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29 of the Best Science Fiction Books Everyone Should Read

Looking for your next sci-fi must-read? Cyberpunk, space operas, dystopias – we've pulled together some of the WIRED team's favourite science fiction novels. Some are eerily plausible, others are wild trips of the imagination, but all present compelling visions of our possible future. Listed here in chronological order for completists.

You may also enjoy our guides to best sci-fi movies and the best space movies , too. If you're after more reading inspiration, try our selection of the best fantasy books and we have a guide to the best audiobooks if you're feeling lazy.

It's Prime Day 2023, so we've uncovered the top discounts. Check out the best Prime Day deals in the UK here.​​

The Blazing World, by Margaret Cavendish (1666)

This book is arguably the first science fiction book ever written. The Blazing World's language may be dated, but this fearless feminist text from Margaret Cavendish is packed full of imagination is not just incredibly brave for its time. It's also still incredibly relevant; cited as inspiration by writers including China Miéville and Alan Moore.

Cavendish's utopian tale follows the adventures of a kidnapped woman, who travels to another world run by part-humans, part animals - fox men, fish men, geese men, the list goes on. As she is a very beautiful woman, she becomes their Empress, and organises an an almighty invasion of her own world, complete with literal fire(stones) raining from the sky.

Price: £10 | Amazon | Waterstones | Wordery | Audible trial

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley (1818)

Mary Shelley started writing classic gothic thriller Frankenstein when she was 18 years old. Two centuries later, it is a major ancestor of both the science fiction and horror genres, tackling huge themes like the nature of life and death, immortality and genetic engineering. It is a pro-science novel that at its heart shows Dr Frankenstein as the callous fiend of the story, who created a being and was not willing to accept responsibility for his actions. In an age where the space between technical life and death is narrower than ever, and scientists are playing with the makeup of what makes us humans, Frankenstein can still teach an important lesson: just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Price: £6 | Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Audible trial

Foundation, by Isaac Asimov (1951)

Asimov was a prolific writer, but many of his best works are classic short stories such as Nightfall , or The Last Question , which play out like long jokes with a punchline twist at the end. In the Foundation series, he’s in another mode entirely, charting the rise and fall of empires in sweeping brush strokes. Asimov’s prose can be stilted, and betrays the attitudes of its time in the portrayal of female characters, but it has left a lasting legacy.

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The Foundation series follows Hari Seldon, who is the architect of psychohistory – a branch of mathematics that can make accurate predictions thousands of years in advance, and which Seldon believes is necessary to save the human race from the dark ages. You can see why it’s one of Elon Musk’s favourite books (along with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , and The Moon is A Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein – also recommended). A long-awaited screen adaptation is one of the flagship shows of Apple TV+.

Price: £8 | Amazon | Waterstones | Wordery | Audible trial

The Stars My Destination, by Alfred Bester (1957)

This landmark novel begins with a simple proposition – what if humans could teleport? – and sprawls into a tale of rebirth and vengeance that winds across the Solar System: The Count of Monte Cristo for the interstellar age. First published as Tiger! Tiger! in the UK, named after the William Blake poem, it follows Gully Foyle – a violent, uneducated brute who spends six months marooned in deep space, and the rest of the book seeking retribution for it.

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Solaris, by Stanislaw Lem (1961)

If you think you know Solaris from the 2002 Steven Soderbergh film, the original book may come as a bit of a surprise. Written by Polish writer Stanislaw Lem in 1961, this short novel is heavier on philosophy than plot. It follows a team of humans on a space station who are trying to understand the mysterious living ocean on the planet Solaris, with little success – their research is limited to lengthy descriptions that paint a vibrant picture of the alien planet but fail to elucidate how it works. As they poke and prod, Solaris ends up exposing more about them than it does about itself, with the book demonstrating the futility of humans trying to comprehend something not of their world.

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Dune, by Frank Herbert (1965)

In 2012, WIRED US readers voted Dune the best science-fiction novel of all time. It’s also the best-selling of all time, and has inspired a mammoth universe, including 18 books set over 34,000 years and a terrible 1984 movie adaptation by David Lynch, his worst film by far. A very different effort was released in 2021, directed by Denis Villeneuve. The series is set 20,000 years in the future in galaxies stuck in the feudal ages, where computers are banned for religious reasons and noble families rule whole planets. We focus on the planet Arrakis, which holds a material used as a currency throughout the Universe for its rarity and mind-enhancing powers. Lots of giant sandworms, too.

Price: £10 | Amazon | Waterstones | Foyles | Audible trial

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein (1966)

One of Elon Musk's favourite books, apparently, this gripping novel paints a plausible picture of life on Earth's satellite, three years before man set foot on the moon for the first time. Its depictions of the challenges of life in orbit, and the ingenuity of human solutions to the problem – even among the exiles and misfits who make up the lunar population – are memorable.

Ice, by Anna Kavan (1967)

Anna Kavan's last (and best) sci fi novel provides a haunting, claustrophobic vision of the end of the world, where an unstoppable monolithic ice shelf is slowly engulfing the earth and killing everything in its wake. The male protagonist and narrator of the story (who is nameless) is eternally chasing after an elusive and ethereal young woman, while contemplating feelings that become darker and more violent towards her as the ice closes in. He frequently crosses paths with the Warden, the sometimes-husband but also captor of the young woman, who is always one step ahead. And as the ice closes off almost all paths by land and sea, he is running out of time to catch them up.

The novel reads like a grown-up, nightmarish version of Alice in Wonderland : Kavan takes you on a journey that is hallucinogenic and unsettling, with no regard to whether the narrator is dreaming or awake. But the true genius of the book is its language - depicting a powerful allegory crushing pain of addiction, loneliness and mental illness will do little to cheer you up, but will capture your attention.

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The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. Le Guin (1969)

Le Guin alternated between genres during her prolific career, and this intricate novel came out the year after the classic fantasy book A Wizard of Earthsea . The bulk of the action takes place on Winter, a remote Earth-like planet where it’s cold all year round, and everyone is the same gender. It was one of the first novels to touch on ideas of androgyny – which is viewed from the lens of protagonist Genly Ai, a visitor from Earth who struggles to understand this alien culture.

A Scanner Darkly, by Philip K Dick (1977)

A curious novel that reads less like sci-fi and more like a hallucinated autobiography detailing the author’s struggle with drug addiction. In a near-future California, vice cop Bob Arctor lives undercover with a community of drug addicts hooked on devastating psychoactive dope Substance D. Arctor, who needs to don a special “scramble suit” to hide his face and voice when meeting his fellow cops, has to grapple with gradually losing his sense of self.

Kindred, by Octavia E. Butler (1979)

Though Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred was published more than 40 years ago, it carries lessons and learnings that we can all still use today. When African-American writer, Dana finds herself transported from 1979 Los Angeles to the pre-Civil War Antebellum south to repeatedly save her white slave-owning ancestor, she must confront the horrendous reality of surviving slavery while not losing her modern day identity. This is only more complicated when she accidentally transports back with her white husband.

The novel explores major themes of power, race and inequality. Butler’s contextualising of this era is devastating; the way in which she contrasts modern day 1979 with the pre-Civil War age offers a different perspective on the complicated and degrading reality of slavery. Kindred allows you, the reader, to engage with the emotional impacts of slavery, something unfortunately often lost in too many of today’s teachings of the subject.

Neuromancer, by William Gibson (1984)

The definitive cyberpunk novel, William Gibson’s Neuromancer follows hacker-turned-junkie Henry Case as he tries to pull off one last, rather dodgy sounding job in the hope of reversing a toxin that prevents him from accessing cyberspace. Set in a dystopian Japanese underworld, the novel touches on all manner of futuristic technology, from AI to cryonics, and features a cast of creative characters that will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

Consider Phlebas, by Iain Banks (1987)

Back in 1987, after four acclaimed fiction novels, Iain Banks published his first sci-fi book, Consider Phlebas , a true space opera and his first book of many to feature the Culture, an interstellar utopian society of humanoids, aliens and sentient machines ostensibly run by hyper-intelligent AI "Minds". A war rages across the galaxy with one side fighting for faith, the other a moral right to exist. Banks melds this conflict with something approaching a traditional fantasy quest: the search for a rogue Mind that has hidden itself on a forbidden world in an attempt to evade destruction.

Hyperion, by Dan Simmons (1989)

Winner of the 1990 Hugo Award for Best Novel and part of a two-book series, Hyperion is a richly woven sci-fi epic told in the style of The Canterbury Tales . In the world of Hyperion , humanity has spread to thousands of worlds, none more intriguing or dangerous as Hyperion. It's home to the Time Tombs, ageless structures which are mysteriously travelling backward through time, and guarding them is the terrifying creature known as the Shrike. It kills anyone who dares encroach on the Time Tombs and has inspired a fanatical religious group who control pilgrimages to the tombs. On the eve of an invasion, a group of travellers convene what's likely to be the last Shrike pilgrimage and share their tales of what brought them there.

Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton (1990)

Before it mutated into the mega media franchise “Jurassic World”, Jurassic Park was a smart, thoughtful and gripping sci-fi classic written by Michael Crichton, author of the equally brilliant Andromeda Strain. Crichton's tale remains a great parable about the dangers of genetic engineering, (as well as a slightly heady exploration of chaos theory). His descriptions of dinosaurs are also brilliant, like the T-Rex: "Tim felt a chill, but then, as he looked down the animal's body, moving down from the massive head and jaws, he saw the smaller, muscular forelimb. It waved in the air and then it gripped the fence."

Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson (1992)

Frantic, fun and almost suspiciously prescient, Snow Crash grabs you from its opening sequence – a high-speed race through an anarchic Los Angeles that has been carved up into corporate-owned ‘burbclaves’ – and barely lets up. The book follows main character Hiro Protagonist (yes, really), an elite hacker and swordsman, as he tries to stop the spread of a dangerous virus being propagated by a religious cult. It combines neurolinguistics, ancient mythology and computer science, and eerily predicts social networks, cryptocurrency and Google Earth.

Price: £9 | Amazon | Waterstones | Wondery | Audible trial

Vurt, by Jeff Noon (1993)

“Vurt is a feather - a drug, a dimension, a dream state, a virtual reality.” That’s what the back of this 1993 cyberpunk novel reads, and it’s a perfect way into the chaotic and surreal world of Vurt . Set in a gritty future Manchester, Vurt follows the story of Scribble, who’s on a mission to find his sister Desdemona who he believes is trapped inside a feather called Curious Yellow. That’s right, a feather. Vurt is about virtual reality, but not the strapping on a headset kind. Instead, people put feathers into their mouths to visit different dimensions and states of consciousness. Written in a frantic, dark and funny way that makes the action feel like it’s bouncing along beside you, Vurt won the Arthur C. Clarke award in 1994 and has since become a cult classic – although it’s not always easy to find a copy.

Price: £17 | Amazon | Audible trial

Under The Skin, by Michel Faber (2000)

Set in Scotland, Under The Skin is about an alien who’s sent to Earth to drug hitchhikers that she then delivers to her home planet. Despite being here to lead people to their deaths, she’s contemplative about Earth and nature. We’re used to considering what an alien visiting Earth for the first time might think about certain things, but the way Faber writes about Isserley’s experiences feels fresh, strange and, at times, oddly beautiful.

At times, Under The Skin is profoundly unnerving and difficult to read. But it’s not gratuitous. Elements of the novel are meant to be satirical, touching on present-day themes of our treatment of each other, animals and the Earth. We also highly recommend Jonathan Glazer’s 2013 movie adaptation, which is loosely based on the book but is a brilliant and intensely dark movie full of haunting imagery and a breath-taking score.

Price: £8 | Amazon | Waterstones | Audible trial

Metro 2033, by Dmitry Glukhovsky (2002)

It’s 2033, and a nuclear apocalypse has forced the rag-tag remains of the human population of Moscow to flee to the underground maze of tunnels below the city. Here they develop independent tribes in each metro station, trade goods and fight against each other. But hidden in the tunnels between the stations hide terrifying flesh-eating mutants and a voice that is driving people mad… This is the premise of Dmitry Glukhovsky’s wildly successful novel, which was later made into a series of video games. Part epic tale, part thriller, the translated story follows a teenager called Artyom, who has to travel to the heart of the Metro through unpredictable dangers to save the remains of humankind. Expect to be shocked.

Price: £9 | Amazon | Waterstones | Foyles | Audible trial

Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood (2003)

While The Handmaid’s Tale describes a world that seems more plausible by the day, in Oryx and Crake Atwood spins a genetically-modified circus of current trends taken to their absolute extreme – a “bio-engineered apocalypse,” is how one reviewer put it. A number of television adaptations have been mooted, including a now-defunct HBO project with Darren Aronofsky, but this might be one to place alongside The Stars My Destination in the impossible-to-adapt file. The world of the book is vibrant, surreal and disturbing enough.

Read more: The best sci-fi movies everyone should watch once

The Three-Body Problem, Liu Cixin (2008)

Liu Cixin was already one of China’s most revered science fiction writers when, in 2008, he decided to turn his hand to a full-length novel. The Three-Body Problem is the result – an era-spanning novel that jumps between the Cultural Revolution, the present day, and a mysterious video game. The first part of a trilogy, it’s a fascinating departure from the tropes of Western science fiction, and loaded with enough actual science that you might learn something as well as being entertained.

Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2015)

Children of Time is an epic book about a dying Earth. People are leaving, and there’s a plan to keep some of them safe and the human race flourishing elsewhere. However, things don’t quite pan out how they should. This is a saga of a story spanning many, many generations. That’s a tricky thing to pull off and ensure readers still follow with care and attention. But Adrian Tchaikovsky infuses interest, humanity and authenticity into every character and storyline so well. You’ll find yourself rooting for every new character that comes next – even when they’re only distantly related to the one you met a few chapters ago. The book deals with small interactions and feuds through to huge themes about belief, artificial intelligence, legacy, discovery, alienness and much more. It’s no surprise it won the 2016 Arthur C. Clarke Award. There’s a follow-up called Children of Ruin and (fingers crossed) a possible movie adaptation in the works.

The Martian, by Andy Weir (2015)

Andy Weir's debut novel literally puts the science into science fiction, packing in tonnes of well-researched detail about life on Mars. There's descriptions of how to fertilise potatoes with your own excrement, and hack a life-support system for a Martian rover – in levels of detail that the movie adaptation starring Matt Damon came nowhere near to reaching. The sassy, pop-culture laden writing style won't be to everyone's taste – this book probably won't get taught in English Literature lessons – but the first-person perspective makes sense for this story of an astronaut stranded on the Red Planet with no way to get home.

Price: £7.50 | Amazon | Waterstones | Foyles | Audible trial

The Heart Goes Last, by Margaret Atwood (2015)

An odd cocktail of a novel: part techno dystopia, part satire, part sex comedy, part classic Atwood. In a bleak, postlapsarian version of the US, young lovebirds Charmaine and Stan endure a miserable existence sleeping in their car and dodging criminals’ knives. Salvation arrives under the guise of an offer to move to the Positron Project – a gated community modelled after an American 1950s suburb. The rub? All Positron’s couples must spend every other month working in a prison, temporarily swapping homes with another couple, called “alternates”. When both Charmaine and Stan start developing oddball sexual relations with their alternates, things move rapidly south.

The Power, by Naomi Alderman (2016)

Margaret Atwood also had a hand in this gripping novel, which inverts the premise of The Handmaid’s Tale , and puts women in the ascendancy. Atwood mentored the author, Naomi Alderman, as she wrote this inventive thriller about women and girls discovering a powerful new ability to emit electricity from their hands, up-ending civilisation in different ways across the world. The Power is paced like a television series, and it is, in fact, coming to screens soon via Amazon Studios.

Borne, by Jeff VanderMeer (2017)

The Annihilation series showcased Jeff VanderMeer's gift for the surreal, and he turns it up a notch in Borne – which starts with an unknown scavenger plucking an object from the fur of a giant flying bear in a post-apocalyptic city, and only gets weirder from there as the main character strikes up a friendship with an intelligent sea anemone-like creature called Borne. The story is, it eventually transpires, one of biotechnology run amok – which makes for the most colourful dystopia you're likely to come across.

Moonrise: The Golden Age of Lunar Adventures, by Mike Ashley (2018)

Moonrise , from the British Library's Science Fiction Classics series, could just have easily appeared in the 1950s or even the 1900s in this list. It's a brilliantly curated anthology of twelve SF short stories about the moon – getting to it, exploring it, contemplating it – with lunar-inclined fiction from H.G. Wells and Arthur C. Clarke present and correct but also the likes of Judith Merril's 1954 Dead Centre , which distills all the potential tragedies of space programs into just a handful of haunting images. From author and science fiction historian Mike Ashley.

Exhalation, by Ted Chiang (2019)

Exhalation is a book of short stories rather than a novel, but hear us out. Ted Chiang is a fantastic science-fiction writer who weaves real science and theory into his tales. This makes them feel somehow part of this world despite dealing with a range of classic sci-fi themes, including parallel realities, robot pets and time travel.

From a circular time travelling portal in ancient Baghdad to a device that allows you to meet your parallel self that you can trade-in at a local store in the present day, it’s glorious science-fiction filled with wonder and mystery. There are stories and ideas nestled in Exhalation’s pages that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading. Chiang has breathed life into the science-fiction genre, creating stories that feel refreshing and human rather than concerning distant worlds and ideas that can lead to a disconnect. This is evident in his short story Story of Your Life , the source material for Denis Villeneuve's Arrival .

The Resisters, by Gish Jen (2020)

A speculative dystopia set in an 'Auto America', Gish Jen's The Resisters , which was published in early 2020, puts the sport of baseball – of all the things – at the centre of her world, which is divided into people who still get to have jobs, the Netted, as in 'Aunt Nettie', as in the internet, and the rest: the Surplus. The story centres on Gwen, who comes from a Surplus family but who has the chance to rise in status when her baseball skills get attention, with Jen taking on surveillance culture and the value of work and leisure.

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This article was originally published by WIRED UK

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SFFWorld Review of the Year – 2023 (part 4)

SFFWorld Review of the Year – 2023 (part 3)

SFFWorld Review of the Year – 2023 (part 2)

SFFWorld Review of the Year – 2023 (part 1)

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The best sci-fi and fantasy books of 2023

It’s been a stellar year in speculative fiction

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It’s been another banner year for science fiction and fantasy books. Many of our favorites once again blur the line between sci-fi and fantasy, but this year was a particular standout for books blurring the line between SFF and other genres. This includes everything from historical fiction — both speculative histories and Westerns — to fable retellings to intergenerational sagas in translation.

Though we seem to have crested the wave of pandemic novels, that sense of dread and discoloration has lingered, written into novels of new forms. There’s a preponderance of post-post-apocalyptic science fiction unpacking lofty ideas like sentience and humanity, often set on different planets or among the stars. It has also been a standout year for supernatural horrors and thrillers, particularly ones that mix queer longing with a dose of body horror . Last but not least, it’s been a great year for kissing books set in fantastical worlds .

So jump in and take your pick. Whichever direction you head in, it will be sure to grip you — and make you think. This list is in reverse chronological order, so the newest releases are listed first. We updated this list throughout 2023, sometimes retroactively adding in entries that we missed from earlier in the year. We’ve also included our favorite runners-up.

Honorable mentions

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, Victory City by Salman Rushdie, The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill, The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older, Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova, White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link, Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill, The Cheat Code (Wisdom Revolution #3) by Misba, The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei, Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas, Prophet by Sin Blaché and Helen Macdonald, Terrace Story by Hilary Leichter, Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim, Starling House by Alix E. Harrow, System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries #7) by Martha Wells, Dark Heir (Dark Rise #2) by C.S. Pacat

Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park

Same Bed Different Dreams is a remarkable achievement, and not for the faint of heart. Through three storylines, the book creates a kind of speculative history of Korea, with an emphasis on World War II and Japan’s colonial rule and aftermath (and, crucially, the United States’ involvement). One story thread builds out a hefty alternative history of the Korean Provisional Government’s role and reach. Another story thread focuses on a Black Korean War vet who wrote a sci-fi epic series called 2333, which is later adapted into a video game. And yet another story thread has a more futuristic flavor, focusing on a has-been writer who now works for a tech company called GLOAT. These threads periodically intersect — for example, GLOAT ends up owning the rights to 2333, and turns it into a kind of edutainment.

If it sounds like there’s a lot going on, it’s because there is. And it’s made even denser by the author’s Pynchonian sense of humor. Some of its best moments are utterly weird or feel like the writer was smirking — like a character’s dog who can’t stop “archiving” by burying found manuscript pages, the fact that GLOAT employees truly don’t know what the acronym stands for, or the idea that Marilyn Monroe is a member of the Korean Provisional Government. These absurd bits only make it harder to comb apart what’s real and what’s Ed Park’s “alternate history” in sections with realistic-sounding combinations of fact and fiction.

