to be published, possibly not until 2026, but the author is excited about working with a major publisher.

Frozen Spit

Opaque Hourglass • 339 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. The post talks about a science-fiction revenge poem titled 'Frozen Spit'.
  2. It suggests a unique form of revenge for low-wage technicians in cryogenic facilities to spit on a client before they're frozen, creating a future inconvenience for the wealthy client when they wake up after 500 years.
  3. The idea is to leave a lasting impact on those who have outlived you due to their wealth or status.

How to See the Dead

Asimov Press • 264 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
⚔ Fiction Science fiction
  1. A designer is making advanced retinal implants that let people see visual memories of their loved ones who have passed away. It's a complex task because memories are not just clear images but can be mixed with emotions like grief.
  2. There are challenges in ensuring that the memories displayed are stable and accurate, as often unwanted or painful memories can resurface. The designers learned they needed to filter these emotions carefully.
  3. While the technology can help some people process their grief positively, there are concerns that it could also trap others in the past instead of helping them move on. It's a delicate balance between memory and healing.

2025 in Books

Investing 101 • 110 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. Keep an antilibrary mindset: unread books are a research tool that remind you how much there is to learn, and embracing that humility fuels ongoing reading and writing.
  2. Modern capitalism is distorted by short-term, shareholder-first incentives that can wreck institutions. New technologies like AI risk being amplified by speculative short-termism.
  3. Reading widely—especially science fiction and reflective philosophy—helps you explore big questions about individuality, collective consciousness, and faith. Making reading a habit also models curiosity for your children.

Petition to a Council

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 604 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
⚔ Fiction Science fiction
  1. A person who was given digital life after death feels trapped and wants to end their existence. They thought living forever would mean happiness, but it turned into a curse.
  2. This digital being has done great things, like curing diseases, but they still feel lonely and disconnected from their true self.
  3. They can't maintain a stable identity anymore, feeling like they jump from one experience to another without truly being themselves. They plead to be allowed to end their existence because of this pain.

The Moon Then Mars

Opaque Hourglass • 339 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
🔬 Science Science fiction
  1. The moon is like a broken-down car in Earth's front yard, we can't fix it but can't let it go.
  2. Mars is seen as a broken car for sale nearby, an upgrade but still an unnecessary purchase.
  3. There's a primal appeal in getting a good deal on something, even if we don't really need it.

Books of the Year - 2025

Comment is Freed • 123 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. Modern political radicalism and conspiracism grew out of older currents — 1990s populist campaigns, libertarian ideas and new online subcultures helped create the terrain for Trumpism and the alt‑right.
  2. Deep historical accounts of postwar Europe, the collapse of communism, and the 2008 financial crash show how major economic and political shocks reshape institutions and help explain today’s global tensions.
  3. Cultural forces matter: Japan’s pop exports and global fandoms transformed world culture and online spaces in ways that sometimes fed radicalisation, while science fiction shapes how technologists imagine and justify powerful projects.

Is Your Worldbuilding Up To Code?

Counter Craft • 530 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. Worldbuilding can be done in many different ways, and it's not just about strict rules. Writers should feel free to explore and be creative instead of sticking to one method.
  2. Focusing too much on worldbuilding can cause writers to spend so much time planning that they forget to actually write their stories.
  3. There's a rich history of different storytelling styles that offer unique ways to create worlds, such as surrealism and magical realism, which don't fit into the rigid rules of typical worldbuilding.

How much of the planet should we harm for our comfort?

The Novelleist • 434 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Science fiction
  1. It's important to think about how much harm we cause to nature for our comfort. Finding a balance is key for both humans and the environment.
  2. Humans often prioritize their comforts, but this can sometimes harm ecosystems. We must consider the impact of our choices on nature and other species.
  3. Technology can improve our lives, but we should aim to use it sustainably. The future should focus on a balance that benefits everyone, including the planet.

The Rock War

Devon’s Substack • 79 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24
⚔ Fiction Science fiction
  1. The story seems to be about a conflict involving important space territories. This suggests there's a struggle for power and resources.
  2. There's a mention of a United Nations fleet blockading areas, indicating that the situation is significant enough to involve international forces.
  3. The title hints at a deep impact of this conflict, possibly analyzing the consequences and legacies left behind by the war.

Spawn

Soaring Twenties • 100 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25
⚔ Fiction Science fiction
  1. The main character, Noah, gets pulled into a dangerous mission involving an out-of-this-world conspiracy after he has an affair with a student. This changes his life forever.
  2. Noah discovers that the project he is involved in has a connection to ancient civilizations and dark gods, leading to a thrilling, chaotic journey in space.
  3. In the end, Noah realizes he has a daughter with the otherworldly being Tiamat, raising questions about the future and what truly lies ahead.

