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The best sci-fi and fantasy book series
Escape to far-off worlds by reading these captivating book series.
Published on April 14, 2023
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Becky ChambersSometimes fresh starts come in faded packages. Looking to shake off her past, Rosemary Harper takes a road trip through the galaxy aboard the Wayfarer, a spaceship decidedly past its prime. Originally self-published, Chambers’ feel-good sci-fi series won the Hugo Award (science fiction’s highest honor) and has won over almost anyone who’s read it. Start with “The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet” and enjoy the ride as the motley crew of humans and imaginative alien creatures evolve together over the series.
The Fellowship of the Ring
J. R. R. TolkienImmerse yourself in Tolkien’s epic fantasy saga and follow the adventures of Frodo Baggins as he journeys through Middle Earth to destroy a ring that possesses all-consuming power. Now’s a great time to read (or re-read) this iconic series, after binging “The Rings of Power” and while waiting for the new “Lord of the Rings” anime movie, “The War of the Rohirrim,” to come out in 2024. As a bonus, Middle Earth has never sounded better than with the magical narration of Andy Serkis, the actor who brought Gollum to life in the movies.
A Wizard of Earthsea
Ursula K. Le GuinThe “Earthsea” trilogy may be meant for teens, but this fantasy romp from the legendary Le Guin is one of her biggest series, well-loved by children and adults alike. If you’re new to Le Guin’s books, “A Wizard of Earthsea” is a great place to start. With its magical school for wizards, fantastical mythical creatures, and coming-of-age quests, it’s easy to get lost in the universe of Earthsea.
Black Sun
Rebecca RoanhorseWith “Black Sun,” Roanhorse begins her epic fantasy trilogy, “Between Earth and Sky.” Drawing on indigenous pre-Columbian cultures, Roanhorse mixes in magic, revenge, and adventure as four fierce but flawed characters embark on a collision course during a fateful solar eclipse. Rotating POVs add depth and complexity to the diverse cast of characters along with queer and non-binary representation.
Gideon the Ninth
Tamsyn MuirA BookTok darling, Muir’s “Locked Tomb” series is also a star in the rising popularity of sapphic novels. In the first book in the series, Gideon, a queer swordswoman, and Harrowhark, her childhood frenemy who is also a necromancer, team up to save the world in a darkly snarky epic fantasy. Compelling characters, original world-building, salty swordplay, and a fantastic performance from narrator Moira Quirk make the adventures of Gideon, Harrow, and Nona a rowdy gothic ride.
Song of Blood & Stone: Earthsinger Chronicles, Book One
L. Penelope“Song of Blood & Stone,” the first book in the “Earthsinger Chronicles” series, was named one of TIME’s Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. Penelope’s epic fantasy is set in a land split between two tribes separated by abilities, appearance, and a magical veil. Amid a war for control, an isolated healer and an Elsiran spy must work together to save their world by uncovering an ancient mystery.
All Systems Red
Martha WellsThis is the Hugo Award-winning novella that introduces the beloved “Murderbot” series. It’s a fun, fast-paced read full of dry humor that’s balanced by a poignant examination of the ethics of artificial intelligence. Let AI droid Murderbot steal your heart and suck you into the series.
The Farseer: Assassin's Apprentice
Robin HobbIf you’re looking for an epic fantasy saga to dive into, look no further than Hobb’s “Realm of the Elderlings” series. “Assassin’s Apprentice,” the first of 16 primary works, introduces readers to Fitz, an outcast shunned because he’s a bastard child who possesses a rare, powerful magic called the Wit. After he’s adopted into the royal household, he must renounce his old way of life and train to become an assassin.
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
Stephen King“The Dark Tower” series has been described as King’s magnum opus, containing eight full-length novels and a short story. This first book, “The Gunslinger,” offers something for everyone, including fantasy, a little sci-fi, and a lot of Western as it follows protagonist Roland of Gilead and his hunt for The Man in Black. There’s a 2017 film adaptation starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, but die-hard “Dark Tower” fans prefer the book, unsurprisingly.
Binti
Nnedi OkoraforIt’s tempting to describe the “Binti” series as “Harry Potter goes intergalactic,” but these inventive novellas defy expectations and disrupt conventions. Okorafor brings magic, innovative fantasy, and Afrofuturism to life in her trilogy, and this first book in the series won both the Hugo and Nebula awards.