It’s got the same ambitious patchwork as Jennifer Egan’s The Candy House and Namwali Serpell’s The Old Drift . Critics have compared it to everything from David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas to David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest . There’s also, of course, books within the book. It’s a fever dream of a thing, and one I’d heartily recommend, but perhaps with a notebook in hand or some sticky notes to help track the references. (Or perhaps, as I did, just letting the wave of information roll over you, until you’re left with a vast impression and a desire to reread.) — Nicole Clark

The Scarlet Alchemist (The Scarlet Alchemist #1) by Kylie Lee Baker

Do not go into The Scarlet Alchemist expecting typical YA fare. What Kylie Lee Baker delivers is a story of visceral brutality, interlaced with elements of Chinese history and thoughtful meditations on family, race, and belonging. It’s a book that can turn your stomach as easily as it can break your heart.

Set in an alternate Tang dynasty, the novel follows Zilan, a profoundly talented young alchemist who travels to the capital in hopes of landing a coveted position in the royal service. But being a poor, half Scotian girl means the odds are stacked inordinately high against her in the imperial service exams — and that’s before her skills with the illegal art of resurrection catch the prince’s attention and pull her into a dangerous political game. While the premise seems familiar (underdog competes in trials, falls into star-crossed romance), Baker’s skills with immersive world-building, knotty characters, and genuinely gruesome horror make The Scarlet Alchemist a dazzling and singular tale that left me rushing to read her back catalog. — Sadie Gennis

Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang

After I read How Much of These Hills is Gold in 2020, C Pam Zhang became an instant must-read author in my household. Land of Milk and Honey is entirely unlike her debut — where her debut’s language was sparse and pointed, this book is florid and indulgent — though similar in the extent to which it transported me somewhere entirely new, and more than a little threatening.

In Land of Milk and Honey the climate apocalypse has rendered fresh produce, at scale, a thing of the past — which is to say a provision of the extremely rich. The protagonist, listless and hungry, applies for a job as a private chef for a mysterious family in the Italian Alps (those who live around it call it “​​la terra di latte e miele”). While there, she unravels the family’s true intentions, while making them delicious meals from rare ingredients.

Zhang sensuously describes all pleasures of the tongue, moving from descriptions of lapping of culinary delicacies to the folds of the flesh. Food feels hyperreal, with an emphasis on the texture and taste of every ingredient — and sometimes the cruelty of that ingredient’s procurement. The same can be said of its scenes depicting queer intimacy; that texture and taste take precedent, and the cruelties of human emotion, too. Even after I finished, I was hungry for more. — N. Clark

Every Drop Is a Man’s Nightmare by Megan Kamalei Kakimoto

This short story collection initially caught my attention with its cover, which depicts a woman springing up from the center of a corpse flower, like a stalk standing against the wind. Each story weaves together Hawaiian mythology and the everyday lives of the Hawaiian and mixed-race Japanese women who live there.

These stories range from fabulism to science fiction, all speculative fiction in their own way. In one story, a woman’s encounter with a wild pig ends up foreshadowing a complicated pregnancy later in her life. In another story, a Brazilian waxing company allows people to pay for hairless skin by giving up personality traits. In another story, the narrator falls for a woman who lives with her family — in one of numerous queer stories in the collection — but has to cope with that woman’s decision to return to “what remains of Kaua’i” and join their protests.

The author’s own words, published in The Guardian, sum it up best : “There is a mythical idealisation of the islands of Hawaii as paradise, peace in the tropics; some even call it a modern utopia. Yet this flattening of Hawaii to a postcard image divests our homeland of its culture and colour, reducing us to a place and history that is easily digestible. But we are not easily digestible, and our stories are not meant to be easy for you.” — N. Clark

He Who Drowned the World (The Radiant Emperor #2) by Shelley Parker-Chan

An alternate history of the founding of the Ming dynasty, He Who Drowned the World shifts between four tragically ambitious figures willing to pay any price to materialize their destiny, whether that’s revenge on the empire or crowning themselves the ruler of it. They pursue these goals with unshakeable inertia, doing endlessly cruel and sadistic actions with only the occasional doubts as to whether happiness could be possible if they chose a different path.

This is a relentlessly brutal sequel, and there’s a hopelessness that weighs heavy throughout the book. But Parker-Chan’s penetrating ability to bring empathy and nuance into even the darkest corners of humanity sparks an undeniable connection with these characters, whose self-destructive natures would otherwise be too hard to bear witness to. He Who Drowned the World is a dark and difficult read, yet Parker-Chan’s prose is so brilliant, her character work so complex, that I still found myself sad to leave this world behind. — SG

Labyrinth’s Heart (Rook & Rose #3) by M.A. Carrick

One of my favorite fantasy series of the past five years, Rook & Rose is an intricately layered trilogy where there are so many secrets, schemes, and conspiracies that at times it’s admittedly difficult to keep track of them all. Because of that, there were a lot of loose ends to tie up in the anticipated conclusion, Labyrinth’s Heart . (Ren alone was juggling four different identities at the novel’s start.) So imagine my surprise when I discovered M.A. Carrick not only managed to leave no question unanswered by the series’ end, but wrapped up even the most complicated storylines in big, bright bows.

There are elements of Labyrinth’s Heart that feel like they were precisely crafted to cater to fans, but here’s the thing: I don’t really care. Carrick created such a lush world populated by lovable characters, an interesting magic system, and a lived-in cultural history that I was just happy to be back in Nadežra after a two-year wait. While things may have been tied up a bit too neatly for my usual tastes, that didn’t stop me from whipping through pages and smiling the whole way through. Sometimes it’s nice to simply soak in a happy ending rather than bathe in the bittersweet. — SG

Mister Magic by Kiersten White

The latest fantasy-with-an-irresistible-pop-premise from the author of Hide , Mister Magic revolves around a children’s TV show no viewer can forget … or prove it ever existed in the first place. There are no official records of it, no YouTube videos or merchandise or passed-around VHS tapes, and any discussion of it on the internet rapidly disappears. But the people who remember seeing it are convinced the special effects were remarkably vivid and realistic. They agree the central concept is unnerving: a creepy magician-figure leading a group of children in imagination-games aimed at teaching some decidedly non-standard lessons about embracing conformity and meekness. And they’re all sure that something horrible happened while they were watching, though they can’t agree on what.

A reunion between five of the former child cast members, taking place 30 years after the show ended, slowly unravels its mysteries, which are even weirder than the description above suggests. Mister Magic is a startling dark fantasy with a lot of foreboding, foreshadowing, and eerie twists. At heart, though, it’s also an incisive story about the kinds of people who revel in control over other people’s lives, and about what an act of rebellion imagination can be. — Tasha Robinson

The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman

A poetic reflection on memory, loss, and connection, The Museum of Human History is a stunning debut reminiscent of the work of Emily St. John Mandel. Slipping backward and forward in time, this introspective mosaic weaves between an identical twin whose sister fell asleep at age 8 and has never aged in the 25 years since, a museum director who questions his place within the family legacy, a widower who lost his most cherished memories as a result of an anti-aging treatment, and others equally struggling with the passage of time. There is a lyrical detachment in Bergman’s prose that leaves you feeling like you’re watching events unfold through a pane of thick glass, never fully able to connect with the characters, yet you remain helplessly transfixed by the haunting cycle they’re caught in. It’s an incredibly melancholy book, but the kind of aching sadness you’re happy to sink into. — SG

The Jasad Heir (The Scorched Throne #1) by Sara Hashem

“Arin of Nizahl was maddeningly elegant. I wanted to cut him open and compare our bones to understand why his gave him grace and mine gave me back pain.” This was the line that absolutely sold me on The Jasad Heir, an irresistible enemies-to-lovers fantasy that reminded me why I’ll never quit this genre.

Headstrong Sylvia is the presumed dead heir of Jasad, a kingdom that was destroyed by the neighboring Nizahl and saw its citizens’ innate magic outlawed. Sylvia managed to carve out a relatively normal life for herself as a chemist’s apprentice, but everything falls apart after she accidentally reveals her magic to the heir of Nizahl. Using her life as leverage, the calculating Arin strikes a deal with Sylvia to help him capture a group of Jasadi rebels and act as his champion in a series of deadly trials. It’s a familiar setup, but one impeccably done by Hashem, who delivers sharp political intrigue, sparkling banter, and touching friendships on top of Sylvia and Arin’s simmering romance. — SG

The Surviving Sky (The Rages Trilogy #1) by Kritika H. Rao

After I finished The Surviving Sky , I wouldn’t shut up about it and tried (not always successfully) to get everyone I know to read it. So let me try once more, and maybe with less yelling this time:

With the planet’s surface made unlivable by catastrophic storms, the remains of humanity survive on floating cities constructed of and powered by plants that only a select group of people, known as architects, can control. An archeologist without the ability to traject plants, Ahilya has dedicated her life to finding a way to unshackle humanity’s survival from the architects’ powers and return to the surface. It’s not hard to see why this mission causes friction in her marriage to Iravan, one of the most powerful architects in their city, and one with an arrogance to match his revered status. Though estranged, Ahilya and Iravan come together to help clear his name after he’s accused of pushing his powers dangerously far, an accusation, which if proved true, carries dire consequences for the architect.

But the deeper they look into trajection and its risks, the more Ahilya and Iravan realize they don’t actually know much about where their people – and their powers – came from. And as the floating cities begin to sink toward the earthrages below, the race to save their civilization may also be the end of society as it stands, as Ahilya and Iravan uncover long-buried truths that previous generations worked hard to keep hidden.

So did I do it? Did I convince you to read this Hindu philosophy-inspired debut with some of the most inventive world-building and one of the most complex romances I’ve read in years? Please say yes. You’ll be doing us both a favor. — SG

The Combat Codes and Grievar’s Blood (The Combat Codes Saga #1-2) by Alexander Darwin

In the world of The Combat Codes, war no longer exists as it used to. Neither does justice — both concepts have been replaced by proxies who fight on behalf of nations or individuals, solving disputes with their fists.

Alexander Darwin’s debut novel effectively builds a world around this core concept, bringing it to life with compelling characters and locations (including a classic “magical school for gifted youngsters” situation). The Combat Codes follows Cego, a young abandoned boy skilled at fighting, and Murray, a washed-up former fighter now tasked with scouting the next generation of combatants, whose discovery of Cego changes his entire world.

Darwin is also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and teacher, and uses that experience in the books’ excellent fight sequences. His evocative and visceral descriptions not only deliver excitement and suspense in this underdog story; they build your understanding of the characters through how they fight. The Combat Codes and its equally fun sequel, Grievar’s Blood , which adds new exciting characters and points-of-view, are the first two parts of a planned trilogy, and I can’t wait for the conclusion next year. — Pete Volk

My Murder by Katie Williams

Fans of Sarah Gailey’s The Echo Wife won’t want to miss My Murder , which shares some key elements and themes with Gailey’s novel while also taking them in a unique direction. In a near-future with only a few light sci-fi elements, Lou has been resurrected along with a handful of other women murdered by a single serial killer. The politics of resurrection in her world are complicated, and few people qualify. That leaves her and her fellow victims (whose therapy circle recalls Grady Hendrix’s The Final Girl Support Group ) a bit at sea as they try to come to terms with their deaths, which none of them can recall, and their new lives as celebrities for all the wrong reasons.

Like The Echo Wife , My Murder ends up thoughtfully exploring issues around women subjected to violent men — not just the personal and internal response, but the society that shapes that violence, and responds to it in ways that raise endless questions. The victims all respond to their deaths differently, questioning their culpability and the possible failures that might have made them targets, and navigating their families’ unpredictable responses to their revival. There’s one big mystery at the heart of My Murder , and a whole lot of abrupt and compelling surprises. But at the core, it’s a sci-fi twist on the survivor story, letting some very different people explore what it means to be victimized, and how to reclaim the lives that have been abruptly handed back to them. — TR

Translation State by Ann Leckie

Set in the same universe as Leckie’s Imperial Radch trilogy, Translation State follows Enae, who leaves hir long-standing isolation for what was supposed to be an interstellar goose chase. After hir demanding grandmaman dies, Enae is given a diplomat title and assigned to investigate a missing Presgr translator no one expects to be found (but that the government still wants the goodwill for pretending to look for). Only, Enae doesn’t just pretend to look; sie discovers sie has quite the knack for investigating the 200-year-old cold case.

This is how hir path crosses that of Reet, an adopted maintenance worker whose mysterious origins and unsettling impulses might be explained by being the child of the fugitive translator, if you ask Enae, or the last descendant of a lost sovereign line, if you ask one particularly zealous diaspora social group. Rounding out the POV characters is Qven, a young Presgr terrified of their species’ ritual of merging with an elder, a rite of passage which will see Qven’s selfhood entirely dissolved. Enae, Reet, and Qven’s explorations of their own identities wind up having interplanetary consequences, but it’s the way Leckie gives weight to the small moments, both personal and shared, that make this book sing.

Though I’m sure there are layers that only those familiar with the Imperial Radch trilogy will notice and appreciate, the standalone Translation State and its rich exploration of self-identification and personhood serve as a fantastic introduction to Leckie’s world. So don’t hesitate to jump into Translation State if you’re – like me – new to Radch and simply drawn to a thrilling mystery where the most intimate emotions can fuel a universal upheaval. — SG

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig

I still remember standing in my local bookstore, struck by the cover of this book, and reading the summary. It had me at “Chinese pirate queen.”

In Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea , Chang-Eppig writes a historical fantasy about Shek Yeung, a fearsome Chinese pirate who must navigate her fleet after the death of her powerful husband. She marries her late husband’s second-in-command, with the promise of bearing an heir, in order to retain power over the fleet — and stay a major player as the Chinese Emperor seeks to rid the waters of piracy.

The book isn’t paced like a thriller, so don’t make the mistake of assuming so when you start it. It’s equal parts historical exposition, strategy, and warfare — and it especially excels in its characterization of a complicated woman forced to make difficult decisions and sacrifices in order to protect her power. Fantasy can put its villains and heroes on pedestals, but Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea never errs in its very human portrayal of Shek Yeung, and how deftly she must play this game of political chess for survival. I was riveted. — N. Clark

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

There’s nothing cozier than a magical book about the magic of books — though this tale bends a little darker, and tells a story about witchcraft and complicated family dynamics. In Ink Blood Sister Scribe , two estranged sisters come together to solve the mystery of their family, and prevent further tragedies. In this world, blood can be concocted into ink — wielded by scribes for the creation of books with arcane powers — though the creation of such books drains a scribe’s health. When others read these books, they create magic; willing flowers to bloom, or making magical carpets that can fly in the air.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is the perfect sister thriller to read in one sitting. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to — it simply delivers on a wonderfully entertaining premise. — N. Clark

Witch King by Martha Wells

In an era where a lot of fantasy fans value quick or cozy reads, Martha Wells’ Witch King feels like a gauntlet thrown at readers’ feet. It’s a complex, meaty fantasy that opens well into what a more linear book would consider the third act, as Kai, the witch king of the title, is exhumed from a watery grave and starts exploring who betrayed him and trapped him there. Readers have to learn everything about Kai’s world as his story unfolds in multiple intertwined timelines. That includes figuring out what a “witch king” is, unwrapping the layers of what Kai actually is and why it matters. It also means being introduced to a wide variety of allies and enemies while alternately flashing back to how he met them, and slowly coming to understand the dense political machinations that shaped all their lives in the past and present.

As with Wells’ Murderbot books and her Books of the Raksura series in particular, part of the draw here is a powerful, skilled protagonist whose biggest struggles are often internal. Kai has a lot of intense emotional responses to the world, but lacks the tools to understand what to do with those feelings, or who to trust with them. Wells packs Witch King with a lot of audacious, expansive world-building for a standalone novel (albeit one that could easily invite sequels or prequels), but what makes Witch King an enjoyable read instead of a frustrating one is the way all the book’s complications and surprises are filtered through Kai’s vivid inner life, giving readers something to hold onto as they’re untangling the puzzlebox aspects of this cleverly structured novel. — TR

The Lost War (The Eidyn Saga #1) by Justin Lee Anderson

Originally self-published in 2019, The Lost War is a traditional fantasy adventure that follows a rag-tag group of strangers on a mission across a war-torn country, fighting monsters and uncovering mysteries along the way. Despite the strong buzz leading up to the novel’s expanded publication by Orbit this year, I found myself hesitant to pick it up since it seemed so similar to many books I’ve read before. But while it’s true The Lost War doesn’t rewrite the genre – it’s filled with well-worn tropes and classic adventurer archetypes – Anderson’s skillful execution left me completely charmed. There is a real Dungeons and Dragons feel to The Lost War , and though the characters are familiar (the honorable paladin, the hard-drinking haunted soldier), Anderson does a fantastic job developing unique dynamics between the party members that vault the book beyond the sum of its parts. And it all builds up to a massive twist at the end that completely upends your understanding of what you’ve read and any previous expectations for where the second book will go. The delightfully unexpected ending once again has the fantasy community buzzing ahead of Anderson’s next release – only this time I’m right there with them. — SG

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath (Nampeshiweisit #1) by Moniquill Blackgoose

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath ’s description hooked me immediately: It’s got dragons, a magic school, and a strong teenage main character. Moniquill Blackgoose has taken several different fantasy tropes and created a fantasy novel that’s unlike anything I’ve read; To Shape a Dragon’s Breath is set in an evolving steampunk world as Anglish settlers push the Indigenous Masquapaug people out of their land and onto a remote island. Dragons had long been important cultural touchstones to the Indigenous people, but colonization has, too, pushed them away. To Shape a Dragon’s Breath begins as 15-year-old Anequs finds a dragon egg — the first to be spotted in the area in generations. Anequs is named a Nampeshiweisit, or a dragon rider, as the community helps raise and hatch the dragon’s egg.

The colonizing nation quickly finds out and forces Anequs and her dragon into the Anglish dragon school; if she resists, the dragon will be eliminated. To Shape a Dragon’s Breath is about the growing relationship between her and her dragon Kasaqua, but also about her resistance to the Anglish traditions relating to dragons. The Anglish treat dragons as something to be conquered — they use them as tools and weapons, whereas the Indigenous people have historically partnered with dragons for a relationship built on both tradition and respect.

That partnership means Anequs now has the power to take on colonialism and racism in a new way. Where To Shape a Dragon’s Breath really shines is in that growing relationship between Anequs and Kasaqua; the partnership — and power for both that comes with it — is in stark contrast to the Anglish ways. Bonus: To Shape a Dragon’s Breath has well-written, complex bisexual and neurodivergent characters, too. — Nicole Carpenter

Loki by Melvin Burgess

Melvin Burgess has spent a career writing confrontationally frank children’s literature like Junk , his 1990s book about heroin-addicted teenagers. His first adult book, published at age 69, is a blistering, transgressive, and hugely entertaining reframing of the Norse myths, as told by the most unreliable narrator imaginable: Loki himself, the god of tricks, inventions, and political intrigue. But what does reliable mean, anyway, in the mutable world of myth? Burgess paints Loki (or rather, has him paint himself, as he addresses the reader directly in first person) as an eternal outsider, shaking his head sagely at the follies of the gods, and challenging their might-is-right order. But of course, that’s what he’d want us to think. Burgess’ best trick, though, is the way he rolls together the deeply weird, muddy, shape-shifting mystery of the tales themselves with a bracing modernity in characterization and language, somehow without one clashing with the other. In doing so he brings the wild, ancient power of the Norse myths to vivid life. — Oli Welsh

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

In Chain-Gang All-Stars , prison inmates fight to the death in a series of gladiatorial matches — and all of it is televised to a hungry audience. It’s a program called CAPE, the Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, which promises freedom to inmates who survive three years of its brutality. The average life expectancy for anyone who enters is three months. Within this system, Loretta Thurwar and Hammara Stacker (called Hurricane Staxxx by her fans) emerge as two frontrunners.

This National Book Award finalist takes on the viciousness of the carceral system, with more than a bit of The Hunger Games’ DNA sprinkled in. “Hard action” fans salivate over matches, a self-obsessed announcer resents the fact that contestants don’t offer more banter, and the women who top the leaderboards become sex symbols in pop culture. But where other fight-to-the-death dystopias — among the greats, like Battle Royale or Lord of the Flies — spin a more fantastical yarn, Chain-Gang All-Stars is aimed right at the heart of the all-too-real cruelties of our existing for-profit penal system.

Early in the book, Thurwar kills a 16-year-old boy in a gladiator match. Fans in the stands lament not the death of the boy, but the idea that the fight wasn’t entertaining because it wasn’t a fair matchup. In a footnote, Adjei-Brenyah writes of George Stinney Jr., a 14-year-old Black boy who was convicted for murder and executed in 1944. Chain-Gang All-Stars also illustrates the ways in which imprisonment is simply “slavery by another name,” showing all manner of menial labor the contestants are forced to perform. In 2022, the ACLU reported that inmates made between 13 and 52 cents an hour, and sometimes nothing.

