Goodreads is great. It really should be Greatreads. It’s undervaluing itself with the whole ‘good’ moniker.
If you’re not familiar with Goodreads, first, what’s wrong with you? (Just kidding.)
Second, you should jump right over there (after you finish reading this blog, of course) because it’s a great place to
- Obsessively track your books
- Get stuck for hours down the rabbit hole of a completely random discussion thread (perhaps something like ‘Is there no character/ person that exists that is like Jem Carstairs?’)
- Stalk your favorite authors
- Take a quiz to test your Sansa Stark knowledge
- Look up author quotes to post on Twitter so you seem smart
Not that I do any of these things. I’m just mentioning how other people use Goodreads. 😉
Scifi & Fantasy Week
This week is Goodread’s Sci-fi & Fantasy week, where you can find top 50 lists, recommendations from experts and basically geek out on everything that lies within a fantastical realm.
Given I’m a fantasy YA author (shameless plug: The Travelers, check it out if you like. 🙂 Sequel will be coming as soon as I stop obsessively editing!), I obviously have a thing for sci-fi and fantasy. I’ve loved it ever since I picked up my first Stephen King novel (Salem’s Lot) at the tender, and probably inappropriate, age of 10.
As part of their sci-fi/fantasy week, Goodreads listed the top 50 books in both genres. Having perused the list, I’ve read quite a few. (Shout out to some of my faves that made the top 50 cut: Dark Matter, The Handmaid’s Tale, Kindred.)
But there is also clearly a large gap in my sci-fi/fantasy consumption! I was surprised to find how much more sci-fi I read than fantasy in the top 50 lists. I would not have guessed that. However, the fantasy list does tend toward what I believe people refer to has “high fantasy” and I tend toward “low fantasy.” I have no idea if that’s a term. But for me, historically, it means books like The Mortal Instruments series or Children of Blood and Bone. “Low” makes it seem bad. How about “fun fantasy for people who like vampires and werewolves in the YA realm, but are just so-so on elves.” (Just kidding, elves are great!)
Actually, looking at the lists, I notice now they’re relatively bereft of children or YA sci-fi/fantasy books….mmmm….rant forming in my mind. But that’s for another time…
Top 5 Sci-fi/Fantasy Books I Want to Add to My TBR
Regardless, it’s evident I need to increase the sci-fi/fantasy books on my TBR. (Such a burden!) Here is a list of sci-fi/fantasy books that make me want to go to a bookstore right now and buy them. (Not all are on the Goodreads’ top 50 list, because, let’s face it, there’s so much out there and sometimes I want to read what I want to read whether it’s on a list or not! I’m just stubborn that way.)
5. The Last Unicorn (Graphic Novel Version) by Peter S. Beagle
Why: Because I loved this movie as a kid and I heard long ago someone made the book into a graphic novel. I need to read this!
Why: Because I’ve never read anything by Terry Pratchett and I feel like I’m really missing out.
Why: Because it’s one of Neil Gaiman’s best. I think that’s reason enough.
Why: Because my friend knows the author and speaks very highly of her and I’ve heard great things about the book!
Why: I’ve been interested in this one for a while now. I think it’s time to read it!
Honorable Mention: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Why? Sure this probably isn’t making anyone’s top 50 fantasy list, but I loved FanGirl and I love Rainbow Rowell. I just want to read it OK?
Let’s Chat!
Anyone have thoughts on these? Are they TBR worthy? Other sci-fi/fantasy suggestions to add to my TBR are welcome!
August 21, 2018 at 11:38 am
Neverwhere is my favorite of Neil Gaiman’s books! And I will add Lois McMaster Bujold’s book, The Curse of Chalion to the list. It’s the first of her World of the Five Gods books. Bujold just won her second ‘Best Series’ Hugo for this series last Sunday!
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August 21, 2018 at 2:00 pm
I’ve only read Gaiman’s graphic novels, so I really want to read a full length book. Thanks for the recommendation!!! I will check it out.
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August 21, 2018 at 2:07 pm
You’re welcome!
