Top Books 2024 Historical Fiction. Butler, academic and chair of the judges, talks us through the finalists for the title of sci fi novel of the year. Step into the past through the lens of today with our top picks for historical fiction books in 2024.

The days are long, but this summer’s bounty of historical fiction will remind you that the years are short. I also have my eye on titles like the phoenix crown by kate quinn and janie chang, and potentially the great divide by cristina henríquez.