Critics have said this book is an “act of protest” but that it doesn’t “straightforwardly preach,” or that it’s more entertaining than “an attempt to convince its readers of the case for prison abolition has any right to be.” I understand why you’d want to say this book is “fun” despite an abolitionist message, especially in a political climate where radical writing is often appreciated only as a teaching tool. But I think that kind of delineation undercuts Adjei-Brenyah’s talent as a novelist, and his skill in heightening the real as a form of storytelling. I’d call it thrilling, over calling it fun. And the fact that it is thrilling is inextricable from its openly abolitionist values — it’s the very knowledge of real life that Adjei-Brenyah wields to craft suspense. — N. Clark

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

This action-packed, fantasy romance feels like a grown up version of all of my favorite young adult books. It’s got all of the fun nostalgic tropes — a magical school, deadly trials, dragon riding, and a love triangle between the main character, a golden retriever love interest, and a misunderstood emo rival — but it’s also extremely horny, as all fun fantasy romance must be.

Violet Sorrengail is thrown into a series of trials in order to prove whether she can be a dragon rider. There are a few problems with this: she trained as a scribe, never thought she’d be thrust into danger, and she also must deal with Xaden Riorson, her sworn enemy (wink). She also manages a joint condition, which leaves her in chronic pain — a fact the book handles gracefully. In one of my favorite climactic moments of the book, Violet is given a mobility device to help her with her trials; those close to her remind her that it doesn’t diminish her power, but is a tool like any other, and one that allows her to flourish. I’m thrilled to read the next installment, when it comes out in November. — N. Clark

Lords of Uncreation (The Final Architecture #3) by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Reading the Final Architecture series, I had to accept long ago that I would never fully grasp the nuances of some of its central concepts, even if I understood them on an instinctual level.

This acceptance set me up well for Lords of Uncreation , which revolves around concepts that even the characters find impossible to understand, and whose minds may literally break if they try to. Like looking directly into the sun, confronting the blurred space between the real and unreal (as well as the eldritch terrors that lurk within) poses a grave threat to those doing so head-on – at least to anyone other than weary intermediary Idris Tellemier, whose risk is merely reduced rather than eliminated. But the characters Adrian Tchaikovsky has populated this world with are so grounded, so emotionally rich, and so vibrant that the details of the brain-bending threats lurking within unspace become secondary to their impact on the lives of and relationships between the Vulture God ’s crew.

This is not to say that Tchaikovsky does not deliver an incredibly satisfying conclusion to the mysteries of unspace (he does!). But what I’ll remember most is how he crafted the perfect emotional resolution to this intellectually intricate tale that left me in tears and has stayed with me since. — SG

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Proctor Bennett is a ferryman, whose duty is to guide unhappy citizens from the utopian Propersa to the Nursery, where they retire their old selves before returning in younger bodies with no memories of their former lives. But when Proctor is assigned to retire his own father, the troubling encounter sends him careening off the path of conformity. He begins questioning prescribed truths and confronting the darker side of Prospera, which runs off the work of a disenfranchised support staff whose discontent is building towards a revolution that pulls Proctor into its orbit.

Though this premise may feel familiar, The Ferryman is anything but. This tightly-wound, atmospheric thriller weaves together layers of knotted mystery with Proctor’s haunting POV as he grapples with his relationship to grief, happiness, family, and identity. It’s a sharply complex mystery with a cinematic quality to it. Throughout reading, I couldn’t help but fan-cast who would star in a Christopher Nolan adaptation of it. But even if you aren’t an Inception fan, it’ll be easy to become immersed in The Ferryman ’s distinct dystopian world. — SG

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

Around September, as the pile of unpainted plastic miniatures here in my home office began to get particularly deep, I suddenly ran out of Warhammer 40,000 Black Library audiobooks by Games Workshop that I was the least bit interested in listening to. That’s when I stumbled upon Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh. Billed as a space opera told from the perspective of one of humanity’s last genetically engineered super soldiers, I fell for the premise hook, line, and sinker. Then, about 50 pages in, I let it sucker-punch me right in the gut.

With Some Desperate Glory , Tesh has envisioned a deeply affecting reality where the children of a subjugated, war-torn race slowly come to realize that they have been lied to — manipulated into an amoral war of vengeance without end. Tesh shows incredible restraint throughout, reeling out a thick and binding thread of painful realizations from deep within the main character, Kyr. After grappling with my personal love for the grim darkness of the far future for quite a few years now, this book helped me come to terms with how much I despise those tropes even as I find myself drawn toward them time and time again.

Some Desperate Glory is, in my opinion, required reading for anyone who has ever painted a Space Marine in earnest – and a new fixture in the canon of queer science fiction. — Charlie Hall

Chlorine by Jade Song

I think I have been waiting my whole life for this book — for someone to write adolescence like the body horror it is, with all of the cultural specificity of being a Chinese American girl, simply bursting at the seams with sapphic longing. Chlorine stars Ren Yu, a swimmer who believes that she is a mermaid. But she is tethered to land by her human ambition: By the parents who constantly push her to achieve, and by a swim coach who pays inappropriate attention to her — pushing her to swim faster times, while also making her feel uncomfortable in her skin.

Ren’s steadfast belief in being a mermaid feels both like a flight of fancy, and increasingly like a means of dissociating from the horrors of everyday life. Being a young girl is hard enough without having to contend with the high expectations of parents, the predation of adult men, and the casual racism of peers. Jade Song’s writing is gruesomely lyrical, contrasting the sublime with the deeply disturbing. There were several points where this book almost made me throw up, and I mean that as a high compliment. — N. Clark

Lone Women by Victor LaValle

Adelaide Henry is traveling to Montana, where she plans on making a new life as a homesteader — leaving the flames of her California home, and the bodies of her parents, behind. But she has a heavy weight to carry. She lugs an enormous steam trunk wherever she goes; whenever the trunk opens, people around her die. In 1915, Montana is in the middle of a homestead boom, and though Adelaide aims to make a new start, not everyone is welcoming to a Black woman traveling alone.

Victor LaValle mixes horror and fantasy in this expertly paced tale. It’s satisfyingly bloody, while making incisive commentary on the price of being an outsider. The Western genre has long fixated on the white imagination, perhaps occasionally making space for the early struggle of the suffragettes. But LaValle’s vision of history emphasizes just how powerful white women are in upholding the interests of their white husbands, and how far these women will go to protect the societal structures that put them in proximity to power. Lone Women also examines how shame, and the family unit, ultimately uphold these unspoken rules — ostracizing those who might otherwise find community support.

This book was so good that I am now reading my way through every interview LaValle has given on the Lone Women press circuit, too, and then reading every book he references. What a gift! — N. Clark

The Strange by Nathan Ballingrud

Nathan Ballingrud’s debut novel was added to my TBR pile after seeing it marketed as a blend of Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles and Charles Portis’ True Grit. I’m always dubious about marketing comparisons, but was thrilled when The Strange delivered on this high promise.

In an alternate history where humanity colonized Mars in the early 1900s, the red planet has lost all communication with Earth, leaving the fate of 14-year-old Annabelle Crisp’s mother unknown. When a thief steals Annabelle’s sole voice recording of her mom, she and her beloved Kitchen Engine, Watson, set off into the desert to retrieve what’s hers and see justice served. The longer Annabelle’s adventure goes on, the more she loses perspective and drifts away from righteousness in dogged pursuit of her own selfish desires. Struggling to comprehend that the world can’t be divided into binaries like right or wrong and black or white, Annabelle converts her fear into anger, lashing out and harming those around her, including those providing aid.

Annabelle can be vengeful and cruel, and though I often disagreed with her choices, Ballingrud makes it impossible not to understand and empathize with her. Annabelle Crisp isn’t a hero and she isn’t a villain, but she is an outstanding protagonist in a wonderfully original sci-fi tale. — SG

The Lies of the Ajungo (The Forever Desert #1) by Moses Ose Utomi

In his debut novella, Moses Ose Utomi wields his precise prose to tell a dark, visceral fable about a young boy from the City of Lies, a metropolis reliant on the brutal Ajungo Empire for their supply of water. But the cost of this trade is high: At 13, every child of the City of Lies has their tongue cut out and sent to the Ajungo.

Even with this gruesome tithe, the Ajungo send barely enough water for the population to survive, and far from what they’d need to do so comfortably, let alone thrive. Shortly before his thirteenth birthday, the brave Tutu sets out on a dangerous journey to save his mother and the city by finding their own water supply. As Tutu explores the outside world for the first time, his perception of truth and history is challenged, and he comes to understand how the decisions and deceptions of those in power rewrite the past and shape the future to uphold those with privilege and foster compliance in those who don’t. — SG

Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton

Edward Ashton’s sequel to Mickey 7 , the 2022 novel Parasite director Bong Joon-ho is adapting as a movie starring Robert Pattinson , takes up two years after the first book left off, with “Expendable”-status planetary colonist Mickey still on the outs with the leadership of his struggling colony after a gutsy bluff he made to ensure his own survival. The sixth clone of the original Mickey, who accepted life as a disposable body for suicide missions in exchange for a ticket to space, Mickey 7 has walked off that job. His ongoing draw on the colony’s resources is only tolerated because he’s exaggerated his diplomatic connections with the local aliens. Then the base commander orders him to do something impossible, or the entire colony will die.

Antimatter Blues is knottier than the first book in the series, with more to take in about the ethics of survival and humanity’s predisposition toward xenophobia and selfish, self-serving behavior. It sure isn’t a pleasant book to read: A lot of Mickey’s co-colonists are bigots, most of them are indifferent to anyone else’s suffering, and at times, the book reads as though Earth deliberately sent all the worst people into space, the better to be free of them. Even Mickey himself is, at absolute minimum, generally more focused on his own safety and comfort than on the horrific results of some of his choices. But as soon as he’s placed in what seems like an unsurvivable situation, that dynamic leads to high drama, and Antimatter Blues becomes a breathless book rocketing to a surprising conclusion. Prepare to feel sorry for various alien races who have to deal with icky humanity. — TR

A Day of Fallen Night (The Roots of Chaos #0) by Samantha Shannon

Samantha Shannon’s A Day of Fallen Night is her second book in the Roots of Chaos series, but a prequel to The Priory of the Orange Tree . Like The Priory of the Orange Tree , A Day of Fallen Night is an epic, far-flung fantasy novel set in a world of magic and dragons. A Day of Fallen Night is set hundreds of years before The Priory of the Orange Tree , and follows several of the original book’s ancestors as the world fears the return of an evil wyrm, the Nameless One. You don’t have to have read The Priory of the Orange Tree to enjoy A Day of Fallen Night ; in fact, it’s likely a good place to start if you’ve been interested in reading Shannon’s original, massive fantasy book. Of course, this is a slow-burn 800-page book that precedes another 800-page book, so it’s definitely a time investment regardless of the path.

Though A Day of Fallen Night deals with a world-shaping, cataclysmic threat and widespread political machinations, the book is rooted within four characters from around the book’s world: Sabran, Glorian, Dumai, and Tunuva Melim. The stories of these characters intertwine as their regional beliefs tied to wyrms and dragons conflict, muddying up the necessary collaboration in fighting off the looming threat. In between all that catastrophe, Shannon gives the women of the book rich stories of personal relationships, sacrifice, and conflicting feelings. Motherhood and bodily autonomy are also strong themes throughout the book; both Sabran and Glorian (mother and daughter) have their bodily autonomy tied to the fate of their region.

It’s not easy to describe A Day of Fallen Night in a short blurb — it does so many things and goes so many places. Shannon’s created a series that has the scale of The Lord of the Rings, wrapped up in a world of queer, female power. The Roots of Chaos, as a whole, is one of my favorite fantasy series ever. — N. Carpenter

Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez

This literary tome defies categorization, so I’ll paint a scene instead: A father (Juan) whisks his son (Gaspar) away on a trip. Juan is mercurial; at turns terrifying and violent, at turns bewilderingly tender, nearly infinite in love. But he is a closed book. And if you think you’ve seen his hands elongate, spindly fingers yielding to piercing claws — well no, you didn’t.

Slow, dreadful, and razor-sharp, Our Share of Night charts a family’s desperate attempt at escaping the clutches of a death cult in Argentina. Its members seek the secrets of immortality, and many are willing to pay any price to obtain it. Set in 1981, the novel’s supernatural terrors intertwine with those of the Dirty War, the authoritarian violence offering cover for the cult to operate uninhibited.

I will read anything Mariana Enríquez writes next, it’s an absolute joy to experience her work. — N. Clark

The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz

The Terraformers concerns itself with one question: As a species evolves, what behaviors stick around? Set more than 50,000 years in the future (yes, you read that number right), The Terraformers details the process of terraforming and developing a privatized planet into a tourism joint for the super rich. Technology has advanced in barely fathomable ways, allowing, for instance, the extension of human-level intelligence to animals and robots. But some aspects of society might seem familiar: Real estate developers who jack up rent with no warning? Local governments that abhor public transit? That every video call still has one person who can’t get the camera to work?

Equal parts prescient and absurd, The Terraformers splits its story over three novellas, each 700 years apart. One of those stars a sentient train who teams up with an investigative journalist ... who also happens to be a cat ... who’s also trying to prove this ostensibly privatized planet is in fact public land. Written by a leading science journalist of our era (author Annalee Newitz is the founder of io9 and has written for basically every major science publication under our sun), The Terraformers is unexpectedly one of the most accurate representations of the journalistic process I’ve ever read. And it all culminates in an undeniable stance: That capitalistic power must still be held in check by the truth. Even 50,000 years in the future, a free press is among society’s most essential facets. The more things change... — Ari Notis

Children of Memory (Children of Time #3) by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s highly anticipated third book in the Children of Time trilogy once again delves into some of science fiction’s headiest topics. There are parallels to earlier installments — Tchaikovsky once again uses another hyper-intelligent animal species to examine the idea of what being “alive” really means. But he also takes readers somewhere completely and utterly new, outside the scope of the previous titles, and incredibly difficult to describe without spoiling the premise entirely.

All I can say is hold on for the ride. This is an author who dives head first into Asimov-esque ideas, and who is willing to take the plot in fanciful directions. I still can’t believe that I have recommended a book about sentient spider colonies to so many friends, but here we are. This finale is worth your time. — N. Clark

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• Science Fiction & Fantasy

The 40 best sci-fi books of all time

We take a look at the most exciting new sci-fi books and choose the best science fiction novels of all time..

From spectacular sequels and award-winning novels , to continuing adventures in science fiction's most popular universes, our list of sci-fi books includes some of the best new reads of 2024, the best of 2023 and our all-time picks. No matter what kind of science fiction fan you are – space opera, dystopian , or even classic sci-fi – our edit is packed full of must-reads . 

The best sci-fi books of 2024

By adrian tchaikovsky.

On the distant world of Kiln lie the ruins of an alien civilization. A great mystery awaits mankind: who were the builders and where are they now? These questions become brutally real for Professor Arton Daghdev, exiled from Earth to Kiln’s off-world labour camp due to his political activism. Facing the planet’s dangerous ecosystem and the camp's harsh regime, Arton fights for survival. Amidst these threats, Kiln holds a profound, fearsome secret, challenging the understanding of life and intelligence, and might be Arton's key to freedom.

Don't Miss

Adrian Tchaikovsky's books in order

Stories of your life and others, by ted chiang.

A sci-fi classic in a brand-new edition. From a soaring Babylonian tower that connects a flat Earth to the firmament above, to a world where angelic visitations are a wondrous and terrifying part of everyday life; from a neural modification that eliminates the appeal of physical beauty, to an alien language that challenges our very perception of time and reality, Chiang’s unique imagination invites us to question our understanding of the universe and our place in it.  Stories of Your Life and Others  is Ted Chiang's masterful debut collection.

In the Lives of Puppets

By tj klune.

In the Lives of Puppets  is a queer retelling of the Pinocchio tale, from bestselling author TJ Klune. In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees live three robots – fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Vic Lawson, a human, lives there too. The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled ‘HAP’, he learns of a shared dark past between the robots – a past spent hunting humans. The family, once hidden and safe, are now exposed. 

A complete guide to TJ Klune's books

By neal asher.

Rebellion could be their salvation – or their doom. War Bodies is a gripping, high-octane standalone set in Neal Asher's expansive Polity universe. In a world ruled by machines, the Cyberat face a rebellion when the human Polity arrives. Piper, raised as a weapon, seeks help from the Polity after his parents are captured by the oppressive regime. As war escalates, Piper must confront the enigmatic technology implanted in his own body. It could be the answer to their fight or the trigger for catastrophic consequences. The fate of civilization hangs in the balance as the battle unfolds.

The best sci-fi books of 2023

Fractal noise, by christopher paolini.

On the planet Talos VII, twenty-three years before the events of  To Sleep in a Sea of Stars , an anomaly is detected: a vast circular pit, with dimensions so perfect that it could only have been the result of conscious design. So a small team is assembled to learn more – perhaps even who built the hole and why. Their mission will take them on a hazardous trek to the very edge of existence. For xenobiologist Alex Crichton this opportunity is a desperate attempt to find meaning in an uncaring universe.  Fractal Noise  is the thrilling prequel to  To Sleep in a Sea of Stars  by   Christopher Paolini.

Starter Villain

By john scalzi.

John Scalzi brings us a turbo-charged tale of a family business with a difference, as Charlie discovers when he inherits it. It’s also way more dangerous than Charlie could ever have imagined, because his uncle had kept his supervillain status a secret. Divorced and emotionally dependent on his cat, Charlie wasn’t loving life. Now Charlie must decide if he should stay stuck in his rut, or step up to take on the business, the enemies, the minions, the hidden volcano lair. But there’s much more to being an Evil Mastermind than he suspected. Yet could this also, finally, be his chance to shine?

Douglas Adams's Starship Titanic

By terry jones.

From the minds of Douglas Adams and Terry Jones comes Starship Titanic. This is the 2023 edition of the hilarious novelization of the third-best adventure game of 1999. Get ready for the launch of the Starship Titanic, the grandest and most advanced spaceship ever built. But as architect Leovinus inspects the ship, he discovers alarming flaws: shoddy craftsmanship, malfunctioning cybersystems, and clumsy robots. The next day, as the galaxy watches, the ship starts its journey but quickly succumbs to a catastrophic failure. In mere moments, the ambitious project meets its end, setting the stage for an intriguing tale to unfold.

by Blake Crouch

Upgrade  is the mind-bending sci-fi thriller from Blake Crouch, author of Matter  and  Recursion . What if you were the next step in human evolution? If your concentration was better, if you could multitask quicker, read faster, memorize more? For Logan Ramsay, it’s happening. He knows that it’s not natural, that his genes have been hacked. He has been targeted for an upgrade, and with a terrifying plan in place to replicate his upgrade throughout the world’s population, he may be the only person capable of stopping what has already been set in motion.

Lords of Uncreation

After releasing Eyes of the Void earlier this year, Adrian Tchaikovsky brings us Lords of Uncreation, the final high-octane instalment in the Final Architecture space opera trilogy. Idris Telemmier has uncovered a secret that changes everything – the Architects’ greatest weakness. A shadowy Cartel scrambles to turn his discovery into a weapon against these alien destroyers of worlds. But between them and victory stands self-interest. The galaxy’s great powers would rather pursue their own agendas than stand together against this shared terror. If you are new to the series, discover all of Adrian Tchaikovsky's books in order below. 

by Hiron Ennes

A masterpiece of gothic sci-fi, Leech is unlike anything you've read before. In an isolated chateau, the baron's doctor has committed suicide, and the Interprovincial Medical Institute sends out a replacement. But the new physician soon discovers that his predecessor was hosting a parasite, which should have been impossible, as the physician was already possessed – by the Institute. For hundreds of years, the Institute has taken root in young minds and shaped them into doctors to protect humanity from the horrors their ancestors unleashed, but now there’s competition: a parasite is spreading.

by Sarah K Jackson

In the aftermath of a devastating microplastics storm that decimated humanity, Not Alone follows the journey of Katie and her son in a tale that intertwines heart-stopping adventure with the profound bond between a mother and child. Trapped within the confines of their apartment, they navigate a world where survival hinges on scavenging for sustenance. Katie, braves the dangers outside while Harry remains sheltered, oblivious to the truth of their existence. This remarkable debut delves into themes of love, trust, and hope while unmasking the imminent peril that looms over humanity as a whole.

The Kaiju Preservation Society

In New York, Jamie is a driver for food delivery apps, looking for any opportunity to escape his daily schedule. Then, after making a delivery to old acquaintance Tom, he gets the chance to escape more than just his delivery gig. Tom works for an animal rights organisation – but not any that you've heard of. Known as the 'Kaiju Preservation Society', Jamie unwittingly signs on with Tom to venture to the Earth of an alternate dimension, where massive dinosaur-like creatures called 'Kaiju' roam a human-free world. But they’re in trouble – the Society are not the only ones who have found their way to the Kaiju world. . .

Sea of Tranquillity

By emily st. john mandel.