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August 21, 2018 at 12:56 pm
I can vouch for Circe; it’s one of 2018’s best new books in my opinion! The Last Unicorn is great, too, although I haven’t read the graphic novel version. I’m a fan of both the book and the movie!
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August 21, 2018 at 2:01 pm
I know. I just loved that movie. It was one of the few non-Disney animated movies when I was a kid and it just spoke to me. It has an eerie, cool undertone.
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August 21, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Circe is really good!! I read it a couple weeks ago.
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August 21, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Yay! I’m excited to read it. (Currently wishing there was a bookstore right next door to my house!)
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August 21, 2018 at 2:46 pm
haha! I would love and hate that. I would be so broke. LOL!
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August 21, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Me too. I need to just own a bookstore already. If you own a bookstore all books are free right? 😉
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August 21, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Hahahaha, yes!! Own a used bookstore. Then there’s no lies. Read a book before it sells. :):-P
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August 21, 2018 at 6:30 pm
I didn’t know they made The Last Unicorn into a graphic novel! I want to read the non-graphic novel of it, and also because I loved the movie.
Of the Pratchett books I’ve read, which is admittedly not many, Mort was definitely a favorite. I’m pretty sure that DEATH is my favorite character.
My biggest problem with “High Fantasy” is that it’s often in volumes way longer than they need to be. I don’t need my books to be under 200 pages for the paperback, but neither do I need them to be 1000+ pages when a little bit of editing would prune the page count and improve the story. (Though, sometimes it’s worth all those pages. Just not always.)
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August 21, 2018 at 8:37 pm
I definitely agree. I need some assurances that if I’m going to sink several weeks of my life into a book it will be worth it. If it’s shorter, I’m a bit more forgiving. Never thought about it. So true!
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August 22, 2018 at 6:58 am
Oh wow!! I totally missed what this week was — thank you 🙂
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August 22, 2018 at 9:44 am
You’re very welcome!
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August 23, 2018 at 10:50 am
Mort for the win👍🏻
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August 23, 2018 at 10:59 am
I’ll move it to the top of the list then. 🙂
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August 23, 2018 at 11:00 am
Are you familiar with TP and Discworld?
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August 23, 2018 at 11:00 am
No…tell me more!
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August 23, 2018 at 11:04 am
You might love it if you are into satirical fantacy. This is book nr 4 in TP’s Discworld series, but it is not nessasary to read it in order. Have fun
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August 23, 2018 at 5:57 pm
Thanks for the recommendation!! I’ll check it out. I am a fan of all kinds of satire. 🙂
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September 10, 2018 at 5:30 pm
Great post and great Fantasy list but no Science Fiction titles. There’s been some truly groundbreaking SF releases in the last few years that you should check out. I know this is going to sound a bit pretentious and I apologize in advance but they tend to be more challenging reads than those you have listed above. I’d check out Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie for a start. Happy to send more recommendations if you’re interested. Cheers, Brian
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September 10, 2018 at 5:35 pm
Thanks! I love recommendations and do not mind challenging reads. Please feel free to send any other must reads. I appreciate it always!! 🙂
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September 10, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Sounds good – I’d definitely try Ancillary Justice – it was exceptional and it won a Hugo. I’d also recommend Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee. Both of these were amazing books and very unique / innovative. I’ll give it some thought and send a few more – including a few older, classic titles. Have you read Dune by Frank Herbert? Cheers, Brian
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September 11, 2018 at 10:39 am
Oh Dune…It’s my husband’s favorite and he keeps telling me to read it. But the length of the series itself is daunting. I have a tendency to obsess over a series and it takes over my life for a while. Then I get annoyed. 🙂 Thus why I haven’t picked it up yet. But I have all of them!
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September 11, 2018 at 10:51 am
Please – PLEASE – read Dune!! Don’t even worry about the rest of the series. They’re good but Dune is one of the few true classics of this genre. It demands to be read!! If you do, come back and ask me who my favorite character was. I’ll surprise you. 😉
Cheers,
Brian
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September 11, 2018 at 12:33 pm
OK. You’ve convinced me. Will add to the top of the pile threatening to fall on my head next to my bed. 😉
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September 11, 2018 at 1:58 pm
You’ve just made my day. 😀😀
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