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The Year's Most Anticipated Science Fiction & Fantasy
Here there be monsters to slay and to love, final frontiers to conquer, and diabolical empires to topple. The real world has its charms, but this year's crop of science fiction and fantasy books offers irresistible escapism.
And for you patient and not-so-patient fans of A Song of Ice and Fire and The Kingkiller Chronicle, we know—and we're sorry. But while you wait for those promised next installments, try out a fresh new take on the genre, like Tessa Gratton's "Game of Thrones meets King Lear" epic, The Queen of Innis Lear, or Josiah Bancroft's unforgettable quest up the Tower of Babel in Senlin Ascends. (Check out our interview with Bancroft here.)
Click on the covers below to find out more about each of these fantastical reads coming out this year. How many will you be adding to your Want-to-Read shelf?
And for you patient and not-so-patient fans of A Song of Ice and Fire and The Kingkiller Chronicle, we know—and we're sorry. But while you wait for those promised next installments, try out a fresh new take on the genre, like Tessa Gratton's "Game of Thrones meets King Lear" epic, The Queen of Innis Lear, or Josiah Bancroft's unforgettable quest up the Tower of Babel in Senlin Ascends. (Check out our interview with Bancroft here.)
Click on the covers below to find out more about each of these fantastical reads coming out this year. How many will you be adding to your Want-to-Read shelf?
Standalone Fantasy & Science Fiction
Check out more recent blogs:
The Most Anticipated YA Novels of 2018
40 of the Hottest Mysteries & Thrillers of 2018
Rising Up: Pierce Brown on Shaping Our World Through Stories
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Alexandra
(last edited Jan 19, 2018 06:54AM)
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Jan 19, 2018 06:48AM
Bit early to declare what "The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy" is, I should think.
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Saw a lot of fanasy in the list, not much sci fi. Where, oh, where are all the good science fiction books?
Susun wrote: "Saw a lot of fanasy in the list, not much sci fi. Where, oh, where are all the good science fiction books?"It's only two weeks into the year, give it time :D
I am looking very much forward to Burn Bright, and both looking forward to and dreading Magic Triumphs as it is the last Kate Daniels book!
I'd call this list "The Year's sci-fi and fantasy books we're most looking forward to," rather than "best" but that's just me. Some really interesting books; looking forward to Feist's return to fantasy, Novik's Spinning Silver, which gives me all the Rumplestiltskin fairy tale vibes.
Circe is also very appealing to me, as will be many others of these, no doubt.
Alexandra wrote: "Bit early to declare what "The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy" is, I should think."The blog title now says "The Year's Most Anticipated Science Fiction & Fantasy", not sure if they changed it after the comments.
Glad they included an urban fantasy section too.
Lindsey wrote: "The blog title now says "The Year's Most Anticipated Science Fiction & Fantasy", not sure if they changed it after the comments."Good! And yes, it was changed after I posted my comment. At the time I posted my comment it read, "The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy". Considering we're only a few weeks into the year, that seemed a tad premature :D
For the most part these aren't the Sci Fi and Fantasy books I'm most anticipating, but obviously GR gets to have an opinion, and no doubt some people are looking forward to these books.
Loved that Sci-Fi Moon art.
Alexandra wrote: "Bit early to declare what "The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy" is, I should think."Doesn't say best anywhere, says most anticipated.
Where is Obsidio? Oh please don't tell me they postponed it again!
Alexandra wrote: "Bit early to declare what "The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy" is, I should think."Even if it hadn't been early, including a new Anita Blake novel on a list of best books, or even good books, doesn't make sense. Only a minority of Hamilton-fans think that her Anita Blake novels are still good.
Johanna wrote: "Where is Obsidio? Oh please don't tell me they postponed it again!"
Nope, the GR people just have poor taste in books :P
Ben wrote: "Doesn't say best anywhere, says most anticipated."
It said "best" before; Goodreads changed it.
Where is The Burning White by Brent Weeks? It's the final book of a tremendous, amazing series and I can't figure out why it's so overlooked. It would be perfect for your Dive Into a New Series section. Everyone give it a shot!
Ben wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "Bit early to declare what "The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy" is, I should think."Doesn't say best anywhere, says most anticipated."
Thank you, I was going to say the same thing!
