Science fiction is renown for its short stories. I'd recommend reading some anthologies. Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volumes 1 and 2. The Library of America collection "American Science Fiction". Any collection edited by Gardner Dozois, "The Year's Best Science Fiction." Ted Chiang probably has the best collection of an individual author right now "Exhalation" "Story of your Life and Others." "Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu and "Pump Six and Other Stories" by Paolo Bacigalupi are others that I have enjoyed
The Elric series by Michael Moorcock is high fantasy at its best. Moorcock originally wrote the stories as serials for a fantasy magazine in the 1960s. I've always felt that the rest of the swords and sorcerery realm had its way paved by this series. Elric might also be the first anti-hero.
I will second the Becky Chambers- I love the Wayfarers series- start with A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet! Also NK Jemisin's Broken Earth series is fantastic (start with the Fifth Season)
I couldn't agree more with the heaviness of history. I am reading a modern history of China from Penguin. It's so brutal and sad that I feel like I can't continue to read once a few pages...
I’m an author of two traditionally published (in 2022) sci-fI books in A Soul’s Warfare series, so OF COURSE I want to respond to your invitation to share some speculative fiction with adventure, romance, and humor.
THE HOT MARBLE—A demonic plot to conquer two planets, a hot marble that contains the coordinates to Earth … and Lewis, a brilliant young physicist with the idea for instant space travel, who inconveniently falls into a trap.
THE CAVE CHAMBER—The plot continues. Lewis, now in charge of the enemy’s technology, will do anything—absolutely anything —to stop it. (The Cave Chamber is rather dark.)
I don't recall whether you've read and wrote about it already, but all four books of Arthur C. Clarke's "Space Odyssey" saga (2001, 2010, 2061, 3001) blew my mind as a wide-eyed teen.
I'm currently on book 3 of Dune. Not hitting quite the same as Space Odyssey once did for me, but very philosophically/politically/sociologically thoughtful, and cool worldbuilding.
Somewhere along the line I read some other short fiction of Clarke's that was decent but didn't hit the same. Haven't revisited Space Odyssey but now I'm excited to do so. Now I'm excited; that just may be on deck after I finish the original run of Dune novels.
As you found out reading Elantris, Sanderson is a great way to get that fantasy escapism. I know you probably will but his Cosmere works are all a lot of fun. I fell for them hard last year. He also seems like a genuinely good person and seems to run his business fairly and thoughtfully, which is just like icing on the cake.
Priory of the Orange Tree is another thick fantasy with a great story and characters and the sequel comes on this year, I think February.
And a little more off-beat but the Hellboy comic omnibuses are excellent as well.
Thanks for the coffee grinder rec, my partner and I have a nice bur grinder right now but we've recently been talking about upgrading.
For fantasy, the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss is so good. It starts with The Name of the Wind. Just know, it’s a trilogy and we’ve been waiting for book three for an agonizingly long time now. But I highly recommend it anyways.
No recommendations on sci-fiction,but thanks for information on Harry's ghost writer. I am going to check him out. I had a horrible time in 2022 finding new fiction that I liked. My problem is I like to think and not be told every detail, especially violence and explicit material Call me old (68) and old-fashioned and I'm okay with that.I read more classics instead. I probably will do the same for 2023.
I echo all of the NK Jemisin (I agree the Broken Earth trilogy is where to start), Murderbot, and Becky Chambers recommendations. Some other books that got me into fantasy and are popular favorites are: Katherine Addison's The Goblin Emperor (a standalone high fantasy, but with two mystery books set in the same world), Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone's This is How You Lose the Time War, and Tamsyn Muir's Gideon the Ninth (this will be at least a four book series, but Gideon is the one that holds my heart). Happy reading!
You must, you MUST put Michael J Sullivan on your fantasy list, PLEASE. His trilogy The Riyria Revelations is astounding in its plot and character building and the world he creates is utterly fantastic. Plus, the author himself has an incredible getting published story and who doesn’t love that in addition to an incredible book?
Science fiction is renown for its short stories. I'd recommend reading some anthologies. Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volumes 1 and 2. The Library of America collection "American Science Fiction". Any collection edited by Gardner Dozois, "The Year's Best Science Fiction." Ted Chiang probably has the best collection of an individual author right now "Exhalation" "Story of your Life and Others." "Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu and "Pump Six and Other Stories" by Paolo Bacigalupi are others that I have enjoyed
Thanks Ken! I've really enjoyed Ted Chiang in the past. I'll have to check out the LOA collection — love those books.
I've been really into short stories lately. Mostly literary (Wendell Berry, George Saundres, Alice Munro) I'm going to check these out.
The Elric series by Michael Moorcock is high fantasy at its best. Moorcock originally wrote the stories as serials for a fantasy magazine in the 1960s. I've always felt that the rest of the swords and sorcerery realm had its way paved by this series. Elric might also be the first anti-hero.
