Fiction 101: Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

by Shelby D., Evening Supervisor, with guest contributor Daniel G.

Welcome to Fiction 101, where we talk about books, genres, and recommended titles! This month we are going to talk about science fiction and fantasy. I’m super excited to announce our new Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Group run by Daniel, one of our library assistants. It starts September 18 at 6:30 p.m. and will be held every third Thursday monthly. No need to read a specific book, just come ready to eat snacks and talk about all things science fiction and fantasy! Check out our science fiction and fantasy display on the first floor of the Morgantown Public Library if you need help picking a book (and grab one of our pretty rad bookmarks).

Let’s talk fantasy and science fiction! Both are types of speculative fiction. Speculative fiction is a category of fiction that asks and answers “what if” questions. Like: “What if there were dragons?” “What if humans had magic powers?” or “What if people could travel easily across galaxies?”

Science Fiction

Science fiction focuses on scientific advances, space, and the future. Some of the canonical, or genre-defining, examples of science fiction include:

Three book covers: Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?", and Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale"
  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
  • The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

A few subgenres of science fiction:

Three book covers: William Gibson's "Neuromancer," Frank Herbert's "Dune," and Octavia E. Butler's "Parable of the Sower"
  • Cyberpunk: a high-tech dystopia set in a futuristic world. Try Neuromancer by William Gibson.
  • Space Opera: story set in outer space with an emphasis on grand adventures. This includes Dune by Frank Herbert.
  • Dystopian: an imagined future where society is taken over by oppressive regimes and usually met with resistance. An example is Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.

Sci-Fi Recommendations

Here are some science fiction reading suggestions from Daniel:

Three book covers: Pierce Brown's "Red Rising," Dan Simmons's "Hyperion," and Tamsyn Muir's "Gideon the Ninth"
  • Red Rising by Pierce Brown: “Imagine the Hunger Games but grown-up and in space. The first book is excellent and the series only gets better from there.”
  • Hyperion by Dan Simmons: “Seven unique characters travel to the world Hyperion to go on a pilgrimage and meet a mysterious entity known as the Shrike. Each character has their own captivating backstory, and Dan Simmons weaves them together beautifully.”
  • Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir: “Lesbian necromancers in space. What more needs to be said? This book is funny and oftentimes just plain strange, making it one of the most unique reading experiences in science fiction.”

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre that includes unrealistic elements, like magic or the supernatural. Fantasy books often take place in an imaginary world, or this world reimagined. Some popular fantasy books:

Three book covers: J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," William Goldman's "The Princess Bride," and Ursula K. LeGuin's "A Wizard of Earthsea"
  • Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Princess Bride by William Goldman
  • A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin

Some subgenres of fantasy:

Three book covers: Sarah J. Maas's "A Court of Thorns and Roses," Robert Jordan's "The Eye of the World," and V.E. Schwab's "A Darker Shade of Magic"
  • Romantasy: a mix of fantasy and romance elements. Check out A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
  • High Fantasy: in-depth world building, magic, and mythical creatures. Try The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan.
  • Urban Fantasy: fantasy stories that take place in contemporary cities. Read A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.

Fantasy Recommendations

Here are a few fantasy book suggestions from Daniel:

Three book covers: James Islington's "The Will of the Many," Brandon Sanderson's "Tress of the Emerald Sea," and N.K. Jemisin's "The Fifth Season"
  • The Will of the Many by James Islington: “This Roman-inspired book is set in a world where citizens cede part of their ‘will’ to those above them in the Hierarchy. The story follows Vis, a former prince of a kingdom conquered by the Hierarchy, as he attempts to infiltrate and seek justice.”
  • Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson: “Heavily inspired by The Princess Bride, this book asks the question: what if the princess had to save the prince? This book is funny and charming, featuring a talking rat, magical oceans, cup collections, and more.”
  • The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin: “This is the story of a mother traveling across a broken and strange world to save her daughter. This has some of the best worldbuilding around and makes a unique use of second person point of view, making it a fascinating read.”

Whether you read science fiction, fantasy, or anything in between, we’d love to hear about it! Tell us about your favorite reads on Facebook, Instagram, or in person when you visit us next. We hope to see you at our new Science Fiction/Fantasy Book Discussion Group. We have some exciting things coming up so stay tuned!