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
Space Western Science Fiction
What is Space Western Science Fiction?
Yee-haw! Space Western Science Fiction incorporates elements of the American West in a future where humans live in the frontiers of space. The connection the West may be literal with cowboy hats, frontier towns, and colt .52s, or more figurative where the society is depicted as lawless. The correlation of Western and Science Fiction suggests that space exploration will be much like the “taming” of the American West. This sub-genre has had great success beyond the page in the television and movie industries—Firefly and Serenity being popular examples not to mention Han Solo or Bobba Fett.
You can view the crowd-ranked "Popular" Space Western Books list 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 Space Western Science Fiction

- Level of Real Science
A soft moderate. Technology is mixed—horses and androids are in the same setting, but the further the story is from centralized civilization the less high tech the technology.
- Level of Grand Ideas/Social Implications
Low, with a few exceptions. Space Western Sci Fi is not known for exploring big ideas, but rather with the hardship and adventure of the unexplored frontier.
- Level of Characterization
Variable. Some Space Westerns have great complex characters who have understanding motivations. However, often Space Western stories use stock characters like the sheriff figure or the outlaw who never lets a woman come to harm.
- Level of Plot Complexity
Basic. For the most part, plots follow a straight-forward progression and are not particularly complex.
- Level of Violence
PG-13 level violence. These stories are going to have gun fights—they may be ray guns or colt revolvers, but in the frontier conflicts arise that are often sorted out with violence.
Related Science Fiction subgenres

-
Space Opera impinges on Space Western when the story is a bit less campy and more epic. Science Fiction Western is incredibly similar thematically to Space Western Sci Fi, but it takes place in the Old American West and adds aliens, future technology, or time travel. If a Space Western includes the use of mystical powers or "magic", then you could further classify it as a Science Fantasy, of which some Space Westerns are (Star Wars).
Space Western isn't for you if
If you like original plots and are not a fan of cowboys.
- 1 The Beast Master
By Andre Norton. A Space Western that also incorporates Native American themes in a frontier world where aliens and humans coexist tenuously. A noteworthy book for any Sci Fi Fan because Norton was the first female writer to be dubbed Grande Dame of Science Fiction and Fantasy. - 2 Northwest of Earth
By C.L. Moore. Nominated for several awards including Nebula and Hugo awards. An interesting take on the Arabian Nights format from a narrator who is two thousand years old. Frontier in its exploration of ideas rather than blazing guns. - 3 Time Enough for Love
By Robert A. Heinlein. Nominated for several awards including Nebula and Hugo awards. An interesting take on the Arabian Nights format from a narrator who is two thousand years old. Frontier in its exploration of ideas rather than blazing guns. - 4 A Princess of Mars
By Edgar Rice Burroughs. Transplants an American Civil War veteran to Mars and a harsh desert environment. Influenced the movie John Carter. - 5 The Martian Chronicles
By Ray Bradbury. The first modern work to be well received by academics and the literary establishment. A short story collection that retells the American experience of settling the West. - 6 A Myth of the Far Future
By Mike Resnick Santiago. A wild west tale complete with shoot-outs, lonely heroes, and faithless sidekicks. Follows an outlaw in the Inner Frontier of the galaxy. - 7 Girl in the Landscape
By Jonathan Lethem A coming of age story about a girl who must leave the dying Earth to be among the first humans to settle on another planet. An interesting read because the settlers are not cheerful and the aliens next door are not helpful. - 8 Earthman's Burden
By Poul Anderson and Gordon R. Dickson. A series of short stories. A comical take on the Space Western sub-genre. A teddy-bear like alien race comes across Earth's Western tales and reenacts the stories. - 9 Lone Star Planet
By H. Beam Piper. A bit of a parody of Space Western, but in a good way—think Texan stereotypes occupying another planet. - 10 Guns of Seneca 6
By Bernard Schaffer. Many stories in the Space Western sub-genre involve miners—typical of the Western genre. This book combines mining, murder, wasteland, outlaw, and alien into a Space Western adventure.
- 3
- Santiago (Mike Resnick)
-
31
- 7
- Earthman's Burden ()
-
21