It's 1912, and eighteen-year-old Edwin St. Andrew is on a journey across the Atlantic, having been exiled from society in England. Arriving in British Columbia, he enters a forest, mesmerised by the Canadian wilderness. All is silent, before the notes of a violin reverberate through the air. Two centuries later, and acclaimed author Olive Llewelyn is travelling over the earth, on a break from her home in the second moon colony. At the heart of her bestselling novel, a man plays a violin for spare change in the corridor of an airship terminal, as a forest rises around him. This compelling novel immerses the reader in parallel worlds, and multiple possibilities.

A complete guide to Emily St. John Mandel

Ursula has lived twice the normal human lifespan, courtesy of the latest technology. But now she’s struggling to find excitement and purpose, so signs up to the Polity’s military. But after botching a powerful new ammunition test, she’s dismissed from service. Hunting for a simpler, more meaningful existence, she heads for the stars. And after founding a colony on the hostile planet of Threpsis, Ursula finally feels alive. Then deadly raptors attack and the colonists are forced to adapt in unprecedented ways. The raptors also raise a deeply troubling question: how could the Polity miss these apex predators? And alien ruins? 

Exodus: The Archimedes Engine

By peter f. hamilton.

Forty-thousand years ago, humanity fled a dying Earth and found a far cluster of stars with thousands of potentially habitable planets. In the years since, the Centauri Cluster has flourished. The original settlers evolved into advanced beings known as Celestials, and any remaining humans must fight for survival against overwhelming odds. Enter Finn. When another ark ship from Earth, previously thought lost, unexpectedly arrives, he sees his chance to embrace a greater destiny and become a Traveler – brave heroes dedicated to ensuring humanity’s future by journeying into the vast unknown of distant space.

Peter F. Hamilton's far-future novel is set in the same universe as new online RP game Exodus on which the author is a creative consultant.

The best sci-fi books of 2022

By terry miles.

Rabbits is an electrifying, compulsive read based on the hit podcast from the Public Radio Alliance – perfect for fans of  Stranger Things  and  Black Mirror . Rabbits is a secret, dangerous and sometimes fatal underground game. The rewards for winning are unclear, but there are rumours of money, CIA recruitment or even immortality. Or it might unlock the universe’s greatest secrets. But everyone knows that the deeper you get, the more deadly the game becomes – and the body count is rising. The eleventh round is about to begin, and what happens in the game, stays in the game . . . 

Children of Memory

Spanning generations, species and galaxies, best-selling author Adrian Tchaikovsky gives us the unmissable follow-up to Children of Time and Children of Ruin. Years after arkships were sent to establish new outposts following the failure of Earth, a fragile colony has managed to survive on Imir. But, existence here is a far cry from the paradise the initial mission intended. When strangers appear, society on Imir begins to fracture as neighbour turns against neighbour. But, perhaps some other intelligence is also at work, toying with colonists and space-fearing scientists alike . . .

Set in the same world as Neal Asher's acclaimed Polity universe, Jack Four is a thrilling, fast-paced standalone novel packed with action. Jack Four – one of twenty human clones – has been created to be sold. His purchasers are the alien prador and they only want him for their experimentation program. But there is something different about Jack. No clone should possess the knowledge that’s been loaded into his mind. And no normal citizen of humanity’s Polity worlds would have this information. . .

A Desolation Called Peace

By arkady martine.

This spectacular sequel to Arkady Martine’s Hugo Award-winning debut sci-fi book sees the Teixcalaanli Empire facing an alien threat which could bring about its complete destruction. Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus is all that stands between the empire and all-out war, so in desperation, he sends an envoy to negotiate with the mysterious invaders. Whether they succeed or fail could change the face of Teixcalaan forever. Arkady Martine’s Teixcalaan duology is a must-read for fans of epic space opera. 

Invisible Sun

By charles stross.

In this chillingly resonant dystopian adventure, two versions of America are locked in conflict. The New American Commonwealth is caught in a deadly arms race with the USA, its parallel-world rival. And the USA’s technology is decades ahead. Yet the Commonweath might self-combust first – for its leader has just died, leaving a crippling power vacuum. Minister Miriam Burgeson must face allegations of treason without his support, in a power grab by her oldest adversary. Invisible Sun  is the final installment in Charles Stross’s Empire Games trilogy.

The Black Locomotive

By rian hughes.

Prepare for a riveting tale that explores the delicate balance between progress and the timeless wisdom of bygone eras. Within the robust framework of London's concrete and steel, the city thrives on innovation and progress. However, as the clandestine Crossrail extension beneath Buckingham Palace is constructed, an enigmatic anomaly emerges, presenting an archaeological enigma that has the potential to reshape our perception of history and the very genesis of London. Should our contemporary society crumble, we may find ourselves compelled to embrace the ancient technologies of the past to safeguard our future.

Shards of Earth

Shoot into outer space with Adrian Tchaikovsky's high-octane, far-future space opera series. Eighty years ago, Earth was destroyed by an alien enemy. So mankind created enhanced humans ­such as Idris – who could communicate mind-to-mind with our aggressors. Then these ‘Architects’ simply disappeared and Idris and his kind became obsolete. Now, Idris and his crew have something strange, abandoned in space. It’s clearly the work of the Architects – but are they really returning? Shards of Earth is the first epic story in the Final Architecture trilogy. 

The best sci-fi books of all time

Named in Barack Obama's 2019 summer reading list, this groundbreaking collection of science fiction short stories is the second from acclaimed author Ted Chiang. In these nine stunningly original and poignant stories, we encounter a portal through time in ancient Baghdad, a scientist who makes a shocking discovery that will affect all of humanity and a woman who cares for an AI ‘pet’ for over twenty years. Addressing, among others, essential questions around the nature of the universe and what it means to be human, this is science fiction writing at its most thoughtful.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By douglas adams.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy began life as a Radio 4 show in 1978 and has since spawned adaptations across almost every format, making it a staple on every respectable list of the best sci-fi books. Following the galactic adventures of Arthur Dent after his house's untimely demolition to make way for a new hyperspace express route, this new edition of 'The Guide' features exclusive bonus archive material and a new introduction from Russell T. Davies. This classic science fiction novel is a must-read for fans of the genre. 

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books: a complete guide

Classic science fiction stories, by adam roberts.

Bringing you aliens from outer space, intriguing inventions, zany future tech and whole imaginative worlds to explore, this collection of short stories is a treasure. From the 1750s to the start of the twentieth century, it includes work by star authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, H. G. Wells and H. P. Lovecraft, as well as giving a voice to less acclaimed but equally brilliant writers including Florence McLandburgh and Ambrose Bierce. Macmillan Collector’s Library titles come cloth-bound, with gold foil edges and handy ribbon markers.

Station Eleven

On a snowy night in Toronto, renowned actor Arthur Leander dies on stage, coinciding with the arrival of a devastating virus in North America. Two decades later, Kirsten, a member of the Travelling Symphony, brings Shakespeare's words to life in the settlements that have emerged post-collapse. However, her newfound hope is jeopardized, prompting a critical question: in a world devoid of civilization, what is worth safeguarding? And to what lengths would one go to ensure its preservation? A dreamily atmospheric novel set in the eerie days of civilization's collapse, Emily St John Mandel's Station Eleven is a must-read. 

Pandora's Star

Earth 2329: Humanity has spread across the galaxy, colonising hundreds of planets linked by wormholes. Finally, there is peace. But when stars thousands of light years away start to vanish, ex-NASA astronaut Wilson Kime is sent to discover the cause. Travelling in his faster-than-light spaceship, Kime arrives to find the stars imprisoned in an immense force field. Entire star systems are sealed off. But who could possess this technology? And were they trying to keep us out, or keep something else in? Pandora's Star is the first part of Peter F. Hamilton's epic Commonwealth Saga duology. 

The City & The City

By china miéville.

A mind-bending tale of two cities that exist alongside each other in the same time and space, this award-winning book is a murder mystery taken to dazzling metaphysical and artistic heights. When the body of a woman is found in the decaying city of Beszel, somewhere at the edge of Europe, it looks like a routine case for Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad. But as he probes, the evidence begins to point to conspiracies far stranger and more deadly than anything he could have imagined. China Miéville combines crime fiction with sci-fi in this strange and gripping tale of murder and conspiracy.

by Colson Whitehead

  Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Colson Whitehead was inspired to write this apocalyptic sci-fi novel because of his teenage fascination with the work of Stephen King and Issac Asimov. A plague has ravaged the planet, and the population is divided into the living and the living dead. Mark Spitz is working on a task force to clear the infested from ‘Zone One’, but things quickly go from bad to worse . . . 

This high concept sci-fi thriller asks the question: what if someone could rewrite your entire life? When Detective Barry Sutton is called to help a woman threatening to jump from a building, he’s unaware of the series of events the incident will trigger. Unable to stop the woman taking her own life, the last words she says to him are ‘My son has been erased.’ As Barry begins to investigate her case, he finds she’s not the only one making such claims. All over the country, people are waking up to different lives, an epidemic the media have dubbed ‘False Memory Syndrome’. But what if the cause is more sinister than a disease?

A Memory Called Empire

Arkady Martine's debut sci-fi book is an immersive political space opera for fans of Ann Leckie and Iain M. Banks.  A Memory Called Empire  introduces the idea of a technology by which a select few can carry their predecessors in their minds and take advantage of their wisdom and memories. Ambassador Mahit Dzmare travels to the Teixcalaanli Empire’s interstellar capital, eager to take up her new post. Yet when she arrives, she discovers her predecessor was murdered. But no one will admit his death wasn’t accidental – and she might be next. This is the first book in the  Texicalaan duology . 

War of the Worlds

By h. g. wells.

The inspiration for countless science fiction stories and novels, H. G. Wells’s sci-fi classic is a must for any science fiction fan’s bookshelf. Written in semi-documentary style, the 1938 radio adaptation famously caused panic when listeners believed the fictional new bulletins were real, and this novel about a terrifying alien invasion still grips readers to this day. 

by Nnedi Okorafor

Binti is the first person in her family to be accepted at the prestigious Oomza University, but to take up the place will mean leaving all she knows for a new life travelling among the stars. And there are dangers in this new life, for the university has long warred with a nightmare alien race called the Meduse . . . This Hugo Award-winning novella is the first in Nnedi Okorafor’s science fiction series. 

by Frank Herbert

Frank Herbert’s science fiction classic is one of the bestselling sci-fi books of all time and was adapted into the film of the same name directed by David Lynch. Set 20,000 years in the future, the universe depends on the supply of Melange, a rare element, which can be used for everything from extending life-spans to interstellar travel. This precious element is found on only a single planet, Arrakis. And whoever controls Arrakis controls the universe . . . 

Frankenstein

By mary shelley.

Mary Shelley's story of a man who creates a monster he cannot control was a precursor of modern science fiction and a must-read for any sci-fi fans wanting to understand the history of the genre. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but wayward scientist, builds a human from dead flesh. Horrified at what he has done, he abandons his creation. The hideous creature learns language and becomes civilized but society rejects him. Spurned, he seeks vengeance on his creator. 

Lovecraft Country

By matt ruff.

An imaginative blend of magic, power, hope, and freedom that stretches across time, touching diverse members of two Black families, Matt Ruff's sci-fi horror is a devastating kaleidoscopic portrait of racism – the terrifying specter that continues to haunt us today. Set in Chicago, 1954 – Atticus Turner embarks on a road trip, along with his uncle and childhood friend, in search of his missing father. But soon they encounter both mundane terrors of white America and malevolent spirits that seem straight out of the weird tales Uncle George devours. 

by Octavia E. Butler

The first science fiction written by a black woman, Kindred is a cornerstone of American literature. Dana's 26th birthday takes a surreal turn when dizziness overcomes her during a move into a new apartment.  In an instant, she is transported to a verdant wood by a sprawling river, where a distressed child's cries pierce the air. Acting instinctively, she rescues him, only to face the alarming sight of an aged rifle in the hands of the boy's father.  The next thing she knows she's back in her apartment, soaking wet. It's the most terrifying experience of her life . . .  until it happens again.

2001: A Space Odyssey

By arthur c. clarke.

2001: A Space Odyssey takes readers from the ancient savannas of Africa to the outer reaches of our solar system. It is an allegory of humanity's quest for knowledge in the vast universe, and the universe's mysterious response. Follow the crew of the Discovery spacecraft as they venture towards Saturn, their mission overseen by the formidable HAL 9000, an advanced AI that challenges the boundaries of human intellect. Exploring themes of space exploration, technological risks, and the bounds of human potential, this marvel remains an enduring classic of monumental proportions.

Consider Phlebas

By iain m. banks.

First published in 1987, Consider Phlebas is the first book in Iain M. Banks's The Culture series, a classic space opera about an interstellar post-scarcity society. The Idirans fought for their Faith, while the Culture defended its moral existence. Within the cosmic conflict, an individual crusade. Deep within a fabled labyrinth on a barren world, a Planet of the Dead proscribed to mortals, lay a fugitive Mind. Both the Culture and the Idirans sought it. It was the fate of Horza, the Changer, and his motley crew of unpredictable mercenaries, human and machine, actually to find it, and with it their own destruction.

by Isaac Asimov

In the first novel in Isaac Asimov's classic science-fiction masterpiece, we travel to a sprawling galaxy on the brink of collapse. But a brilliant mathematician named Hari Seldon predicts the impending downfall. To safeguard civilization's future, Seldon establishes the Foundation, a covert organization tasked with preserving knowledge and shaping the course of history. As empires rise and fall, political intrigue intertwines with scientific brilliance, offering a captivating blend of epic scope, intricate plotting, and profound exploration of humanity's destiny.

Leviathan Wakes

By james s. a. corey.

Set in a future where humanity has colonized the solar system, tensions between Earth, Mars, and the Belt threaten to ignite a catastrophic war. Amidst this turmoil, a missing person's case leads a hardened detective and a disillusioned ship captain to uncover a conspiracy that could plunge the entire system into chaos. James S.A. Corey weaves a masterful tale, blending exhilarating action, intricate world-building, and complex characters. With its seamless blend of mystery, political intrigue, and interstellar adventure, Leviathan Wakes is the first book in The Expanse series, now also a major TV series. 

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

By philip k. dick.

Set in a post-apocalyptic future, where the line between humans and androids blurs, Do Andorids Dream of Electric Sheep? follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter tasked with tracking down rogue androids hiding among society. As Deckard's pursuit intensifies, moral dilemmas arise, blurring the boundaries of empathy and identity. Dick's mesmerizing prose transports you to a world filled with existential questions, intricate plot twists, and profound reflections on what it means to be human. This masterpiece served as the basis for the 1982 film Blade Runner and is a dystopian sci-fi must-read. 

Brave New World

By aldous huxley.

Largely set in a futuristic World State, inhabited by genetically modified citizens and an intelligence-based social hierarchy, Brave New World anticipates huge scientific advancements in reproductive technology, sleep-learning, psychological manipulation and classical conditioning that are combined to make a dystopian society which is challenged by only a single individual: the story's protagonist. With its seamless fusion of science fiction, social critique, and philosophical depth, the book challenges societal norms, sparks introspection, and reveals the delicate balance between freedom and conformity. 

The Martian

By andy weir.

A survival story for the 21st century and the international bestseller behind the major film by Ridley Scott. Stranded alone on Mars after a mission gone awry, astronaut Mark Watney must summon every ounce of his resourcefulness and resilience to survive. With limited supplies, daunting challenges, and a tenacious spirit, Watney uses his scientific expertise to defy the odds and find a way back home. Weir's masterful storytelling, filled with equal parts wit and tension, immerses you in the harsh beauty of Mars while showcasing the indomitable human spirit. 

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Reviews :: Book Genre :: Science Fiction

This archive contains links to all of the Science Fiction Book Reviews we've written over the years. Everything from light stuff like Star Wars to the heavy duty hitters like Reynolds. If you've come here looking for something in that realm, you're in luck! We just happen to have more than a few suggestions lying around the place waiting for your perusal.

If you're looking for something else, say a book in another genre or maybe just any book that we happened to think was awesome-sauce, browse around the site for a bit and check out our reviews.

Just don't forget to let us know what you thought of a book you've read or if there's a suggestion you have for something we'd like to read! We're always looking for some brilliant new escape into the worlds of science and the universe.

• The Far Reaches

It seems like my social media feeds have been getting slammed lately by ads for this new anthology of science fiction stories put together by Amazon. Almost seemed to double in frequency after I got them, oddly enough. Sometimes it just boggles my mind how much money must flow through the coffers of social media ads, and I can’t help but wonder how much of it goes to absolute waste. In this case, it got me to pick them up, but everything since then? Yeah.

You’ll notice that our image doesn’t match the name of the collection. Yup. Thank you e-book collections. So, instead I just included the cover for the best story in the group. Hint hint. Wink wink. Nudge nudge. Read the rest of this review »

If there are any core concepts more central to the genre of science fiction than mind-bending ideas, awe-inspiring vistas, and grand adventure, I don’t know what they are. In the relatively short time period since the fantasy genre has split from it, and stories written under its guise have taken us up and out into the cosmos, many authors have endeavored to fill the space with their version of the best kind of fiction. I may be biased, but in my view there is no better fiction than great science fiction. And Alastair Reynolds is writing some of the best science fiction there is. Read the rest of this review »

• Legionnaire

I’m always on the lookout for a great, quick read, and when I came across this one, I decided pretty quickly that it fit the bill. Read the rest of this review »

• The Heirs of Babylon

I haven’t read near enough Glen Cook.

I keep telling myself this, and yet my penchant for continuing to push his books down my TBR pile is, quite frankly, fairly embarrassing. I actually received this book quite some time ago, and only recently took the chance to read it. Mainly because it was short and I needed to get to something short. One of these days I’m going to figure out how to get ahead of the review game again, and have these things scheduled out. Until then, one foot in front of the other. Read the rest of this review »

Primordial Threat

This is one of those reads that I took on a whim. Prior to it, I hadn’t come across this author or any of his books. Taking a quick look at his back log, he’s put out quite a few, across a surprising number of genres. Found out after the read, that this book had been part of the first year of the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition, which I thought was pretty cool. Although, after seeing online how voraciously the author tackles the concepts of self-publication and marketing, it didn’t surprise me in the slightest that he would have been one of those to throw his hat into the ring that first year. In my opinion, he pushes the boundaries, in many respects, as to what can be accomplished as a self-published author. Smart dude for sure. Read the rest of this review »

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn

This book has an interesting title. Don’t you think? I must admit, it threw me for a bit of a loop the first time I saw it. Same for the series name. Didn’t quite know what to think after the initial announcement. Excitement for a new Mark Lawrence book? Well, yeah, of course. But what kind of book was this going to be? Any idea as to whether or not it would be connected to the rest of his books, as they all seem to be so far? It sure didn’t sound like it. But there was always the chance. And so, alas, not a book that I pre-ordered, but when I got the chance to get an eArc, I was in. Of course, I was. What kind of question is that? THE BOOK THAT WOULDN’T BURN is the first of a new projected trilogy from Mr. Mark Lawrence, one of our favorite authors here at EBR. Although, given this guy’s throughput, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest to find out that he’d already penned (at the very least) the first draft of the last line of the series. Guy produces. Evar and Livira are two […] Read the rest of this review »

We’re long-standing proponents of the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off ( EBR Archive ) here at EBR. Even though we haven’t thrown our hat into the reviewer-ring in quite some time, we still believe in both the importance and efficacy of that contest, and have nothing but great things to say about it and those who continue to run it. Thankfully, there are those who believe that Science Fiction authors should also have those same kind of opportunities (Hugh Howey). Enter The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition ( SPSFC ).

This book happens to be the winner of the first year of that contest.

And also? It’s awesome. Read the rest of this review »

Empire of Silence

This is a book that I likely would not have picked up of my own accord. Instead, my reading of it came on the shoulders of the recommendation of a trusted friend. Not that anything in particular made me shy away from the book. These days I just tend to avoid anything resembling large-ish science fiction tomes that don’t also come with a strong recommendation from someone I trust. My poor experience with the genre in general, I guess, but this won’t be news to those that follow our site. Read the rest of this review »

Project Hail Mary

When Ryland Grace wakes up on his spaceship, he doesn’t know where he is at first. For the first few chapters it is this very mystery that compels you to keep reading because you must know what’s going on. Who he is. Why he’s there. And what happened. Fortunately, Andy Weir doesn’t keep you in suspense for very long. If you loved THE MARTIAN, you’ll love PROJECT HAIL MARY. Read the rest of this review »

Broken Angels

So, a few months ago, one of our readers commented on my review for ALTERED CARBON ( EBR Review ) that I should look into the second and third books in this series. If I’m being completely honest, I wasn’t too high on the idea, as I’ve never really been overly enamored with Richard K. Morgan’s books. Still I thanked the reader for the comment and proceeded on my merry way.

