The Shelves

Science Fiction Action & Adventure Books

Books selected for readers looking for science fiction action & adventure books.

60 booksApril 2, 2026

Part of 500+ tracked lists·2 crossover shelves·155% reader overlap with Science Fiction Space Opera Books (Fiction)

1. Star Born
Andre Norton
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
2. The Fire People
Ray Cummings
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
3. The Holes Around Mars
Jerome Bixby
Fits this list for its focus on action and adventure.
Shelf signal: Sci-Fi Adventure
4. Triplanetary
E. E. (Edward Elmer) Smith, E.E. "Doc" Smith
Fits this list for its focus on fiction and science.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
5. Deathworld 2
Harry Harrison
Fits this list for its focus on action and adventure.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
6. Project Mastodon
Clifford D. Simak
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Sci-Fi Adventure
7. A Rebel's History of Mars
Nadia Afifi
Fits this list for its focus on fiction and science.
Shelf signal: Space Exploration Fiction
8. Planet of the Damned
Harry Harrison
Fits this list for its focus on action and adventure.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
9. Monster Maker
Ray Bradbury
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
10. The Expendables
A.E. van Vogt
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
11. The Green Odyssey
Philip José Farmer
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
12. Voodoo Planet
Andre Norton
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
13. The Long Remembered Thunder
Keith Laumer, Virgil Finlay
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Hard Sci-Fi
14. Message From Mars
Clifford D. Simak
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
15. Masters of Space
E.E. "Doc" Smith
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
16. The Hour of Battle
Robert Sheckley
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
17. Deathworld
Harry Harrison
Fits this list for its focus on action and adventure.
Shelf signal: Hard Sci-Fi
18. Deathworld
Harry Harrison
Fits this list for its focus on action and adventure.
Shelf signal: Hard Sci-Fi
19. Exile From Space
Judith Merril
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
20. Perfect Host
Theodore Sturgeon
Fits this list for its focus on action and adventure.
Shelf signal: Sci-Fi Adventure
21. Pygmalion's Spectacles
Stanley G. Weinbaum
Fits this list for its focus on action and adventure.
Shelf signal: Time Travel Fiction
22. The K-factor
Harry Harrison
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Space Opera
23. It Could Be Anything
Keith Laumer
Fits this list for its focus on action and adventure.
Shelf signal: Funny Sci-Fi
24. The Weirdest World
R.A. Lafferty
Fits this list for its focus on adventure and fiction.
Shelf signal: Funny Sci-Fi