Can you suggest me good thrillers set in Space with realistic aliens?

62 Answers

Can it be funny?

MaryQuestion author

Yes. Sure

Okay. Alan Dean Foster’s Glory Lane is one of my favorites. It’s a bit like an 80s B Movie but it’s a fun adventure.

I don’t know if you’d call them thrillers, although I adore them, but Anne McCaffrey’s Crystal Singer trilogy is pretty damn good 🙂

MaryQuestion author

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Rob

It’s a bit long, but I can’t praise Stephen Donaldson’s Gap series enough

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_R._Donaldson#The_Gap_series

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Jill

What are “realistic aliens,” may I ask? haha

MaryQuestion author

More scientific, like the one in the movie “life”

Rob

Julian May’s Pliocene Exile series (and the subsequent Galactic Milieu series) features aliens that like drinking, sex and fighting as much as the “earthlings” do. Another good set of books that genuinely improve as they go along

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saga_of_Pliocene_Exile

James

Arthur C Clarke is a good place to start. Rendezvous With Rama.

MaryQuestion author

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Vickie

Love that series?

Olga

Peter F. Hamilton: Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained

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John

“The Mote in God’s Eye” Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

Lisa

Ooh I’d forgotten that, years since I read it, might have to buy it for my ever increasing TBR list 🙂

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Stacey

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Omega by Jack McDevitt,

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James

Frank

hhgttg

Karen

Pretty much, yep.

MaryQuestion author

Yes. Read that. Loved it. Thanks

Tim

John Scalzi books like Old Mans War

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Danny

Yes. The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber.

Antigoni

I thought about it too but i wouldn’t sort it as a thriller

Danny

It seemed thrilling, my opinion, to our hero and his wife who was trapped back on Earth.

Antigoni

I never made this thought, but you are right. Also, waiting for him to meet the aliens was thrilling.

MaryQuestion author

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Denise

The silver ship by S.
H. Jucha

MaryQuestion author

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Tamzin

Armada by Earnest Cline. Also Artemis Is a great scifi thriller but no aliens.

MaryQuestion author

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Sarah

Have you not been following the current news. Washington DC and our President is scary enough

Beth

maybe she needed something less scary

Luci

What is a “realistic” alien? 🙂

maybe u will like KPAX by gene brewer. A movie was made starring Kevin Spacey.

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Laura

“The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet” by Becky Chambers

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Victoria

Space Opera by Catherynne Valente. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi.

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Jeannie

Children of Time

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Veronica

Lilith brood trilogy, Octavia Butler

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Pamela

Ray Bradbury.

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Syntha

Gravity by Tess Gerritsen

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Maria

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Melanie

The Sparrow by Mary Dorris Russell- doesn’t fit exactly, but still a good read in the genre. It has each thing you requested, just not typical, I’d say.

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Sabrina

Ender Series….

MaryQuestion author

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Sabrina

Mary of course.

Seth

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WQ4OTFA/ref=series_rw_dp_sw

Sixteen-year-old Priscilla Delacroix was declared legally dead by her mother, High Priestess of the Goddess. Banished to survive on her own, Priscilla has roamed the galaxy for ten years as an outcast—to become a woman of extraordinary skill. . . .

An experienced officer assigned to the Liaden vessel Doxflon, she’s been abandoned yet again. Betrayed by her captain and shipmates, she’s left to fend for herself on a distant planet. But Priscilla is not alone. Starship captain Shan yos’Galen is about to join Priscilla’s crusade for revenge. He has his own score to settle with the enemy. But confronting the sinister crew will be far easier—and safer—than confronting the demons of Priscilla’s own mysterious past.

Judith

I have always felt C J Cherryh writes the most realistic aliens because they really do think differently than humans. Her works would not be classified as thrillers though.

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Debra

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell was very good.

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