So last month I put out my first thread, asking for your memories of favourite books discovered in school. It ended up being a lively discussion!
This month, I wanted to ask about your thoughts and recommendations on the popular genre of science fiction and fantasy. My Sunday essay this week was all about the fantastic writer Ursula K. Le Guin, though I confessed that her genre of writing wasn’t my usual reading of choice. But it got me thinking: who are the other literary greats when it comes to writing in this genre? Do you have any recommendations for a sci-fi and fantasy beginner such as myself? I’d be especially curious if there are any other women writers out there that are rocking this genre - surely there must be?!
Although I haven’t read much in this genre, I have enjoyed a few magical realism novels and short stories (do they count as fantasy, I wonder…?) My favourites have been The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cakeand An Invisible Sign of My Ownby Aimee Bender (an amazing contemporary writer, if you haven’t yet discovered her work), and Alice Hoffman’s The Ice Queen which had a great concept. I also wrote an essay for The Short Story website a few years ago about magical realism in short fiction, which I’ll link below, in case this is a new genre to you.
I look forward, as ever, to hearing your suggestions and recommendations!
I don't know whether Kurt Vonnegut counts, but I love him in a way I love no other SF writer. The Sirens Of Titan is a good place to start. And there's an extraordinary YA writer called MT Anderson, although I'm not sure what makes him YA, particularly. He has only written one SF novel that I know of, FEED, which has become a modern classic of the genre. He has also written an amazing YA non-fiction book about Shostakovich's work during the siege of Stalingrad. He's got quite the range.
Thanks, Nick! I have never read Vonnegut, though have been recommended him before; I know he is a lot of people's favourite author. The YA are a good tip, as sometimes I think it's easier to get into a genre through those. I've just finished watching the two 'Shadow and Bone' series' which are brilliant YA fantasy novels.
“Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang” by Kate Wilhelm is a 1970s novel about cloning, individuality, and humanity.
Also on similar themes, but tonally very different and asking some different questions, would be Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go.”
Connie Wills’ “Doomsday Book” is about time traveling historians who get stuck in the Black Death.
For fantasy, and also a more recent book, the “Jade City” trilogy by Fonda Lee is excellent. It’s really a smart, nuanced story about colonialism and diaspora, wrapped up in a story of a powerful magic wielding family as they try to defend their territory.
Thanks, Catherine! These all sound like great recommendations :) I especially like the sound of the Wilhelm book, just from the title alone! Also, the concept sounds really intriguing. My teenager would like the Connie Willis one, as they are really into history, so will pass that one on!
I would highly recommend anything by Becky Chambers - I am not generally a sci-fi fan but absolutely loved her books. They’re not “traditional sci-fi”, in my opinion, because they’re not super plotty, more just general fiction set on different planets? Hard to describe but I adore everything I’ve read by her.
Ursula K. Le Guin is brilliant in so many ways. Her science fiction is about exploring the human condition, not about rockets and space battles. It's not so well known that she started out writing about an imaginary but entirely realistic country (Orsinia) -- anyone who is actively allergic to magic in books should definitely read her beautiful novel Malafrena. It took me a long time to read those Orsinian stories, as I was a die-hard fantasy reader as a child and wanted more dragons and wizards, not central European politics, but I can appreciate them now.
I also recommend Susanna Clarke -- Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, or Piranesi if you're not up for a doorstopper.
Thank you for your considered comments, Lory. I love ‘anyone who is actively allergic to magic’! I have read about Le Guin’s Orsinia novels but perhaps not fully appreciated that they are more nuanced than much of science fiction. I shall check those ones out- thank you for drawing my attention to them! :)
Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is my top recommendation, but Ursula K Le Guin is well up there for me. For children's fantasy, I still love Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence. My current favorite adult SFF writers are Lois McMaster Bujold, N.K. Jemisin, T. Kingfisher, and Martha Wells, and P. Djèlí Clark.
Thanks Kim (and the cat!) I never thought of Tolkien; I've never braved it if I am honest, it feels like such an undertaking! I had forgotten about Susan Cooper though; thanks for the reminder. The other writers you mention are new to me, so thanks for sharing :)
I see I'm not the first, but I'm going to recommend Octavia Butler and Margaret Atwood. I'm not a great reader of SF myself, but these two? Yes, please.
We both just read and really enjoyed Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, which I would call "light" sci-fi, or maybe even speculative - her writing feels very literary to me!
We also liked Babel by R.F. Kuang - though we didn't love the ending, we really enjoyed a lot of the translation and etymology explorations! Would consider this "light" fantasy with a heavy dose of dark academia
And it's been a while since I read it, but I remember loving The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for its very British humor
Oh, I think I've heard of the Mandel book...love the title! I have to say, some of these sci-fi/fantasy titles are the best 👌You said it right with Hitchhikers: VERY British humour I'm afraid... 😀
My personal favorite right now is Martha Wells and her “Murderbot Diaries” series. The first four books are novellas and I really like the shorter length, and wow they have such good characters and it’s just what sci fi is meant to be—revealing and thought provoking, but also heartwarming.
