K.L. Kranes

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!

4. Mort by Terry Pratchett

Why: Because I’ve never read anything by Terry Pratchett and I feel like I’m really missing out.

3. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Why: Because it’s one of Neil Gaiman’s best. I think that’s reason enough.

2. Circe by Madeline Miller

Why: Because my friend knows the author and speaks very highly of her and I’ve heard great things about the book!

1. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

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!