I’m not sure when it was written, but I ran across this list of the best science fiction and fantasy books this century, and I resonated with the ones I’ve read, so I thought I’d see what others thought of it. Have you read many of them?
I have no faith in anyone who lumps sci-fi and fantasy into the same genre.
Idk, they start out with saying it’s all themed around escapism.
Trust that they have a TON of reading lists, if you want a different collection, powells probably has a list for you by the collective or by an individual employee. They have wonderful curation.
Yeah this list is wack. Not that these are bad choices per se but so many are just not sci fi.
I’m over 2000 books read (a mix of classics, literary and genre fiction) and the more I read the more fantasy and sci-fi feel similar. Despite one having a reputation for escapism and the other for (indirect) social commentary, in my experience any given book of either can fall anywhere between those two poles. Any sufficiently advanced technology, etc.
A lot of those are excellent but The Priory of the Orange Tree is one of the most boring books I’ve ever read. The high-level idea isn’t bad, but the big bads are just evil because… they are? Most of the characters are pretty flat, the worldbuilding is incredibly shallow (ok the religions seem semi-interesting, but they get mostly glossed over) and I only finished it to see if there was something to all the hype that I was missing. Having major characters be women/LGBT+/POC is awesome, but those things alone can’t carry a book, especially one this big.
removed over, sorry. Replace that one with The Library at Mount Char or How To Lose The Time War.
Edit: removed NOT over, where the hell is goddamn Baru Cormorant?!
I’ll disagree with you on How to Lose the Time War, but Library at Mount Char is absolutely goated, and I’m surprised it’s not on the original list.
I can totally see that Time War isn’t for everyone, it’s quite an odd one in style, structure, and just about everything else.
I have Mount Char on my to read list, but Time War was a dnf for me. Just could not get into it.
I agree with everything you said about Priory, and would add that the sex scenes were maybe the most badly written to the point it was painful. I almost never give up on a book even when I should, but I had to leave this one unfinished. And I’ve finally stopped seeing the cover of the second one and thinking ooh what’s this? Before I realize it’s nothing I want to read. I liked How to Lose the Time War pretty well and will check out your other recommendations!
Okay, thanks, good to know
Feel free to read it, obviously lol. It wasn’t outright bad, just so dull and I had really high expectations from all the hype it got. Beautiful cover though, I’ll give it that.
I’ve read less of these than I would have guessed. Thanks for the recommendations! Always looking for more good reads. I wish there had been more sci-fi in the list but I have been sorely lacking a good fantasy for a while so I will not complain loudly.
Yeah, my reaction was well. I’ve read enough of them to think the others might also be excellent, but several I’ve never even heard of.
I’ve read or started to read 10 of them. I had a hard time getting into a Master of Djinn and didn’t finish. All Systems Red is fine but not great. I didn’t care for Name of the Wind or Binti. I loved Seveneves, The Fifth Season, and Ancillary Justice though.
Have you read The Windup Girl? I thought it was okay, the world was much more compelling than the characters to me.
I liked All Systems Red fairly well. Pretty quick read, not just because it’s a novella, but fun. Seveneves is great, and I loved American Gods. Windup Girl is really good. I’m not sure why I’ve never read Pattern Recognition; I’ve read a lot of Gibson and usually like his stuff a lot (but I hope someone wrestles the microphone away from him if he ever tries to do another audio book).
All Systems Red is great and so are the rest in the series.
Love the murderbot diaries.
I’ve read all but 5 or 6 of them. The ones I have read were all solid; this seems like a great list. On the basis of how much I enjoyed the ones I had read, I’m going to add some books to my reading pile. Thanks for sharing the link!
That’s great to hear, both because I’m hoping posting it added good stuff to someone’s reading list and because it validates it a bit for me and I’ll probably add some to my own! Thanks for the reply.
No mention of the genius that is Ian M. Banks or Alester Reynolds. Meh.
Whoo Powells!
I’ve read schockingly few of the ones on the list, and from what I know, I feel torn. Some I’m happy to see: NK Jemisin is a great author, and although I haven’t read Exhaltation by Ted Chiang, everything I’ve read of his has been incredible.
On the other hand, seeing Perdidio Street Station as the first entry really threw me for a loop. The bike is totally fine, but it is extremely weird, and I definitely don’t see it as a must-read.
I really liked Three Body Problem, and I’m happy to see it on the list. The only other one I’ve tried to read was Seveneves, and… I couldn’t finish it! I just couldn’t dig the “realistic” science style (same with The Martian, which I couldn’t stand… and I’m relieved it’s not on this list). Don’t get me wrong–other Stephenson books are in my personal top 10, especially Anathem. Pattern Recognition is on my shelf and I look forward to it.
Uprooted is a legitimately fantastic fantasy book but it is absolutely not even remotely sci-fi. Annihilation is…fine. Honestly I was kind of let down after the movie generated all the (brief) hype and it left me not caring about the next books enough to bother. American Gods is American Gods, if you know you know. I think I read one of two others on the list but forgot what they are.
Kind of surprised piranesi didn’t make the list tbh. Legitimately terrific blend of sci-fi fantasy and mystery. Not a hard/long read but well worth the time!