Also, Mary Robinette Kowal is a current author who writes sci fi and fantasy, she has an alternate history series called the “Lady Astronaut” series, as well as a lot of really cool short fiction, collected in her book “Word Puppets.”
Oh, thank you for this, Emma! They sound great as I think novellas or short stories can be a good way in to a new genre. Also, if the characters are good in any book, that is a great start! :)
That's great to hear, Yumna! :) I find magical realism interesting as it allows for some fantastical elements whilst still being rooted in the real and domestic sphere.
Kate, this is a great topic. I apologize in advance if you or your readers already know this information. I am assuming a general unawareness based solely on the fact you said you haven't read much of this. I do want to say that science-fiction and fantasy are not the same although they do often get lumped together and there is some cross-over. Science-fiction normally uses technological advances or science based ideas as central to the story line. This can range from easy to read novels by Ben Bova all the way to techno-science babble requiring a PhD in cosmic-physics to decipher like the works of Larry Niven. Fantasy on the other hand tends to have some supernatural force as the backbone of the story line. This could be magic as in the Dragonlance books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, a super cool ring as in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, or an almost indescribable One Power as in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. A good example of cross-over might be Star Wars where there are obvious technological advancements (space travel) as well as magic (the Force).
In addition to those I have mentioned above some of my favorites include Neil Gaiman (The Ocean at the End of the Lane is brilliant), Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, Octavia Butler, Margaret Atwood, N.K. Jemisin, Terry Pratchett, and Anne McCaffrey.
Thank you so much for this, Matthew! I actually was not so sure about the definitions of science fiction as opposed to fantasy, so thank you for clarifying. That makes a lot of sense. I hadn't realised that Margaret Atwood would fall into this, as think of her as 'dystopian' however I guess dystopia would be a close bed-fellow, as it were, and the Shadow and Bone series for example would fall into that category. I have read Douglas Adams The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy for a class I took once, and although I wasn't sure beforehand, I found it so funny! He was a very clever writer. Octavia Butler is a great shout, too.
I don't know whether Kurt Vonnegut counts, but I love him in a way I love no other SF writer. The Sirens Of Titan is a good place to start. And there's an extraordinary YA writer called MT Anderson, although I'm not sure what makes him YA, particularly. He has only written one SF novel that I know of, FEED, which has become a modern classic of the genre. He has also written an amazing YA non-fiction book about Shostakovich's work during the siege of Stalingrad. He's got quite the range.
Thanks, Nick! I have never read Vonnegut, though have been recommended him before; I know he is a lot of people's favourite author. The YA are a good tip, as sometimes I think it's easier to get into a genre through those. I've just finished watching the two 'Shadow and Bone' series' which are brilliant YA fantasy novels.
I certainly think Vonnegut makes the cut here. Philosophical treatise in the guise of alien invasions, what more could you ask for?
Oh, I have a couple recommendations!
“Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang” by Kate Wilhelm is a 1970s novel about cloning, individuality, and humanity.
Also on similar themes, but tonally very different and asking some different questions, would be Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go.”
Connie Wills’ “Doomsday Book” is about time traveling historians who get stuck in the Black Death.
For fantasy, and also a more recent book, the “Jade City” trilogy by Fonda Lee is excellent. It’s really a smart, nuanced story about colonialism and diaspora, wrapped up in a story of a powerful magic wielding family as they try to defend their territory.
Thanks, Catherine! These all sound like great recommendations :) I especially like the sound of the Wilhelm book, just from the title alone! Also, the concept sounds really intriguing. My teenager would like the Connie Willis one, as they are really into history, so will pass that one on!
Isn’t the title wonderful? Happy reading! Will definitely be watching this thread to add even more books to my to-read list!
I would highly recommend anything by Becky Chambers - I am not generally a sci-fi fan but absolutely loved her books. They’re not “traditional sci-fi”, in my opinion, because they’re not super plotty, more just general fiction set on different planets? Hard to describe but I adore everything I’ve read by her.
Thanks, Kelsey! That sounds up my street: "just general fiction set on different planets" 😅 will look out for Becky Chambers.
Another vote for Becky Chambers as it is positive and optimistic
Thanks! :)
Hi Kate! Have you read R.F./Rebecca Kuang's work? I loved her book Babel and really enjoyed her Poppy War Trilogy.