Then, randomly, I found a copy of the second book in the series at one of the second-hand bookstores that I frequent, and the thing was only two bucks. The thickness of the spine made it look like it was going to be relatively short too. So, I picked it up with no real intention to read it any time soon. But the opportunity to dive in was quickly afforded me when I was asked to chaperone for a couple days at a girl’s camp my daughter was attending. All I needed to do was be present. So I figured, why not grab a quick read and see what came of it?

And here we are.

I mention all this mostly because at no point in this whole process did I think there was going to be any chance that I might actually like this book.

Man, do I love being surprised. Read the rest of this review »

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Today’s Women in SF&F Month guest is speculative fiction author Premee Mohamed ! Her short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies, including The Book of Witches and Robotic Ambitions: Tales of Mechanical Sentience ; in Slate ‘s Future Tense Fiction series of stories about science and technology; and in many publications, including Analog , Escape Pod ,  Fireside , and PodCastle . She is also the author of several longer works, such as the Aurora Award–winning post-apocalyptic novella The Annual Migration of Clouds , the Nebula and World Fantasy Award–winning novella And What Can We Offer You Tonight , and the novels in the Beneath the Rising series, which includes books nominated for the Locus and British Fantasy Awards. She has had two books released in the last couple of months, The Siege of Burning Grass and The Butcher of the Forest , and We Speak Through the Mountain is coming in June. I’m thrilled she’s here today with “Speculative War and Writing What You Cannot Know.”

Speculative War and Writing What You Cannot Know

If we can start with a shocking, even unspeakable opinion, then let’s start there: Murder is bad and we shouldn’t do it. If we can expand from that (do we dare?): Ordering people to murder is also bad and we shouldn’t do that either.

But we do. And we do. And we have for millennia. What is wrong with us?

I’ve never held to the idea that writers should only ‘write what we know.’ It’s constraining to the point of parochialism, it’s an embarrassment to say out loud. Even when people mean it to be expanded into ‘Writers should research what they don’t know,’ I don’t like it. Just as an example, I don’t know anything about what it’s like to go to war (even though I’ve literally read a book entitled What It Is Like To Go To War by Karl Marlantes: it didn’t help) but I write about it all the same—stubbornly, repeatedly, year after year.

Most recently, my novel The Siege of Burning Grass deals with a war in progress, and a pair of mismatched pawns shoved across a colossal chessboard by one side in an effort to win it (they carefully avoid saying ‘end’ it). My novella The Butcher of the Forest deals with the aftermath of a war of colonization, and an arrogantly invasive out-group refusing to seek out the knowledge of a subjugated in-group. My short stories have covered war against zombies ( Instructions ), nuclear powers ( Sixteen Minutes ), other humans ( Four Hours of a Revolution, The General’s Turn ), nature ( The Arrival of the New World ), and gods (too many to list). Arguably, I’m obsessed with war in a speculative setting. Why?

Writer and filmmaker David Mamet has described an author’s motivation to return to specific subjects as their bruise—something they repeatedly touch to see if it still hurts. Usually, he suggests, this is something they simply ‘can’t figure.’ His example is a young playwright who is enraged by personal and systemic racism, feeling it should be eradicated by now, and so keeps writing about racism in play after play because they want to comprehend what seems to be incomprehensible, either because it’s so obvious or because it’s so opaque.

I’m the same way about war. It pains me even from my immense moral and physical distance, so I keep returning to it, hoping rather than expecting that at some point, in some piece, I’ll arrive at a conclusion to make it stop hurting. I’ve read hundreds of books about war and related topics over the years: the evolution of weapons, changes to strategy, the lives of officers, memoirs of the enlisted, sociological studies of pre- and post-war populations and economies, the psychology of war, the philosophy of war, as well as the usual reams of basic historical accounts. This group attacked that group, this country attacked that country, it went on for so many years, so many people died, etc.

I’ve been down in the trenches with young men watching their toes rot off, and up in the control rooms watching timers count down, and I still don’t understand it . There’s always a point where we can step back from deliberately, cold-bloodedly taking a human life, no matter the provocation. And to say not only can we not, but we can’t on a giant scale—that makes me despair for what I know about human nature, and maybe think that I’m wrong about humanity overall.

For me, this is where fiction comes in. Just as someone writing graphically about murder or torture may not be able to imagine themself doing it, they must be able to imagine a character doing it to write about it convincingly, and to justify the character’s desires and motivations. I have to explore this glaring void in our humanity through the filter of made-up worlds.

Why speculative war instead of historical fiction then? I like N.K. Jemisin’s reasoning around speculative fiction in general: Sometimes we need to write about the world next to ours in order to remove the confounding factors about our own world. In this way we can convey our ideas more clearly—forgoing the tangled mess of real history, and constructing simpler, purer geometries consisting of only those things we want to focus on. (A friend suggested that if I had taken out all the speculative elements from The Siege of Burning Grass and set it in the Balkans, it might be up for the Man Booker prize. But that wasn’t the goal.)

In genre work, particularly sci-fi and fantasy, the author is counting on the reader to do two things. The first is just to expect genre—that is, to be prepared for, even eager to see, a certain level of worldbuilding and imagination that deviates from the real world. The second is to do some of the work—the world we build in the story is collaborative, and the reader, we hope, will bring in their own images, ideas, and details as they read.

But when I write about war, I don’t want the reader to bring in a backpack full of knowledge about real wars and their outcomes. That’s one of the variables I’d like to control in the fictional experiment, just as I want to focus on characters rather than real historical figures, so that I can highlight other story components: the trauma, atrocity, and immorality of war. Instead of the way things did turn out, I want readers to focus on the narrative uncertainty of how things might turn out, in a much more contained setting.

Particularly in The Siege of Burning Grass , what I wanted to explore was character agency through the lens of knowing that real people generally have very little agency in life, and even less in times of war. Generations of editors and readers have been trained to seek out and approve only those stories where the active characters, veritable locomotives of independence and individualism, force their way through every obstacle in the perfect circle of the Hero’s Journey, blowing up mountains and filling in swamps, laying the track of their lives as they go. Whereas in real life, we’re all vaguely aware that everything from the food in our fridge, to our commute to work, to the jobs that we’re trained and hired to do, to where we can live, the roads we traverse, the quality of the air we breathe, is all the result of the communities, systems, and institutions that control our lives to the point where our everyday movements are genuinely so limited we may as well be living in a shoebox.

It’s true that it’s nice to read stories about ‘active’ characters as escapism, but we should show some respect to ‘passive’ characters who, after all, have the advantage of verisimilitude. Alefret is coerced into his mission with threats to his friends and his own freedom; his minder, Qhudur the military fanatic, is going because he was ordered to (also, he’s a fanatic). As with virtually all military operations, the decisionmakers at the top are the only ones with ‘agency,’ and their goal is to use it to make everyone else do what they’re told.

In the world of the story, the volunteer recruits have run out long ago; they’re well into conscription, another uncomfortable topic to address in the microcosm of a novel (also, I would be remiss not to shout out Matt Wallace’s Savage Legion series here, as the titular legion of conscripts is, unusually for epic fantasy, the focus of the three books). War is about bodily autonomy, and it’s the starkest example of how easily and completely it can be taken from the average person by powerful people, for reasons that may not be logical, moral, or even rational. Conflict versus cooperation or collaboration or compromise is another thing I have to address in writing about war; stories, we’re told, all stories, have to run on conflict. Conflict is the story engine, or else why bother? And so with the real world: When disagreements arise on a large scale, it’s true that sometimes we can talk our way out of things getting violent, or buy or scheme or negotiate our way out. But when those fail, I almost still cannot believe the final recourse is “I’m sending my people to murder your people.”

Writing about war means writing about failure, and I’m so uncomfortable with it I feel I have to keep doing it. I also have to keep circling back to the collateral damage of war, which decisionmakers have historically either taken heroically in stride (“It can’t be avoided”) or aimed directly at (“It’ll help us win the war”). In Siege , I discuss the civilian-killing actions both sides take to deny resources like timber or livestock to the enemy; in These Lifeless Things I focus on civilians surviving the guerrilla war ongoing in their city, avoiding being targeted by the enemy and finding food, water, and shelter.

Particularly in the intersection between cosmic horror and military stories, I also want to explore the trope of the traditional cosmic horror ‘villain’ as an ancient being or pantheon of unimaginable power and knowledge, who can therefore either wipe humanity off the face of the planet or will simply not notice or care that that’s an option—uncomfortably similar, again, to military commanders who consider noncombatants either an obstacle or a conceptual sacrifice, perfectly reasonable to make in order to achieve their other objectives. In my Void trilogy of novels ( Beneath the Rising, A Broken Darkness, The Void Ascendant ), the main question that gets asked is: How can you wage war when only one side can fight? What can humanity do against insurmountable odds? Why bother, when you get right down to it, fighting at all when you know you cannot defeat your aggressor? Who buckles, who collaborates, who goes underground, who continues to resist, and why?

In The Butcher of the Forest , the only way to avoid the dangers of the forest (which itself checks many boxes for the average cosmic horror antagonist!) is to possess knowledge about it, and again war ruins this: The Tyrant and his people are outsiders who have waged war to take possession of Veris’ region, and they regard their latest conquests as resources to be used up rather than human beings to connect with and learn from. As a result, the conflict that kicks off the story is the Tyrant’s children going missing in a forest that poses no danger to the local children, because they know to avoid it. In many of my stories I want to dig into the ‘why’ of war, and ‘war to colonize’ is another topic I cover better in a speculative setting, so that I can speak about and around the violent history of India and the Caribbean, where my family is from.

It’s not that I enjoy writing about dehumanization, forced migration, famine, enslavement, imprisonment, starvation, torture, death, disease, and all the other atrocities attendant upon war; it’s that this is the bruise that keeps hurting me, compelling me to write till I get to the bottom of it. Not that I intend to spend my entire career writing about war in speculative settings, but certainly I have not gotten to the end of it yet. And unfortunately, neither has humanity.

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• Author: Kristen
• Tags: Premee Mohamed , Speculative Fiction , Women In Fantasy , Women in Horror , Women in Science Fiction , Women in SF&F Month 2024 , Women in SF&F Month 2024 Guest Post , Writing  

Women in SF&F Month opens today with a guest post by Nebula and Locus Award–winning author Samantha Mills — and a giveaway of her upcoming science fantasy debut novel, The Wings Upon Her Back ! Her short fiction has been published in Strange Horizons , Uncanny Magazine , Beneath Ceaseless Skies , and others, and her stories have appeared on the Locus Recommended Reading List and the BSFA Awards longlist. “ Rabbit Test ,” her most recent short story, won the Nebula Award, the Locus Award, and the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, and it was included in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2023 . The Wings Upon Her Back , which is coming out in trade paperback and digital formats on April 23, has garnered starred reviews from Booklist , Library Journal , and Publishers Weekly . More information on the book follows with more on how to win a copy below “The WIP of Theseus,” her essay about a question she explores in her debut novel.

About THE WINGS UPON HER BACK :

A loyal warrior in a crisis of faith must fight to regain her place and begin her life again while questioning the events of her past. This gripping science-fantasy novel from a Nebula, Sturgeon, and Locus Award-winning debut author is a complex, action-packed exploration of the costs of zealous faith, ceaseless conflicts, and unquestioning obedience. [STARRED REVIEW] “A triumphant debut novel.” — Booklist [STARRED REVIEW] “This cathartic adventure will stay with readers long after the final page.” — Publishers Weekly [STARRED REVIEW] “VERDICT Mills’s debut novel is complex and haunting, filled with beautiful prose and timely themes of political and religious upheaval and personal journeys.” — Library Journal Zenya was a teenager when she ran away from home to join the mechanically-modified warrior sect. She was determined to earn mechanized wings and protect the people and city she loved. Under the strict tutelage of a mercurial, charismatic leader, Zenya became Winged Zemolai. But after twenty-six years of service, Zemolai is disillusioned with her role as an enforcer in an increasingly fascist state. After one tragic act of mercy, she is cast out and loses everything she worked for. As Zemolai fights for her life, she begins to understand the true nature of her sect, her leader, and the gods themselves.

The WIP of Theseus Samantha Mills

What is the heart of a story? This is something I think about a lot during the planning process, when the work is still shifting, clarifying, taking shape. It’s something I think about again during the editing process, when I’m chopping it apart, replacing/removing/combining characters, adding subplots. Is it still the same story it was at the start? At what point is it something new?

In 2020, Uncanny Magazine published a story of mine called “Anchorage.” The original idea was for a haunted apartment complex. It was going to be told from the perspective of a ghost wandering multiple floors, observing but unobserved, piecing together the story of this place. Then somewhere along the way I got bored and the setting changed to space, and instead of a ghost it was a robot. But I wasn’t satisfied with the robot, either, so it developed into something much more enthusiastic and strange. Also, now there was an anchorage floating around out there, and a persistent problem with lichen.

Is it the same story? I could still write the ghost story if I wanted to, and I don’t think anyone would say I was copying myself — even if deep down it would feel like I was exploring the same sense of isolation, the same story of an observer who loves the people she observes, but can’t connect with them in the way she really wants. Was it a new story as soon as I changed the setting? Did the anchorage make it wholly unrecognizable from the ghost story, or was it the lichen? Maybe I just keep telling the same handful of stories over again, with the settings changed and my perspective maturing over time.

As a society we’re drawn to retellings, too, but there’s a point where they evolve so far that the source material is barely more than a nod and a wink. Is The Lion King really Hamlet? If not, what tipped it over the line from remake to inspired-by? Perhaps more difficult to pinpoint: is every stage production of Hamlet the same Hamlet? Or is it a new play with every cast change, directorial decision, set design, degree to which the script may or may not be abridged?

If you watch the same stage run of the same script five nights in a row, is it new every night? Why or why not?

If we get real galaxy brain about it, we can conclude that yes, every tiny difference creates something unique and therefore different , tada, take that, check and mate.

But in practice, this simply isn’t true for reader experience, and reader experience is the world I’m living in! Swapping out character names isn’t enough to dodge a plagiarism charge, and even an earnestly written work can be branded derivative, cliché, too tropey even for its trope-lovers.

What makes an old story fresh? What makes a work of art satisfyingly different from the works that came before, whether accidentally or deliberately in conversation with them? We want to scratch the same old itches; we also want to be surprised and entertained. Make it familiar, but make it fresh , is the advice we’re often given as writers.

All of this goes into planning a new book. It has to be the same enough to fit on a shelf in one’s genre, but it has to be different enough to stand out. And in the course of editing, an author might tug it a little more in one direction or the other, weirding it up or dialing it back, attempting to find that sweet spot of familiar-but-fresh while still clinging to the story they are really trying to tell, at the heart of the thing.

I became so interested in this question that it leaked into the book that would become my debut, The Wings Upon Her Back . I wrote the first draft in 2017, pregnant with my second child, working by day and taking care of a toddler at night, feverishly trying to get something, anything on paper. That draft was about emotional abuse, an exercise in exorcism as I worked through lingering questions about a relationship that was nearly a decade in my past. Over the next several years my perspective matured, and subsequent drafts looked at the situation from more nuanced angles. It became less about a single moment in time, and more about cycles, the things we pass on, changes wrought over time. An essay crept into the text, a new thesis laid out in interludes between the main action.

I began to wonder if it was the same book I’d started with — and I began to wonder about myself. Was I the same person who had started the book? After years of parenthood, pandemic stress, and family tragedy, I barely recognize the life of the person I was in 2017. But I’m still me , aren’t I? I have a little more life experience every day. But I am also still eminently predictable to the people who know me best.

As I wrote the final draft, a meta-narrative crept in about slow transformations and the disorientation of trying to pinpoint moments of change. The characters ask each other directly: Is the person who wakes up the same as the one who fell asleep the night before? Or are we ever-evolving, an entirely new person from one moment to the next, unique iterations of a loosely connected core memory set?

Do we really change? is what I’m asking. Or are we every person we have ever been?

The main character of my novel, Zemolai, has to face her past in a very direct way. As a child, she gave up everything to serve a charismatic leader. Twenty-six years later, that leader has taken control of the city, and Zemolai must grapple with the fact that in her youthful idealism, she helped enable a fascist state. There is a moment in the book when she falls back on defensiveness — she was only a child when she joined the cause, after all. She couldn’t have known where it was going. And one of her new companions pushes back, “So when was the tipping point? Was there one day you were innocent, and the next day complicit?” It is a question that haunts Zemolai, and it is a question that haunts the book. Has she really changed? Or is she still caught in the same old story?

After years of cycling through ever-more inward-looking iterations of this book, I had to type The End for the last time and let it go to the printer. It’s frozen now, an amalgamation of all the things I ever wanted it to be. I hope you like where it ends up.

Book Giveaway

Courtesy of Tachyon Publications, I have one trade paperback copy of The Wings Upon Her Back to give away!

Giveaway Rules: To be entered in the giveaway, fill out Fantasy Cafe’s Wings Upon Her Back Giveaway Google form, linked below. One entry per household and the winner will be randomly selected. Those from the US are eligible to win. The giveaway will be open until the end of the day on Friday, April 19 . The winner has 24 hours to respond once contacted via email, and if I don’t hear from them after 24 hours has passed, a new winner will be chosen (who will also have 24 hours to respond until someone gets back to me with a place to send the book).

Please note email addresses will only be used for the purpose of contacting the winners. Once the giveaway is over all the emails will be deleted.

• Tags: Giveaway , Samantha Mills , The Wings Upon Her Back , Women In Fantasy , Women in Science Fiction , Women in SF&F Month 2024 , Women in SF&F Month 2024 Guest Post , Writing  

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the thirteenth annual Women in SF&F Month! For the last several years, April has been dedicated to highlighting some of the many women doing amazing work in fantasy and science fiction on this blog, and the tradition continues this month. This site will be featuring guest posts by some of these writers throughout April with new pieces appearing weekly (usually on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), and there will also be a couple of book giveaways.

As always, guests will be discussing a variety of topics—the questions and themes they explore in their work, the unique power of speculative fiction and imagined worlds, retellings, female mentors, female villains, found family, war, STEM, and more. I’m looking forward to sharing their pieces with you this month!

The Women in SF&F Month Origin Story

In case you are unfamiliar with how April came to be Women in SF&F Month here: It started in 2012, following some discussions about review coverage of books by women  and  the lack of women blogging about books being suggested for Hugo Awards in fan categories that took place in March. Some of the responses to these—especially the claim that that women weren’t being reviewed and mentioned because there just weren’t that many women reading and writing SFF —made me want to spend a month highlighting women doing work in the genre to show that there are a lot of us, actually.

So I decided to see if I could pull together an April event focusing on women in science fiction and fantasy, and thanks to a great many authors and reviewers who wrote pieces for the event, it happened! I was—and continue to be—astounded by the fantastic guest posts that have been written for this series. And I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to it.

If you’ve missed the series before and want to check out some of the previous posts, you can find some brief descriptions and links for the past few years on the following pages:

This Week’s Schedule

I’m very excited for this year’s Women in SF&F series, which starts tomorrow with an essay and book giveaway! There are three guest posts this week appearing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the schedule is as follows:

April 1: Samantha Mills ( The Wings Upon Her Back , “ Rabbit Test ,” “ Anchorage “) April 3: Premee Mohamed ( The Butcher of the Forest , The Siege of Burning Grass ) April 5: Eliza Chan ( Fathomfolk , “ The Tails That Make You ,” “ One More Song “)

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• Tags: Women In Fantasy , Women in Horror , Women in Science Fiction , Women in SF&F Month 2024  

Though this is later than usual, I once again scoured the internet looking for information on speculative fiction books that are scheduled for release this year and put together a list of works that I wanted to highlight. Just like the last few years, it was hard to keep the number of books featured in this annual post to a somewhat reasonable number given that there is so much coming out that sounds interesting. Yet after finding as much as I could on various titles when looking through descriptions, articles on the book or author, excerpts, and early reviews, I managed to narrow down this year’s list to 17 fantasy and science fiction books coming out in 2024 that look especially compelling to me.

As always, this is not even close to a comprehensive list of all the speculative fiction books being published this year: these are just the books I came across that sound most intriguing to me personally. (There are always books I hear about later in the year that I wish I had known about when putting one of these posts together!) Given my particular interests, this list includes fantasy inspired by legend and folklore, books that promise morally gray and/or villainous characters, novels with dark magic, stories containing dragons and/or other mythical creatures, a science fantasy, and more. I hope that those of you with similar tastes find some books here that sound appealing to you too.

These books are ordered by scheduled publication date, and these are US release dates unless otherwise stated.

Due to the length of this blog post, I’m only showing the first 6 books on the main page. You can click the title of the post or the ‘more…’ link after the sixth book to read the entire article.

