SF CORE Best Lists
- Top 25 Best Science Fiction
- The 'Alternative' Top 25 SF
- Top 100 Best Science Fiction
- Top 50 Best SF Movies
- Best SF Movies of the 21st Century
- Best SF TV Shows
- Best SF Graphic Novels
- Best Science Fiction Series
- Best Stand Alone SF
- Best Modern Classic SF
- Underrated Science Fiction
- Best SF by Women
- Best YA Science Fiction
- Best Kids' Science Fiction
SF ERA Best Lists
- Best Science Fiction of 2014
- Best Contemporary SF (2000's)
- Best Modern SF (80's-90's)
- Best New Wave SF (60's-70's)
- Best Classic SF (40's-60's)
- Best Early SF (1890-1930's)
- Best Proto SF (pre-1890)
SF GENRE Best Lists
- Best Hard SF Books
- Best Cyberpunk Books
- Best Space Opera Books
- Best SF Mystery Books
- Best SF Books about Mars
- Best Moon SF Books about Moon
- Best Dystopian Books
- Best Post Apocalyptic SF Books
- Best Alternate History Books
- Best Time Travel Books
- Best Robot Books
- Best A.I. Books
- Best Post-Human Books
- Best Literary SF Books
- Best Books ABOUT SF
OTHER Best Lists
SF Subgenre Guides
- Space Opera
- Hard Science Fiction
- Soft Science Fiction
- Firm Science SF
- Mundane Science Fiction
- Social Science Fiction
- Near-Future Science Fiction
- Age Regression Science Fiction
- Immortality Science Fiction
- Mind Transfer Science Fiction
- Transhumanism Science Fiction
- Robot Science Fiction
- Cybernetic Revolt Science Fiction
- Synthetic Biology Science Fiction
- Cyberpunk
- Nanopunk
- Biopunk
- Wetware
- Steampunk
- Retro Futurism
- Dying Astronaut Science Fiction
- First Landings Science Fiction
- First Contact Science Fiction
- Alien Invasion Science Fiction
- Alien Conspiracy Science Fiction
- Shapeshifting Science Fiction
- Xenofiction
- Dystopian Science Fiction
- Utopian Science Fiction
- World Government Science Fiction
- Alternate History Science Fiction
- Parallel Worlds Science Fiction
- Multiverse Science Fiction
- Time Travel
- Gothic Science Fiction
- Literary Science Fiction
- Recursive Science Fiction
- Slipstream
- Comic Science Fiction
- Political Science Fiction
- Religious Science Fiction
- Christian Science Fiction
- Clerical Science Fiction
- Mythological Science Fiction
- Cozy Catastrophe Science Fiction
- Restored Eden Science Fiction
- Dying Earth
- Apocalyptic Science Fiction
- Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction
- ESP Science Fiction
- Sports Science Fiction
- Zombie Fiction
- Sci-Fi Horror
- Sci Fi
- Science Fantasy
- Speculative Fiction
- Media Tie-In Science Fiction
- Detective Science Fiction
- Hard Boiled Science Fiction
- SpyFi
- Pulp Science Fiction
- Space Western Science Fiction
- Scientific Romance
- Sword and Planet Science Fiction
- Planetary Romance
- Lost Worlds
- Bigger Than Worlds
- Voyages Extraordinaires
- Hollow Earth Science Fiction
- Exotic Ecosystems Science Fiction
- Undersea Science Fiction
- Microbiology Science Fiction
- Astrobiology SF
- Astrosociobiology SF
- Ecological Science Fiction
- Frontier Science Fiction
- Generation Ship Science Fiction
- Colonization Science Fiction
- Terraforming Science Fiction
- World Building Science Fiction
- Hyperspace Science Fiction
- Spunky Heroine
- Erotica Science Fiction
- Gay Science Fiction
Soft Science Fiction
What is Soft Science Fiction?
An imprecise term that is used analogously with Hard Science Fiction. This term is applied liberally to Sci Fi that deals with the soft sciences, social sciences and those that are concerned with human affairs, and to Sci Fi that is less concerned about science and more about humanity. As a result, Soft Sci Fi tends to be more focused on story and character.
You can View the crowd-ranked Soft Science Fiction Books and vote and/submit entries to it.

