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Editors’ Picks: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Go on a journey with our editors’ favorite science fiction and fantasy novels.
Published on April 11, 2023
This Is How You Lose the Time War
Amal El-MohtarThis Hugo Award-winning novella contains the chaos of all of time and space within its beautifully short, never-ending love story. Two women, named Red and Blue, fight for opposite factions in the ceaseless time war, flowing from the past to the future, from timeline to timeline. Through a series of letters sent via tea and lava and other delightful delivery systems, Red and Blue fall for each other, and combine for some of the best purple prose around. — Ashley M.
The Name of the Wind
Patrick RothfussRothfuss’ epic has taken the fantasy world by storm with its lyrical prose, the seeming boundlessness of the world, and the endearing faults and follies, compassion and cunning of the legendary Kvothe. You’re sure to find a new favorite character among those Kvothe meets on his many (mis)adventures. — Ashley M.
Battle Royale
Koushun TakamiOperating under the guise of military research, the Republic of Greater East Asia implements a program that forces 50 randomly selected students to fight to the death. The rules are brutal and sadistic: If 24 hours pass without at least one death, the metal collars around the students’ necks explode, eliminating all and leaving no winner. Famed for its no-holds-barred graphic violence, “Battle Royale” is definitely not for the faint of heart. Perfect for fans of the “Hunger Games” trilogy. — Emma C.
Red Rising
Pierce BrownEqual parts sci-fi, dystopian lit, and epic war fantasy, “Red Rising” paints a bleak picture of a futuristic, color-coded caste society. Members of the Red caste are relegated to backbreaking underground work to make the surface of Mars inhabitable for other castes. Enter Darrow, our young protagonist who makes a world-shattering discovery: The colony broke through to the surface years ago and the Red caste has been living a life of slavery while others enjoy a self-indulgent lifestyle above. Driven by grief, rage, and a desire for justice, Darrow infiltrates a deadly competition in which ruling caste members fight to the death for power and control. — Emma C.
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. — Andrew H.
The Light Brigade
Kameron HurleyIf you like classics like “Starship Troopers” by Robert A. Heinlein and “The Forever War” by Joe Haldeman, you’ll enjoy Hugo-winning Hurley’s “The Light Brigade,” which provides an innovative take on the classic military sci-fi genre. — Andrew H.
Goliath: A Novel
Tochi OnyebuchiFollow a sprawling cast of characters on a grimly realistic future earth that’s been abandoned by the wealthy. This novel from former civil rights lawyer Onyebuchi ties together dystopian themes with a narrative of displacement, gentrification, and racism. — Andrew H.
Outlander
Diana GabaldonIt’s hard to categorize this genre-bending, time-traveling, historical romantic fantasy, but one description is undeniable: It’s a total page-turner. You may have heard tell of the steamy sex, and while 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. — Lanie P.
Stardust
Neil GaimanAttempting to woo a beautiful maiden, young Tristan crosses the boundary between Wall and Faerie to collect a fallen star. But he’s not the only pursuer: A trio of sister-witches and the power-hungry brothers Stormhold (both alive and dead) are hot on his trail. Even the star herself has something to say about Tristan’s quest. In Gaiman’s whimsical epic of a fairytale, catching a falling star has never been so adventurous — or romantic. — Lanie P.
The Time Traveler's Wife
Audrey NiffeneggerAlthough they meet when Clare is six and Henry is middle-aged, the two are only eight years apart — and destined to fall in love. Henry has Chrono-Displacement Disorder and regularly suffers bouts of uncontrollable time travel. He and Clare build a life together despite his disorder, but danger lurks in the future. Or is it the past? Niffenegger’s early-aughts hit inspired a 2009 movie starring Rachel McAdams and an HBO series that premiered in early 2022. — Lanie P.