Cover images link to Bookshop. As a Bookshop affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

This debut novel reimagining the story of Medea sounds excellent, and I was even more interested in it after reading this interview with Eilish Quin on The Nerd Daily . She discussed how she’s been fascinated by Greek myths and this particular character from a young age, what to expect from her first novel, her inspirations, and more. I especially loved what she had to say about retellings:

In my mind, the whole purpose of the retelling as a distinct genre is that it serves as a kind of radical reorientation. Retellings allow historically censored protagonists the space to break free from the contexts and biases which might have previously ensnared them, and permit readers the ability to exalt in novel forms of complexity. Retellings are meant to make us question the reliability of the narrators we are given, and consider the other elements of form which we might normally consume passively. I hope that my Medea makes people think critically about how storytelling, when proliferated in the interest of existing powers of oppression, can compound harm– that by doing something as simple as recentering a traditionally marginalized experience, exhilarating and vivacious narratives can spring up.

My fondness for retellings stems from how they can make us question the reliability of narrators and think more deeply about storytelling, so this sounds fantastic.

Discover the full story of the sorceress Medea, one of the most reviled and maligned women of Greek antiquity, in this propulsive and evocative debut in the tradition of  Circe ,  Elektra , and  Stone Blind .

Among the women of Greek mythology, the witch Medea may be the most despised. Known for the brutal act of killing her own children to exact vengeance on her deceitful husband, the Argonauts leader Jason, Medea has carved out a singularly infamous niche in our histories.

But what if that isn’t the full story?

The daughter of a sea nymph and the granddaughter of a Titan, Medea is a paradox. She is at once rendered compelling by virtue of the divinity that flows through her bloodline and made powerless by the fact of her being a woman. As a child, she intuitively submerges herself in witchcraft and sorcery, but soon finds it may not be a match for the prophecies that hang over her entire family like a shroud.

As Medea comes into her own as a woman and a witch, she also faces the arrival of the hero Jason, preordained by the gods to be not only her husband, but also her lifeline to escape her isolated existence. Medea travels the treacherous seas with the Argonauts, battles demons she had never conceived of, and falls in love with the man who may ultimately be her downfall.

In this propulsive, beautifully written debut, readers will finally hear Medea’s side of the story through a fresh and feminist lens.

Molly X. Chang’s debut novel is supposed to feature tough choices, magic that comes at a cost, and a heroine who makes awful decisions because she cares so deeply—all elements I love to see explored in stories. The author discusses her book further in her note to booksellers on Instagram , including writing a flawed protagonist, drawing inspiration from the stories of the her Siberian-Manchurian ancestors, and refusing to make her heroine into more of a heroic “girlboss” than the desperate survivor she is, despite being told it would make it easier to get her novel published.

She has power over death. He has power over her. When two enemies strike a dangerous bargain, will they end a war . . . or ignite one?

“A thrilling tale of magic and murder, intrigue and betrayal.”—Cassandra Clare, #1  New York Times bestselling author of  Sword Catcher

The gorgeous first edition hardcover of  To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods  will feature a poster, color endpapers, a custom-stamped case, and a foil jacket!

Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.

Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.

When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.

Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?

This science fiction novella set in a university on a generation ship sounds fantastic, and I’ve heard such wonderful things about World Fantasy Award winner Sofia Samatar. Editor Emily Goldman discussed power as a theme and described The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain as “‘The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas’ taken to whole new level” in the book announcement . Sofia Samatar also shared a bit about it there, starting with:

This book is for people who sit in meetings wondering why words like diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and even justice do not seem to be adding up to anything real. It’s for people whose time and energy are devoured by proposals and projects they hope will transform the places where they live and work, and who wind up drained and bewildered, gazing at the same old walls. It’s for everybody who experiences these things, in any kind of workplace, and especially for people who study and work in universities, because this story is set at a university on a spaceship.

It sounds as though it really delves into ideas related to power and academia, and I’m excited for this story’s release in April.

“I am in love with Sofia Samatar’s lyricism and the haunting beauty of her imagination. Her stories linger, like the memory of a sumptuous feast.”—N. K. Jemisin

Celebrated author Sofia Samatar presents a mystical, revolutionary space adventure for the exhausted dreamer in this brilliant science fiction novella tackling the carceral state and violence embedded in the ivory tower while embodying the legacy of Ursula K. Le Guin.

The boy was raised as one of the Chained, condemned to toil in the bowels of a mining ship out among the stars. His whole world changes—literally—when he is yanked “upstairs” and informed he has been given an opportunity to be educated at the ship’s university alongside the elite.

Overwhelmed and alone, the boy forms a bond with the woman he comes to know as “the professor,” a weary idealist and descendent of the Chained who has spent her career striving for validation from her more senior colleagues, only to fall short at every turn.

Together, the boy and the woman will embark on a transformative journey to grasp the design of the chains that fetter them both—and are the key to breaking free.

This debut novel by the author of the Nebula and Locus Award–winning short story “ Rabbit Test ” sounds excellent, plus I enjoyed the prose in the sample (linked above). Science fantasy tends to appeal to me, along with stories about characters coming to realize the truth about their world and the systems with which they were raised.

A loyal warrior in a crisis of faith must fight to regain her place and begin her life again while questioning the events of her past. This gripping science-fantasy novel from a Nebula, Sturgeon, and Locus Award-winning debut author is a complex, action-packed exploration of the costs of zealous faith, ceaseless conflicts, and unquestioning obedience.

[STARRED REVIEW] “A triumphant debut novel.”  —Booklist

[STARRED REVIEW] “This cathartic adventure will stay with readers long after the final page.” — Publishers Weekly

[STARRED REVIEW] “VERDICT Mills’s debut novel is complex and haunting, filled with beautiful prose and timely themes of political and religious upheaval and personal journeys.” —Library Journal

Zenya was a teenager when she ran away from home to join the mechanically-modified warrior sect. She was determined to earn mechanized wings and protect the people and city she loved. Under the strict tutelage of a mercurial, charismatic leader, Zenya became Winged Zemolai.

But after twenty-six years of service, Zemolai is disillusioned with her role as an enforcer in an increasingly fascist state. After one tragic act of mercy, she is cast out and loses everything she worked for. As Zemolai fights for her life, she begins to understand the true nature of her sect, her leader, and the gods themselves.

This is Mai Corland’s first adult novel after having published YA and children’s books as Meredith Ireland. Her upcoming fantasy novel draws some inspiration from Korean myths and legends, and she discussed Five Broken Blades a bit on Goodreads , including the following:

My killers are all morally grey. They are guided by love and/or revenge and please do note the trigger and content warnings, as there are many. However, the story pulls from my experiences as an adoptee, as someone queer, as someone with the same hearing loss described in the book. The diversity and global elements in the story reflect the diversity in our world and in myself.

She also clarifies that this book does not technically fit into the fantasy romance genre: although it includes multiple romances, it would work without those storylines.

The deception and betrayal mentioned in the book description and aforementioned morally gray characters driven by love and/or vengeance sounds right up my alley, so I’m rather excited about this one!

It’s the season for treason…

The king of Yusan must die.

The five most dangerous liars in the land have been mysteriously summoned to work together for a single objective: to kill the God King Joon.

He has it coming. Under his merciless immortal hand, the nobles flourish, while the poor and innocent are imprisoned, ruined…or sold.

And now each of the five blades will come for him. Each has tasted bitterness―from the hired hitman seeking atonement, a lovely assassin who seeks freedom, or even the prince banished for his cruel crimes. None can resist the sweet, icy lure of vengeance.

They can agree on murder.

They can agree on treachery.

But for these five killers―each versed in deception, lies, and betrayal―it’s not enough to forge an alliance. To survive, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other…but only one can take the crown.

Let the best liar win.

This upcoming fantasy novel just sounds delightful . It’s described as whimsical, and I love the idea of a dragon exterminator who hates the job he inherited—especially the idea of this concept as written by New York Times bestselling author Peter S. Beagle.

From the  New York Times  bestselling author of  The Last Unicorn  comes a new novel with equal amounts of power and whimsy in which a loveable cast of characters trapped within their roles of dragon hunter, princess, and more must come together to take their fates into their own hands.

Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, coming in sizes from mouse-like vermin all the way up to castle-smashing monsters. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (who would much rather people call him Robert) has recently inherited his deceased dad’s job as a dragon catcher/exterminator, a career he detests with all his heart in part because he likes dragons, feeling a kinship with them, but mainly because his dream has always been the impossible one of transcending his humble origin to someday become a prince’s valet. Needless to say, fate has something rather different in mind…

• Tags: 2024 Releases , Books of 2024 , Fantasy , Science Fiction , Speculative Fiction  

If you’re a longtime visitor of this site, you’re probably aware of just how much I love Patricia A. McKillip’s writing, particularly her novels The Changeling Sea and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld , which are two of my favorite books ever. Given that, I am delighted to have one hardcover copy of the upcoming 50th anniversary edition of The Forgotten Beasts of Eld to give away, courtesy of Tachyon Publications .

Available in both hardcover and digital formats on February 29, this new edition of the beloved World Fantasy Award–winning novel contains art by Stephanie Law and an introduction by Marjorie Liu .

Of course, it also contains the beautifully written story of Sybel, a mage who inherited a menagerie of legendary animals and became entangled in human affairs after years spent in seclusion. Imaginative and timeless, it’s a novel about power, choice, love, and hate that explores shadows of the soul and becoming what one fears most, yet it does not feel grim despite delving into these topics. With its elegant prose, fairy tale feel, and lovely moments of quiet humor, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a masterpiece of fantasy.

About THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS OF ELD (Special 50th Anniversary Edition):

“Rich and regal.” — The New York Times New introduction by Marjorie Liu ( The Tangleroot Palace ) New illustrations by Stephanie Law ( Shadowscapes) Fifty years ago, the soon-to-be celebrated young author Patricia A. McKillip (the  Riddle-Master trilogy) penned the tale of an iron-willed young sorceress. Brought vividly to life by McKillip’s gorgeously lush prose, Sybel is powerful and resourceful, yet headstrong and flawed. Sybel and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld continue to enrapture new generations of readers and writers. Sybel, the heiress of powerful wizards, needs the company of no-one outside her gates. In her exquisite stone mansion, she is attended by exotic, magical beasts: Riddle-master Cyrin the Boar; the treasure-starved dragon Gyld; Gules the Lyon, tawny master of the Southern Deserts; Ter, the fiercely vengeful falcon; Moriah, feline Lady of the Night. Sybel only lacks the exquisite and mysterious Liralen, which continues to elude her most powerful enchantments. But when a soldier bearing an infant arrives, Sybel discovers that the world of man and magic is full of both love and deceit, with the possibility of more power than she can possibly imagine.

Giveaway Rules: To be entered in the giveaway, fill out Fantasy Cafe’s Forgotten Beasts of Eld Giveaway Google form, linked below. One entry per household and the winner will be randomly selected. Those from the US are eligible to win. The giveaway will be open until the end of the day on Friday, February 23 . The winner has 24 hours to respond once contacted via email, and if I don’t hear from them after 24 hours has passed, a new winner will be chosen (who will also have 24 hours to respond until someone gets back to me with a place to send the book).

• Tags: Fantasy , Giveaway , Patricia A. McKillip , The Forgotten Beasts of Eld  

Happy (very belated) New Year! I had hoped to have this post up much earlier, but I got a bad cold starting on Christmas Eve and it just would not go away. I don’t think I started to feel normal again until about halfway through January. But late as it is, I could not pass up the opportunity to discuss my favorites of 2023 since I read some wonderful books and found something else fantasy-related that I absolutely love (which is covered in a special category I made just for this case, Media of the Year).

Blog Highlights in 2023

One of the biggest highlights of 2023 on this blog was the twelfth annual Women in SF&F Month, which was filled with amazing essays by speculative fiction authors discussing their thoughts, experiences, and work. It featured the following guest posts (which are eligible for nonfiction/related work awards):

• Ashing-Giwa, Kemi — The Role of Family in The Splinter in the Sky
• Bear, Lauren J. A. — “Finding Fantasy, My Postpartum Power”
• Blackgoose, Moniquill — Media Representation (particularly Indigeneous North American) and Creativity
• Bonnin, Elisa A. — “Breaking the Mold, or ‘What even is neurotypical anyway?’”
• Chao, A. Y. — “Mirrors and Doorways”
• Cruz-Borja, Vida — “‘New myths’ and the people who tell them”
• Davenport, N. E. — “Why I Write Confident Heroines”
• Deane, Maya — Literary Realism and the Power of Fantasy
• Elsbai, Hadeer — “The Doctoress on a Donkey: Finding Transformative Fantasy in History”
• Frost, Sienna — “A World You Don’t Belong”
• Kaner, Hannah — “Don’t damsel your fury”
• Okosun, Ehigbor — “Myth and Magic, Seen and Unseen”
• Older, Malka — Watership Down ‘s Influence on The Mimicking of Known Successes
• Penelope, Leslye — “When Fantasy and STEM Collide”
• Weekes, Gemma — “Coming Home to Magic”
• Wells, Martha — “Deconstructing Epics”

There were also some additional guest posts or excerpts last year, such as:

• Beagle, Peter S. — Excerpts from The Essential Peter S. Beagle: Volumes 1 and 2
• Gornichec, Genevieve — “Worldbuilding the Past: A Fantastical Viking Age”
• Hansen, Essa — “Creating Belonging While Finding Family”
• Tsai, Mia — “The Case for Aftermaths”
• Yolen, Jane — The Scarlet Circus Collection and Romance

If you enjoy lists, I also shared about my Favorite Books of 2022 and some Anticipated 2023 Speculative Fiction Releases . (And a heads up for those of you that enjoy giveaways, I’ll be giving away one of my favorite books ever next week!)

Favorite Books & Media of 2023

Once again, I reflected on what I read over the last year and came up with a list that feels right for my experiences with the books I read during that time. Though I was not as taken with some of my most anticipated books as I’d hoped (like this standalone by an author who has written other books I’ve enjoyed , this debut novel , and the conclusion to a trilogy that was not as well executed as the first two volumes ), there were others that were highlights. This year, I had three clear favorites released in 2023 and two favorite trilogies released prior to that, as well as at least one honorable mention in each category.

I don’t normally discuss media other than books in these posts, but this year is unusual since I am utterly obsessed with something else fantasy-related that came out last year and could not resist including it!

Favorite Media of 2023

As a fan of the two games that preceded it (as well as D&D and Icewind Dale ), I’ve been excited for Baldur’s Gate 3 for a while, but I did not expect to love it the way I do. I’ve now finished two multiplayer games and one single player game, and I am currently in the second act of my second single player game. Considering this is more than I’ve played any other, I think it’s safe to say this is now my favorite game of all time.

It’s just fun with a lot of entertaining dialogue and scenes, and it also has some beautifully done scenes and storylines, excellent acting, and a story that I appreciate more each time I play it. But what stands out to me the most about Baldur’s Gate 3 is the character development and growth that can happen depending on how you interact with and treat your companions, paired with the aforementioned excellent acting that makes them all the better. I didn’t really remember much about the characters from the previous games, but this one has some memorable ones with fantastic lines and journeys, including one character from the older games who I appreciate far more in this one. There are also a lot of wonderful animals and non-main characters, and the narrator (Amelia Tyler) does an incredible job.

It’s also made to replay: I come across new things each time I play it and a different main character can make for a different story, even if I do keep playing the Dark Urge and pairing my characters with the same companion. (Yes, I’m currently on my third Astarion romance. I just can’t help it. Of course, the award-winning performance by Neil Newbon is amazing, and his primary writer, Stephen Rooney, did an incredible job. I think he is the best written character with the best lines, and the way each act shows a new layer of characterization is perfection .) My last completed game followed a Seldarine drow fighter/bard who liked dramatics and intimidation, had a soft spot for innocents and animals, and became less hardened over the course of her journey, especially with how close she came to her found family. My current character is a high elf Oath of Vengeance paladin/sorcerer who is darker and more chaotic than the last, extremely loyal, and someone who cares fiercely when she does care—and she is making a huge mess of things because she’s terrified and would burn down the world for those she cares about. I’m having the best time shaping her story even when it hurts, and I’m already contemplating ideas for my next character.

If by any chance anyone who was part of the team that worked on Baldur’s Gate 3 comes across this: Thank you. You’ve created something truly special and unique, and this fantasy fan is grateful.

Favorite Books Released in 2023

Cover images link to Bookshop. As an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Book of the Year 1. Cassiel’s Servant (Kushiel’s Legacy) by Jacqueline Carey My Review Read an Excerpt

Cassiel’s Servant is a companion to Jacqueline Carey’s beloved first novel, Kushiel’s Dart , telling the same story from the perspective of a different character: Joscelin, the warrior-monk whose order assigns him the task of protecting the courtesan/spy Phèdre. While many of the novel’s events are familiar if you’ve read the first Kushiel’s Legacy book, the first 20% is new material covering Joscelin’s training and monastic life before his fate collides with that of his god-marked charge—and of course, his first-person voice fits his personality and viewpoint, meaning it’s much different from Phèdre’s narration. Joscelin is far less dramatic and verbose with a more straightforward, concise style.

This novel is yet another example of Jacqueline Carey’s prowess as a master storyteller (in addition to the Kushiel books, also see Starless ). Although the prose is less embellished than the books narrated by Phèdre, it’s also beautifully written and I loved the exploration of the relationship between the two main characters. They have different but complementary strengths, and I particularly appreciated the evolution of Joscelin’s perspective as he reevaluates his beliefs and reforges them into something new, something that makes sense with the world he experiences once he’s no longer confined to the monastery. Though his attitude and views change throughout the story, they are true to him as a person who grew to have a more mature worldview once he was no longer isolated within one order that followed one system of beliefs—but it’s also done with nuance, without making all the monks who taught and raised him seem like “bad” people.

I just adored Cassiel’s Servant , and it’s my absolute favorite book I’ve read this year.

Book of the Year Runner-Up 2. The Jasad Heir (The Scorched Throne #1) by Sara Hashem My Review Read an Excerpt

The Jasad Heir follows “Sylvia,” the heir to a demolished kingdom who has repressed her past self in order to hide her identity and survive. However, her plans of remaining in obscurity go awry when she catches the attention of Arin, the heir to the military kingdom that razed her homeland. As she does her best to keep him from realizing just who she is, Sylvia is forced to contend with the complicated feelings about her identity as the Jasad heir that she’s been avoiding—all while growing closer to the son of the man who killed her family.

The first book in an Egyptian-inspired epic fantasy duology, The Jasad Heir is great fun with its banter, dark humor, and wonderful character dynamics. Sara Hashem also clearly recognizes exactly what makes tropes like enemies-to-maybe-something-more-romantic and a protagonist hiding their royal lineage and magic work , and these common story elements are excellently executed. Sylvia is a fantastic narrator: her voice brims with personality and her stabbiness is expressed in new and creative ways instead of seeming repetitive, and she’s more complex than most characters I encounter with her prickliness, selfishness, loyalty, awareness of her flaws and shortcomings, and overall complicated relationship with herself. The contrast between Sylvia and her love interest makes the progression of their relationship all the more delicious. Arin is self-assured, confident, and manipulative—traits Sylvia finds simultaneously admirable and infuriating—but his facade starts to fall apart as he comes to care about this frustrating woman he’d once described as having the “temperament of a deranged goose.”

I found The Jasad Heir immensely entertaining, and I can hardly wait for the sequel (fingers crossed for a 2024 release!).

3. To Shape a Dragon’s Breath (The First Book of Nampeshiweisit) by Moniquill Blackgoose Read/Listen to an Excerpt

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath  is the first book in a new series set on an alternate version of Earth that followed a different path in history and has dragons. It follows Anequs, a young indigenous woman who discovers a dragon egg and bonds with the first dragon her people have encountered in ages. After her hatchling accidentally injures someone when startled, Anequs decides it’s her duty to go to the dragon academy on the mainland and learn all she can about being bonded to a dragon and how to prevent it from hurting others. Here, Anequs is thrust into a new world filled with social rules that make no sense to her, but instead of following a more traditional fantasy of manners arc—that of attempting to fit in with these customs or flouting etiquette here and there while building toward rejecting these ways in the end—Anequs constantly calls them out, loudly , and it is a delight . I was actually surprised by just how much I enjoyed this novel considering I tend to prefer characters that have internal conflicts, but I found Anequs’ security in who she was and what she believes to be refreshing. To Shape a Dragon’s Breath is a riveting story, and I am eagerly awaiting news of the sequel.

Honorable Mentions

The Battle Drum (The Ending Fire #2) by Saara El-Arifi The Final Strife , the first book in this series, was my Book of the Year in 2022 with a world full of rich history that made it real, excellent protagonists, and pacing that kept me engaged. Although I didn’t love The Battle Drum quite as much, I still rather enjoyed it and am looking forward to the final book in the trilogy. (Even if I was extremely irritated by one character in the end. Yes, I’m looking at you, Anoor.)

The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill This novella, a retelling of the folktale “The Crane Wife,” is dark and traumatic with lovely writing. It’s an honorable mention because it wasn’t a book I loved that stuck with me, but it is a really well done story that I admired even so.

