SevenevesSeveneves
Score Modern
What it's about
Without warning, the Moon blows apart. Scientists calculate that in two years its fragments will rain down on Earth and make it uninhabitable for thousands of years. Humanity races to send a small number of people into orbit on the International Space Station to survive. The last part jumps five thousand years ahead, to see what became of them.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Hugo finalist. It's huge, technical and thrilling, a survival story on a scale few novels attempt.
You'll love it if you liked
Anathem
Red Mars
Project Hail MaryGood to know
It's nearly 900 pages, with long passages of orbital mechanics. The final third is a very different book.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics25 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller58 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz4 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #123 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #190 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #693 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1312 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Thought-provoking, Adventurous
More by Neal Stephenson
The Diamond AgeAnathem
Cryptonomicon
Snow CrashIf you like this, read next
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The Fifth Season
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Gideon the Ninth
Red Rising
OutlanderExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Seveneves worth reading?
Yes. It was a Hugo finalist. It ranks #1,312 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Seveneves about?
Without warning, the Moon blows apart. Scientists calculate that in two years its fragments will rain down on Earth and make it uninhabitable for thousands of years. Humanity races to send a small number of people into orbit on the International Space Station to survive. The last part jumps five thousand years ahead, to see what became of them.
How long does it take to read Seveneves?
About 22 hours (867 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Seveneves?
If you liked it, try Anathem by Neal Stephenson, Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson or Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.