Five of the best science fiction books of 2024

The Guardian highlights five notable science fiction books of 2024, showcasing a range of themes from dystopian futures to time travel. "Juice" by Tim Winton presents a gripping eco-disaster narrative where a man and a mute girl navigate a post-apocalyptic landscape in Western Australia, revealing the consequences of environmental collapse. "Three Eight One" by Aliya Whiteley features a 24th-century information curator unraveling a mysterious text about a woman's coming-of-age journey, blending fiction and autobiography in a unique narrative. Kaliane Bradley's "The Ministry of Time" follows a British-Cambodian woman tasked with overseeing a historical figure in a time travel ministry, combining humor and a critique of imperialism. Oliver K Langmead's "Calypso" is a verse novel set on a generation starship, exploring themes of war and ecological balance through its poetic structure. Lastly, "Toward Eternity" by Anton Hur delves into the implications of immortality through nanotechnology, questioning the essence of humanity as characters evolve into new forms of existence. Each book offers a distinct perspective on human experience, technology, and the future.

- "Juice" explores the consequences of environmental collapse in a post-apocalyptic setting.

- "Three Eight One" presents a unique narrative blending fiction and autobiography.

- "The Ministry of Time" critiques imperialism through a humorous time travel story.

- "Calypso" combines hard science fiction with philosophical themes in a poetic format.

- "Toward Eternity" questions the nature of humanity in the context of immortality and technology.