Gothic science fiction, known as space goth, includes Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde." This horror sub-genre combines mystery, terror, and the supernatural with science, mutation, and technical development that takes place too far over the edge. 

Modern authors in this genre write about many issues of gender, such as radiation from a nuclear explosion and also uncertainties associated with technological change. Gothic science fiction combines horror, scientific discovery, and social cores.

Dive into eight space goth novels that will chill and thrill you.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley's book has fascinated readers for generations. The account of Victor Frankenstein being crafted monstrously explores mysterious fears, provoking thrilling horror. It has become a fundamental work in the gothic novel genre. The book has achieved enduring success since its inception as a whimsical idea among literary peers. 

The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss

The novel follows Mary Jekyll, who, in the pursuit of solving gruesome murders and uncovering her father's mysterious past, discovers a group of women with terrifying origins. With the help of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary befriends these women, created through experimentation. Together, they face a secret society of immoral scientists seeking to triumph over the horrors of their past. 

Dawn by Octavia Butler

Upon awakening aboard the Oankali spaceship, Lilith discovers the seemingly benevolent aliens saved humanity from nuclear devastation, healing Earth and enhancing human strength. Now, the Oankali people want Lilith to lead her people back, revealing a complex exploration of gender and race in a post-apocalyptic world undergoing profound change. 

A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock

In the secluded environment of a Victorian botanical garden, gentlemen Simon and Gregor pursue unconventional interests. Gregor's fascination with intelligent plant life leads him to create Chloe, a plant-beast, by merging exotic fungi and a deceased corpse. As the experiment flourishes, the cost of secrecy takes its toll, unraveling a tale of family, fungus, and revenge in this witty and warm queer horror narrative. 

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Leech by Hiron Ennes

In a remote chateau in the far north, the Interprovincial Medical Institute, a body-replacing entity, faces a mystery as its doctor investigates the institute's loss of track on one of its bodies. Set in a dark and secretive castle, a parasitic competitor emerges, sparking a war within the body and foreboding humanity's loss. 

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

In the Yucatán, Dr. Moreau's guarded daughter Carlota meets the tragic overseer Montgomery Laughton. Dr. Moreau conducts experiments funded by the Lizaldes, unleashing hybrid monstrosities. The arrival of Eduardo Lizalde disrupts their balanced world, unveiling secrets and igniting passions in the jungle's sweltering heat. 

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

In Tamsyn Muir's book, Gideon, raised by stern nuns and surrounded by skeletons, seeks to escape servitude and fate as a reanimated corpse. The Emperor calls for necromancers, and Gideon, armed with a sword and irreverence, becomes entangled in a deadly trial alongside Harrowhark Nonagesimus, a powerful bone witch. Success means power and immortality, but failure spells doom for the Ninth House. 

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

In war-torn Baghdad, eccentric scavenger Hadi stitches together human body parts to create a corpse, hoping it will be officially recognized as people and be given a proper burial. When the corpse goes missing, a murderous monster emerges, feeding on human flesh. "Frankenstein in Baghdad," by Baghdad's acclaimed author, depicts the eerie, blackly humorous reality of contemporary Iraq through this unsettling tale.  

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