Engaging sci-fi, fantasy, romance, etc. book recommendations
July 19, 2024 5:02 PM Subscribe
I am looking for engaging sci-fi, fantasy, romance (especially if combined with one of the others), or similar books that are generally positive in tone/ending. Some bad things can happen, but I want to feel much more happy than sad or mad once I'm finished. Some example authors are T. Kingfisher, Ilona Andrews, Malka Ann Older, and Martha Wells.
There are some broadly similar questions in my posting history if you're interested. Don't worry about recommending something I've already read, it will hopefully be helpful to someone else.
There are some broadly similar questions in my posting history if you're interested. Don't worry about recommending something I've already read, it will hopefully be helpful to someone else.
It's a quick read for what it costs, and it isn't romance as much as it involves a gay and an ace relationship, and it's kinda horror urban/modern fantasy SF-ish, but Chuck Tingle's Bury Your Gays kicked me in the gut in a good way last night.
posted by straw at 5:09 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
posted by straw at 5:09 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
Becky Chambers consistently produces thoughtful, emotionally rich sci fi stories. The Wayfarers stuff is especially good.
posted by Jilder at 5:28 PM on July 19 [9 favorites]
posted by Jilder at 5:28 PM on July 19 [9 favorites]
I've recommended Victoria Goddard's Nine Worlds series here before. It's a big sprawling fantasy series with different subsets of characters, and it might be a bit of an acquired taste, but I really enjoy sinking into the worlds she creates. The Bone Harp is one of her standalone fantasies, and I found it to be charmingly and soothingly old-fashioned Tolkienesque fantasy without being boring.
For SF, I just finished reading Emily Jane's On Earth as It Is on Television, which I found to be an immensely charming and character-centric take on first contact that isn't all about a violent invasion. Also, there are cats!
posted by yasaman at 5:37 PM on July 19 [6 favorites]
For SF, I just finished reading Emily Jane's On Earth as It Is on Television, which I found to be an immensely charming and character-centric take on first contact that isn't all about a violent invasion. Also, there are cats!
posted by yasaman at 5:37 PM on July 19 [6 favorites]
Try these two from John Scalzi:
Starter Villain
The Kaiju Preservation Society
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:48 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
Starter Villain
The Kaiju Preservation Society
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:48 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
Seconding Becky Chambers!
posted by Kriesa at 6:00 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
posted by Kriesa at 6:00 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
If you like those Angry Planet books by Becky Chambers, you will almost certainly like The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz - they know each other and everything, the writers, not the books. You may gather that these books are not truly to my taste, but you'll like them if that's the type of thing you like, as my grandfather used to say.
To my taste:
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making, a children's book but an extremely good one.
The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea. Not a children's book per se, but it's about children.
A classic of queer fantasy, also kind of OTT and trashy, Swordspoint, by Ellen Kushner. The first book I ever read that had actual gay people in it. I probably haven't read it in twenty-five years so I can't quite totally vouch for it, but between the ages of about twelve and twenty, I must have read it fifteen times and liked it a lot then.
Canonically, one recommends Freya Marske's A Marvellous Light. I liked this one a lot but somehow didn't get into the sequels.
posted by Frowner at 6:02 PM on July 19 [4 favorites]
To my taste:
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making, a children's book but an extremely good one.
The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea. Not a children's book per se, but it's about children.
A classic of queer fantasy, also kind of OTT and trashy, Swordspoint, by Ellen Kushner. The first book I ever read that had actual gay people in it. I probably haven't read it in twenty-five years so I can't quite totally vouch for it, but between the ages of about twelve and twenty, I must have read it fifteen times and liked it a lot then.
Canonically, one recommends Freya Marske's A Marvellous Light. I liked this one a lot but somehow didn't get into the sequels.
posted by Frowner at 6:02 PM on July 19 [4 favorites]
I quite liked Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell. It's a bit of science fiction and romance and while bad things happen, the end is nice.
posted by crossswords at 6:09 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
posted by crossswords at 6:09 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
The Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. It's science fiction and romance and a pseudo-historical comedy of manners. I recommend reading it in internal chronological order, because the best part about it is the character development. I think all the novels can be enjoyed as standalone stories, but the later ones especially are much more satisfying in context.