Brittany wrote: "Ben wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "Bit early to declare what "The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy" is, I should think."Doesn't say best anywhere, says most anticipated."
Thank you, I was going ..."
It did say best, but it got edited later on.
Johanna wrote: "Where is Obsidio? Oh please don't tell me they postponed it again!"It's on the YA list: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1...
Both Circe and Queens of Innis Lear sound right up my alley! And several others strikes me as interesting as well.
I know not to judge a book by its cover, but if these represent the trends in cover art for the year, it's not looking good. Cluttered, garish, hard to read...just plain ugly. I see maybe three covers here that make me think the graphics designer put any thought into what might cause a potential buyer to stop and pick the thing up.
I hope Goodreads isn't turning into another (pay to play) gatekeeper. None of these books were anticipated by me at all.
Mike wrote: "I hope Goodreads isn't turning into another (pay to play) gatekeeper. None of these books were anticipated by me at all."Word.
What about Super Powereds: Year 4 by Drew Hayes? I loved years 1 through 3 and Corpies. I'm missing those Landers kids!
for Susun: "Where has good SF gone? As I remember good SF went out for a copy of Galaxy in 1962 and never returned. What we have today looks like good SF but the personality has been replaced by pod people in dark suits and sunglasses who work for a major studio. Just don't tell anyone I said so. I hate wearing tinfoil over my ears." (Ashley Grayson)
Long time since I last read a captivating fantasy book....lets see this year
Yaaresse wrote: "I know not to judge a book by its cover, but if these represent the trends in cover art for the year, it's not looking good. Cluttered, garish, hard to read...just plain ugly. I see maybe three co..."
totally agree
I got my money on Only Human, Spinning Silver and Iron Gold!
Weird.The "Standalone" section has a sequel (#2): European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman
The "Sequels You've Been Waiting For" has a book referred to as "a standalone" in its own description: Head On
And "Dive into a New Series" has two books which are #4, in their respective (not new) series: Iron Gold and The Plastic Magician.
That's some attention to detail!
James wrote: "The "Sequels You've Been Waiting For" has a book referred to as "a standalone" in its own description: Head On"It's definitely the next book in the Lock In universe, and features the same detectives, but it sounds like it can be read without knowledge of the first book.
Anyway, I'm very impatient for The Broken Vow, the sequel to Spill Zone. Excellent graphic novel that straddles the line between scifi and weird ficiton!
Helstar wrote: "Long time since I last read a captivating fantasy book....lets see this year"Helstar, I can't recommend enough The Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks starting with The Black Prism. If you haven't already, give it a shot. So, so good! And complete this fall.
Susun wrote: "Saw a lot of fanasy in the list, not much sci fi. Where, oh, where are all the good science fiction books?"The Clockwork Dynasty by Daniel H Wilson just recently came out! Amazing steam punk, sci-fy book!
Looking forward to Agency by William Gibson!!!!
Still haven't given up hope on Early Riser by Jasper Fforde being out this year. Also, John Varley's Iron Sunrise apparently has a 2018 release date, so should be high up on these kinds of lists.
I really wanna be apart this to, i know it will be so interested.
Personally, I'm hoping this is the year book 6 of the song of ice and fire comes out... That is my number 1 most anticipated book... period lol
Looking forward to Night Dahlia from RS Belcher!
Unauthorized Cinnamon wrote: "It's definitely the next book in the Lock In universe, and features the same detectives, but it sounds like it can be read without knowledge of the first book."Yes, indeed. It's set in the same universe, but the publisher makes an effort to clarify that it's a standalone, as opposed to a sequel.
There are some good ones coming! I still am catching up from last year. I have been into Mark Speed's series Doctor How. It's hilarious and I just can't stop reading as it's just so clever. http://markspeed.co.uk/ for his info. He really has a great premise playing off the whole Doctor Who series. It works!
My Most Anticipated Scifi & Fantasy 2018Lies Sleeping - Ben Aaronovitch
Rat Queens Vol 5/Neon Static - Kurtis J. Wiebe
Oblivion Song - Robert Kirkman
Abbott - Saladin Ahmed
Infidel - Pornsak Pichetshote
Motherlands - Simon Spurrier
Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor - Richard Dinnick
