16 Short Sci-Fi Books You Can Read In A Weekend

Created by Joe O'Shea Published Nov 4, 2026, 2:00 PM EST Amanda Kay Oaks is a writer and lifelong book nerd. She has been writing about books on the internet for over 10 years, with prior bylines at Book Riot and ComicBook.com. Though she reads across most genres, Amanda Kay is particularly fond of romance, cozy fantasy, and books with strong female characters. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Sci-fi and fantasy are both notorious for meaty, lore-filled tomes, but sometimes, you just want a book you can devour in a single weekend. Whether you're planning your next staycation or just have a free weekend to devote to reading, few feelings are quite as satisfying as reading an entire book in just a few days. When it comes to compelling sci-fi, you can certainly sink into an expansive multi-book series or standalone epic if you want to. Dune and The Expanse are popular for a reason, after all. But the sci-fi genre also boasts a surprising number of short and sweet works, and I don't just mean the many excellent sci-fi short stories out there. After all, Frankenstein is often considered one of the earliest examples of science fiction, and it clocks in at a brisk 240 or so pages. And few books race by quite as quickly as the hilarious and absurd Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. From classic novellas to modern, shorter works, sci-fi authors can do a lot with fewer words, offering epic adventures that take just a few hours to read. Short Sci-Fi Classics Many of the most iconic sci-fi writers have penned droves of short stories, so it's hardly surprising there are some shorter novels and novellas among the classics. From the first in-depth exploration of time travel by H.G. Wells to Mary Shelley's iconic work of horror, there are quite a few sci-fi staples that can easily be devoured in a single sitting. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (Released 1895 / Purchase here): Depending on the edition, this classic work of time-travel sci-fi clocks in at just under 150 pages. With a thrilling plot to go along with its short length, The Time Machine is a quick and easy read that's well worth going back for if you've not yet had the pleasure. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Released 1979 / Purchase here): Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has seen countless adaptations for a reason: it's just plain fun. At just around 220 pages or so, it's also relatively short, making it a quick, engaging sci-fi read for genre enthusiasts and newcomers alike. The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin (Released 1972 / Purchase here): Le Guin's name often comes up as one of the juggernauts of fantasy, but she's held her own in sci-fi as well. The Word for World is Forest is a powerful novella that digs deep into issues that are still quite relevant today, and at just under 200 pages, it makes for a quick yet thought-provoking read. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Released 1818 / purchase here): Though it's debatable whether this is more horror or sci-fi, the use of technology to resurrect the monster often lands this a credit as one of the earliest sci-fi novels. At just over 150 pages for most printings, Frankenstein ​​​​​​is pretty easy to get through, and despite the campy nature of its many adaptations, it's quite a philosophical read at heart. Short Sci-Fi Books Set in Outer Space Who doesn't love a good old-fashioned outer space adventure? While not a requirement for the genre, intergalactic travel or life aboard a space station is a sci-fi staple for a reason. Series like The Expanse or shows like Doctor Who prove that traveling across space (and time) can support long-running series, but it can also provide the perfect fast-paced plot for a shorter work, too. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (Released 2015 / Purchase here): At under 100 pages, this Hugo Award-winning novella is one of the shortest sci-fi books on our list. But it still packs a punch, as titular character Binti embarks on a dangerous journey across space to attend the elite Oomza University, if she survives long enough to get there. Redshirts by John Scalzi (Released 2012 / Purchase here): Redshirts is John Scalzi's comedic 300-page take on the ill-fated Star Trek characters. Set aboard the starship Intrepid, this book asks what happens when those low-ranking crew members start to realize they're not gonna make it. On a Red Station, Drifting by Aliette de Bodard (Released 2024 / Purchase here): This unique, fast-paced novella takes place aboard a space station suddenly beset by refugees. At just over 170 pages, this is a quick, engaging read with no shortage of tension to keep you reading right until the end. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (Released 2021 / Purchase here): This Hugo Award-winning work of modern sci-fi is set on a habitable moon where a sentient robot upends a tea monk's quiet life. A novella with just around 150 pages, A Psalm for the Wild-Built ​​​​​​is a quick and cozy solarpunk read perfect for a more relaxed, grounded adventure among the stars. Short Dystopian & Post-Apocalyptic Novels Dystopias and post-apocalyptic stories sometimes seem dense compared to quick, flashy ray-gun battles or spaceship travel. But that doesn't mean every book in this sci-fi subgenre is massively lengthy. In fact, there are quite a few short dystopian books that capture their premises well even with lower word counts. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (Released 1968 / Purchase here): Arguably a sci-fi classic in its own right, this post-apocalyptic masterpiece inspired the likes of Blade Runner. Set in a future where outlawed realistic androids hide among humanity on Earth, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? ​​​​​​clocks in at just over 200 pages, making it a quick yet terrifying sci-fi read. Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke (Released 2021 / Purchase here): In this dystopian nightmare, a mid-level employee's consciousness gets uploaded to Slack, making him both more productive and less corporeal. At around 250 pages, Several People Are Typing is told entirely through Slack messages, making it a fast-paced and engaging, if horrifying, read. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (Released 2014 / Purchase here): This National Book Award finalist follows a group of determined actors trying to keep art alive in the wake of society's collapse. At 350 pages, Station Eleven is a bit long compared to most books on this list, but its fast-paced storytelling and captivating narrative ensure those pages fly by. How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu (Released 2023 / Purchase here): Set in the Arctic Circle, How High We Go in the Dark follows the aftermath when researchers accidentally unleash a plague that upends society as we know it. The story spans centuries and space, making for a haunting and spell-binding 320-page read that you won't want to put down. Short & Fast-Paced Sci-Fi Thrillers Even when they've got bigger page counts, thrillers are often gripping enough that they're over before you know it. Add sci-fi to the mix, and you've got a recipe for a compelling and thought-provoking read you can easily take down in a few sittings, but will be thinking about long after you close the book. This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (Released 2019 / Purchase here): This 2019 novella managed to claim both a Hugo Award and viral social media fame, not an easy feat. Told over 220-ish pages of correspondence between rival agents, This Is How You Lose the Time War is a thrilling and epic love story set amidst a war that spans time and space. All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Released 2017 / Purchase here): All Systems Red is the first book in the beloved Murderbot series, which follows a murderous robot that yearns for solitude. At just 160 pages, book 1 follows a group of scientists and Murderbot as they work to solve the mystery of what happened to a nearby mission. Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes (Released 2024 / Purchase here): Sci-fi horror takes center stage in Ghost Station, which is set aboard an abandoned planet. At 381 pages, this is the lengthiest book on our list, but its fast-paced, suspenseful plot makes it an easy one to read in just a day or two. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (Released 2017 / Purchase here): In Dark Matter, our protagonist wakes up in a world nothing like the one he remembers. A speculative thriller, this 368-page book flies by as Jason struggles to figure out what's happened to him, what's real, and whether going back is even an option.