Adam Roberts
Adam Roberts is a British science fiction and fantasy novelist. He is also a professor of 19th-century literature at Royal Holloway, University of London. Roberts is known for his satirical and often humorous take on the science fiction genre.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. Yellow Blue Tibia
Set in the aftermath of World War II, this satirical science fiction novel follows a group of Soviet science fiction writers who are tasked by Stalin to concoct an alien invasion narrative to unite humanity against a common enemy. Years later, the protagonist, Konstantin Skvorecky, a former writer, finds himself entangled in a bizarre conspiracy when the fictional invasion begins to manifest in reality. As he navigates a world of espionage, paranoia, and absurdity, Skvorecky must confront the blurred lines between fiction and reality, all while exploring themes of power, truth, and the human condition.
The 12141st Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org -
2. Jack Glass
The Story of a Murderer
This novel is a unique blend of science fiction and murder mystery, set in a future where the solar system is governed by a strict and oppressive regime. The story unfolds in three parts, each revealing a different aspect of the titular character, a notorious criminal known for his cunning and intelligence. Through a series of intricate plots and unexpected twists, the narrative explores themes of justice, power, and rebellion. The protagonist's journey is a compelling examination of the lengths to which one will go to achieve freedom and change in a society bound by rigid class distinctions and unforgiving laws.
The 17165th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Amazon -
3. The Thing Itself
In a thrilling blend of science fiction and philosophical exploration, the narrative unfolds around two scientists stationed at a remote Antarctic research base who encounter an enigmatic phenomenon that challenges their understanding of reality. As the story progresses, it delves into the realms of artificial intelligence, time travel, and Kantian philosophy, weaving a complex tapestry that questions the very nature of existence and perception. The characters are drawn into a mind-bending journey that blurs the lines between the known and the unknown, ultimately leading them to confront the profound mysteries of the universe and their own consciousness.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
4. By Light Alone
Set in a future where humanity has evolved to photosynthesize, eliminating the need for food, the story explores the societal divide between the wealthy, who still indulge in traditional consumption, and the impoverished, who rely solely on sunlight. The narrative follows a wealthy family whose daughter is kidnapped, unraveling a complex web of class struggle, privilege, and the human condition. As the characters navigate this altered world, they confront the moral and ethical implications of their existence, questioning the true cost of progress and the essence of humanity itself.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
5. Food Person
The Food Person's Guide to Culinary Adventures
In this delightful culinary memoir, the author takes readers on a flavorful journey through his life, exploring the profound connections between food, culture, and identity. With a blend of humor and heartfelt anecdotes, he shares personal stories that highlight the transformative power of cooking and eating, from childhood memories in the family kitchen to adventures in exotic locales. The narrative is peppered with mouth-watering recipes and insightful reflections, inviting readers to savor the joys of food and the rich tapestry of experiences it weaves into our lives.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
6. The Riddles Of The Hobbit
How J.R.R. Tolkien Found a Hobbit and a Fairy-tale
This insightful exploration delves into the intricate world of riddles within the beloved fantasy classic, examining their significance and the role they play in the narrative. The book offers a detailed analysis of how these enigmatic puzzles contribute to character development, plot progression, and thematic depth, while also tracing their origins and influences from various mythological and literary traditions. By unraveling the layers of meaning behind each riddle, the book provides a fresh perspective on the timeless tale, inviting readers to appreciate the artistry and complexity woven into the fabric of the story.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
8. The This
A near-future social network evolves into a telepathic hive mind, enticing the lonely and upending politics, faith, and identity. As a cynical copywriter is pulled into its orbit, a parallel far-future storyline charts a war between collectivized consciousness and fiercely independent holdouts. Blending satire with heady speculation, it probes free will, language, and whether radical connectedness is salvation or the end of the self.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
9. Adam Robots
A collection of speculative short stories that roam from hard science fiction to mischievous fantasy, blending satire, pastiche, and rigorous thought experiments. Through alternate histories, apocalypses, and near-future labs, it probes identity, consciousness, free will, time travel, and artificial intelligence while reimagining myths and literary touchstones. The pieces are inventive, often playful yet sometimes bleak, united by sharp wit, linguistic virtuosity, and a restless curiosity about how technology and storytelling shape what it means to be human.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
Purchase from Bookshop.org
-
11. Purgatory Mount
Purgatory Mount is a 2021 science fiction novel by British writer Adam Roberts. It was first published in the United Kingdom in February 2021 by Victor Gollancz Ltd. The book appeared in some pre-publication listings as Mount Purgatory. Purgatory Mount was nominated for the 2022 British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
12. H.G. Wells
Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote more than forty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, history, popular science, satire, biography, and autobiography. Wells is most known today for his groundbreaking science fiction novels; he has sometimes been called the "father of science fiction", a title that has also been given to Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback. In addition to his fame as a writer, he was prominent in his lifetime as a forward-looking, even prophetic social critic who devoted his literary talents to the development of a progressive vision on a global scale. As a futurist, he wrote a number of utopian works and foresaw the advent of aircraft, tanks, space travel, nuclear weapons, satellite television and something resembling the World Wide Web. His science fiction imagined time travel, alien invasion, invisibility, and biological engineering before these subjects were common in the genre. Brian Aldiss referred to Wells as the "Shakespeare of science fiction", while Charles Fort called him a "wild talent". Wells rendered his works convincing by instilling commonplace detail alongside a single extraordinary assumption per work – dubbed "Wells's law" – leading Joseph Conrad to hail him in 1898 with "O Realist of the Fantastic!". His most notable science fiction works include The Time Machine (1895), which was his first novella, The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), The War of the Worlds (1898), the military science fiction The War in the Air (1907), and the dystopian When the Sleeper Wakes (1910). Novels of social realism such as Kipps (1905) and The History of Mr Polly (1910), which describe lower-middle-class English life, led to the suggestion that he was a worthy successor to Charles Dickens, but Wells described a range of social strata and even attempted, in Tono-Bungay (1909), a diagnosis of English society as a whole. Wells was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times. Wells's earliest specialised training was in biology, and his thinking on ethical matters took place in a Darwinian context. He was also an outspoken socialist from a young age, often (but not always, as at the beginning of the First World War) sympathising with pacifist views. For much of his adult life he was a passionate advocate of eugenics and involuntary euthanasia, arguing in favour of the "sterilisation of failure" as a necessary condition for socialism to succeed, a view he had largely recanted by 1940. In his later years, he wrote less fiction and more works expounding his political and social views, sometimes giving his profession as that of journalist. Wells was a diabetic and co-founded the charity The Diabetic Association (Diabetes UK) in 1934.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
13. The Soddit
A small, comfort-loving halfling is reluctantly swept from his cozy home into a ludicrous, perilous quest with a blustering wizard and a motley band of dwarves to reclaim a hoard from a dragon; along the way the journey riffs on and lampoons high-fantasy conventions with anachronisms, biting satire, wordplay, and absurd set pieces that undercut heroic pretension while still delivering rogues, riddles, battles, and an ultimately uproarious take on courage, greed, and storytelling itself.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
14. The Sellamillion
Purchase from Bookshop.org