Science fiction books, combined with fantasy, generated $590.2 million in revenue in the United States.
Within comic books, science fiction sales grew by 8.3% in 2021 compared to 2020.
In the United Kingdom, science fiction sales in 2021 were 23% higher compared to 2020.
Science fiction books in Australia sold 9% more copies in 2021 than in 2020.
During the first half of 2018, the science fiction genre sold 2,679,000 copies, 18% higher than in 2017, with “Ready Player One” by Ernest Chile selling 430,000 copies alone.
In the juvenile category, the science fiction genre combined with fantasy sold over 20.3 million copies during the first half of 2018.
Along with fantasy, the science fiction genre ranks no.8 on Amazon’s most competitive categories list.
In audiobooks, science fiction with fantasy holds the largest share of sales among all audiobook categories, generating over $1.6 billion in revenue in 2021.
What are the best-selling science fiction books of all time?
Known for exploring new concepts, addressing complex issues and challenging conventional thinking, science fiction titles make up some of the best-selling audiobooks of all time.
Title (Year)
Author
Copies sold*
1
1984 (1949)
George Orwell
Over 30 million
2
Dune (1966)
Frank Herbert
Over 20 million
3
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979)
Douglas Adams
15 million copies worldwide
4
Foundation Series (1942-1993)
Isaac Asimov
5
Ender’s Game (1985)
Orson Scott Card
7 million
6
The Time Machine (1895)
H. G. Wells
Several million copies have been sold to date
7
Cat’s Cradle (1963)
Kurt Vonnegut
8
The Martian (2011)
Andy Weir
3 million
9
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Arthur C. Clarke
3 million
10
Ready Player One (2011)
Ernest Cline
1.7 million printed copies sold
(*Other titles may be excluded due to sales reporting differences.)
Who are the best-selling science fiction and fantasy authors of all time?
Rank
Author
Copies sold
1
J.K Rowling
Over 600 million
2
Stephen King
Over 400 million
3
J.R.R. Tolkien
Over 350 million
4
Stephenie Meyer
250 million
5
Dean Koontz
Over 200 million
6
Michael Crichton
200 million
7
Anne Rice
136 million
8
CS Lewis
120 million
9
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Over 100 million
10
Arthur C. Clarke
Over 100 million
How much do science fiction authors make?
Up to 75% of science fiction authors earn under $2,000 in a year from publishing.
90% of sci-fi authors earn under $15,000 per year from publishing.
95% of science fiction authors earn around a minimum wage per year.
5% of science fiction authors can make a living from the wiring.
