A good book can do extraordinary things. There’s an intimacy in a book that you don’t get to experience with other media. It’s escapism at its finest. Science fiction novels give readers the chance to escape reality and enter a world beyond their own. Maybe it’s a journey to space or to a dystopian future. Wherever it takes you, if they’re good, the stories stick with you.

Over the past 20 years, the sci-fi genre has been booming. Some of the greatest and most impactful novels have been released during that span, some of which have been adapted for the screen, even launching a franchise into the stratosphere. But the bibliophiles found them first. The 13 titles on this list are extraordinary. They’ve scared us about what the future could look like under the wrong hands and given us optimism about the good people who would sacrifice their lives for the betterment of humanity. What they all have in common is that they are rooted in science. How many have you read?

13

‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins

Image via Scholastic

There is no new science fiction franchise that has taken over the world quite like The Hunger Games. And it all started as a book by Suzanne Collins. The dystopian young adult novel set in Panem follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen from District 12. After her younger sister is selected for the games, Katniss bravely volunteers to take her place. Thrust into an arena alongside 23 other tributes, she must rely on her wilderness survival skills, hunting abilities, and wits to survive. Ultimately, the competition forces Katniss to navigate a deadly love triangle and make critical choices between her own survival and her morality. Blending high-tech, speculative elements with a sharp, blistering critique of authoritarianism, extreme wealth gaps, and modern media manipulation, The Hunger Games reshaped the genre while launching a franchise.

The first novel was inspired by Collins’ channel-surfing, seeing footage of the Iraq War alongside reality television. The two stark images resulted in an adrenaline-pumping survival story, with a unique commentary on war and celebrity. With relentless pacing through the lens of a relatable protagonist, The Hunger Games tackled dark themes in an accessible manner. To make them resonate, having imperfect characters allows the reader to see the perspectives more fully. Katniss is not your typical, flawless hero. She is fiercely protective, fiercely pragmatic, and occasionally flawed, making her authentic and someone like those readers. She’s a teenager forced to take on adult burdens. With a classic foundation, Collins masterfully adapted ancient mythological tropes, specifically the Greek myth of Theseus and the Roman gladiator games, into a modern, futuristic setting.

The Hunger Games is an important book, but it’s become much bigger than the story on the page. The first novel is part of a bigger franchise that has since been adapted into a massive cinematic universe. The original trilogy, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth, launched them into superstardom as the blockbusters got butts to cinema seats. It’s also expanded into prequels, with the latest film dropping this fall. The Hunger Games challenged society by giving young readers and moviegoers reason to question their own society, inviting political resistance in the process. As one of the biggest pop culture events of the century, The Hunger Games remains an influential piece of literature.

12

‘Project Hail Mary’ by Andy Weir

Image viaa Ballantine Books

In the year 2026, the biggest sci-fi film is none other than Project Hail Mary. Of course, the cinematic event is an adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel. The story follows Ryland Grace, a former science teacher turned reluctant astronaut. He wakes up alone on a spaceship, light-years from Earth, with amnesia, tasked with a last-chance mission to save humanity from an alien microorganism consuming the sun. A thrilling example of hard science fiction, Project Hail Mary brings a fast-paced novel that’s filled with heart, charm, and optimism through the power of perseverance. And the heart is a tale of companionship. Now that the book has a face with the Ryan Gosling-led film, it’s become an even more beloved novel.

Weir breaks down complex, real-world physics and engineering concepts into easily digestible terms, making readers feel as if they’re working alongside Grace. But Project Hail Mary is a dual narrative in which an amnesic protagonist solves complex, life-or-death physics and biology puzzles to save Earth, all while forming an incredibly heartwarming friendship with an alien. That’s the true core of the story. Because the two characters speak completely different languages and come from vastly different worlds, they miraculously bridge the communication gap through teamwork and scientific reasoning. The narrative unravels brilliantly through alternating flashbacks and real-time tension, keeping readers hooked from page one. Weir continued to cement himself as the sci-fi writer of the century. ​​​​​​​

11

‘Blindsight’ by Peter Watts

Image via Tor Publishing Group

Published in 2006, we have Peter Watts’ sci-fi novel Blindsight. The chilling thriller hooks with the horrifying premise: consciousness is not a prerequisite for intelligence, and it might actually be an evolutionary disadvantage. Blindsight tells the story of the crew of Theseus on a deep-space mission who discover that the alien species they are trying to communicate with is incredibly smart but completely devoid of self-awareness or sentience. A bleak drama that rivals Ridley Scott’s Alien, in which the monster is a profound philosophical concept, Blindsight offers a terrifying, rigorously researched deconstruction of the “hard problem” of consciousness.

