# Free online sci-fi novels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 8, 2020, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393 "2020-05-08T09:10:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/1 "2020-05-08T09:10:58Z")
I know it sounds old-fashioned but my family have took up reading together since we were forced to live mainly indoors. My personal choice was English sci-fi books because I wanted to use this opportunity to improve our English skills and because I’ve always been a fan of the genre. We’re about to finish a free ebook novel and I would like to find another one of similar or better quality. Are you aware of any sci-fi novel available for free on the Internet, of good artistic quality and appropriate for family reading sessions? Thank you in advance. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/2 "2020-05-08T11:57:42Z")
Project Gutenberg has some. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/3 "2020-05-08T12:53:24Z")
Cory Doctorow in particular has put out his recent SF novels on Project Gutenberg [Books by Doctorow, Cory (sorted by popularity) - Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/3826) ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/4 "2020-05-08T13:16:15Z")
Thank you. Project Gutenberg is not a bad idea, but I find it hard to identify something that doesn’t feel dated. Cory Doctorow seems to have a fresh voice but I’m not sure his texts are appropriate for family reading. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/5 "2020-05-08T13:16:44Z")
[Baen Free Library](https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/2012) is a great one =) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/6 "2020-05-08T13:36:36Z")
> [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > Thank you. > > Project Gutenberg is not a bad idea, but I find it hard to identify something that doesn’t feel dated. Cory Doctorow seems to have a fresh voice but I’m not sure his texts are appropriate for family reading. “Little Brother” is YA I think. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/7 "2020-05-08T13:49:18Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > [Baen Free Library](https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/2012) is a great one =) Yes, although it doesn’t have nearly as much as it used to. John Scalzi’s _Agent To the Stars_ is available online [here](http://www.scalzi.com/agent/) and should be appropriate for all ages (though I appreciated it more when I listened to the audiobook read by Wil Wheaton, which is not free). [Little Fuzzy](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18137) by H. Beam Piper is at least a minor classic and is in the public domain. [Tor.com](https://ebookclub.tor.com/) occasionally offers a free e-book for a few days, but they don’t have anything available right now. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/8 "2020-05-08T13:49:57Z")
Do you have a library card? Your local library should provide access to e-books. There’s a national network that many libraries are part of, called Overdrive/MetroNet I think. The selection is kind of hit-and-miss, a lot of popular mystery/detective/action thriller/romance serial novel stuff, but lately I see MetroNet has been adding a lot of classic novels, and I know I’ve seen an H.G. Wells novel or two- “War of the Worlds” and maybe “The Time Machine”. Pretty sure I’ve seen some Philip K. Dick too. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/9 "2020-05-08T13:56:50Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Yes, although it doesn’t have nearly as much as it used to. > > John Scalzi’s _Agent To the Stars_ is available online [here](http://www.scalzi.com/agent/) and should be appropriate for all ages (though I appreciated it more when I listened to the audiobook read by Wil Wheaton, which is not free). > > [Little Fuzzy](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18137) by H. Beam Piper is at least a minor classic and is in the public domain. > > [Tor.com](https://ebookclub.tor.com/) occasionally offers a free e-book for a few days, but they don’t have anything available right now. I endorse “Little Fuzzy”! [Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper | Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18137) ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/10 "2020-05-08T14:06:16Z")
Both [Greg Egan](https://www.gregegan.net/BIBLIOGRAPHY/Online.html) and [Peter Watts](https://rifters.com/real/shorts.htm) have links to several of their works on their home pages, with the latter including four of his novels, among them the excellent _Blindsight_. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/11 "2020-05-08T14:07:40Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > “Little Brother” is YA I think. Thank you. I was actually studying these books and it seems “Little Brother” qualifies for what we’re interested in. It has just entered my list. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/12 "2020-05-08T14:08:45Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > [Baen Free Library](https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/2012) is a great one =) I am studying it and I have found useful stuff. Thank you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/13 "2020-05-08T14:15:09Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Both [Greg Egan](https://www.gregegan.net/BIBLIOGRAPHY/Online.html) and [Peter Watts](https://rifters.com/real/shorts.htm) have links to several of their works on their home pages, with the latter including four of his novels, among them the excellent _Blindsight_. Peter Watts is well kniwn for his family-friendly writing… ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/14 "2020-05-08T14:22:13Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Yes, although it doesn’t have nearly as much as it used to. > > John Scalzi’s _Agent To the Stars_ is available online [here](http://www.scalzi.com/agent/) and should be appropriate for all ages (though I appreciated it more when I listened to the audiobook read by Wil Wheaton, which is not free). > > [Little Fuzzy](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18137) by H. Beam Piper is at least a minor classic and is in the public domain. > > [Tor.com](https://ebookclub.tor.com/) occasionally offers a free e-book for a few days, but they don’t have anything available right now. I think “Little Fuzzy” qualifies perfectly for what I have in mind. Thanks a million. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/15 "2020-05-08T14:24:55Z")
I’d be happy to send you a copy of my sci-fi murder mystery “Spindown” for free – just PM me with your email address and preferred ebook format. EDIT: I’d call it PG-13 – some moderate violence and allusions to sex, but no actual sex. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/16 "2020-05-08T14:26:21Z")
Not free but Amazon has a lot of kindle books for $5 and under . A lot of them are older like Dracula, Frankenstein, etc. but not all. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/17 "2020-05-08T14:33:58Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Do you have a library card? Your local library should provide access to e-books. There’s a national network that many libraries are part of, called Overdrive/MetroNet I think. The selection is kind of hit-and-miss, a lot of popular mystery/detective/action thriller/romance serial novel stuff, but lately I see MetroNet has been adding a lot of classic novels, and I know I’ve seen an H.G. Wells novel or two- “War of the Worlds” and maybe “The Time Machine”. Pretty sure I’ve seen some Philip K. Dick too. I intend to pursue my plan from home, on my computer. I live in Bucharest and we’re on quarantine now. I want to prolong my own quarantine until the entire situation seems to settle down - we have the means to support ourselves through this process. I am familiar with H.G. Wells’ work (most of which I have read) - while I like it, my family might find it too serious to enjoy. I am not sure Philip K. Dick is available for free online - I only found a short story in the past, if I remember well. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/18 "2020-05-08T14:35:44Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > I endorse “Little Fuzzy”! [Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper | Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18137) I became a fan just by reading the reviews. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/19 "2020-05-08T14:46:17Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Not free but Amazon has a lot of kindle books for $5 and under . A lot of them are older like Dracula, Frankenstein, etc. but not all. Whaddya mean, “not free”? Books that are old enough to be in the public domain typically _are_ free, at least if you get them from someplace like Project Gutenberg. On Amazon, _Dracula_ and _Frankenstein_ are available in numerous different editions at different prices, including $0.00 (look for the AmazonClassics Edition if you want a free one), and the same goes for many other classics. Now, it is true that Amazon has many more recent Kindle books available for under $5 (either permenantly or when they’re on sale). ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393/20 "2020-05-08T14:55:26Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Both [Greg Egan](https://www.gregegan.net/BIBLIOGRAPHY/Online.html) and [Peter Watts](https://rifters.com/real/shorts.htm) have links to several of their works on their home pages, with the latter including four of his novels, among them the excellent _Blindsight_. Thank you for the recommendations. These are interesting authors, whom I will have to enjoy reading on my own. My family is not as fond of science fiction as I am. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-sci-fi-novels/853393.md?page=2)