Lone Women by Victor LaValle Much like The Crane Husband , this short horror novel didn’t stick with me as much as I’d hoped but it’s also a book I think is really well done. It had some amazing lines that made me pause in appreciation and short chapters and fast pacing that kept me turning the pages, but I did discover that I much preferred the setup to the conclusion. That said, I did like the handling of the theme of letting go of toxic ideas instilled into one in their youth.

Favorite Books Published Before 2023

1. The Welsh Princes Trilogy by Sharon Kay Penman Here Be Dragons , Falls the Shadow , The Reckoning

After reading Cassiel’s Servant , I wanted something that felt similarly epic, and I ended up deciding to pick up Here Be Dragons . (I would have just reread Kushiel’s Dart and then finished the rest of the trilogy, but due to some house issues, those were among a bunch of books that were packed away at the time.) Although the Welsh Princes trilogy is historical fiction rather than fantasy, I’d seen them recommended for fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, and now that I’ve read the series, I completely understand why with its blend of politics, drama, and complex characters.

Set in the thirteenth century, Here Be Dragons centers on the conflict between England and Wales, showing characters from both countries as people with both strengths and flaws that make them real (even though one side is portrayed as being more sympathetic than the other). It has a large number of characters, but the one who ties everything together most is Joanna, the illegitimate daughter of King John who is wed to the Welsh prince Llewellyn the Great. Joanna’s story is poignant because she loves them both and is caught between them: though most people see her father as a villain, it’s more difficult for her to view him that way since he was kind to her and made her feel safe for the first time as a child. As much as I enjoyed the entire series, which covers the conflict between Simon de Montfort and King Henry in the second book and that between Llewellyn II and King Edward in the third, Here Be Dragons is my favorite of the three largely because of Joanna.

2. The Scholomance Trilogy by Naomi Novik A Deadly Education , The Last Graduate , The Golden Enclaves

As you may recall from my review, I did not like A Deadly Education the first time I read it , so it’s amusing to me that this series made my list. I probably wouldn’t have read the entire trilogy if my husband hadn’t gifted them to me, saying he knew it was a risk given my opinion of the first but that he’d seen raves about these books and heard they got better. But I actually was curious because as much as I struggled with the voice and the amount of infodumping in A Deadly Education , I did find the main character memorable and also wondered if I might have had a better experience with it if I hadn’t read a digital version. (I much prefer reading print, and I also felt that format might have worked even better for me than usual in this case, given that the rambling sentences sometimes took up more than one screen.)

It probably worked better for me on a reread both because of reading it in paperback and knowing where it went, but whatever the reason, I enjoyed it a lot more the second time and read the entire trilogy back to back. El’s a great character: prickly but also loyal, someone with a strong sense of justice, someone who sticks to her values and hates that trying to survive magic school results in people treating others as a means to an end rather than fellow human beings. Her unique personality is what draws the class hero, Orion, to her (even though she is not happy with him whenever he comes to her rescue), and they have such a wonderful dynamic. I had an excellent time with all three books, especially the middle volume.

Honorable Mention

Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonin This Filipino-inspired YA fantasy novel stuck with me largely because of how unique the setting was with its settlements amongst large sprawling trees and dangerous beasts. It just overall felt different from most of what I read, and although it’s a common general theme, I thought the author did a fantastic job with the “learning the world isn’t exactly what you’ve been taught all your life” storyline.

• Tags: Baldur's Gate 3 , Books of 2023 , Cassiel's Servant , Fantasy , Favorites , Horror , Speculative Fiction , The Jasad Heir , The Scholomance , To Shape a Dragon's Breath , Welsh Princes  

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Science Fiction and Fantasy

What’s Behind That Door?

New books by Vajra Chandrasekera, Avi Silver, Cadwell Turnbull, Michael Mammay and T. Kingfisher.

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By Amal El-Mohtar

Amal El-Mohtar is the Book Review’s science-fiction and fantasy columnist, a Hugo Award-winning writer and the co-author, with Max Gladstone, of “This Is How You Lose the Time War.”

THE SAINT OF BRIGHT DOORS (Tordotcom, 356 pp., $27.99), by Vajra Chandrasekera, is the best book I’ve read all year. Protean, singular, original, it forces me to come up with the most baffling comparisons, like: What if “Disco Elysium” were written by Sofia Samatar? At the same time, all you need to know about it is contained in its opening:

“The moment Fetter is born, Mother-of-Glory pins his shadow to the earth with a large brass nail and tears it from him. This is his first memory, the seed of many hours of therapy to come.”

Fetter is one of several almost-chosen-ones (they have a support group) who are raised in the expectation of a spectacular and violent destiny, but shirk or sidestep it in favor of a haunted and marginal life in the city of Luriat. All is mundane in Luriat except its “bright doors,” which “give the city its historic identity without intruding on its daily life.” These doors seem to open onto nothing, but from their keyholes emerge whispers, a cold breeze and a sense of the otherworldly. Fetter’s fascination with these doors draws him into a web of Luriati intrigue that involves his estranged and godlike father, The Perfect and Kind — whom Fetter has been trained since childhood to kill.

I can’t remember the last time a book made me so excited about its existence, its casual challenge to what a fantasy novel could be. In its slipperiness, its combination of antique registers (“megrims” for migraines, “haecceity strings” for bar codes) with contemporary digital life, it manages to pinpoint the peculiar insanity of our modernity. Atrocity is both all-obliterating and seasonal here, able to be mapped onto a calendar; childhood is a site of trauma and self-fashioning, to be both escaped and fulfilled. This novel is so intelligent and compassionate, so furious and so calm.

As a critic I often attempt to turn myself into a book’s ideal reader in order to do it justice. It’s bewildering to encounter a book for which I am, in fact, already the ideal reader, a book that gives me everything I didn’t know I needed, that makes me feel both the pinwheeling fall from climbing a step that isn’t there, and the relief of being caught before I hit the ground.

PLURALITIES (Atthis Arts, 128 pp., paperback, $14.95), by Avi Silver, is a gleaming, quicksilver flash of a book, tiny and containing multitudes. An unnamed protagonist in a world much like ours, but skewed slightly further toward capitalist dystopia, struggles with gender identity, hostile family members and degrading retail jobs. Somewhere else, far in space, a purple-skinned prince-turned-rogue struggles with his own identity issues, putting him at odds with the sentient ship in which he travels, and which he loves. Silver’s writing is funny and tender, and that self-aware humor manages to keep the book’s earnestness from turning twee, while the prose is often shockingly beautiful.

WE ARE THE CRISIS (Blackstone, 331 pp., $26.99), by Cadwell Turnbull, follows his excellent “No Gods, No Monsters,” and it’s every bit as good as its predecessor, but will be very confusing to read out of sequence. “No Gods, No Monsters” builds up to the revelation that monsters exist and live hidden within human society; “We Are the Crisis” explores the social fallout in politics, families and the secret societies at war with one another. While this premise tends to be explored in pulpier genres — superhero comics and paranormal romances in particular — Turnbull’s mode leans more toward realist portraiture. Marshaling many characters, factions and realities into his narrative, he gives almost every scene the intimate gravity of a tête-à-tête.

Turnbull particularly excels at writing realistic dialogue. So often conversations in fiction are staging grounds for escalating conflict and little else; Turnbull gives speech between people who care about and respect each other the power it deserves.

While the title of Michael Mammay’s GENERATION SHIP (Harper Voyager, 608 pp., paperback, $19.99) may read like a statement of its concept — a “generation ship” is a spaceship meant to sustain generations of human life while on an interstellar journey — I like reading it as an analogue to “Generation X,” a name for a specific cohort. More than 200 years into its journey, the colony ship Voyager is finally approaching a planet that holds the strong possibility of supporting human life. On board are people of different ages and ambitions finding themselves at odds now that their journey approaches its end.

Spanning several points of view — including a hacker, a farmer, a scientist, a security officer and the ship’s governor — the narrative skips like a stone toward its ultimate destination. It’s an impressively well-balanced page-turner of a book in terms of both craft and character: Mammay is less interested in describing events than exploring people’s decision-making processes and their consequences. So if one chapter ends on the choice to stage a heist, the next chapter begins well after the heist has been accomplished. It’s a very effective way to keep the reader’s focus from one problem to the next, propulsive and satisfying.

THORNHEDGE (Tor Books, 116 pp., $19.99), by T. Kingfisher, is a slim and lovely retelling of “Sleeping Beauty” full of melancholy charm. Toadling is part girl, part water spirit, and keeps a tense watch at a tower that houses a sleeping maiden, waiting for her to be forgotten by the world. But when, after 200 years, a young knight named Halim approaches it, drawn by a book’s account of a beautiful lady trapped in an enchanted tower, it falls to Toadling to set the record straight.

T. Kingfisher is the pen name of Ursula Vernon, a prolific author with a body of work that runs the gamut from horror to romance by way of comics, short fiction, novels and children’s books. “Thornhedge” has a particularly fine flexibility of tone that bends from sweet and shy to tragic and frightening. If I sometimes felt that the book was overlooking one potent source of horror in favor of a lesser one, I didn’t hold that against it; it’s such a pleasure to read, and Toadling and Halim are such delightful characters, that I simply let the story wash over me like Toadling’s water magic and enjoyed the ride.

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“City in Ruins” is the third novel in Don Winslow’s Danny Ryan trilogy and, he says, his last book. He’s retiring in part to invest more time into political activism .

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Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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The best new science fiction books of April 2024

There’s an abundance of exciting new science fiction out in April, by writers including The Three-Body Problem author Cixin Liu, Douglas Preston and Lionel Shriver

By Alison Flood

1 April 2024

The last remaining free city of the Forever Desert has been besieged for centuries in The Truth of the Aleke

Shutterstock / Liu zishan

There are some huge names with new works out this month: Cixin Liu and Ann Leckie both have collections of shorter writing to peruse, plus there’s a dystopic future from the award-winning Téa Obreht and a world where woolly mammoths have been brought back from the bestselling Douglas Preston. I also love the sound of Scott Alexander Howard’s debut The Other Valley , set in a town where its past and future versions exist in the next valleys over, and of Sofia Samatar’s space adventure The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain . So much to read, so little time…

A View from the Stars by Cixin Liu

This is a collection of short works from Liu, the sci-fi author of the moment thanks to Netflix’s new adaptation of The Three-Body Problem , ranging from essays and interviews to short fiction. I love this snippet from an essay about sci-fi fans, in which he calls us “mysterious aliens in the crowd”, who “jump like fleas from future to past and back again, and float like clouds of gas between nebulae; in a flash, we can reach the edge of the universe, or tunnel into a quark, or swim within a star-core”. Aren’t we lucky to have such worlds available to us on our shelves?

3 Body Problem review: Cixin Liu's masterpiece arrives on Netflix

Cixin Liu's novel The Three-Body Problem has been turned into an eight-part series for Netflix by the Game of Thrones team. There is much to admire so far, but will the adaptation stay on track, wonders Bethan Ackerley

Lake of Souls by Ann Leckie

Leckie is a must-read writer for me, and this is the first complete collection of her short fiction, ranging across science fiction and fantasy. On the sci-fi side, we will be able to dip back into the Imperial Radch universe, and we are also promised that we’ll “learn the secrets of the mysterious Lake of Souls” in a brand-new novelette.

The Morningside by Téa Obreht

In a catastrophic version of the future, an 11-year-old girl arrives with her mother at The Morningside, once a luxury high-rise, now another crumbling part of Island City, which is half-underwater. Obreht won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2011 for her debut, The Tiger’s Wife .

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar

Samatar won all sorts of prizes for her first novel, A Stranger in Olondria . Her latest sounds really intriguing, following the story of a boy who has grown up condemned to work in the bowels of a mining ship among the stars, whose life changes when he is given the chance to be educated at the ship’s university.

A boy grows up working in a mining ship among the stars in The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain

D-Keine/Getty Images

Extinction by Douglas Preston

This is set in a valley in the Rockies, where guests at a luxury resort can see woolly mammoths, giant ground sloths and Irish elk brought back from extinction by genetic manipulation. But then a string of killings kicks off, and a pair of investigators must find out what’s really going on. This looks Jurassic Park -esque and seems like lots of fun. And if you want more mammoth-related reading, try my colleague Michael Le Page’s excellent explainer about why they won’t be back any time soon.

Mania by Lionel Shriver

The award-winning author of We Need to Talk About Kevin brings her thoughts about so-called “culture wars” to bear on her fiction, imagining a world where a “Mental Parity Movement” is in the ascendent, and “the worst thing you can call someone is ‘stupid’”.

The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard

This speculative novel is set in a town where, to the east, lies the same town but 20 years ahead in time and, to the west, the same town but 20 years behind, repeating endlessly across the wilderness. The only border crossings allowed are for “mourning tours”, in which the dead can be seen in towns where they are still alive. Odile, who is 16, is set for a seat on the Conseil, where she will be able to decree who gets to travel across borders. I love the sound of this.

The best new science fiction books of March 2024

With a new Adrian Tchaikovsky, Mars-set romance from Natasha Pulley and a high-concept thriller from Stuart Turton due to hit shelves, there is plenty of great new science fiction to be reading in March

What If… Loki was Worthy? by Madeleine Roux

Many will question whether the Marvel superhero stories are really science fiction, but I’m leaning into the multiversal aspect here to include this, as it sounds like it could be a bit of fun. It’s the first in a new series that reimagines the origins of some of the biggest heroes: here, Thor died protecting Earth from one of Loki’s pranks and, exiled on our planet, the Norse trickster god is now dealing with the consequences.

The Truth of the Aleke by Moses Ose Utomi

The second book in the Forever Desert series is set 500 years after The Lies of the Ajungo , following a junior peacekeeper in the last remaining free city of the Forever Desert, which has been besieged for centuries. It was actually out in March, but I missed it then, so I’m bringing it to you now as it was tipped as a title to watch this year by our science fiction contributor Sally Adee.

Anomaly by Andrej Nikolaidis, translated by Will Firth

It is New Year’s Eve on the last day of the last year of human existence and various stories are unfolding, from a high-ranking minister with blood on his hands to a nurse keeping a secret. Later, in a cabin in the Alps, a musicologist and her daughter – the last people left on Earth – are trying to understand the catastrophe. According to The Independent , Nikolaidis “makes Samuel Beckett look positively cheery”, but I’m definitely in the mood for that kind of story now and then.

Martin MacInnes: 'Science fiction can be many different things'

The author of In Ascension, the latest pick for the New Scientist Book Club, on why he wrote his novel, cultivating a sense of wonder and the role of fiction in the world today

Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton

In this techno-thriller, Mal is a free AI who is uninterested in the conflict going on between the humans, until he finds himself trapped in the body of a cyborg mercenary and becomes responsible for the safety of the girl she died protecting.

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Best Science Fiction Books

Last updated: April 4, 2024

If you love Science Fiction and you're looking for your next family favorite, you're in the right place. We've compiled a top list of the latest and greatest Science Fiction Books. Give it a scroll and find the perfect fit for your family. From kids to tweens and teens, there's something fun and great for everyone. Discover the best new Science Fiction Books to make the most of your family time together. Don't miss out on this always-fresh list that rates high on entertainment and excitement! See more best-of lists like this .

Cool ideas, ok execution, some violence in fantasy future.

The First State of Being

Time-travel tale is gripping, funny, and tinged with grief.

Creative dystopian genre bender has some violence.

Too Many Interesting Things Are Happening to Ethan Fairmont

An appealing alien, likable human teens power E.T. update.

Fox Snare: Thousand Worlds, Book 3

Tigers, foxes, and ghosts in smart, suspenseful space opera.

Clever, hopeful sci-fi adventure explores future dystopia.

The Wild Robot Protects

Beloved robot fights to save home in stirring eco fable.

I Am the Walrus: The N.O.A.H Files, Book 1

Boy gains animal powers in funny sci-fi adventure.

Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont

Plenty happens to teen in fun, funny E.T. homage.

Cosmos Camp: Epic Ellisons, Book 1

Genius girls tackle a mystery in funny sci-fi romp.

The Rhythm of Time

Tween travels through time in fun tale with lots of twists.

New Dragon City

Tweens fly high in suspenseful dragon adventure in New York.

Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe

More tales of immortality in bloody collection of stories.

The First to Die at the End

Heartbreaking, hopeful, and romantic prequel.

Nubia: The Awakening

African teen superheroes saga aims high, delivers.

The Getaway

Teens are trapped in amusement park in intense thriller.

Satisfying conclusion to swashbuckling space epic.

The Royal Trials: Last Gate of the Emperor, Book 2

Abandoned Earth proves value in taut adventure.

The Darkness Outside Us

Intense, far-future space voyage explores hope and truth.

The Genesis Wars: The Infinity Courts, Book 2

Afterlife action accelerates in compelling sequel.

9 Must-Read Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books Releasing in April 2024

Add these to your wish-list for spring..

If you’re looking for something new to read this spring, these brand-new and upcoming sci-fi and fantasy books offer many amazing worlds to delve into. While many prominent authors have novels being published this month—like Ann Leckie, Leigh Bardugo, and Edward Ashton—several new novelists are also debuting with some excellent SFF books to consider.

For sci-fi fans, we've found novels exploring dystopian worlds, rogue AI, generation ships, and imaginative parallel universes. And, for anyone looking for that next fantasy adventure, we've tracked down novels that traverse unknown ocean depths, Chinese mythology, and 16th-century Spain. In summary, we've tried to include something for every reader in this month's sci-fi and fantasy book roundup. Which ones are you looking forward to reading? Here are the best sci-fi fantasy books to consider in April 2024.

Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton

Much like Ashton’s first novel— Mickey7 , which has a film adaptation releasing in 2025 — Mal Goes to War is a dark sci-fi comedy that places a sardonic narrator in a dangerous future setting. While similar in tone, the two have very different settings. Mal is an independent AI living in infospace watching serial dramas while a war rages between the augmented Federals and the ‘pure’ Humanists. Mal fully intends to ignore the war and the humans scurrying outside infospace.

Unfortunately, the war finds him. When the Humanists cut off infospace, Mal is left adrift. He finds a new host in a deceased augmented human. For some reason, the young child he discovers beside the dead human seems somewhat disturbed by his animation of the corpse’s body. On his journey to find a new home, he befriends several humans, making him realize that he does care about what happens in the war. If you enjoyed Mickey7 and The Murderbot Diaries , you will likely enjoy Ashton’s latest. It’s brilliantly narrated on audio if you’re an audiobook listener.

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Bardugo is a queen of engrossing page-turners regardless of length. Her newest novel is no exception. This dark and steamy standalone historical fantasy is set in 16th-century Spain during the height of the Inquisition. Luzia is a Jewish scullion who can do small acts of magic by singing Ladino refrains. She keeps both her magic and her heritage a secret, knowing that if anyone discovered either, she would be turned over to the Inquisition.

When her mistress catches her doing a small act of magic, she forces Luzia to perform magic tricks at dinner parties. Secretly, Luzia enjoys the attention and craves more. A wealthy and ambitious nobleman soon discovers her and wants her to compete to be the king’s magical champion. In his employ is the mysterious and sinister Guillén Santangel, a cursed immortal who makes Luzia feel like she’s flying. Bardugo’s latest is a lovely and magical ode to marginalized and diaspora cultures during the Spanish Inquisition.

Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes

Barnes’ debut novel, Dead Silence , was a nail-biting space horror, and her second space horror, Ghost Station , is, dare I say, even better than her first. Dr. Ophelia Bray is a psychologist better known for her ridiculously wealthy family than her work. She has tried to separate herself as much as possible from her problematic family, but their legacy seems to follow her wherever she goes.

She specializes in treating people with ERS—a space-based mental health condition that often leads to violence, both self-inflicted and towards other crew members. After a crew member dies, she joins a deep-space mission to explore an abandoned planet. The crew immediately begins harassing Ophelia, but she’s determined to do her job well. On the planet, however, everything goes wrong. This nuanced, character-driven space horror with intense plotting is a fantastic addition to the genre, and could be perfect for fans of Dead Space, Alien, or Event Horizon.

Lake of Souls: The Collected Short Fiction by Ann Leckie

Ann Leckie is well-known to SFF readers for her award-winning Imperial Radch series. This is her first short story collection, though many of these stories have been previously published in short story markets. It’s divided into three sections.

The first section occurs in primarily unspecified worlds, the second in the Imperial Radch universe, and the third in the same world as her standalone fantasy novel, The Raven Tower . It’s an imaginative and often experimentative collection with coming-of-age stories for a lonely spawn, dinosaurs fleeing meteors by escaping into space, espionage and extreme religious piety in Radch, schemes between gods, and so much more. Often, science fiction authors excel at short stories, and Leckie is no exception.

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar

Samatar taps into her experience as a professor in this thought-provoking dystopian novella deeply entrenched in university academic politics and carceral control. Set on a mining spaceship that’s part of a fleet of generation ships, it rotates between two characters.

The boy is one of the Chained who lives as a captive deep below the ship. He’s haunted by dreams of drowned people and makes art depicting his inner thoughts and dreams. A prophet speaks to him of the practice, a sort of philosophical meditation, and the boy tries to follow it by devoting himself to his art.