Blindsight pushes the boundaries by causing the reader to ponder whether true, hyper-advanced intelligence might not actually require sentience or self-awareness to exist. The alien species, the Scramblers, encountered by humanity are brilliant, rapidly adapting, and technologically superior. By presenting them as emotionless, it presents the theory that human consciousness might be an evolutionary flaw. To help this theory, the crew is not presented as heroic explorers but as a modified, transhuman crew specifically engineered to be efficient rather than empathetic. Sometimes cerebral thrillers are equally gripping as epic space operas. It’s a subversive novel whose strict adherence to hard science sets it apart in the genre.​​​​​​​

10

‘Leviathan Wakes’ by James S.A. Corey

Image via Orbit Books

Under the pen name James S.A. Corey, American writers Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck wrote Leviathan Wakes, the first book in the Expanse series. The epic space opera follows idealistic ship officer Jim Holden and cynical detective Joe Miller as they uncover a vast, solar-system-wide conspiracy. As political tensions between Earth, Mars, and the asteroid belt threaten to spark a catastrophic war, the two must navigate corporate greed and alien technology. Revitalizing the subgenre, Leviathan Wakes rooted futuristic space travel in realistic physics while seamlessly blending a noir detective mystery with an existential alien thriller and a sociopolitical thriller.

Leviathan Wakes is the pinnacle of 21st-century sci-fi thrillers. The story is grounded in our solar system, which allows the political discourse to center around how gravity and environmental scarcity actually shape human biology and culture. Evolving from a tabletop RPG campaign, Leviathan Wakes’ narrative inherently featured dynamic, character-driven energy and strong writing that was incredibly engaging and easy to consume. Leviathan Wakes launched a nine-part series on a cinematic scale. Of course, it was ripe for adaptation. Leviathan Wakes served as the blueprint for the first season and a half of the hit Syfy and Prime Video series The Expanse, which ran for six triumphant seasons. Leviathan Wakes and The Expanse series remain the most thrilling new space opera.

9

‘Dark Matter’ by Blake Crouch

Image via Crown Publishing Group

Locking in on the parallel universe narrative is the sci-fi thriller Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. First published in 2016, the novel tells the tale of Jason Dessen, a Chicago physics professor leading a quiet family life, who is abducted by an alternate version of himself. Thrown into a multiverse, Jason must navigate infinite alternate realities using a quantum “box” to find his way home and defeat the alternate version of himself threatening his family. Through a brilliant blend of accessible quantum physics and relentless, fast-paced action, Crouch grounds the multiverse concept in a way that feels plausible to everyday readers without bogging the narrative down with complicated chaos.

At its core, Dark Matter is a very relatable human story. The story asks, “Are you happy with your life?” A narrative about the paths not taken gives the multiverse device credibility. Crouch uses them to literally manifest the protagonist’s regrets, forcing him to navigate realities based on the different choices he could have made. Dark Matter operates as a universal character study and meditation on love. This is a man who will go to the end of the timelines to get back to his wife and family. With a mirror-image antagonist, Dark Matter brings compelling psychological conflict. Dark Matter is such a fascinating novel; it was ripe for a series. Joel Edgerton plays Jason in the Apple TV+ adaptation, which returns this August. ​​​​​​​

8

‘Station Eleven’ by Emily St. John Mandel

Image via HarperCollins

Upon the release of Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, post-apocalyptic stories were reimagined once again. Gone was a bleak world of endless violence. Station Eleven provided a melancholic look at human resilience. Set in the Great Lakes region before and after a pandemic, Station Eleven follows a nomadic group of actors and musicians, the Traveling Symphony, as they navigate the remnants of civilization 20 years after a devastating swine flu pandemic wipes out 99% of the human population. Jumping between the early days of the collapse and two decades into the future, Station Eleven explores themes of community, longing, and the idea that art and humor are just as vital to human survival as food and shelter.