Your Text Link Book Ad
This could be your text link book advertisment here, shown on every page. Contact us
www.yourbookadhere.com
Sample Book Ad
Get pulled into the world of Av'lor and fly with Sir Lanclor to defend the portal to Earth. Armor is optional.
www.asamplebookadhere.com
Visit our Forum
Want to talk fantasy? Visit our awesome fantasy forum to find out what's what in the fantasy world and to meet other cool fantasy lovers.
Other Features of Soft Science Fiction

- Level of Real Science
Minimal. Real science in Soft Sci Fi is unimportant to the development of the story. However, the science in these stories is often (though not always) grounded in sound scientific theory—it's just not the focus of the story.
- Level of Grand Ideas/Social Implications
High. Soft Sci Fi is concerned with the human side of the sciences and their impacts. Grand ideas and the exploration of social implications are this sub-genre's bread and butter, so to speak.
- Level of Characterization
High. Soft Sci Fi doesn't feature the hard science in its stories so there is room for character development. In fact, well developed characters help explore the social implications of whatever idea or invention the story is revolving around.
- Level of Plot Complexity
Variable. The level of plot will depend greatly on the kind of story the writer wants to tell. A writer wanting to explore the long-term effects of living among alien species may look at huge spans of time where plot becomes unimportant. On the other hand, a writer may develop a strong and complex plot to explore the relationship between humans and aliens.
- Level of Violence
Variable. A Soft Sci Fi story can take many forms and violence may or may not be a part of that journey.
Related Science Fiction subgenres

-
Science Fantasy is a version of Soft Sci Fi that has been taken to an extreme because the science has become so soft it appears magical. Social Science Fiction is another sub-genre that is part of the Soft Si Fi family. Both sub-genres are concerned with social implications, but where Soft Sci Fi covers a broad spectrum, Social Sci Fi focuses on the social aspects more exclusively. For the polar opposite of soft science fiction, check out the Hard Science Fiction genre.
Soft Science Fiction isn't for you if...
You like detailed scientific explanations about future technologies. If you don't like the social sciences and prefer the harder sciences like physics and biology.
- 1 Babel-17
By Samuel R. Delany. A bit anthropological, this series explores human interactions over several time periods and cultures. 3. Ursula K. Le Guin The Left Hand of Darkness. A noteworthy novel that explores the many impacts of sexual identity through an encounter with an androgynous alien race. - 2 Riverworld
By Philip Josè Farmer. A bit anthropological, this series explores human interactions over several time periods and cultures. - 3 The Left Hand of Darkness
By Ursula K. Le Guin. A noteworthy novel that explores the many impacts of sexual identity through an encounter with an androgynous alien race. - 4 This Immortal or ...And Call me Conrad
By Roger Zelanzy. Humans just about destroyed Earth until an alien species stepped in to help. This is a post-apocalyptic novel that also deals with history, myth, politics, and the ruling class. - 5 Dune
By Frank Hubert. This is an award winning and best selling series that addresses issues of empire by exploring ideas and interactions of politics, religion, technology, humanity, and the environment. - 6 Out of the Silent Planet
By C.S. Lewis. This is the first novel in The Space Trilogy and takes place on Mars. This novel, and the sequels, explore religious and philosophical questions rather than scientific ones. - 7 Ender's Game
By Orson Scott Card The first in a long series of novels that have hard science elements, but the emphasis on character, the concern with the impacts on society, and the thorough philosophical inquiries of the series make it a great example of Soft Sci Fi. - 8 The Vorksoigan Saga
By Lois McMaster Bujold. A long running and award winning series that mixes politics, romance, medical ethics, personal identity, and hierarchies. - 9 Fahrenheit 451
By Ray Bradbury. A novel that is also an alternate history where books have become censored to the point that they are all burned. It is a novel that touches on some societal issues including the complacency of society and the alienation of people by media. - 10 Hothouse or The Long Afternoon of Earth
By Brian Aldiss. An example of Soft Sci Fi that doesn't pay particular attention to scientific theories—Earth has locked its rotation and cobwebs connect the Earth and moon, humans have shrunk, plants have become omnivores, and there are only four species of animals left.
- 1
- 1984 (George Orwell)
-
343
- 5
- Dune (Frank Herbert)
-
247
- 14
- The Giver (Lois Lowry)
-
95
- 15
- Ubik (Philip K. Dick)
-
73
- 17
- Grass (Sheri S. Tepper)
-
41
- 21
- The Female Man (Joanna Russ)
-
20
- 22
- Eifelheim (Michael Flynn)
-
20
- 25
- Babel-17 (Samuel R. Delany)
-
10
- 27
- Nemesis Vector - (Bo Demont)
-
10
- 32
- Mockingbird (Walter Tevis)
-
01