(You can start with Shards of Honor; Falling Free can be read just before Diplomatic Immunity.)
posted by confluency at 6:09 PM on July 19 [17 favorites]
(You can start with Shards of Honor; Falling Free can be read just before Diplomatic Immunity.)
posted by confluency at 6:09 PM on July 19 [17 favorites]
Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is going to be right up your alley. The second book is out and the third is on the way.
Strong second for Winter's Orbit.
I love Sharon Shinn's fantasy romance, too; some of her older stuff is a little weird or boring, but I love Elemental Blessings.
For something slightly less cozy and more adventury in the romantic SF genre, Jessie Mihalik is good, e.g. Polaris Rising.
posted by gideonfrog at 6:39 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
Strong second for Winter's Orbit.
I love Sharon Shinn's fantasy romance, too; some of her older stuff is a little weird or boring, but I love Elemental Blessings.
For something slightly less cozy and more adventury in the romantic SF genre, Jessie Mihalik is good, e.g. Polaris Rising.
posted by gideonfrog at 6:39 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki. A damned violin teacher trying to complete a contract with a demon meets a refugee spaceship captain who runs a donut shop.
The Cemeteries of Amalo series by Katherine Addison. Cozy priest mysteries, but the priest is an Elfin cleric. Super kind, light fantasy, and a little will-they-won’t-they romance. It’s a spinoff of the Goblin Emperor, which is also a good, kind read.
posted by chrisulonic at 7:00 PM on July 19 [8 favorites]
The Cemeteries of Amalo series by Katherine Addison. Cozy priest mysteries, but the priest is an Elfin cleric. Super kind, light fantasy, and a little will-they-won’t-they romance. It’s a spinoff of the Goblin Emperor, which is also a good, kind read.
posted by chrisulonic at 7:00 PM on July 19 [8 favorites]
For speculative romance, I really love Stephanie Burgis's Regency Dragons series - rom-coms with pet dragons! - and Arden Powell's Flos Magicae; queer novels/novellas set in a magic-infused 1920s world.
posted by eternalhedgehog at 7:01 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
posted by eternalhedgehog at 7:01 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
Terry Pratchett!
posted by The otter lady at 7:18 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
posted by The otter lady at 7:18 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
Vivian Shaw's Dr. Greta Helsing novels!
posted by wintersweet at 7:21 PM on July 19 [6 favorites]
posted by wintersweet at 7:21 PM on July 19 [6 favorites]
Fantasy:
Legends and Lattes
Bookshops and bonedust
Cursed cocktails
Sword and thistle
I second Victoria Goddard but would start with one of the main novels The Hands of the Emperor.
posted by poxandplague at 8:42 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
Legends and Lattes
Bookshops and bonedust
Cursed cocktails
Sword and thistle
I second Victoria Goddard but would start with one of the main novels The Hands of the Emperor.
posted by poxandplague at 8:42 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
posted by poxandplague at 8:44 PM on July 19
posted by poxandplague at 8:44 PM on July 19
I think you might like books by Nnedi Okorafor. I found her books on one of my irregular "show me all the science fiction books so I can find something new" searches on my library's website and I'm glad I did.
posted by TimHare at 8:51 PM on July 19
posted by TimHare at 8:51 PM on July 19
Yes to Light From Uncommon Stars. I usually like darker fiction, but it was so quirky and charming that it really stuck with me.
posted by matildaben at 9:41 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
posted by matildaben at 9:41 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
Sheri S. Tepper blends all these genres. Some of her novels (like Beauty) riff on classic fairy tales with interesting modern subtexts.
Speaking of classic fairy tales, there's also Angela Carter, who was a genius, and I think seems a bit under-rated these days. Some of her more famous works lean dark and gritty, but her later novels (Nights at The Circus, Wise Children) have plenty of wit and somewhat less darkness.
posted by ovvl at 9:58 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
Speaking of classic fairy tales, there's also Angela Carter, who was a genius, and I think seems a bit under-rated these days. Some of her more famous works lean dark and gritty, but her later novels (Nights at The Circus, Wise Children) have plenty of wit and somewhat less darkness.
posted by ovvl at 9:58 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
I also love Ilona Andrews!