A beautifully written book, Station Eleven serves as a reminder that it’s human connection that sustains us during catastrophic events. It resonates because of the characters Mandel crafts. They are deeply complex, flawed, and sympathetic. From the tough, fiercely protective Kirsten Raymonde to Miranda Carroll, the brilliant artist who created the Station Eleven graphic novels, each character brings a special color that, when woven together, makes a beautiful tapestry. Station Eleven provided an exquisite canvas perfect for a series. HBO adapted the novel into a ten-part drama starring Mackenzie Davis as Kristen and Himesh Patel as Jeevan Chaudhary. ​​​​​​​

7

‘All Systems Red’ by Martha Wells

Image by Tor.com

Now, it’s time for a groundbreaking cyborg. In All Systems Red, the first novel in Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries series, a self-aware, artificial security android who calls itself MurderBot hacks its own control module so it can secretly ignore its duties and binge-watch soap operas. Its quiet life is interrupted when its assigned team of scientists faces deadly sabotage from a rival corporation. Now, the android must protect its human clients to uncover the truth. The highly acclaimed first installment successfully blends action and social commentary with sharp, witty humor through a unique approach to artificial intelligence. Pioneering the novella as an equally important entry in the publishing world, All Systems Red launched a franchise that may be widely underappreciated, yet firmly among the best.

All Systems Red was the recipient of both the Nebula Award for Best Novella and the Alex Award. A reason why could be the remarkable protagonist. MurderBot is highly relatable. Who doesn’t want to binge their favorite stories? Rather than depicting a machine trying to conquer humanity, this character serves as a vessel to explore the complexities of sentience, trauma, and the search for identity under oppressive corporate systems. All Systems Red strips away heavy exposition in exchange for a fast-paced adventure. At a swift 144 pages, All Systems Red begins your addiction to The Murderbot Diaries, which you’ll binge-read. Then, you can dive right into the Apple TV series starring Alexander Skarsgård as the titular character. There truly isn’t a better actor for the part. ​​​​​​​

6

‘Children of Time’ by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Image via Tor UK

Revitalizing the subgenre of speculative evolution came the 2016 Arthur C. Clarke Award for best science fiction novel, British author Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time. The first of four in the series, with the latest arriving this year, Children of Time tells the story of two civilizations on a collision course: the last remnants of humanity fleeing a dying Earth, and a rapidly evolving society of giant, highly intelligent spiders on a terraformed exoplanet. A novel of two parallel strands, Children of Time is a wonderfully original take on non-human intelligence and evolutionary biology. Through its intelligent exploration of a civilization built on arachnid physiology and social structures rather than what human ones might look like, Children of Time masterfully reinvents first contact.

Children of Time has widely been seen as a defining novel of the last two decades because of its unparalleled, truly alien world-building. Tchaikovsky explores every facet of their biology, multi-generational memory, and vibration-based communication. Through its epic scale and generational narratives, Children of Time stands out for the way it tackles the accelerated biological and societal evolution of non-human intelligence. While the human chapters can occasionally feel a bit dry comparatively, Tchaikovsky makes these spiders broadly compelling. Though no new news has been revealed, a Children of Time film is said to be in the works. ​​​​​​​

5

‘Wool Omnibus’ by Hugh Howey

Image via Booktrack

If you have an Apple TV subscription, the title of Hugh Howey‘s novel may not sound familiar, but if I tell you it’s part of the Silo series, it’ll immediately click. A cornerstone of modern dystopian sci-fi, Wool Omnibus is a post-apocalyptic tale where the last 10,000 humans live in a massive 144-floor underground silo. The outside world is toxic, and anyone who expresses a desire to go outside is sent to their death to “clean” the external camera sensors. The story focuses on the silo’s leadership as they deal with the heavy consequences of residents asking “to go outside.” Meanwhile, Juliette, a gritty, lower-level mechanic who is promoted to sheriff, begins investigating the suspicious death of her predecessor. She soon uncovers a massive dark conspiracy about who built the silo, why it was constructed, and the deadly truth about the world above.