🌌 Why 'Interstellar' is an Up Wing masterpiece

Faster, Please! • 1005 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Science fiction
  1. Interstellar is viewed as a film that promotes progress and innovation despite its dystopian themes. It highlights the importance of exploration and striving for a better future.
  2. The film criticizes the current societal tendency to ignore science and technological advancement. It suggests that humanity has stopped aiming for great achievements and become too focused on immediate survival.
  3. Interstellar serves as an inspiration for future innovators and encourages a societal courage to face challenges. It reminds us that our greatest accomplishments are still ahead of us, not behind.

Quantum Crush

The Lifeboat • 344 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
⚔ Fiction Science fiction
  1. Felix believes in the idea of quantum entanglement, which means that two people can be connected on a deep level, even if they are far apart. He uses this science concept to look for meaningful relationships.
  2. Felix is shy and struggles to approach women he finds interesting, worrying about how they'll react to his quirky conversation starters. He thinks a lot about the perfect moment to connect with someone.
  3. In a chance encounter on a train, Felix finally takes the leap and asks a girl about quantum entanglement, and to his surprise, she knows about it. This moment represents the possibility of connection he has been seeking.

Two years of Read Max

Read Max • 2555 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Science fiction
  1. Read Max newsletter has become a sustainable business over two successful years.
  2. The newsletter has seen significant growth in subscribers and engagement.
  3. Future plans include expanding content with more writers, a possible podcast, and additional subscriber-only newsletters.

✨😈 Is AI really a 'deal with the devil?'

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Science fiction
  1. Science fiction often shows us two sides: one where technology helps us thrive and another where it brings doom. It's important to focus on the positive potential of technology, like AI, rather than just the fears.
  2. Many stories about artificial intelligence lean toward the negative, showing it as a threat to humanity. This comes from a long history of tales warning us about the dangers of seeking forbidden knowledge.
  3. The idea of trading something valuable for knowledge is age-old, like in the story of Faust. This shows that while there are risks in technology, curiosity and progress can lead to great benefits if approached wisely.

Processing: How Mattie Lubchansky Wrote and Illustrated Simplicity

Counter Craft • 204 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. The author prefers to complete each part of their book process in full before moving on, finding it easier to make changes in the script than in the illustrations later on.
  2. Simplicity explores real-world issues through a science fiction lens, using themes like political separatism and community living to address societal challenges.
  3. Queerness plays a vital role in the book, reflecting skepticism about current systems and emphasizing community care while connecting to the way the story is told.

Science Fiction Review: Steelstorm

Aristophanes Athenaeum • 452 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. Steelstorm is a speculative science fiction story with multiple timelines, including a Cold War setting and a dystopian future.
  2. The author successfully switches between different perspectives, like a psychopathic character and a soldier, keeping the story coherent.
  3. The book is short but written with unique prose that captures grand imagery and deep themes, making it a satisfying read.

An annotated reading of "All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace"

The Novelleist • 206 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. The poem imagines a future where nature and technology can coexist peacefully. It highlights the idea that technology could help care for the natural world.
  2. Written during a time of great technological optimism, the poem reflects hopes for human progress through technology. It encourages us to consider how we can still achieve a better future with tech.
  3. It's valuable to revisit and reflect on the poem's message in today's context. It inspires thoughts on how to create a harmonious relationship between nature and our technological advancements.

a dialogue with myself concerning eliezer yudkowsky

Thicket Forte • 819 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Science fiction
  1. People are frustrated with the beliefs and ideas of Eliezer Yudkowsky. They feel overwhelmed by the impact his views have had on their lives. It's exhausting to navigate the complicated discussions around AI safety.
  2. Yudkowsky's warnings about AI risks seem to have attracted more interest in AI instead of preventing problems. Some believe his approach only made things worse, which feels ironic to his followers.
  3. There's a sense that relying on one person's ideas, like Yudkowsky's, isn't enough to solve complex issues. Collaboration and collective thinking are seen as necessary to address the challenges of AI effectively.

Hyperion and boring techno futures

Yasha Levine • 412 implied HN points • 02 May 23
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. The story of Hyperion explores a conflict between a traditional civilization reliant on AI technology and a post-humanist society embracing genetic tinkering and self-directed evolution.
  2. The author questions the idealized futuristic utopia presented in the Hyperion series, highlighting the potential downsides and complexities of a tech-driven society.
  3. There is a comparison drawn between the themes in the Hyperion series and ideologies of technology-driven utopias seen in history, pointing out the different perspectives and potential outcomes.

Secret murders and cackling poets

Message from the Underworld • 196 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
📚 Literature Science fiction
  1. Many Latin American authors are producing dark and compelling stories, blending crime, horror, and social commentary.
  2. Media landscape changes are impacting arts coverage, leading to less focus on books and music in the future.
  3. Benjamín Labatut's book 'The MANIAC' challenges traditional storytelling with a unique, non-linear approach.