While the other is a woman, a professor of older knowledge working on a paper about play among children who wear blue bracelets around their ankles, like her, that can be controlled by the elite. She initiates a scholarship to allow one of the Chained to attend the university, and the boy is chosen as its recipient. This is a unique and sometimes opaque read, at turns disturbing and profound. Samatar deftly manages to pack a lot into only a slim page count.

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

Cathrall’s debut is a lovely epistolary cozy fantasy for fans of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries and Legends & Lattes . In a world mostly covered by water, people live on small islands where scholars study the sea. E., who has OCD, lives in the only underwater house—the Deep Houseëwhich her eccentric (and deceased) scholar mother designed.

After a strange marine animal appears outside the house, she writes to Scholar Henerey, a renowned marine naturalist, in hopes he can shed light on the nature of the animal. The two start a delightful exchange of letters, eventually leading to deeper feelings. Soon, E. becomes riveted by a new mystery, a strange structure that suddenly appears outside her home. The frame story happens one year after these events. E.’s younger sister, Scholar Sophy, is mourning E.’s presumed death and begins a correspondence with Henerey’s brother, Navigator Vyerin. They begin a project of exchanging letters, diaries, and other written materials to explain the year E. and Henerey spent in correspondence. It’s a delicious slow-burn fantasy and the first book in a series.

Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin

YA fantasy readers will adore this beautifully written standalone based on Chinese mythology. After being accused of treason, Xue’s family was put to death, and their name was eradicated. An orphan, her uncle raised her before turning her over to the House of Flowing Water, where she’s learned to entertain and perfected her musical skill at the qin.

She’s an unparalleled musician, and after her first public performance, a stranger asks for a private audience with her. He offers to become her patron, and she accepts, hoping to earn her freedom. He turns out to be the Duke of Dreams, and his derelict mansion hides secrets that could put Xue’s life at risk.

Ocean's Godori by Elaine U. Cho

This entertaining found-family sci-fi is like K-drama meets The Expanse . Korea’s military space force, the Alliance, dominates the galaxy. Ocean Yoon is a down-on-her-luck pilot aboard the Ohneulis. She and the crew are currently attending a gala in Seoul, but Ocean skips the gala to instead go shopping with Teo, the son of a wealthy Korean family.

Meanwhile, Haven replaces a crew member aboard the Ohneulis and becomes their medic, though the crew distrusts him for being part of a religious community called the Death’s Hand. Cho rotates between these three perspectives as the ragtag crew navigates adventures, politics, and romance. It ends on a cliffhanger, so hopefully, book two will be released soon!

In Universes by Emet North

North’s debut novel is an inventive, mind-bending literary science fiction that delves into mental health, queerness, Judaism, love, and more as it explores parallel universes. Raffi is an assistant in a NASA lab studying dark matter and feels wildly out of their depth.

They struggle to make meaningful connections as they grapple with depression, but the one bright spot in their life is Britt, a sculptor who grew up in the same town as Raffi. Each chapter imagines a different universe with Raffi and Britt, each universe growing more and more chaotic and surreal as the novel progresses. Despite the wildness of each chapter, this slim novel is a wonderfully immersive and vivid read.

Margaret Kingsbury is a freelance writer, editor, and all-around book nerd based in Nashville, TN. Her pieces on books and reading have appeared in Book Riot, BuzzFeed News, School Library Journal, StarTrek.com, Parents, and more. Follow her on Instagram @BabyLibrarians and Twitter and Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.

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Aliens attack science in '3 Body Problem,' a new adaptation of a Chinese sci-fi novel

Eric Deggans

The new Netflix series brings to life a sprawling, successful Chinese novel outlining a new kind of alien invasion. Above, Zine Tseng in 3 Body Problem. Maria Heras/Netflix hide caption

The new Netflix series brings to life a sprawling, successful Chinese novel outlining a new kind of alien invasion. Above, Zine Tseng in 3 Body Problem.

My favorite kind of science fiction involves stories rooted in real science — much as I love a good lightsaber or phaser fight, there is something special about seeing characters wrestle with concepts closer to our current understanding of how the universe works.

That's why I enjoy so much of what happens in Netflix's 3 Body Problem , the TV series which brings to life a sprawling, successful Chinese novel rooted in science, outlining a new kind of alien invasion.

Book Reviews

'three-body problem' asks a classic sci-fi question, in chinese.

3 Body Problem actually starts with two problems. First, we meet investigators tackling a string of unexplained suicides by scientists, including one who had a bizarre countdown written on the walls of his home in blood with his eyes gouged out. (Fortunately, viewers only see the horrific aftermath.) Benedict Wong plays one of those investigators, continually lightening the show's ominous vibe with his spot-on portrayal of a world-weary gumshoe tracking the world's biggest mystery with a healthy dose of gallows humor.

Benedict Wong plays Da Shi in 3 Body Problem. Ed Miller/Netflix hide caption

Benedict Wong plays Da Shi in 3 Body Problem.

"One of the betting sites had him picked as a favorite for the next Nobel Prize in physics," Wong's assistant tells him of the scientist who died.

"You can bet on that?" Wong's character replies, looking over the gruesome scene.

Tracking why science is broken

The other problem which surfaces immediately is that science seems to have stopped working. Researchers are reporting results from experiments in supercolliders that make no sense, putting the lie to all our accepted theories of physics. Saul Durand — played by Jovan Adepo, Durand is one among a group of brilliant, young scientist friends at the center of the story — notes simply, "science is broken."

Jovan Adepo and Jin Cheng in 3 Body Problem. Ed Miller/Netflix hide caption

Jovan Adepo and Jin Cheng in 3 Body Problem.

This all adds up to a unique attack on humanity's scientific progress. But who – or what – is behind these bizarre occurrences, involving events which don't seem possible in the modern world?

Netflix's show takes its time unveiling the full scope of the story and answering these questions, which leads to the third problem here. It takes a while for the series' narrative to really gain momentum – my advice is to hang on through the first three episodes (yes, I also hate streaming shows which ask this of beleaguered viewers; but in this case, it's worth it).

The pacing may not be a surprise, given that two of the series' three creators are David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, former showrunners of HBO's Game of Thrones , which had its own problems with narrative flow at times (the third creator is former True Blood writer/executive producer Alexander Woo). Once the show does find its groove, the series builds into an epic science fiction tale with eye-popping special effects – the tragic destruction of a huge ship packed with people is one that stuck with me long after viewing — and a timeline stretching from China's 1960s-era cultural revolution to the present day.

Bringing a Chinese sci fi-literary triumph to TV

Netflix's 3 Body Problem is based on a 2008 novel from Chinese engineer and science fiction writer Liu Cixin; the original novel became a book series touted by big names like Barack Obama. It managed the neat trick of popularizing Chinese science fiction internationally while delivering compelling observations on the nature of humanity's societal and technological progress, some of which actually find their way into the TV show.

Cultural Revolution-Meets-Aliens: Chinese Writer Takes On Sci-Fi

It makes sense that a story like this — which crosses between Western and Chinese culture to tell the story of a planet under threat – would be cracked by Netflix. The streaming service has educated a generation of American customers to appreciate smart, entertaining TV from South Korea, Latin America, Europe and elsewhere across the globe.

So kicking off 3 Body Problem with a scene showing a young Chinese scientist watching an angry mob murder her father – who is also a scientist – during the purges of China's cultural revolution feels daring and entirely on brand. Later on, that younger scientist, fueled by hate and loss, will make a decision that puts the entire planet at risk, showing how disappointment in humanity's missteps can lead to desperate, misguided solutions.

Fans of the books will find some tweaks here to make for better television, amping up the thriller elements of the story to ask a compelling question: How to fight an alien enemy targeting the world's scientific progress?

As the characters in 3 Body Problem lurch toward answers, we all get to bask in an ambitious narrative fueling an ultimately impressive tale. Just remember to be patient as the series sets the stage early on.

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Liu Cixin: ‘I’m often asked – there’s science fiction in China?’

Author of sci-fi epic The Three-Body Problem – newly serialised by Netflix – on ‘the greatest uncertainty facing humanity’ and how finding a secret copy of a Jules Verne novel inspired his career

C hinese author Liu Cixin’s science-fiction novels have sold millions of copies all over the world, and have won him numerous awards, including the global Hugo award for science fiction in 2015. Now, the English translation of the first book in Liu’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy, The Three-Body Problem, is back in the Amazon bestsellers charts, after the release of a TV adaptation by the creators of Game of Thrones.

But a decade ago, few in the UK had heard of Liu and The Three-Body Problem, which begins as a contemporary murder mystery and gradually builds into a story of alien contact. When it was first published here, Nic Cheetham, managing director of Liu’s UK publisher Head of Zeus, remembers being unsure if anyone would turn up for a book signing with the author in a London bookshop.

“When we got to the store there were literally hundreds of people waiting for the signing, the majority of them Chinese students”, the publisher said. “Liu had a film crew with him, filming him for a documentary on Chinese TV. We only realised then how big he was in China . He’s like a rock star over there.”

Liu was motivated to have his books translated into English partly “to let people in the United States and the English-speaking world know that China also has science fiction novels.”

“When I’ve travelled to the US or Europe and talked to people about science fiction, I’ve often encountered the question, ‘There’s science fiction in China?’” the author tells me via email, where we are conducting our conversation with the help of a translator.

“But now, the novel has sold more than 3m copies in the English-speaking world, exceeding the total sales of all the literary works exported by China since the founding of the country. This is something that neither the publisher nor I had expected”, Liu says.

Cheetham had been looking to publish some non-western science fiction for some time when he came across The Three-Body Problem, which had just been bought by the US publisher Tor. He read it and was immediately convinced.

“It was in a way more like golden age western science fiction than what was being published over here at the time,” he says. “It was more interested in the big picture than character-driven stuff. It had been a bit of a surprise that it took off in China, because it was reaching an audience that didn’t really have any science fiction reference points.”

Science fiction was a rarity in China when Liu was growing up because most western books were banned. Living in a coal mining town in Shanxi province as a young man, he found a book hidden in a box that once belonged to his father. It was Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne, and Liu read it in secret, and in doing so forged a lifelong love of science fiction.

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By the late 1970s, economic reforms in China relaxed some of the strictures on imported fiction, and some science fiction was being translated into Chinese, which kickstarted production of homegrown sci-fi books. It took Liu until the turn of the millennium to realise his ambition, first with his debut novel The Devil’s Bricks in 2002, then with the serialisation in the magazine Science Fiction World of what would become The Three-Body Problem. More than two decades on, Liu is still not really sure what was behind its success.

“Frankly speaking, I don’t know even know the reasons for the success of The Three-Body Problem trilogy. I don’t find the reasons given by some researchers, such as the novels have helped the west to understand China and so on, to be convincing. I don’t think that the success of The Three-Body Problem in the west is due to the fact that the novels are Chinese science fiction novels, but rather the fact that they are science fiction novels that treat human beings as a whole.”

Back in 2016, there were plans for a big budget movie of The Three-Body Problem, which never materialised, although a second attempt to bring the story to the screen, the Chinese TV series, Three-Body, came out early last year and was popular in China. But when Netflix came calling, Liu was delighted about the chance to reach the streaming service’s huge global audience – and particularly by the news that David Benioff and DB Weiss were to be at the helm, as Game of Thrones was “one of the best film and TV adaptations” the author had ever seen.

There has been some pushback to the series, however. In 2020, five Republican US senators called on Netflix to reconsider plans to adapt the book after Liu gave an interview to the New Yorker magazine in which he appeared to not condemn the Chinese government internment of Muslim Uyghur people in Xinjiang. He was quoted as saying: “Would you rather they be hacking away at bodies at train stations and schools in terrorist attacks? If anything, the government is helping their economy and trying to lift them out of poverty.”

Does he regret what he said? Was there any fear that Netflix might pull out because of the pressure from US politicians?

“Netflix adapted my book on the basis of the content of the book itself, which is a normal cultural exchange and should not be confused with other things that have nothing to do with the book,” says Liu. “I believe that writers should have the freedom to express their political opinions” and “the freedom to give voice to a wide range of opinions from different quarters, which I exercised in the New Yorker interview.”

With millions set to watch 3 Body Problem on Netflix, what does Liu hope viewers and new readers might take away from the story?

He says he would like people to “realise what the greatest uncertainty facing humanity is”, which, in his mind, is the potential for life on other planets, and the possibility that we could meet our extraterrestrial counterparts at some point. “I hope they realise that there’s this one thing that may not happen for the next 10,000 years, or it may happen tomorrow morning,” he says. “And that once it happens, our world and our lives will change completely. I hope that the series of 3 Body Problem will make people look up at the starry sky from their busy and trivial lives, even if it’s just for a moment.”

Liu Cixin’s quotes were translated into English by Chi Hui Lin

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The Magazine of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Field

Colleen Mondor Reviews Calamity by Constance Fay

Constance Fay’s debut, Calamity , is an SF ad­venture set on a distant planet amidst several groups and individuals all operating with their own conflicting purposes and totally willing to kill each other to achieve their goals. The heroes are the small crew of the somewhat dilapidated space vessel Quest , who scout out various planets for whatever their clients, typically members of their galaxy’s ruling class, want them to check out. It’s an occasionally dangerous living that, for various reasons, suits each of the crew just fine. The heroine is Temperance Reed, banished daughter from one of the elite Fifteen Families, recently secret (and dumped) girlfriend to the Quest’s former captain, and now a desperate cap­tain trying to keep her friends and ship together. The crew needs income, thus when the Escajeda family’s patriarch hires them to scout a backwater planet that no one cares about, Temperance leaps at the job. The price for their potential windfall is a lot of suspicion that they are going to be screwed and the forced addition of Arcadio Escajeda to the crew. Enter the novel’s love interest, a guy carrying a set of secrets that even he doesn’t realize could get them all killed.

Calamity , the first title from the new Tor romance imprint, Bramble, is marketed as a ro­mance, and I totally get it – there are some very spicy scenes between Temperance and Arcadio. But it is the adventures on Herschel Two, a desert planet reminiscent of Tatooine that is home to both a small religious cult and a large volcano, which spur the plot along. Each member of the crew comes to life there as they grapple with all the things they had no reason to expect would be waiting for them on the ground. They have to get the lay of the land, navigate necessary interactions with the cult members (it really is a cult), and de­fend themselves against mysterious adversaries all while still carrying out the job for the Escajedas. The crew needs the money – that is nonnegotiable – but Temperance also, quite reasonably, wants them all to survive. When they start getting shot at, all their plans for a quick job are toast. That’s when the relationship between her and Arcadio really heats up, even though they still can’t be sure they trust each other. (Yes, this is a romance novel trope, but it works just fine.)

I’m a big fan of action set in space, and Fay delivers a lot of that in Calamity . The story is so much fun, though – the villains are complex, their motivations intriguing, and the politics behind everything are wonderfully interesting. The au­thor also gives readers plenty of chase scenes and rescues, humor and friendship, and the sizzling romance. The second book in the series, Fiasco , is due out in June and from its description promises more of the same, along with following up with a few folks from the first book whose stories were just hinted at. Sounds like perfect diversionary reading for an election year to me!

This review and more like it in the  March 2024 issue of Locus .

©Locus Magazine. Copyrighted material may not be republished without permission of LSFF.

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Screen Rant

"i liked [it], but can't say i loved it": what grrm thinks of the book game of thrones' creators just adapted.

George R.R. Martin shared his thoughts on the book Game of Thrones creators Benioff and Weiss just adapted as a series for Netflix.

• George R.R. Martin reviewed the novel that became a Netflix series, 3 Body Problem, back in 2015.
• The series is similar to Martin's Game of Thrones regarding characterization and tone.
• 3 Body Problem is a strong series, but creators must be cautious due to the precise sci-fi elements.

George R.R. Martin shared his overall thoughts in a review of the novel 3 Body Problem , which was adapted by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B Weiss for Netflix. The novel is a part of the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy by Liu Cixen and both it and the series focuses on a non-linear narrative that begins with Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao) in 1960s China. When the young astrophysicist is conscripted into the military after a devastating loss, her decisions set in motion a chain of events that could shape Earth forever.

Wenjie's choices echo over time and come to fruition in the modern-day United Kingdom. A group of scientists, known as the Oxford 5, must figure out the meaning behind a rash of deaths and the strange countdown timer many in the scientific community are seeing. The series explores not only the connections made beyond time, but space as well, as the past and the present fight to shape the future.

3 Body Problem World Explained: Science, Tech, Aliens & Your Questions Answered

George r.r. martin reviewed the three-body problem in 2015, martin was reviewing the book for the hugo awards.

Martin discussed the novel on his LiveJournal account , largely praising the book for its blending of genre and historical integration, including the Chinese Cultural Revolution and its aftermath . Martin commented that Wenjie was a "fascinating and complex creation" but that some of the other characters fell flat. He ultimately stated that the book "sagged in the middle" before picking back up and that he had been unaware it was a series, but would be continuing it due to how interesting he found it.

How 3 Body Problem Compares To Game Of Thrones

Both series' have a flawed female protagonist at their heart, whose decisions create polarizing images of her values to those around them and largely affect the decisions of others due to her uncompromising views.

3 Body Problem and Game of Thrones share some similarities in tone and characterization, but the differing genres pose different challenges and needs for the narrative overall. 3 Body Problem, similar to the HBO series, is a strong adaptation that is able to balance complex and tense events with strong character moments. Both series' have a flawed female protagonist at their heart, whose decisions create polarizing images of her values to those around them and largely affect the decisions of others due to her uncompromising views.

However, 3 Body Problem's book counterpart is completed, unlike Game of Thrones. While this means that the creators will have an easier time adapting it into a series, it can also be limiting. Sci-fi as a genre, especially a story like 3 Body Problem which uses real scientific theories, can be very precise. If the creators want to make any changes for the sake of the narrative, it would have to be done carefully to not stray too far from those hard rules. This contrasts with high fantasy, where the worldbuilding can be manipulated to fit the story.

3 Body Problem is currently streaming on Netflix.

3 Body Problem

3 Body Problem is a Netflix original series from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with Alexander Woo. Based on the novel of the same name by Liu Cixin, 3 Body Problem centers on a detective who joins forces with a group of scientists after an unknown force begins killing scientists around the world.

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Here are the differences between netflix’s ‘3 body problem’ and the book so far.

Netflix’s 3 Body Problem has been receiving rave reviews lately, both for its sci-fi-based premise and brilliant execution of the source material. The TV series is based on Hugo Award-winning novel The Three Body Problem , penned by Chinese author Liu Cixin.

Showrunners D.B. Weiss, David Benioff, and Alexander Woo have mostly stuck to the book in terms of what’s being shown onscreen. However, there are still some noteworthy changes that the fans will be intrigued to know about!

** SPOILER ALERT: This post spoils some parts of all 3 books and the first season of the Netflix series. **

Change of protagonist

In the book, Wang Miao, who is a nanoscientist by profession, is projected as the protagonist. However, in the show, this character is split into three: Auggie Salazar (Eiza Gonzalez), Jack Rooney (John Bradley), and Jin Cheng (Jess Hong). All three characters are given the characteristics and responsibilities exhibited by Miao in the book. Salazar becomes the nanoscientist tasked with research around the expected alien attack, and another direct parallel between the two characters is her nanotech fibers demolishing the massive ship Judgement Day in the fifth episode (similar to what Wang does in the book).

Similarly, Jack Rooney and Jin Cheng undergo the 3 Body virtual experience, which helps them discover human elements who are working together to facilitate the San-Ti attack. In the text, it is Wang who experiences these events by himself.

In the books, Sophons are defined as proton-size supercomputers sent by Trisolarians (San-Ti in the show) to intercept communication between humans and stall scientific progress through data manipulation. They serve a similar purpose in the show, with the major difference being that one of the Sophons is represented by a woman who wears a sword on her back. Apart from that, her way of communicating with other characters (video-calling being the best way to explain it) is not present in the text.

Three Body Problem Game

The representation of the Three Body Problem Game is mostly similar in both the book and the TV series, with just one stark difference: In the novel, it is played through a VR (virtual reality) suit, while in the show, one needs a VR chrome helmet to play it. In the series, it is said that the technology involved in the game is far ahead of what humans are capable of, as it is a work of the advanced San-Ti.

Depiction of Saul Durand’s romantic life

In the season finale of the show, Saul Durand (Jovan Adepo) becomes a Wallfacer, a strategist who is tasked with fighting the San-Ti in secrecy, since the San-Ti can’t comprehend human attributes like lying and can’t read minds. The Wallfacers serve as the only hope for mankind. In the books, Saul’s parallel is Luo Ji, and there is a major difference between the two characters among many similarities: the on-off romance shown in the series between Durand and Auggie Salazar is absent in the books, where Luo Ji ends up dating a novelist and is later obsessed with creating a fictional partner.

(featured image: Netflix)

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