I've been toggling back and forth between Sharon Lee & Steve Miller's Liaden books, Lois McMaster Bujold's Penric and Desdemona novellas, and some of Robin McKinley's books (Chalice in particular should be the right vibe).
posted by spamandkimchi at 10:49 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
I've been toggling back and forth between Sharon Lee & Steve Miller's Liaden books, Lois McMaster Bujold's Penric and Desdemona novellas, and some of Robin McKinley's books (Chalice in particular should be the right vibe).
posted by spamandkimchi at 10:49 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is going to be right up your alley.
Agreed! I enjoyed that book so much. Elegant and funny and very romantic.
Also The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison and The Golem and the Jinni by Helen Wecker, both emotionally rich, beautifully written fantasy books.
If I can mention my own books, you might enjoy my cosy fantasy Ray and the Cat Thing and my science fiction We Broke the Moon, not as cosy, but still about people who care about being kind.
posted by Zumbador at 10:55 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
Agreed! I enjoyed that book so much. Elegant and funny and very romantic.
Also The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison and The Golem and the Jinni by Helen Wecker, both emotionally rich, beautifully written fantasy books.
If I can mention my own books, you might enjoy my cosy fantasy Ray and the Cat Thing and my science fiction We Broke the Moon, not as cosy, but still about people who care about being kind.
posted by Zumbador at 10:55 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
Aliette de Bodard!
She writes about people trying to be both kind and just in a difficult universe. Bad things happen in her books (tho never sexual assault), but the ending always feels uplifting and things are better than they were in the beginning.
eg A Fire Born of Exile, The Red Scholar’s Wake.
I love Ursula Vernon/T Kingfisher and the Murderbot books, and I also love Aliette de Bodard, if that help calibrate my taste! ^_^
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 11:57 PM on July 19
She writes about people trying to be both kind and just in a difficult universe. Bad things happen in her books (tho never sexual assault), but the ending always feels uplifting and things are better than they were in the beginning.
eg A Fire Born of Exile, The Red Scholar’s Wake.
I love Ursula Vernon/T Kingfisher and the Murderbot books, and I also love Aliette de Bodard, if that help calibrate my taste! ^_^
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 11:57 PM on July 19
I want to second the recommendation for Lois McMaster Bujold's Penric and Desdemona novellas. (I somehow thought she'd stopped writing them, and then found not over but two new ones and was overjoyed. They're just about perfect 'curl up with a good book ' material.)
Her other books are also great, but these seem to match your question best.
By the way, I think they're labeled 'novella' mostly because fantasy novels tend to be long, and these aren't. Story-wise, it's quite comparable to, say, contemporary chick-lit or a detective novel. Not sprawling, but not rushed either.
posted by demi-octopus at 12:33 AM on July 20 [3 favorites]
Her other books are also great, but these seem to match your question best.
By the way, I think they're labeled 'novella' mostly because fantasy novels tend to be long, and these aren't. Story-wise, it's quite comparable to, say, contemporary chick-lit or a detective novel. Not sprawling, but not rushed either.
posted by demi-octopus at 12:33 AM on July 20 [3 favorites]
Seconding This is How You Loose the Time War, and if you like audiobooks the audio is really good.
You may also like A Master of Djinn. It’s also really good in audio.
posted by eekernohan at 6:18 AM on July 20
You may also like A Master of Djinn. It’s also really good in audio.
posted by eekernohan at 6:18 AM on July 20
Came here to recommend This is How You Lose the Time War and Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series.
posted by number9dream at 7:42 AM on July 20
posted by number9dream at 7:42 AM on July 20
My top recommendation would be the Penric books, which I've been mentally shelving with T. Kingfisher's paladin novels for a long time now. But I'd happily second most[*] of the other recommendations in the thread too. I'm especially pleased to see people putting a word in for the Regency Dragons books, which are lovely (try her other books too!) and for The Hounds of the Morrigan, a favourite of mine since childhood.
I'll add A.J. Lancaster's Stariel novels, of which there are five. Fantasy and a bit of romance. Engaging characters going about their lives in not-quite-Edwardian not-quite-England, with magic, and surprise faeries. They leave me smiling.
