At Baycon 2016, I moderated a panel looking to identify speculative fiction titles that were good ones to introduce readers to the science fiction and fantasy genres whether they were new to reading, or just to speculative fiction. My fellow panelists were Sarah Stegall and Beth Barany though the format was such that a good number of the audience members offered up suggestions as well.
I have done my best to record the suggestions faithfully, but I am by no means a stenographer and so did not always have enough information in my notes to identify the particular title. If you should see any errors in the table below, whether you were at the panel or not, please point them out to me so I can update the table. The same goes for titles you believe are a good fit, especially for SF titles as we have a heavier fantasy weight. If you have a similar list on your website, please leave the link for crosslinking. I’d love for this to become a broad spectrum of reading opportunities enjoyable for existing readers within the genre but with titles that might start a love of speculative fiction in the hearts of readers new to the genre whether 12 or 70.
There was some question as to the period defining something as “new” so I’ve included the publication dates and broken the suggestions into post-2000 and 1980-2000. The motivation to identify new classics came because of a change in the expected writing style around 1990, but some authors were writing in a more descriptive, detailed style much earlier than the market change. It is what new readers expect and therefore has a better chance of capturing their attention.
The criteria I provided initially, and which the participants helped refine, is below, though I found in getting the stats that some of the titles aren’t clearly within the criteria. I’m putting those at the bottom with a request for clarification (even assuming I found the intended title). If you have a suggestion for the characteristics, please feel free to offer that as well.
Characteristics
1) Does not require prior knowledge of the genre and its accepted rules to understand/enjoy.
2) Easy, light reading to draw people in regardless of whether science fiction or fantasy. (There’s no problem with books that make you work for it in general, but if that’s the first introduction to the genre, people might give up before they see the wonder.)
3) Relatively standalone. (If you tell someone they have to read 8 long books to experience the story, it’s a turnoff. If they can read one and be satisfied while wanting a next, they are more likely to be sucked in.)
4) Highly interesting plots written in accessible language.
5) Bonus if from an outsider looking in as the reader may identify better.
6) Bonus if third person close/first person point of view (POV) as these have become the new standards.
Note: I’ve marked the books I have read, many of which you can find reviewed on my site. The others, while I can’t recommend them personally, came from personal recommendations made during the panel.
Works appearing after (or having the majority published after for series) 2000
Title | Author | Type | Age | Date | I’ve Read | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The October Daye series | Seanan McGuire | Book | Adult | 2009+ | x | |
The Hunger Games series | Suzanne Collins | Book | YA | 2008-2010 | x | |
Harry Potter series | J.K. Rowling | Book | YA | 1997-2007 | x | |
Ink (Paper Gods) | Amanda Sun | Book | YA | 2013 | x | |
Midnight Riot | Ben Aaronovitch | Book | Adult | 2011 | x | Urban Fantasy |
Urban Shaman | C.E. Murphy | Book | Adult | 2009 | x | |
KillJoys | TV | Adult | Current | bounty hunter team | ||
The Expanse | TV | Adult | Current | |||
Henrietta the Dragon Slayer series | Beth Barany | Book | YA | 2014+ | (panelist) (YA 12 and up 8th grade level- 17 year old protag) | |
Solar Clipper series | Nathan Lowell | Book/Audio | Adult | 2011-2014 | science fiction (NEW) | |
Leviathan trilogy | Scott Westerfeld | Book | YA | 2009-2011 | Steampunk plus genetic engineering (NEW) | |
Cecelia and Kate series | Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer | Book | YA | 2004-2009 | historical fantasy | |
Bartimaeus Sequence | Jonathan Stroud | Book | YA | 2003-2010 | ||
Artemis Fowl series | Eoin Colfer | Book | YA | 2001-2012 | YA | |
Dresden Files | Jim Butcher | Book | Adult | 2000+ | ||
Castle Hangnail | Ursula Vernon | Book | YA | 2016 | funny fantasy (NEW) | |
Hunter | Mercedes Lackey | Book | YA | 2015 | (Updated) | |
Dealing with Dragons (The Enchanted Forest Chronicles) | Patricia C. Wrede | Book | YA | 2015 | ||
The Martian | Andy Weir | Book | Adult | 2014 | ||
Fairy Debt | Gail Carriger | Short Story | YA | 2013 | ||
Once a Hero | Elizabeth Moon | Book | Adult | 2012 | ||
The Night Circus | Erin Morgenstern | Book | YA | 2011 | ||
Across the Universe | Beth Revis | Book | YA | 2011 | (Updated) | |
Leviathan Wakes | James S.A. Corey | Book | Adult | 2011 | The Expanse is based on this science fiction novel. (NEW) | |
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) | Rick Riordan | Book | YA | 2009 | ||
Airborn | Kenneth Oppel | Book | YA | 2009 | Steampunk | |
The Automatic Detective | A. Lee Martinez | Book | Adult | 2008 | Detective crossover | |
Old Man’s War | John Scalzi | Book | Adult | 2007 | science fiction (NEW) | |
Mystic and Rider | Sharon Shinn | Book | YA | 2006 | ||
Inkheart | Cornelia Funke | Book/Audio | YA | 2005 | Fantasy, (Updated) | |
Trading in Danger | Elizabeth Moon | Book | YA | 2003 | ||
So You Want to Be a Wizard | Diane Duane | Book | YA | 2003 |
Works appearing after 1980.
