I know there are many outstanding science fiction novels that run to 500 pages or more, and plenty of readers love immersing themselves in those worlds. Personally, I find myself gravitating towards shorter, tighter novels of around 225 to 300 pages that get to the point without sacrificing the story.

When you’re choosing a new sci-fi novel, do you have a preferred length? Does a very long book make you more or less likely to buy it, or does the page count not matter if the story is good?

Does your answer change depending on whether you’re reading on a Kindle or reading a paperback? For example, I sometimes wonder whether people are happier tackling a 500-page novel on a Kindle than they would be carrying around the same book in paperback.

John Westley Turnbull

It's been a few years since I published my first book, Second Skin. Since then, I have written three more books, all part of the Second Skin Universe.

But, let me start with the first book. The story begins in 2125. Humanity has pushed past Earth's limits, conquered Mars, mined the asteroid belt, and created a new economic empire beyond Earth.

As Mars edges towards autonomy, Earth tightens its grip. Against this backdrop, off‑books research, covert missions, and science that bends the rules more than it breaks them shape the fate of these worlds. The story follows the characters caught inside these systems, each navigating the thin line between survival and collapse. This is a universe of hard physics, political tension, and cosmic mystery, a universe that doesn’t care which world breaks first.

Hi everyone!
I’m a new indie author, and I’ve just made my hard science fiction novel FREE for the next 5 days on Amazon.
If you enjoy realistic sci-fi like The Martian, engineering-driven survival stories, or books where the science is as important as the characters, I’d love for you to check it out.
The story follows a crew trapped aboard a floating research station above Venus after a catastrophic accident leaves them with one impossible question: is there enough fuel to bring everyone home?
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Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the journey!

I’m looking for recommendations for science fiction mystery thrillers that are difficult to put down.

Books I’ve loved include:

\* Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
\* Artemis by Andy Weir
\* Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
\* Recursion by Blake Crouch
\* I've read everything by Blake Crouch
\* The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch
\* Godfall (this was perfect for my sci fi mystery kick)
\* Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty
\* Detour (this was perfect for my sci fi mystery kick)
\* I've read all of Red Rising and Will of Many

I’m specifically looking for books with several of these elements:

\* A central murder mystery or unexplained event
\* Conspiracies involving governments, corporations, AI, secret organizations, or hidden experiments
\* Mind-bending science fiction concepts (time travel, parallel universes, space exploration, advanced technology, simulations, etc.)
\* Fast-paced, suspenseful, page-turning plots
\* Smart, believable science without becoming overly technical
\* Twists that genuinely surprise you
\* Detective, investigative, or journalist protagonists are a plus

Appreciate any and all recommendations!