An utterly gripping, intricate drama, it doles out the mysteries of the silo through a fascinating exploration of class struggle, authoritarian control, and the lengths to which power will go to maintain the status quo. Howey revolutionized modern sci-fi publishing by proving the immense potential of online self-publishing. Originally published as a serialized series of short novellas, Wool Omnibus provided an instant hook that led to an addictive read. Howey’s claustrophobic immersive world-building is unmatched. The pacing and emotional depth are so strong that it’s no wonder it translated so effortlessly into series form. Now in its third hit series, the Apple TV series starring Rebecca Ferguson brilliantly captures Howey’s world in a visceral manner. ​​​​​​​

4

‘Annihilation’ by Jeff VanderMeer

Image via Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Revitalizing the “New Weird” subgenre of science fiction comes Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation. The first book in the Southern Reach Series, the thriller follows an unnamed biologist and three other women — an anthropologist, surveyor, and psychologist — on the 12th expedition into “Area X”. This mysterious, abandoned coastal region has caused past expeditions to end in mass suicides, violent betrayals, or fatal cancers. Framed as the biologist’s field journal, it’s revealed that she joined the mission to uncover what happened to her husband, who was part of the doomed 11th expedition. The team encounters bizarre phenomena, including biological texts written in spores on the walls by a mysterious creature she names “the Crawler.” As the expedition progresses, the team unravels due to paranoia, the psychologist’s mind-control hypnosis, and unsettling ecological transformations. Blending psychological horror and weird fiction, Annihilation explores the limits of human comprehension.

Annihilation challenged traditional narrative tools by demonstrating how empirical science and reason fail when trying to understand phenomena. Rather than tackle alien tropes, VanderMeer presents the threat as an unknowable, mutating biome. By keeping it biological and environmental, the ecological dread thrives on its own ambiguities. Told entirely from a first-person perspective, the narrative engulfs readers in the biologist’s emotional detachment and intense obsession with the landscape. It’s through her narration that the sprawling atmosphere is devised. A provocative concept with page-turning suspense, the mystery is the plot. In 2018, a film adaptation starring Natalie Portman came to fruition and was as good as, if not better than,the novel. ​​​​​​​

Rosie O’Donnell claimed Michelle Trachtenberg was in “pretty bad shape” months before her tragic death.

“In the last few years, when she was in pretty bad shape, she would call me and we would talk. I also called her mother to find out what was going on, and her mother told me what was happening, and how long it had been happening,” O’Donnell, 64, shared in a new interview with Variety published on Thursday, July 16. “We were supposed to see each other three or four times, and she just never showed up — sometimes at restaurants, other times at my house where we’d had someone prepare the whole meal.”

According to O’Donnell — who shared the screen with Trachtenberg in the 1996 movie Harriet the Spy — her former costar and friend was “not in good shape” but “didn’t think that she would die.”

“With most people suffering from addiction, their loved ones think that they’ll survive it, but you can die from your addiction to drugs or alcohol, and it happens too often that it must be taken seriously,” she argued. “I wish I could have done more. I tried to help her as much as I could, but she was inaccessible toward the end, and it was tragic.”

Related: Michelle Trachtenberg Was ‘Thrown’ Health ‘Curveballs’ Before Death

On the morning of February 26, Michelle Trachtenberg was found unconscious and unresponsive at her midtown NYC apartment by her mom, Lana. She was just 39 years old. “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” the beloved star’s rep told Us Weekly. As news of her untimely death spread, […]

In February 2025, Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her Midtown West Side apartment in New York City.

The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that her sudden death at the age of 39 was a result of complications of diabetes mellitus. According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetes mellitus refers to a “group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar” a.k.a. glucose.

A source previously told Us that Trachtenberg’s health had been deteriorating for some time.

According to O’Donnell, Trachtenberg’s situation reminded her of Whitney Houston, who died in February 2012 at the age of 48 after being found unresponsive in her hotel room.

“Everyone knew what was going on, but no one was willing to say something, and often because the people that are closest to you are employed by you when you’re that big of an entity, and they don’t want to lose their job or their money,” O’Donnell claimed. “With Whitney, I did say that to her people when she didn’t show up [to The Rosie O’Donnell Show] for Cinderella. It was supposed to be a whole hour with her and Brandy, and she didn’t show up just a few minutes before the show went live. I said to them after the show, ‘This is her legacy, and if she dies it’s on your watch.’”

