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Sci-fi and fantasy novels from Asian writers
Books featuring magic, heroes, and mythical beings for AAPI Heritage Month.
Published on August 1, 2023
Daughter of the Moon Goddess: A Novel
Sue Lynn TanTan’s dazzling debut whisks readers away to a beautiful world full of mythological creatures and magic as Xingyin attempts to free her imprisoned mother, the moon goddess, and is forced to choose between family and the fate of the world. A new imagining of Chinese folklore, this epic adventure will leave fantasy lovers eager for more.
We Could Be Heroes
Mike ChenTwo archrival super(anti)heroes walk into a memory loss support group. Mind Robber (aka Jamie Sorenson) and Throwing Star (aka Zoe Wong) put their differences aside when Jamie agrees to use his mind manipulation powers to restore Zoe’s memories if she helps him pull off a banger of a bank robbery. But, things get complicated — in the best sort of way. You won’t want to forget a minute of this charming, quirky adventure from sci-fi star Mike Chen (“A Beginning at the End”).
The Ghost Bride: A Novel
Yangsze ChooThe heroine of this book, set in 19th century Malaysia, wants to reject a marriage proposal that would mean she’d be a “ghost bride” — married to the dead son of a neighboring family. But it’s not that simple; the dead son will not be denied, and she has to solve a few mysteries about her own family.
Sorcerer to the Crown
Zen ChoImagine Jane Austen’s 19th century England, but with magic! Magician Zacharias Wythe heads the country’s preeminent group of sorocers, a bunch of snobby aristocrats who aren’t pleased to have a Black man and former slave as their leader. Zacharias joins forces with Prunella Gentlewoman, a powerful witch, and the unlikely pair embark on a quest to reinvigorate the weakening supply of magic in England. A charming and diverse historical fantasy.
The Book of M: A Novel
Peng ShepherdSet in the much too near-future, an epidemic is spreading across the globe robbing people of their shadows and memories, while leaving dangerous magic in its wake. Desperate to escape the Forgetting, a couple takes to the road in a twisty, terrifying journey. A riveting, unsettling apocalyptic novel that celebrates the human connections that make us who we are. For fans of “Station Eleven.”
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
Charles YuWhere are all the quantum physics and time-travel story-loving nerds? This post-modern science fiction novel from Charles Yu could not be more for you. Every sci-fi trope receives a hilarious spin in this existential crisis of a novel.
The Only Living Girl on Earth
Charles YuIf you can’t get enough of Charles Yu’s writing, check out this Scribd Original. The National Book Award winner welcomes you to Earth: The Gift Shop, where the history of Earth: A Bunch of Civilizations has been commodified into knick knacks sold by the last living soul on this planet, Jane. A witty and absurd tale about the destruction of Earth, the survival of capitalism, and the strength of the human spirit.
The Iron Hunt
Marjorie M. LiuA demon hunter wears her armor as tattoos that unwind from her body at night in “The Iron Hunt,” an intense urban fantasy that delivers a dark punch.
Never Have I Ever
Isabel YapYap’s fantastical collection of tales spans a wide range of science fiction and fantasy subgenres, including urban fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction. Many of the short stories are set in the Philippines and incorporate elements of Filipino folklore and legends.
Heroine Complex
Sarah KuhnOverworked assistants around the world will find a kindred spirit in Evie Tanaka, PA to Aveda Jupiter, San Francisco’s beloved but outrageously demanding superheroine (think “The Devil Wears Prada” but Meryl Streep flies around beating up demonic bad guys.) All hell breaks loose when Evie poses as her boss for one night and the world discovers that Aveda’s demure assistant actually has powers of her own. Kuhn’s action-packed fantasy keeps things spicy with a romantic subplot and the perfect amount of magical mayhem.
Empress of All Seasons
Emiko JeanA Japanese-inspired fantasy where in order to become the next empress, a candidate must defeat each of the palace’s enchanted rooms — as long as the candidate is not a yokai, a supernatural being who can transform into a monster.
Stories of Your Life and Others
Ted ChiangTed Chiang is a sci-fi master capable of making the alien feel entirely human — his characters and worlds read like fantasy but feel like truth. Each story in this collection (which includes the one that inspired the movie “Arrival”) begs a momentary meditation on the meaning of life before going on.
Prophecy
Ellen OhInfluenced by Korean folklore, “Prophecy” stars a demon slaying warrior princess on a quest to save her ancient kingdom. But as the only woman in her country’s army, Kira faces disgust and ostracization from the very people she risks her life to protect. A heart-pounding coming-of-age story, this YA historical fantasy adventure will have you cheering for its fierce heroine as she sets out to save the world.
The Star-Touched Queen
Roshani ChokshiChokshi weaves Indian mythology into the captivating tale of Maya, a young princess born with a curse that promises a future filled with death and destruction. After she marries Prince Amar and becomes the queen of Akaran, she must navigate a world of lies and betrayal to unlock her true identity and save the world.
Phoenix Extravagant
Yoon Ha LeeYoon Ha Lee tells a wholly original tale about a nonbinary character who wants to be a (magical) painter and a dragon automaton infused with an intelligent personality, both caught up in an imperialistic political battle. “The tale moves swiftly and unpredictably, and all the action is well-staged. In short, this is a lovely fantasy that eschews epic sturm und drang for small-scale challenges, full of tenderness, brutality, and quotidian living,” Paul Di Filippo wrote in a review of “Phoenix Extravagant” for Locus Magazine.
The Calcutta Chromosome: A Novel of Fevers, Delirium & Discovery
Amitav Ghosh“The Calcutta Chromosome” won Ghosh the Arthur C.Clarke Award — the first Indian author to do so in the award’s history. Fast-paced and engaging, this sci-fi thriller crosses centuries and continents as a computer programmer delves into the complex and murky history of malaria.
Ambiguity Machines: and Other stories
Vandana SinghSingh puts her extensive background as a physicist on display in “Ambiguity Machines,” her first collection released in North America. Her stories forgo confinement to a single genre. Some read as fairy tales and love stories that carry a sense of cautious optimism, while others take on a dark and haunting edge. Throughout them all, she combines lyrical prose with hard science and speculatively explores how future generations of humanity fit into an ever-changing universe.
Djinn City
Saad Z HossainIt’s hard to describe the mad chaos contained within Hossain’s dark urban fantasy. There’s the young and lonely protagonist, Indelbed, his brilliant but emotionally absent father, and Indelbed’s slacker cousin, Rais. An ancient society of cheeky djinn wreaking havoc amongst the mortals makes for top-notch worldbuilding. Forget about the lamp-living, wish-granting genies of Aladdin; Hossain’s djinn are powerful shapeshifters with their own ways of life, values, and politics.
A Thousand Steps into Night
Traci CheeFans of anime and manga like “Demon Slayer'' and “Blue Exorcist” will find much to love in Chee’s standalone dark fantasy. Miuko’s been cursed and is looking for a way to stop her descent into demonhood, even as she questions what’s worthwhile and good about humanity. “I wanted to write a world with the feel of a Japanese folktale … At the same time, I wanted to write about American patriarchy, the ways that sexism and misogyny manifest in our day-to-day lives,” Chee told Geeks of Color about the novel.
Last of the Talons
Sophie KimTrained assassin and all-around badass Shin Lina must steal a priceless jewel-embedded tapestry from a long-abandoned Dokkaebi temple. When the mission goes awry, she’s trapped in the hidden realm of the supernatural immortals. To survive, she must accept an assignment to kill the evil Dokkaebi emperor, Rui — and avoid falling in love with him. Kim’s Korean YA fantasy is an action-packed kickoff to the “Talon” trilogy.