Ooh, no, I haven't! Although I've heard about her latest novel 'Yellowface', though don't think that is within this genre. Thanks for the tip! :)
Ursula K. Le Guin is brilliant in so many ways. Her science fiction is about exploring the human condition, not about rockets and space battles. It's not so well known that she started out writing about an imaginary but entirely realistic country (Orsinia) -- anyone who is actively allergic to magic in books should definitely read her beautiful novel Malafrena. It took me a long time to read those Orsinian stories, as I was a die-hard fantasy reader as a child and wanted more dragons and wizards, not central European politics, but I can appreciate them now.
I also recommend Susanna Clarke -- Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, or Piranesi if you're not up for a doorstopper.
Thank you for your considered comments, Lory. I love ‘anyone who is actively allergic to magic’! I have read about Le Guin’s Orsinia novels but perhaps not fully appreciated that they are more nuanced than much of science fiction. I shall check those ones out- thank you for drawing my attention to them! :)
Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is my top recommendation, but Ursula K Le Guin is well up there for me. For children's fantasy, I still love Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence. My current favorite adult SFF writers are Lois McMaster Bujold, N.K. Jemisin, T. Kingfisher, and Martha Wells, and P. Djèlí Clark.
Thanks Kim (and the cat!) I never thought of Tolkien; I've never braved it if I am honest, it feels like such an undertaking! I had forgotten about Susan Cooper though; thanks for the reminder. The other writers you mention are new to me, so thanks for sharing :)
You're welcome! I hope you give The Lord of the Rings a try someday. It's such a beautiful story, and beautifully written.
For me I am a big fan of i Robot, book and film. Just brilliant.
Thanks! I think I might have seen the film a long time ago...
I see I'm not the first, but I'm going to recommend Octavia Butler and Margaret Atwood. I'm not a great reader of SF myself, but these two? Yes, please.
Thanks, Sandra! Yes, Atwood I have read some of and is a brilliant writer. But I had forgotten Butler wrote in this genre.
We both just read and really enjoyed Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, which I would call "light" sci-fi, or maybe even speculative - her writing feels very literary to me!
We also liked Babel by R.F. Kuang - though we didn't love the ending, we really enjoyed a lot of the translation and etymology explorations! Would consider this "light" fantasy with a heavy dose of dark academia
And it's been a while since I read it, but I remember loving The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for its very British humor
- Shruti
Oh, I think I've heard of the Mandel book...love the title! I have to say, some of these sci-fi/fantasy titles are the best 👌You said it right with Hitchhikers: VERY British humour I'm afraid... 😀
My personal favorite right now is Martha Wells and her “Murderbot Diaries” series. The first four books are novellas and I really like the shorter length, and wow they have such good characters and it’s just what sci fi is meant to be—revealing and thought provoking, but also heartwarming.
Also, Mary Robinette Kowal is a current author who writes sci fi and fantasy, she has an alternate history series called the “Lady Astronaut” series, as well as a lot of really cool short fiction, collected in her book “Word Puppets.”
Oh, thank you for this, Emma! They sound great as I think novellas or short stories can be a good way in to a new genre. Also, if the characters are good in any book, that is a great start! :)
Hi Kate,
Surely, magical realism is a new genre to me. Today I realized Harry Potter series should be placed under Magical realism rather than fantasy.
Nice post. I found some new book recommendations. :)
That's great to hear, Yumna! :) I find magical realism interesting as it allows for some fantastical elements whilst still being rooted in the real and domestic sphere.
Kate, this is a great topic. I apologize in advance if you or your readers already know this information. I am assuming a general unawareness based solely on the fact you said you haven't read much of this. I do want to say that science-fiction and fantasy are not the same although they do often get lumped together and there is some cross-over. Science-fiction normally uses technological advances or science based ideas as central to the story line. This can range from easy to read novels by Ben Bova all the way to techno-science babble requiring a PhD in cosmic-physics to decipher like the works of Larry Niven. Fantasy on the other hand tends to have some supernatural force as the backbone of the story line. This could be magic as in the Dragonlance books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, a super cool ring as in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, or an almost indescribable One Power as in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. A good example of cross-over might be Star Wars where there are obvious technological advancements (space travel) as well as magic (the Force).
In addition to those I have mentioned above some of my favorites include Neil Gaiman (The Ocean at the End of the Lane is brilliant), Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, Octavia Butler, Margaret Atwood, N.K. Jemisin, Terry Pratchett, and Anne McCaffrey.
Thank you so much for this, Matthew! I actually was not so sure about the definitions of science fiction as opposed to fantasy, so thank you for clarifying. That makes a lot of sense. I hadn't realised that Margaret Atwood would fall into this, as think of her as 'dystopian' however I guess dystopia would be a close bed-fellow, as it were, and the Shadow and Bone series for example would fall into that category. I have read Douglas Adams The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy for a class I took once, and although I wasn't sure beforehand, I found it so funny! He was a very clever writer. Octavia Butler is a great shout, too.