The Voyage of the Star Wolf
David GerroldCalling all Trekkies: Engage with book number one in “Star Trek” screenwriter Gerrold’s classic sci-fi series, “Star Wolf.” A flagship of military science fiction, the trilogy transports readers aboard the underdog Star Wolf spaceship as its human crew battles for survival against a superhuman enemy. “The Voyage of the Star Wolf” poses a counterview to how warfare in space would play out compared to “Star Trek” and is no less stellar in its efforts.
The Color of Magic: A Discworld Novel
Terry PratchettThe zany characters parodying well-worn fantasy archetypes and the lore of the world make this start of the beloved “Discworld” series immensely charming. It will have you laughing out loud within the first few pages, and keep you laughing through a whopping 41 books.
Ninefox Gambit
Yoon Ha LeeIn the interstellar empire of Hexarchate, six factions with varying skills compete for power. Mathematics rule over all in Hexarchate; with a universally agreed-upon set of rules, the laws of physics work according to plan. However, mathematical heretics seek to disrupt the very fabric of the universe. Disgraced Captain Kel Cheris must reclaim a station from heretics, and to do so she’ll employ strategies that have never been used before. This is the first installment of “The Machineries of Empire” series.
Outlander
Diana GabaldonIt’s hard to categorize this genre-bending time-traveling historical romantic adventure, but one description is undeniable: it’s a total page-turner. You may have heard tell of the steamy sex — and while yes, there is sex and it is steamy — it’s hardly the whole story. The love Jamie and Claire share is truly epic, worthy of the centuries and continents the story spans to tell of it.
Displaced
Bridget E. BakerChancery and Judica may share the same DNA, but that’s where their similarities end. Judica — stronger, braver, and more ambitious than her twin sister — is ready to claim her rightful place as the empress. They’re both thrown for a loop when their mother names Chancery as her successor. The “Birthright'' series is filled with twists and turns, betrayals, romance, and a gripping, fast-paced plot.
Daughter of the Forest: Book One of the Sevenwaters Trilogy
Juliet MarillierBased on a Celtic legend and set in a warring ancient Ireland, “Daughter of the Forest” chronicles the adventures of a young woman determined to free her bewitched brothers from their wicked stepmother’s evil spell. The enchanting woodland heroine faces devious fairy folk, impossibly cruel tasks, and forbidden love, all of which combine to make the “Sevenwaters Trilogy” a spellbinding fantasy series.
Range of Ghosts
Elizabeth BearPolitical intrigue mixes with magic in this epic historical fantasy series from Bear, a Hugo Award-winning author. Fans of extensive world-building and evocative adventure have a lot to like in this trilogy, including: ruthless usurping relatives and gory power struggles, blood ghosts and a massive part-human-part-tiger, a wizard princess and a secret cult.
Every Heart a Doorway
Seanan McGuireThe School for Wayward Children is a place for the young people who went on adventures in fantasy realms (think: “Alice in Wonderland'') to readjust to our world again — with varying degrees of success. This novella (the first of a series that can be read in any order) strikes a great balance between taking the emotional reality of its characters seriously and winking at the reader. If you yourself want to keep one foot in reality and one foot in fantasy, this series is the perfect way to do it.
Crave
Tracy WolffAfter losing her parents, Grace Foster attends a remote boarding school in Alaska. But it’s no ordinary academy, and Grace must coexist with monsters and mythical creatures. Then she meets Jaxon Vega, bad boy, heart throb, and vampire. Wolff’s delectable “Crave” series is Gen Z’s “Twilight,” and #BookTok is here for it.
The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, Book 1)
Maggie StiefvaterStiefvater’s “The Raven Boys,” the first installment of the “The Raven Cycle,” is a heady mix of romance and paranormal activity. It includes a psychic’s daughter, a king buried along ley lines, a doomed love story, and a handful of prep school boys (one of whom claims to be dead). Despite being titled after the men in the novel, the main character is a teenage girl named Blue who’s trying to navigate her burgeoning powers and feelings.
A Series of Unfortunate Events #1: The Bad Beginning
Lemony SnicketBegin at the beginning of this wonderfully weird, impressively imaginative, sprawling series by master wordsmith Lemony Snicket, whose spellbinding prose captivates readers of all ages. There are 13 books in total in “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” because what number could be less lucky (but still manageable to read in a lifetime)?
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Classic Fantasy Adventure Series (Official Edition)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Classic Fantasy Adventure Series (Official Edition)
C. S. LewisFour English school children find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” series has 10 books total, guaranteed to keep readers of all ages transfixed for weeks.