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Related: Michelle Trachtenberg‘s Boyfriend Shares 1st Comment After Her Death

Jay Cohen is reflecting on the support he’s received from his inner circle after the death of girlfriend Michelle Trachtenberg. Cohen shared his first comments about the late actress via Instagram on Wednesday, July 9, after marking a milestone anniversary for his health. When asked if he could “talk” about Trachtenberg, Cohen replied, “One day […]

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In her candid interview with Variety, O’Donnell acknowledged that she too has a daughter struggling with addiction. It’s an illness that many families around the world are affected by.

“It’s very serious and there are millions of families in America going through the same thing,” she added.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Anyone who is a Nordstrom fan knows how steep discounts can get during its Anniversary Sale. During the event, you’ll find fashion markdowns on summer clothes from the biggest brands in the industry, and our sights are currently set on these early dress deals.

Although Nordstrom card members get first pick with exclusive deals from now until July 17, you don’t have to wait with the masses to shop the sale. Read: we found so many chic, flattering dress deals ahead of the official sale launch on July 18, up to 70% off. We’re actually shocked by how stylish and elevated these pieces are, and how well they pair with everything from classic sandals to trendy kitten heels. Plus, our top picks are perfect for every occasion under the sun, including beach getaways, wedding ceremonies and more. See our favorites from Free People, Steve Madden, Lulus, Astr the Label and more.

13 Flattering Summer Dress Deals on Nordstrom

1. Our Favorite: The versatility featured here is what gives this ruffle mini dress its staying power. You can wear it with slip-on sandals and a cardigan for a low-key dinner or elevate it with statement jewelry and a chunky heel for a more formal date night — was $80, now $30!

2. Everyday Ease: Designed with an easy-going silhouette, sweet flutter sleeves and an adjustable tie-waist belt, this Caslon midi dress is one you’ll reach for constantly. Oh, and the cotton eyelet fabric makes it super breathable — was $129, now $65!

3. Game Changer: Whoever said you can’t wear denim in the summer has never seen this puffed-sleeve mini dress. The lightweight denim cotton fabric feels comfortable on hot days. We also can’t get over the smocked A-line silhouette that really shows off curves — was $109, now $49!

4. Sporty-Chic: Athletic dresses are a summer must-have, and this sleek little number is impressively cheap (for now). Yep, it’s 70% off. The moisture-wicking fabric and adjustable halter straps will ensure all-day comfort — was $110, now $33!

5. Coastal Cutie: We guarantee that every Nantucket rich mom has a shirtdress like this pinstripe midi in her closet. You can steal the look with this classy button-up pick that looks like it costs five times as much — was $129, now $65!

6. Cottagecore Style: The peasant-inspired bodice, loose skirt and puffed sleeves make Bp.’s midi dress feel like something you’d wear in the French countryside. And because the airy find is made with 100% cotton, you won’t mind frolicking outside, either — was $70, now $35!

7. Expensive-Looking: Clothing pieces made with linen are usually out of our price range, but not this Nordstrom number. The linen-blend makeup is more affordable and gives you a bit of stretch, which we love — was $129, now $65!

8. Wedding Guest Attire: Black tie dress codes call for something a little more formal, and this strapless gown from Lulus hits the mark. The tiered, ruffle skirt cascades down to the floor, giving you that statement look. Psst, it also hides lumps and bumps effortlessly — was $138, now $55!

9. Red Hot: If you want all eyes on you, we recommend grabbing this bright red midi dress STAT. It’s bold in color but also has a way of boosting confidence, thanks to the loose skirt and sweetheart neckline — was $99, now $60!

10. Going Viral: We’ve been seeing all the cool girls wear basque-waist dresses, and it’s easy to see why. The design naturally elongates the frame and creates an hourglass silhouette that looks mega flattering. Tie that in with the sweet bow and color-blocking accents, and we’re swooning — was $119, now $48!