Awesome, thanks Bob!
Sounds like you need Cozy Fantasy! I’d start with “Legends and Lattes” by Travis Baldree and “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers
I will second the Becky Chambers- I love the Wayfarers series- start with A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet! Also NK Jemisin's Broken Earth series is fantastic (start with the Fifth Season)
That's the second time this week that I've seen "Legends" recommended. Must be a sign that I need to get it 🙂
Thanks for the recs, Taran! Chambers has been on my radar — I'll definitely move her up the list.
I couldn't agree more with the heaviness of history. I am reading a modern history of China from Penguin. It's so brutal and sad that I feel like I can't continue to read once a few pages...
I’m an author of two traditionally published (in 2022) sci-fI books in A Soul’s Warfare series, so OF COURSE I want to respond to your invitation to share some speculative fiction with adventure, romance, and humor.
THE HOT MARBLE—A demonic plot to conquer two planets, a hot marble that contains the coordinates to Earth … and Lewis, a brilliant young physicist with the idea for instant space travel, who inconveniently falls into a trap.
THE CAVE CHAMBER—The plot continues. Lewis, now in charge of the enemy’s technology, will do anything—absolutely anything —to stop it. (The Cave Chamber is rather dark.)
The 3rd book, THE HORNED EDGE, is in progress.
Wonderful! Thanks for the heads up!
My fav sci fi author is Clifford D Simak. It’s a weird blend of fantasy and sci fi, described as “pastoral sci fi”.
Haven't heard of it — thanks Cody! Added to my list.
I would recommend C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy. Each one stands on its own but they’re wonderful. Also, anything by Jules Verne.
Ah right! I actually read Out of the Silent Planet last year and just forgot to read the rest of it. Really unique and enjoyable.
I don't recall whether you've read and wrote about it already, but all four books of Arthur C. Clarke's "Space Odyssey" saga (2001, 2010, 2061, 3001) blew my mind as a wide-eyed teen.
I'm currently on book 3 of Dune. Not hitting quite the same as Space Odyssey once did for me, but very philosophically/politically/sociologically thoughtful, and cool worldbuilding.
Awesome, thanks for the rec! Have you revisited Clarke since you first read them?
Somewhere along the line I read some other short fiction of Clarke's that was decent but didn't hit the same. Haven't revisited Space Odyssey but now I'm excited to do so. Now I'm excited; that just may be on deck after I finish the original run of Dune novels.
As you found out reading Elantris, Sanderson is a great way to get that fantasy escapism. I know you probably will but his Cosmere works are all a lot of fun. I fell for them hard last year. He also seems like a genuinely good person and seems to run his business fairly and thoughtfully, which is just like icing on the cake.
Priory of the Orange Tree is another thick fantasy with a great story and characters and the sequel comes on this year, I think February.
And a little more off-beat but the Hellboy comic omnibuses are excellent as well.
Thanks for the coffee grinder rec, my partner and I have a nice bur grinder right now but we've recently been talking about upgrading.
Thanks for the "Priory" rec! Added to my list.
For fantasy, the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss is so good. It starts with The Name of the Wind. Just know, it’s a trilogy and we’ve been waiting for book three for an agonizingly long time now. But I highly recommend it anyways.
High on my list!
No recommendations on sci-fiction,but thanks for information on Harry's ghost writer. I am going to check him out. I had a horrible time in 2022 finding new fiction that I liked. My problem is I like to think and not be told every detail, especially violence and explicit material Call me old (68) and old-fashioned and I'm okay with that.I read more classics instead. I probably will do the same for 2023.
I echo all of the NK Jemisin (I agree the Broken Earth trilogy is where to start), Murderbot, and Becky Chambers recommendations. Some other books that got me into fantasy and are popular favorites are: Katherine Addison's The Goblin Emperor (a standalone high fantasy, but with two mystery books set in the same world), Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone's This is How You Lose the Time War, and Tamsyn Muir's Gideon the Ninth (this will be at least a four book series, but Gideon is the one that holds my heart). Happy reading!
Great recs here! Thanks!
You must, you MUST put Michael J Sullivan on your fantasy list, PLEASE. His trilogy The Riyria Revelations is astounding in its plot and character building and the world he creates is utterly fantastic. Plus, the author himself has an incredible getting published story and who doesn’t love that in addition to an incredible book?
I do love a good "getting published" story! Thanks for the rec — added to my list!
For sci-fi, I'm currently reading "Light from Uncommon Stars" and absolutely loving it. Hilarious and heartfelt.
Sweet, thanks for the rec!
Dan Simmons. The Hyperion Cantos. Simply awesome SF!
I've seen that series on a bunch of lists! I really wanna read Drood from him too.
I’m reading sci-fi by Martha Wells. Very entertaining.
Murderbot? I've heard great things about that series!
Yes, and the stories about the Raksura people.