[*] "most" because This is How You Lose the Time War is just not for me; I keep picking it back up, and I keep bouncing off it again. But I think I'm in a vanishingly small minority there, so the odds are in your favour if you fancy giving it a go.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 8:10 AM on July 20 [1 favorite]
I'll add A.J. Lancaster's Stariel novels, of which there are five. Fantasy and a bit of romance. Engaging characters going about their lives in not-quite-Edwardian not-quite-England, with magic, and surprise faeries. They leave me smiling.
[*] "most" because This is How You Lose the Time War is just not for me; I keep picking it back up, and I keep bouncing off it again. But I think I'm in a vanishingly small minority there, so the odds are in your favour if you fancy giving it a go.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 8:10 AM on July 20 [1 favorite]
Becky Chambers' Monk and Robot books are excellent, as well.
Catherynne M. Valente
Nghi Vo
posted by indexy at 11:08 AM on July 20 [1 favorite]
Catherynne M. Valente
Nghi Vo
posted by indexy at 11:08 AM on July 20 [1 favorite]
Lady Eve's Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow is a recent science fiction romance with a similar vibe to many of the books mentioned above.
posted by posadnitsa at 11:56 AM on July 20
posted by posadnitsa at 11:56 AM on July 20
Lots of people have recced some of my favorites, so let me recommend a bunch of under-the-radar books that fit your interests!
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo was delightful and transporting.
Alex E. Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January took my breath away and felt like a warm hug at the end.
A Long Time Dead by Samara Berger is an absolute delight and hit all the same buttons that some of T. Kingfisher’s stuff does for me. It also made me laugh out loud more than once.
If you like heisty stuff, The Adventures of Amina Al- Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty should be right up your alley. It is fun and often made me laugh out loud. Especially great if you want something with older characters.
As far as Ilona Andrews goes, the Innkeeper Chronicles may be the series closest to what you’re looking for. Some of their other series can get a bit grim.
Megan Whalen Turner’s Thief series is fun, heisty, has romance, and is set in a fantasy world based on the Aegean region. It’s unique and I think it fits your interests. It’s also extremely uplifting; it is the series that kept me from breaking down when I was sitting with my mom in hospice.
C.M. Waggoner: Unnatural Magic and The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry. First one spans a lot of geography and a lot of characters; second one is set in the same world and features a relative of characters in the first, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone. I found both to scratch a similar itch that T. Kingfisher’s Paladin books do. I’m honestly a bit surprised that Waggoner is not recommended in the same breath as Kingfisher. Lots of romance, lots of people doing their best to make an unjust world juster.
posted by rednikki at 2:58 PM on July 20 [3 favorites]
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo was delightful and transporting.
Alex E. Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January took my breath away and felt like a warm hug at the end.
A Long Time Dead by Samara Berger is an absolute delight and hit all the same buttons that some of T. Kingfisher’s stuff does for me. It also made me laugh out loud more than once.
If you like heisty stuff, The Adventures of Amina Al- Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty should be right up your alley. It is fun and often made me laugh out loud. Especially great if you want something with older characters.
As far as Ilona Andrews goes, the Innkeeper Chronicles may be the series closest to what you’re looking for. Some of their other series can get a bit grim.
Megan Whalen Turner’s Thief series is fun, heisty, has romance, and is set in a fantasy world based on the Aegean region. It’s unique and I think it fits your interests. It’s also extremely uplifting; it is the series that kept me from breaking down when I was sitting with my mom in hospice.
C.M. Waggoner: Unnatural Magic and The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry. First one spans a lot of geography and a lot of characters; second one is set in the same world and features a relative of characters in the first, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone. I found both to scratch a similar itch that T. Kingfisher’s Paladin books do. I’m honestly a bit surprised that Waggoner is not recommended in the same breath as Kingfisher. Lots of romance, lots of people doing their best to make an unjust world juster.
posted by rednikki at 2:58 PM on July 20 [3 favorites]
I came in to recommend the Stariel books and I see ManyLeggedCreature already has! Just lovely.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:45 PM on July 22 [1 favorite]
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:45 PM on July 22 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you everybody. I've already read a few suggestions and I'm looking forward to reading more.
posted by unus sum at 7:39 PM on July 22
posted by unus sum at 7:39 PM on July 22
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posted by SaltySalticid at 5:08 PM on July 19 [8 favorites]