Andy Weir

With a surprising sense of humor (beginning right from its opening line), The Martian was a major sci-fi hit a few years back, introducing listeners to Andy Weir, who had worked as a software engineer before the novel's success. After finding himself trapped and alone on Mars, Mark Watney begins his attempts to use his knowledge and skills to do the impossible: survive long enough to somehow signal to Earth that he is still alive. With his second novel, Artemis, Weir confirmed his status as a true sci-fi talent—a voice to keep watching for and listening to in the coming years.

Frank Herbert

Dune is a work synonymous with science fiction. It was one of the most successful novels of its genre at the time of its original publication, and it went on to become a beloved and influential classic series. As if that wasn't enough, author Frank Herbert kept himself busy throughout the following 21 years of his life with several other series, standalone novels, short stories, and works of nonfiction. He was also a lecturer, journalist, photographer, and book critic. His passion for words and storytelling is evident in his body of work.

Dennis E. Taylor

Retired computer programmer Dennis E. Taylor made his debut as an author in 2016 with We Are Legion (We Are Bob), and quickly became one of the most exciting voices in modern sci-fi. We Are Legion is the first in Taylor's Bobiverse series, a harmonious mix of hard sci-fi with humor, featuring an incredibly likable central character. Since his initial success, Taylor has released several standalone audiobooks, including Outland and The Singularity Trap. 

Ursula K. LeGuin

Ursula K. LeGuin is among the rare authors who excelled at both fantasy and sci-fi to great acclaim. While Earthsea is her monumental work on the fantasy side, it is the Hainish Cycle that stands tallest among her science fiction work. Including perhaps her best-known novel, The Left Hand of Darkness, this collection of stories that take place in the same universe exemplifies LeGuin's prowess for spinning elaborate and satisfying plots set in wholly imagined worlds. LeGuin continued publishing poems and articles until her death in 2018, solidifying her place as not only a great sci-fi writer, but an incredibly gifted and adored literary force.

Cixin Liu

Although Cixin Liu became a widely known sci-fi author with the success of The Three-Body Problem, the debut volume in his Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy, he had published four previous novels as well as numerous works of short fiction. Liu writes hard science fiction with threads of conspiracy and existential pondering. Residing in the Shanxi Province of China, Liu is a notable figure in Chinese science fiction, as well as a highly successful author recognized globally for his translated works.

Robert A. Heinlein

When we talk about "hard science fiction," it refers to a subgenre that strictly adheres to scientific fact and reasoning when crafting the imagined worlds of far-flung space missions and alien planets. Robert A. Heinlein was among the earliest pioneers of the subgenre, with works like Stranger in a Strange Land and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, setting the standard for countless future works.

Octavia E. Butler

Either the Earthseed series or the Xenogenesis series alone would be enough to cement any sci-fi author’s place in the annals of all-time greats. The fact that Octavia Butler wrote both—in addition to a litany of standalone novels, adaptations, and short fiction, plus another series—is an undeniable testament to why she ought to be considered as one of the best sci-fi authors ever. With a startling knack for capturing human flaws and emotions in high-concept settings, Butler's work is at once speculative and literary.

Philip K. Dick

When considering the legacy and impact of Philip K. Dick, one can make the case for his inclusion on this list solely from the number of successful films based on his novels. For every great movie made from Dick's oeuvre, the work itself shines even brighter, and standout narration makes it even more exciting to experience in audio. Ubik and A Scanner Darkly are just two examples of great writing and storytelling in a bibliography including more than 40 novels.

Martha Wells

Martha Wells is another author well known for working in both fantasy and science fiction. The Murderbot Diaries is an intense series of sci-fi novellas about the morality of artificial intelligence. With six books in the series so far, each installment is an exciting story that shows off Wells's talents with language and plot. With both Nebula and Hugo awards to her name, Wells continues to live up to her reputation with each new release.

Isaac Asimov

In the early half of the 20th century, the Golden Age of Science Fiction introduced sci-fi to a wider audience than it had ever enjoyed. Isaac Asimov was a cornerstone of the movement, having introduced the concept of the Three Laws of Robotics in his seminal novel, I, Robot. These three rules, which detail the expected behaviors of robots in science fiction, became fixtures of the genre during this age—and Asimov remains a towering and prolific figure who authored more than 500 books (!). 

Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut is not generally considered a science fiction author. Yet, many of his earliest novels and short stories were important contributions to the genre during the New Wave science fiction movement in the 60s and 70s. Player Piano and The Sirens of Titan are vital sci-fi novels and contain traces of the sardonic humor and keen insights on humanity that would mark Vonnegut's later work. Almost all of Vonnegut's short stories have been committed to story collections, like Welcome to the Monkey House, so there is no shortage of material from this great literary mind to work your way through.

D.R. Baker is a writer and musician based in New York City. Their work has appeared at Book Riot, Submittable, HowlRound, and others.