Title | Author | Type | Age | Date | I’ve Read | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Song of the Lioness series | Tamora Pierce | Book | YA | 1983-1988 | x | |
Jurassic Park | Michael Crighton | Book | Adult | 1990 | x | Dinosaurs/Thriller crossover |
Circle of Magic series | Tamora Pierce | Book | YA | 1997-1999 | ||
Jumper | Stephen J. Gould | Book | Adult | 1993 | ||
Against Infinity | Gregory Benford | Book | Adult | 1993 | (Updated) | |
War for the Oaks | Emma Bull | Book | Adult | 1987 |
Works also mentioned that are older, non-speculative fiction, or didn’t seem to meet the criteria
Title | Author | Type | Age | Date | I’ve Read | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy | Douglas Adams | Book | Adult | 1979 | x | |
We’ll Always Have Parrots | Donna Andrews | Book | Adult | 2006 | ||
Podkayne of Mars | Robert Heinlein | Book | YA | 1963 | ||
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Radio Play | Audio | Adult | ||||
Terry Pratchett | Audio | Adult |
Works I could not identify
Title | Author | Type | Age | Date | I’ve Read | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mathemagics | Book | ? | humorous SF – Beth Barany’s Suggestion (Updated) |
Note: The table is updated as of 6/16/2016. Please keep the suggestions coming.
Other lists to check out:
(from Erin M. Hartshorn)
http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-best-entry-level-science-fiction-books-to-convert-1510802842
http://www.tor.com/2014/08/04/science-fiction-and-fantasy-101-thinking-academically-about-genre/
http://ask.metafilter.com/250650/Recent-Entry-Level-Science-Fiction
The Lackey – the first in the series is Hunter, from last year; Elite is the sequel. I think the Across the Universe she mentioned is by Beth Revis, 2011. The other one I think is named Mathemagics (with an e in the middle) – but I’m not sure which one she meant, I searched and found several books by that name (mostly not SF, math tricks books). If she meant the Chicks in Chainmail one by Margaret Ball, it’s good but there are a _lot_ of in-jokes in it – not ideal for someone new to the genre. And Inkspell (marked as audio in the chart) is also a book, and the second of a series that began with Inkheart. Lots of good books!
Thanks. Yes, a great collection of ones I’ve read, planned to, or hadn’t heard of. Even though I’m not the intended audience, I figure those already reading the genre should appreciate the same elements. I’ll get it updated later today most likely.
No one mentioned Old Man’s War by John Scalzi as an entry into SF?
And I’m guessing the Against Infinity mentioned is by Gregory Benford — older, but a good read: https://www.amazon.com/Against-Infinity-Gregory-Benford-ebook/dp/B00BL5YMP2 (Original copyright 1993, rereleased 2013)
No one suggested Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey, the book that the TV series The Expanse is based on?
How about the Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, which mixes steampunk and genetic engineering at a MG/YA level?
I’d also recommend checking out Nathan Lowell’s Solar Clipper series (book one: https://www.amazon.com/Quarter-Share-Traders-Golden-Clipper-ebook/dp/B00AMO7VM4 ).
Those are good suggestions. Thanks. That’s the Against Infinity I came up with, but a quick browse of the reviews made it sound like it didn’t match the criteria.
As to the others, I have both Old Man’s War and Leviathan on my TBR shelves, so glad for the additional prompting. I’ll look at the Solar Clipper series, too.
Oh, and lists:
http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-best-entry-level-science-fiction-books-to-convert-1510802842
http://www.tor.com/2014/08/04/science-fiction-and-fantasy-101-thinking-academically-about-genre/
http://ask.metafilter.com/250650/Recent-Entry-Level-Science-Fiction
And Scalzi’s list, compiled in late 2005 (which means there’s nothing less than a decade old on it): http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/003916.html
Thanks :).