15 Science Fiction Author Websites That Are Out Of This World
We LOVE building websites for science fiction authors. It’s not just anyone who can create a new universe in which believable characters do daring and incredible things and push their readers’ imaginations to their limits. All too often the author website that goes along with their work is a horrible let-down though.
So this post is a bit of a tribute to science fiction authors in general as well as a showcase of some of the best science fiction author websites I was able to find online.
If you’re an author who wants to create an immersive online experience for your readers, grow your fan base, and sell more books through your website, reach out to us.
Disclaimer: Some of these sites below are my agency’s own creations so, of course, I’m biased in this regard. I wouldn’t honestly add them if I didn’t think they were excellent. A guy can love his own work though right?
Here are my Top 12 Science Fiction Author Websites:
Daniel Gibbs
Ok, I’m leading with a great one, and also one that my own agency created (disclaimer again), but if you only view one sci-fi author website, you should definitely check out this one.
Not a lot of author websites lead with full-screen video, and it’s definitely not necessary, but it definitely creates a “WOW” factor.
The whole emphasis of Daniel’s website is two-fold:
- world building on 25th-century steroids
- an electromagnetic call to action to join his author newsletter and author funnel
Let’s talk about the world-building aspect first…
We took Gibb’s various amazing creative assets like recruitment posters, ship models, star maps, and awesome visuals. We then created dedicated pages for each of these to live in an interactive online experience his fans can get seriously lost in.
He has an interactive star map page, interactive ship schematics pages, a very detailed timeline page, and even a full-blown universe encyclopedia which he’s still getting all the entries ready for!
Check that all out here: danielgibbsauthor.com
The second notable thing about this website is the strong call to action to join the mailing list and the author funnel journey…
At the top right of the menu is bright yellow is the “Join The Fight” button. This takes you to a gorgeous sign-up landing page which you kind of feel compelled to join if you’re a military sci-fi nut. There is also this same signup section on most pages of the website.
I know his signup rates have dramatically spiked to a whole new level since we launched this website for him.
Al Hess
This website plays into the retro theme in a way that catches the eye but doesn’t seem cliché or boring.
The colors are in your face and the neon sign elements only enhance this. The coming soon signs with the quirky text by the upcoming sections make the user intrigued to find out more.
Besides the neon signs, bright colors and curvy fonts, the website doesn’t have too much extra content. The most you’ll get are character drawings in the book sections which are still nice to look at.
James Maxwell
This is another one of my agency’s websites. James is both a fantasy and sci-fi author. His latest series crosses the boundaries of both.
We had a lot of fun creating this online extension of Maxwell’s world.
We again made a strong call to action to join his mailing list in the top right corner of the menu and on most of the site pages as well.
James is very much a reclusive author who likes to write and let his publisher do the heavy lifting marketing work. Understanding this we made his website mostly about showcasing his different series in an aesthetic and engaging way and giving him a solid home online for his many fans to enjoy.
We launched this website to coincide with the release of his latest trilogy which reached amazon top 2 best-selling for all science fiction and amazon top 6 for all fantasy! So we clearly did something right!
Blake Crouch
Blake Crouch’s website is a nice corner to get your fill on everything Blake.
His Books and TV pages are laid out nicely, making it easy to browse. It doesn’t go heavy on the sci-fi elements throughout the website, giving the content space to breathe.
But we did get distracted on the home page…the intro is simple yet so effective. You can drag your mouse across the moving connected dots and it will join to your mouse subtly. Once you realize what is happening with that design, you can’t help but move your mouse around the entire section.
It certainly fits the sci-fi vibe of the website.
Thomas Weaver
We may be biased on Thomas’ author website since we designed it, but you have to admit it ticks all the boxes!
It has an engaging intro video that really gives you a feel for the type of stories he tells. The fonts and colors represent the author’s brand well while also drawing the user in.
The design is sleek and professional without being boring!
Veronica Roth
Veronica has a slick, interesting, easy to navigate website. There is very little incentive to join her mailing list, but as a big-name author now on the big screen she probably doesn’t care too much about this I imagine.
I like how she’s given download material for the classroom to encourage discussion with teachers and librarians. This gives an opportunity for her works to be taken up as classroom discussion topics which is a clever marketing angle. Tackling complex issues in society is a core focus of many great sci-fi novels. I like that she’s taken the extra step to encourage her fans to go beyond only fiction.
Alastair Reynolds
Alastair’s website is genre-forward. The backgrounds will have users gravitating towards content (pun intended) and there’s quite a lot to see.
