Where to read books online for free, where can I read free books online
For voracious sci-fi readers who devour books like food, reading can become an expensive habit. Between buying beautiful tomes with gorgeous covers and buying convenient ebooks, the costs can add up pretty quickly. So you’re probably wondering, “Where can I read free sci-fi books online?”
Did you know there are dozens of websites where you can read sci-fi ebooks for free online that aren’t Project Gutenberg? There are many self-publishing websites where authors can publish their own works, often for free or for a reduced price, as well as online libraries. Many authors will even let you read the first few chapters for free before you commit so you aren’t throwing your hard-earned cash down the drain.
Below are five great sites to read free sci-fi books online, along with book recs to make your browsing even easier!
Bookbub
Bookbub is a great source for free and discounted ebooks online. Simply enter your email address, answer a couple of questions about the type of fiction and nonfiction you like to read (including formats), and Bookbub will curate a list of great titles just for you. Here you’ll find popular bestsellers as well as novels written by indie authors. Just select “free ebooks” in the drop menu on the left and you’re ready to read! Ebooks can be downloaded to any major ereader as well.
Deals change daily, so check back often for great deals!
Maverick Gambit by Marjorie King: When a town under Knox’s protection gets attacked by space pirates, he jumps into action. But first, he’ll have to cross paths with a powerful, secretive corporation that endangers not only his mission but the lives of his family.
Dust and Shadow by Lindsey Pogue: Jo lives in an unforgiving post-apocalyptic landscape of Sagebrush Canyon, which is controlled by the marshall who killed her mother. To get justice for her, she makes the most unlikely of connections, making her question just how far she’ll go to avenge her mother’s death.
Fictionate.Me
Fictionate.Me is a self-publishing platform where independent authors publish their own novels. Many ebooks are free or discounted to read, meaning the authors are passing the savings onto you, dear reader. This site has many genres, but the top trending genres are sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Most authors have the first few chapters of their books to read for free, so you can preview before you buy, and a lot of books only cost $0.99! You can also give feedback and share books on social media to spread the love. Create an account for free in minutes and start reading right in your browser!
Haven by Kate Seger: This lit RPG follows Lola Lovecraft, one of the lucky ones who has survived the end of the world. She did this by escaping into Haven, a virtual realm created for the specific reason of saving humanity. But when Haven isn’t the utopia she was promised, she embarks on a quest to find the ghost in the machine to defeat it.
Read the first three chapters for free, or buy the novel for $0.99.
Stitched by UYScuti: When Amy Sullivan turned 18, there was a breach in the northern sky, altering humans and animals alike with mysterious particles. When Amy turned 22, society collapsed, and the monsters took over. Amy fights both humans and beasts, as she struggles for survival while she hunts her sister’s killer.
Read the entire novel for free!
Wattpad
Wattpad, which calls itself the world’s “most-loved social storytelling platform”, has tons of free content at your fingertips. Many writers get deals with big publishing houses after publishing here, which means you might find the next huge sci-fi bestseller for free before it hits the mainstream. Like Bookbub, Wattpad will curate a reading list based on your reading interests, so once your account is made, you can start reading instantly. Just type in “free” and your genre of choice to bring up totally free novels.
Dangerous Tension by L.V. Lloyd: In this LGBTQ+ sci-fi romance, Matthews is a space captain who has kept his sexuality a secret. But what happens when his crew finds out? Is Lieutenant Kent also hiding his queer identity? Follow the story of Matthews as he fears what will happen if he comes out to his crewmates.
Expiration Date (Books 1 and 2) by Mikaela Bender: The Society knows when everyone is going to die, and it’s imprinted on everyone’s arms at birth. But what happens when you live past your expiration date?
A 2016 winner of The Wattys, this series has now been optioned as a digital pilot for the SYFY channel, so this one is a must-read.
Smashwords
This is another great self-publishing platform for indie authors, which means you as the reader will have hundreds of books at your fingertips, many for free! To read free sci-fi ebooks online, simply make a free account by answering a few quick questions, and you’re ready to read. Smashwords makes it very easy to find bargain books with their helpful search tool right at the top of the screen. Just select “free” to find all the free ebooks they offer, and narrow down by genre with the menu on the left of the screen to find your perfect sci-fi read.
Fallen Star by Richard Turner: After an unidentified aircraft goes down in Alaska, a newly formed team of civilians and military personnel are sent to investigate. But as the search for the UFO gets underway, things turn deadly, and no one is sure who they can trust.
The Betwixt (Book 1) by Odette C. Bell: This space opera follows a diner waitress as she sets out to discover her true origin. Her adventure brings her face-to-face with her biggest enemies, takes her to the edge of the galaxy, and into the arms of handsome but stern Commander Cole.
Open Library
If you’re wondering where to read free sci-fi books online, Open Library is the answer. This site is an open, editable library catalog whose mission is to build a webpage for every book ever published. Open Library boasts over 1 million titles (and counting!), so you’ll never be at a loss for something to read. Here you can find iconic bestsellers, indie novels, audiobooks, and even textbooks after you make a free account. And since it’s a library, you do have to borrow the titles, which means some of the more popular books will have a waiting list. Browse by subject to find your next perfect science fiction read. Bonus: both of the following picks also have film adaptations!
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: One of the most iconic dystopian novels ever written, this novel speculates a future in which books are banned, and “firemen” are ordered to burn any books that are found.
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick: Another iconic dystopia, this 1970s sci-fi classic (which is semi-autobiographical) is set in Orange County, CA in June of 1994. Dick takes drug addiction to the sci-fi realm, where an addict, Jerry Fabin, believes he is infected with biting bugs, and the belief spreads to his friends, who are also addicts.
Author Bio:- Heather R. Parker is a freelance writer, editor, and published poet from Georgia. She works as a writer and editor for the self-publishing platform Fictionate.me. Her work has been published by Nightingale & Sparrow Magazine, Goats Milk Magazine, Analog Submissions Press, Friday Flash Fiction, Medium, and others. Heather lives in Georgia with her husband, son, and a menagerie of pets. In her spare time, you can find her doing yoga, taking long walks in the woods, birdwatching, or picking flowers in sun-dappled meadows. You can follow Heather’s writing on Instagram, Facebook ,and Fictionate.Me.
