Your Sci-Fi/Fantasy reading list …

I am an avowed fan of the Science Fiction and Fantasy literary genres. Speculation about the future, other worlds, different species, alternate planes of existence, space and time travel, god-like powers, vampires, zombies, necromancers, spirits, dryads, Minotaurs … you name it … draws my interest and intense fascination. I’ve always thought it was no surprise that L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, was a great sci-fi writer. Religion, sci-fi and fantasy go together like proverbial peas in a pod.

So this month, I am going to provide you with a reading list that represents some of the best of the best fiction in these categories that I have had the privilege to savor. I am setting myself the challenge of keeping the list to ten entries in order to ensure that dipping into the pool will be highly worth your time. In no particular order, here we go …

• The Dune Series by Frank Herbert and continued by his son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson
  • You will want to begin with the original six novels before delving into the fourteen additional books that drill more deeply into the Dune universe.
  • I originally read Dune when I was in college on a term abroad; I practically missed seeing the sights in England and Scotland on spring break because my head was buried in these books. I was a committed fan forever thereafter.
• The Uplift Series by David Brin
  • These novels put a whole new spin on the notion of sapience; where did it come from? A higher intelligence? A more advanced race of beings?
  • Can you guess the two animal clients for whom humankind is the patron?
• Gormenghast Series by Mervyn Peake
  • This is high-fantasy in a Gothic, medieval setting. Although the characters are bizarre and grotesque, Peake’s florid writing style and amazing imagination can’t but help pull you into his nightmare.
• Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov
  • Asimov wrote two prequels and two sequels, but the jewel in the crown of this acclaimed work of fiction is the original trilogy.
  • When you win a Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series, you know you are talking best of the best.
• The Vampire Chronicles by Ann Rice
  • You will never forget the name Lestat de Lioncourt after biting into these novels that epitomize guilty pleasure.
  • Goodness knows how many books have been written about blood-suckers, but Rice is the real deal where so many imitators have tried and bored.
• The Riverworld Series by Philip Jose Farmer
  • What happens when all of humanity, from beginning to the present, are resurrected along a river millions of miles long? Riverworld provides some mind-expanding answers.
  • Appearances by real historical characters further enliven the mix. Mark Twain anyone?
• The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe
  • A tetralogy, these four novels chronicle the exploits of Severian, a disgraced journey man torturer. If that sounds like a weird day job, consider that the author has compared Severian’s profession as a torturer to Jesus’s profession as a carpenter.
  • Yeah … you just have to read it!
• Ender’s Game Series by Orson Scott Card
  • The Ender Saga as the series is also known, comprises six novels but there are a lot more (at least eight) if you can’t get your fill
  • A movie, Ender’s Game, was released in 2013 if you prefer to sample this universe in visual form
  • The first two novels in the series are utterly original and spectacular … not to be missed!

I am down to my final two picks … very unfair this self-imposed limit of ten! All of the recommendations above are picks from the last century (remember the 20th?) For these two, I am going to recommend two series by the same author who is actively writing right now and producing some of the best stuff I’ve ever read. I know that’s a big build-up, but you cannot and will not go wrong by starting with one of these two series.

• Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
  • Jemisin is an incredible talent. I completely disappeared into this series
  • Gods, godlings, demons … this saga has it all!
• Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
  • If you don’t read anything else on the list above, read these three novels
  • When an author wins a Hugo Award three years in a row, there is no question that you are talking best of the best of the best; seriously, every volume in this series was voted the best fantasy novel (2016, 2017 and 2018)
  • I cannot recommend this series highly enough!

Finally, I would love to hear your picks for the best sci-fi and/or fantasy novels that you have read. What did I miss?