11. Giddy-Up: The country concert aesthetic is trending right now, but you don’t need to go full ‘cowboy’ for the look. This Steve Madden dress feels on point when styled with a cowboy hat, boots and a denim jacket. Plus, you can wear it as a classic sundress after the event — was $129, now $58!

12. Anything But Basic: Whether you wear this Free People dress to a picnic, beach or brunch, you’ll look like the coolest girl in the room. The one-shoulder design shows a bit of skin, and the smocked waist stretches for a comfortable fit — was $68, now $44!

13. No Brainer: Wayf’s maxi cocktail dress may look like a simple style, but just one look at the back, and you’ll be mesmerized. It has a low cowl back design that’s subtly sexy without showing too much — was $118, now $53!

Related: 13 Rich-Looking Sandals Secretly on Sale at Nordstrom

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale hasn’t even kicked off yet; however, with a little digging, we uncovered several rich-looking sandals on sale right this second. Nordstrom cardholders can preview the long-awaited sale now through July 17 before it officially launches to the masses on July 18, but why wait when you can score these sandal deals now! […]

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The Western genre had its time in the limelight, dominating the early era of Hollywood with its gritty and hard-boiled style alongside a sense of unbridled freedom. However, it has begun to pick up steam again, with many fans enjoying new and old Western shows, such as Yellowstone. But because the genre is so old, many of the series suffer from distinct flaws; even now, the genre has many disappointments.

On the other hand, there are a decent number of critically acclaimed Westerns that achieve the impossible and remain perfect from start to finish. This list will highlight the Western TV shows that have no flaws based on consistency, originality, influence, pacing, writing, acting, memorability, and overall quality. Fans yearn for a time of lawlessness, manliness, freedom, and gritty action, which is exactly what these shows possess.

10

‘Gunsmoke’ (1955–1975)

Image via CBS

This list includes a variety of Western shows, new and old, and the oldest featured is Gunsmoke, coming out in the mid-1950s. The Marshal, Matt Dillon (James Arness), is stationed in Dodge City, Kansas, and is tasked with protecting the small town from anything that may cause it trouble, from cattle rustlers to fiendish outlaws.

A lot of flawless Westerns are rather short, mainly because it is nearly impossible to remain perfect with over 20 seasons. While Gunsmoke is that long and has some lows, it is surprisingly consistent throughout the two decades it was on air. Gunsmoke had to be doing something right for it to go on that long, and its main feat was creating the template for serialized Westerns and shifting the genre from child-friendly to mature adult-oriented content.

9

‘1883’ (2021–2022)

Image via Paramount+

The Yellowstone franchise, also known as the Duttonverse, is arguably the most popular Western franchise right now, and while they have a lot of spin-offs, none can be considered perfect except for 1883. This limited series prequel follows the early generation of the Dutton family who travel from Texas to find a new home in Oregon, facing hardships and danger along the way.

By stripping away the romanticized lens of the time period, 1883 becomes a gritty and grounded Western that depicts the Oregon Trail as a grueling trek. This show is surprisingly haunting, overshadowed by its tragic tone that doesn’t get in the way of incredible action and dramatic moments that show why 1883 is the best Yellowstone spin-off.

8

‘The Wild Wild West’ (1965–1969)

Image via CBS

While all genres are prone to evolving, Westerns tend to stay true to the classics, but some shows, such as The Wild Wild West, decide to experiment. James West (Robert Conrad) and Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) are two Secret Service agents who must travel the West in a specialized train in order to protect the president from outlaws, mad scientists, and any other potential danger.

By mixing the Western and spy genres, The Wild Wild West creates something entirely new and different, almost being steampunk-esque, which is one of the earliest examples of it. With pure pulp entertainment, The Wild Wild West is one of the most inventive Westerns, using its distinct blend to spice up the genre with its high-tech action and Western style.

7

‘The English’ (2022)

Image via Prime Video

Some shows on this list are old, like Gunsmoke, but it also features some modern classics, like the newest show on here, The English. Cornelia Locke (Emily Blunt), an Englishwoman, arrives on the Western Frontier with one goal in mind: to kill those who murdered her son. To do this, she teams up with a Pawnee ex-cavalry scout to travel the badlands.

