What science fiction and fantasy novels should I read?

I’m currently blowing through The Magician King, but I’m already looking ahead, trying to figure out what to read next. My plan right now is to catch up on some of the SF/F novels that’ve come out since I stopped aggressively following the genre, and I thought I’d solicit some suggestions from y’all.

So far, I’ve read:

  • Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice
  • Mary Robinette Kowal’s Shades of Milk and Honey
  • Lev Grossman’s The Magicians

Books that I’m thinking of reading are:

  • N.K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
  • Justin Cronin’s The Passage
  • Ernst Cline’s Ready Player One
  • Patrick Rothfuss’ Wise Man’s Fear
  • Joe Abercrombie’s The Blade Itself
  • Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora
  • Saladin Ahmed’s Throne Of The Crescent Moon
  • Nnedi Okorafor’s Who Fear’s Death
  • Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book
  • Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean At The End of the Lane
  • and Tina Connolly’s Ironskin

Which of these books should I definitely read? And which other books belong on this list?

P.S. To be on the this list, a book should:

  • Have been published on or after the beginning of 2008
  • Have received a fair amount of hype (i.e. should not be obscure)
  • Be science fiction or fantasy
  • Be good

6 thoughts on “What science fiction and fantasy novels should I read?”

  1. Niall

    Hmm. How about:

    Acacia and sequels by David Anthony Durham
    Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord
    The Quiet War by Paul McAuley
    By Light Alone by Adam Roberts
    In Great Waters by Kit Whitfield

  2. Sunday

    Graham Joyce! Either The Silent Land or Some Kind of Fairytale. And I know you are cranky about George Saunders, but Tenth of December was amazing. I also count The Orphan Master’s Son as speculative (some might not, but…) and that was great.
    I liked the sequel to The Magicians.
    Lies of Locke Lamora was a fun page-turner. For the YA bonus round I recommend Railsea and Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

    1. Morlock Publishing (@MorlockP)

      Graham Joyce is not exactly my cup of tea, but I second the recommendation. Even though his style and topics are not mine, there’s no denying that he’s a very talented writer. (I read Tooth Fairy by him years ago.)

    2. R. H. Kanakia

      Why does everyone think I hate George Saunders? I like GS. I’ve read literally every collection he’s put out. I just don’t worship him and I’m suspicious of his influence (because it’s already toooooo widespread).

  3. Becca

    Does YA sff count? Because I thought Alaya Dawn Johnson’s The Summer Prince was amazing, and I think it received a fair amount of hype.

    (Also, you should talk to me about Ancillary Justice! Although not in public if you don’t want.)

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