Semiosis: A Novel

Human survival hinges on an bizarre alliance in Semiosis, a character driven science fiction novel of first contact by debut author Sue Burke.

Esquire's Best Science Fiction Books of All Time

2019 Campbell Memorial Award Finalist
2019 Locus Finalist for Best Science Fiction Novel

Locus 2018 Recommended Reading List

New York Public Library—Best of 2018
Forbes—Best Science Fiction Books of 2019-2019
The Verge—Best of 2018
Thrillist—Best Books of 2018
Vulture—10 Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of 2018
Chicago Review of Books—The 10 Best Science Fiction Books of 2018
Texas Library Association—Lariat List Top Books for 2019


Colonists from Earth wanted the perfect home, but they’ll have to survive on the one they found. They don’t realize another life form watches...and waits...

Only mutual communication can forge an alliance with the planet's sentient species and prove that humans are more than tools.

Other Books by Sue Burke
Semiosis duology
Semiosis
Interference


Immunity Index
Dual Memory

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Published Mar 12, 2019

336 pages

Average rating: 7.18

11 RATINGS

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Social Science Fiction Book Club

Casual book club about the subgenre of science fiction that focuses on people. We read the books about technology's impact on humanity. Since 2019.

Community Reviews

Groundhogcat
Oct 24, 2025
10/10 stars
Humans travel to an alien word (Pax) to escape the strife and hell hole that is earth. In the process they discover that they to fit in with the environment and the need to communicate with others not like humans.

This is one of the few books I just did not want to put down. The story was so interesting and novel.

Lots of important ideas in this novel.

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