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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFor October 2026, verified options range from an illustrated tour of imaginary plants to books on artificial intelligence, bog ecosystems, the Artemis II mission and Tyrannosaurus rex. The New Scientist roundup by Liz Else, published 1 October, spans many more subjects, but its complete title list is not available in the accessible excerpt. The titles below are therefore a verified selection, not a reconstruction or ranking of that roundup.
What the New Scientist October roundup covers
New Scientist’s introduction points to a broad mix of weighty subjects and lighter diversions. Its accessible summary mentions El Niño, the sources of future conflict, healthy eating, AI development, pregnancy loss, animal lives, family, childhood, why humans ask questions, mathematics and fictional botany. That gives a sense of the roundup’s range, but does not establish every book it includes.
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A verified New Scientist pick: Botanica Fantastica
Fictional plants, grounded in real botany
Botanica Fantastica, by New Scientist’s Alison Flood and illustrated by Emma Tudor-Bloch, explores botanical worlds imagined by science-fiction and fantasy writers. More than 100 illustrations accompany expert writing and historical images from Royal Botanic Gardens Kew experts, connecting invented plants and fungi to real botanical inspirations. Examples include nightlock from The Hunger Games, weirwood from A Song of Ice and Fire, Ents from The Lord of the Rings, redweed from The War of the Worlds, wheel trees from The Amber Spyglass and the Cordyceps fungus from The Last of Us. It is a distinctive choice for readers who enjoy both speculative fiction and natural history. Read New Scientist’s October 2026 roundup.
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Other science books listed for October 2026
These forthcoming-release examples were listed independently by Publishers Weekly or Barnes & Noble. They broaden the subject choices, but they are not presented as entries in the New Scientist roundup.
#1 Best Overall
| Book | Subject and approach | Listed release date | Listing source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The AGI Chronicles: The Inside Story of the Race to Create an Artificial Superintelligence by Kevin Roose | Follows Anthropic, Google DeepMind and OpenAI in efforts to develop machines that could surpass human capabilities in every domain. | 6 October 2026 | Publishers Weekly |
| Bogland: The Secret World That Defies Death and Protects Life by ecologist Merritt R. Turetsky | Explores boglands as habitats and places that sequester carbon. | 13 October 2026 | Publishers Weekly; Barnes & Noble |
| Earthrise: Inside Artemis II, the Groundbreaking Human Mission Into Deep Space by John Larsen and Jeremy Hansen | Focuses on the Artemis II mission and includes photographs. | 27 October 2026 | Barnes & Noble |
| Tyrant Lizard Queen: The Love, Life, and Terror of Earth’s Greatest Carnivore by Riley Black | A popular paleontology book about T. rex. | 27 October 2026 | Barnes & Noble |
These are dates shown in the cited listings, not guarantees of current availability. Publishing schedules, editions and regional release dates can change, so check the listing for the edition and market you intend to buy.
An award shortlist for a different kind of reading list
The Royal Society’s 2026 Trivedi Science Book Prize offers another judged selection, but it is not an October-release list. The Society says the prize celebrates popular-science writing from across the globe. Its shortlist was selected from 192 submissions published between 1 July 2025 and 30 September 2026.
Rank #2
- The Age of Alchemy by Kit Chapman
- Bad Influence by Deborah Cohen
- Despite it All by Fred Pearce
- Every Last Fish by Rose George
- Hidden Guests by Lise Barnéoud
- How to Change a Memory by Steve Ramirez
The shortlist is useful if you want a selection identified through an award process rather than a monthly roundup. Its publication window spans 15 months, so it should not be mistaken for a list of books released in October.
How to choose among these books
- For speculative fiction with a science connection: Botanica Fantastica pairs imagined flora with illustration, history and real botanical expertise.
- For AI and the technology race: Roose’s The AGI Chronicles follows three major AI labs, according to its Publishers Weekly preview.
- For ecology and climate: Turetsky’s Bogland centers on habitats and carbon sequestration.
- For spaceflight: Earthrise focuses on Artemis II and photographs.
- For prehistoric animals: Black’s Tyrant Lizard Queen takes T. rex as its subject.
- For an award-based shortlist: use the Royal Society books as a separate option, bearing in mind their broader eligibility period.
The descriptions and listings establish subjects and formats, not a comparative assessment of quality. They do not support ranking these books against one another.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- NORTON, Easy To Read
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Rank #4
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
