hey this is absolutely an incomplete list and I will most certainly be making something more complete with more time and research, but I wanted to offer up something a sign that Iâm serious about making this happen, so here are some recommendations for books aimed at adult readers that are fantasy, sci-fi, difficult to quantify but definitely not âliterary fiction,â or wiggly short story collections that may float some boats.
in the interest of full disclosure: no I absolutely have no read all of these and cannot personally vouch for all of them, although most of them are books I would like to get around to reading eventually if I havenât already. remember the importance of doing your own research, especially regarding potentially triggering or upsetting content!
also yes, I did describe these briefly and badly. again: independent research! itâs key! and will hopefully be a nice springboard to finding other authors and titles which might tickle your fancy.
Alif the Unseen (G. Willow Wilson) - Urban fantasy blending technology and Islamic mythology.
The Bird King (G. Willow Wilson) - Historical fantasy, set in a 15the century Muslim kingdom.
Circe (Madeline Miller) - For all you Greek mythology fans who think women deserve better. Â
Gods of Jade and Shadow (Silvia Moreno-Garcia) - You like the Jazz Age? Bet youâll like it with some Mayan gods thrown in the mix.
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (N.K. Jemisin) - So youâve been summoned by your grandfather to come compete for the throne of a kingdom that rules the world and enslaves gods. Neat.
Kill theFarm Boy (Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne) - Probably good if you like D&D.
The Library of the Unwritten (A.J. Hackwith) - Hellâs librarian has to go bounty hunting.
Like Water for Chocolate (Laura Esquivel) - Magical realism, Mexican family drama and star-crossed romance.
Neverwhere (Neil Gaiman) - Every book you ever read about a plucky kid falling into a weird magic world except now itâs a young man with a nice office job wandering the magical London sewers.
The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern) - Itâs a big magical circus thatâs goth as hell, so basically all the fun of Tim Burton without actually having to involve Tim Burton.
The Penelopiad (Margaret Atwood) - For all you Greek mythology fans who think women deserve better, part two.
The Song of Achilles (Madeline Miller) - For all you Greek mythology fans who want to cry about some gay tragedy.
The Traitor Baru Cormorant (Seth Dickinson) - Hard fantasy, which means less magic but more politics and critique of the homogeneity of imperialism.
Under the Pendulum Sun (Jeannette Ng) - Dark gothic fantasy; Victorian missionaries attempt to convert fairies.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (Hank Green) - College student uncovers alien conspiracy and goes viral along the way.
Alice Payne Arrives (Kate Heartfield) - Iâve got time travel and dashing ladies committing robbery and inventing things; what more do you need?
Binti (Nnedi Okorafor) - So. You ran away from home to go to space college but now the ship is under attack by hostile aliens.
The Fifth Season (N.K. Jemisin) - Itâs sci-fi and magic and the end of the world and also the evils of systemic oppression!
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Becky Chambers) - Slice of life stories about the interspecies crew of a longhaul spaceship.
Parable of the Sower (Octavia E. Butler) - Teenage girl sees the world ending (in 2024, dear god), decides to start a new religion about it.
Space Opera (Catherynne M. Valente) - High-stakes Eurovision IN SPACE.
The Tea Master and the Detective (Aliette de Bodard) - Hey kid, ya like murder mysteries? Ya like âem IN SPACE?
This Is How You Lose the Time War (Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone) - Time-travelling lesbian enemies to lovers.
Genre is Fake, IDK How to Classify These:
The Affair of the Mysterious Letter (Alexis Hall) - Sherlock Holmes except Holmes is a woman and a sorceress and Watson is trans and was fighting a war in a different universe. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle rolls in his grave.
Good Omens (Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman) - Come on, itâs already all over your dash. Just give it a read.
Hollow Kingdom (Kira Jane Buxton) - Urban fantasy told from the point of view of a pet crow, whoâs trying to stop the apocalypse.
Meddling Kids (Edgar Cantero) - Scooby-Doo meets Lovecraft. Maybe not strictly sci-fi, but Iâm trying to keep this list concise and genres are a flawed construct
Falling in Love with Hominids (Nalo Hopkinson)
Friday Black (Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah)
Her Body and Other Parties (Carmen Maria Machado)
How Long âtil Black Future Month? (N.K. Jemisin)
The Merry Spinster (Daniel Mallory Ortberg)
New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color (edited by Nisi Shawl)
The Refrigerator Monologues (Catherynne M. Valente)