The red on black and white color scheme creates a sense of urgency that makes the user feel a bit uneasy but not in a bad way. It does have a news site feel but it kind of works for this genre.
We feel the navigation between the content could be more streamlined, but otherwise there’s lots to see and discover.
Peter Watts
You don’t get more out-of-the-box than this.
When browsing the website, you feel like you’re on a space expedition, discovering the new ways content is presented.
The page layouts in each section are as surprising as space itself, keeping you on your toes.
There are heaps of content to go through and will leave interested users satisfied.
Navigation is a journey in its own right with this website. But exploring space isn’t so simple, is it? So, we’ll give this one a pass.
Christopher Paolini
Paolino.net is actually the home of a family team of creatives that all work together to make this science fiction and fantasy brand come to life.
It opens up with their latest blog articles, many of which feature the latest releases and news about Christopher Paolini’s work.
I like how the website is mostly clean and simple and uses the book and product imagery to create interest and focus.
The website feels like a kind of concept or brand store, featuring all things Paolini. There is a whole section on art, a store where you can buy jewelry from the world, and just generally a very rich amount of supportive, world-building material.
Paolini also has a section for writers specifically. When you reach legendary status, others who would also like to be there want to know how you did it. The writers section gives back to the community that no doubt helped Chris achieve the success he now has.
Craig Alanson
Craig’s sci-fi author website is an engaging homebase for his books, paying homage to his most popular series
The website is designed to pull you into his world and make you never want to leave.
Our favorite elements of this website are the merch and Skipcoin page.
You can scroll through the merch which is displayed in large icons, and the neat thing about them is even if you aren’t a fan yet, they already look cool enough to own without the context of his books.
And when it comes to the Skipcoin page…don’t worry it’s not actual cryptocurrency (phew!).
It may come off as a bit distasteful to some because it does kind of feed into the trend that surrounded NFTs and cryptocurrencies, but it’s a nice little limited edition piece for fans.
There’s also some context on it on the page which makes you feel a part of this Exforce universe.
J.Z. York
Sometimes your book’s concepts are epic enough to carry the entire website’s theme. That’s what we did with JZ York’s website!
The intro video is super engaging and striking! The rest of the website has a classic look that’s polished and content forward.
The yellows highlight the Pulse theme and the black in some banners echoes the sci-fi feel really well.
Amie Kaufman
Amie is another high contrast, good looking sci-fi author site.
I love her top header which very firmly roots the site in the science fiction genre.
I also like how the site makes use of a lot of white space. You don’t feel overwhelmed with content or information when you browse through it. The information is organized well and easy to find and consume.
She has some nice free offerings as well, like a podcast and a whole set of downloadable wallpapers.
I also really like how everything is very much geared towards appealing to a young adult sci-fi audience. Seems to me like she knows who she’s doing it for!
Marc Uwe Kling
This is a fun, almost vintage meets pop-art styled site.
A common design element is that things are leaning at weird angles. This breaks up the expected grid of most sites and keeps it interesting. It also fits his brand of “off-center” satire well.
I love the way the books section menu works on the Publications page. Again, using this off-center motif as the branding element. As you click on a different book, it highlights it and shows the blurb and info beneath.
Like many of these sites, the mailing list call to action could be stronger, but it’s overall a well build, interesting and good-looking website.
Austin Dragon
Here’s a website that’s as cool as the author’s name.
Austin’s website is on brand, atmospheric and just downright awesome to look at. And we’re not saying that just because we designed it!
The epic intro video grabs your attention immediately and sets the tempo for the rest of the website.
The futuristic theme is enhanced by the color scheme and the font style.
A website that is entertaining but still professional!
Colin Winnette
Home page is king with this sci-fi author website. Colin’s website has a strong opening with a background of his newest book sitting behind an enticing review.
The rest of the page follows suit with the theme. It may be not as easy to read but the code like text suits the genre well, making your visit to the website a unique experience.
We really like the Appearances section. It looks like you’re peeking into Colin’s diary to see when he’s coming out to an event.
Your Author Website
yoursciencefictionauthorwebsite.com
This post wouldn’t be truly complete without an opportunity for you to engage with us more deeply.
If you’d like us to make you a science fiction author website worthy of being included here, check out our author website design page. You can either make enquiry there or reach out to schedule a call with me directly.
Conclusion
I’ve attempted to show a range of approaches and styles of science fiction author websites to give you some ideas for your own website. If you’re looking for even more examples check out our article on fantasy author websites, and also our mega article on author websites in general.
Over to you dear reader…
- What did you think of my top sci-fi author website choices?
- Are there any sci-fi author websites you think should be on this list that aren’t?
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