As the newest Western on this list, The English has already established itself as an essential Western for its classic revenge story. Westerns often romanticize the era and conveniently dance around the problems with it, but The English handles the Native American displacement with grace and authenticity. Visually stunning, this poetic and underrated Western show is a flawless masterpiece that more fans need to watch.

6

‘Hell on Wheels’ (2011–2016)

Image via AMC

Set after the events of the Civil War, Hell on Wheels follows a former Confederate soldier, Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount), as he searches for the killer of his wife. This adventure of his takes him to the titular mobile encampment, which he travels with on his long journey of revenge.

Perhaps one of the most underrated Western TV shows, Hell on Wheels deserves more credit for being a must-watch drama during a time with few classics. It has a unique view on the era, focusing on the industrialization of the Wild West, which it uses to showcase the brutal, racial, and corrupt time period in all of its shame and capitalism.

5

‘Lonesome Dove’ (1989)

Image via CBS

Miniseries are hit or miss for Westerns, but when done right, they are without flaw, and one such example is Lonesome Dove. This story is about two former aging Texas rangers who decide to put their quiet and peaceful retired lives in Texas behind them in favor of one last thrill of adrenaline as they travel to Montana.

Many consider it the best Western miniseries of all time, and while this list has one higher than Lonesome Dove, it is exceptionally profound. Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones put up career-defining performances, which help portray the character study about aging, friendship, and regret.

4

‘Justified’ (2010–2015)

Image via FX

Timothy Olyphant is an incredible Western actor in some of the best shows the genre has to offer, including Justified, where he is one of the main stars alongside Walton Goggins. When a lawman who acts like a Wild West gunslinger is reassigned to his childhood town, he is reunited with an old friend in the worst possible way when he learns that he has turned to a life of crime.

A lot of Westerns have moving parts, but Justified solely relies on its protagonist and antagonist dynamic, which is one of the most intriguing in all of television. Their mirrored arcs develop with each other, showcasing phenomenal character development that drives the story into suspenseful moments and action-oriented shootouts that prove Justified is a modern Western masterpiece.

3

‘Have Gun – Will Travel’ (1957–1963)

Image via CBS

Gunsmoke may be the oldest and longest-running Western show on this list, but Have Gun – Will Travel is not too far behind. Paladin (Richard Boone) may be a highly educated and sophisticated man who lives in a luxurious hotel, but he is a hired gun who will take on any job that takes him across the West.

As an older show, Have Gun – Will Travel is a rather underrated Western that is still worth a watch because of its classic style. Unlike most Western heroes who were shoot-first types, Paladin was a tactical and sophisticated character who used his intellect and negotiation. With a distinct and memorable protagonist, each episode was a unique Western masterpiece with moral ambiguity.

2

‘Godless’ (2017)

There are a handful of Western miniseries on this list, but none are as good or acclaimed as Godless. Set in a New Mexico mining town, a tragic accident kills almost all the men, leaving the population mostly women. However, when a daunting outlaw comes to the town to find his protégé who is hiding there, it is up to the women to protect the village themselves.

It may only be seven episodes, but it is because of that tight pace that there are no flaws in Godless. By the end of the show, fans will wish there were dozens more seasons, but the way it trimmed unnecessary filler is why it is paced so well. Godless is a fresh new take on an old genre, but it still maintains the classic grit and tension fans love, with the ending culminating in one of the best shootouts in the Western genre.

1

‘Deadwood’ (2004–2006)

Image via HBO

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This list features some of the best Westerns of all time, but the greatest is, hands down, Deadwood, an HBO masterpiece that is the peak of Western. The titular settlement started as a simple encampment, but the show chronicles its life as it evolves into a fully-fledged town. But going from a lawless, violent mining town to a recognized city takes blood, sweat, and tears.

Renowned for having some of the best dialogue in television history, Deadwood is almost Shakespearean in its writing, delivering a masterful script that is among the best in Hollywood. Built upon the character foils in the show, the dynamics and growing relationships and the tension that comes with it, it is a masterful display and truly riveting. Deadwood is a prestigious Western that many consider to be one of the best TV shows of all time, easily making it a Western with no flaws from start to finish.

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Deadwood

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Release Date

2004 – 2006-00-00

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Network

HBO Max

Showrunner

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David Milch

Writers

David Milch

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