The 24 Most Popular Sci-Fi & Fantasy Novels of 2019 (So Far)

Marta wrote: "Ziggy wrote: "Am I the only one that thinks sci-fi and fantasy should be 'de-coupled' as genres? I enjoy both but just don't like that they are always clumped together. Oh well, at least after year..."
You're right, of course, Marta. We could no doubt list hundreds of examples of where they are very VERY separate genres and just as many where the boundaries are blurred. I guess one of my main 'complaints' (too strong a word but still) is that we always get these 'combo celebrations' like goodreads is doing now. Again, I just think there's enough really good stuff out there that each warrants their own focus, even if its just a 'week'!

As a reader of both science fiction and fantasy for over 50 years, my main point of disappoint in this (and similar lists) is that most of the titles included are fantasy. I miss finding good science fiction, especially space fiction (not necessarily military sci fic)... books that take place (at least, partially) beyond Earth (Terra). I especially find it harder to find sci fic that is more optimistic... I'm getting tired of dystopias.

I realize much of this is a sign of the times, but those of us that grew up on Heinlein, Asimov, and others don't find much with the more hopeful view of the future anymore. I agree that we might need to separate the genres for lists like this. I don't mind looking at two lists! (And I'm not saying space fiction by only male authors... Bujold's Vorkosigan series is one of my all-time favorites!)

One Word Kill was really good!

William Bonner wrote: "I will be reading exhalation by ted chiang also recursion by blake crouch. Am i alone in thinking their are too many women writers."

I'm sure there are other people who think that. Here's a tip: try pretending it's written by a man. If you only read stuff written by men, you are missing out on some of the best books of our time. And if you like SFF because it takes you to other worlds and shows you interesting points of view, all the more reason to read something written by someone who's not like you.

Glad to see comments about women authors that tell us the users to stay away from. Sexism at its finest.

Ted Chiang is a unique writer who stretches your mind in amazing ways, but I'll be waiting for the paperback of his newest work!

For me it's The Priory of the Orange Tree :D

Mark wrote: "Samantha wrote: "I’m most excited to read Machines Like Me, One Word Kill, and A Memory Called Empire."

Good to hear! The follow up to One Word Kill, Limited Wish i..."

I did read one word kill, didn't know the second one was out already, thanks for the pointer, have checked it out on kindle unlimited already, will probably start reading it in a day or so. Really liked the first one, (I also wondered why the main character didn't do as the final piece of advice recommended, that would have been my course.
Anyway, glad to see I've read at least one book on this list. :)

Valerie wrote: "Carla wrote: "William Bonner wrote: "I will be reading exhalation by ted chiang also recursion by blake crouch. Am i alone in thinking their are too many women writers."

NO, there aren't."

Beverl..."

I've rarely cared about the gender of the author when I start reading a book. As long as it's a good story, I care not from whence it came.

Ziggy wrote: "Am I the only one that thinks sci-fi and fantasy should be 'de-coupled' as genres? I enjoy both but just don't like that they are always clumped together. "

I've often wondered this myself. I guess it's because folks can't be bothered to make a distinction.
I read fantasy, and even enjoy it most of the time, but sometimes, I really really just want a plain old good fashioned scifi tale, and sometimes, that's hard to track down with the propensity to combine genres the way they do.

Sable wrote: "William Bonner wrote: "I am not insulting women authors, but i find it frustrating when i check top ten books to find eight are by women, probably their are more women readers nowdays but i can't s..."

More applause!

Oh look. More manchildren that are afraid of women authors and their points of view in the speculative fiction community. What a surprise.

Going back to the original topic, there are a lot of interesting books and talented authors here, but the book I’m most excited (and scared) to read by far is Dark Age. Pierce Brown is a sinister genius. And no, we are not in any way related.

What’s that? I’m eager for a book by an author whose gender is different than mine? And he writes opposite gendered characters as well as he writes those of his own gender? GASP. According to sexist bigots of all shades, this should not be possible! Women can’t write men! Men can’t write women! We should all stay in our lanes! How dare.

Sable wrote: "William Bonner wrote: "I am not insulting women authors, but i find it frustrating when i check top ten books to find eight are by women, probably their are more women readers nowdays but i can't s..."

I have a feeling your brilliant response is wasted on its target. But I think you deserve a 'hear hear!'

So tired of this discussion popping up on every list these days. Want there to be more male authors? Write better books and buy more books. 'We' don't hate male authors as you guys seem to hate female authors. Write a good book and we will read it. I pity the person who has to miss out on some of the best fantasy books because of their misguided prejudice.
And I'm suprised that it's so difficult to adapt to female characters for someone who reads fantasy and science fiction.

Amanda Lawler wrote: "Very excited to read Dark Age, the Red Rising series is amazing!"

DITTO!!!

William Bonner wrote: "I will be reading exhalation by ted chiang also recursion by blake crouch. Am i alone in thinking their are too many women writers."

Yes - you are alone in this reality. Said every woman, all the time, forever.

Love love love Samantha Shannon

N.E.C.C. wrote: "One Word Kill was really good!"

Many thanks! Limited Wish is waiting for you!

Not Bad - 4 I have read already and 4 are on my TBR. Am sure I will add a couple more now also.

William Bonner wrote: "I am not insulting women authors, but i find it frustrating when i check top ten books to find eight are by women, probably their are more women readers nowdays but i can't see many men buying book..."

The first science-fiction novels in the world were written by women: "The Blazing World" by Margaret Cavendish published in 1666, and Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein" published in 1818. These were probably well read by men, especially since books were far less frequently published in the 17th and 19th centuries.

If you consider the fact that 2 women authors were the first sci-fi writers ever, you should really thank your lucky stars this genre was developed by such visionary women.

Are you honestly saying you've never read some of the high-quality science fiction by James Tiptree Jr., Andre Norton, Francis Stevens, Pat Cadigan, N. K. Jemisin, P.D. James, Kameron Hurley, Julian May, Nalo Hopkinson, Charlie Jane Anders, Nnedi Okorafor, C.J. Cherryh, RF Kuang, G.S. Jennsen, M.J. Locke, J.K. Accinni, or C.N. Lesley? ALL of these authors are women, many of whom you may have read and never realized their work was written by *gasp* a female author!

Or what about Leigh Brackett (who wrote the "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" script), Ursula Leguin (possibly the most well-respected female author in the genre), Malka Older, or Connie Willis? All women sci-fi authors from the 1950's onward.

Didn't read any Virginia Woolf in school? In addition to classics, like "To The Lighthouse" she also wrote "Orlando" an early sci-fi novel in 1928... Or what about reading some of the revered and highly-awarded sci-fi by Octavia E. Butler, Madeleine L’Engle, Anne McCaffrey, or Margaret Atwood?

All of these authors are women, even those using a male name like "Andre" or "Charlie". If you've made a biased opinion to avoid all of these authors because you discovered they were female, the only person suffering is you.

Yes, many of these female authors do use initials in order to avoid gender-biased opinions, but in total these female sci-fi writers are some of the most exceptionally talented authors throughout the history of the genre. These women would be eclipsed ONLY by classic sci-fi authors like Asimov, Clarke, Sagan, Heinlein, and Frank Herbert's "Dune." All of whom, I've also read -- despite their work being written by men.

Hallie wrote: "William Bonner wrote: "I am not insulting women authors, but i find it frustrating when i check top ten books to find eight are by women, probably their are more women readers nowdays but i can't s..."

Bravo!! And don't forget C.J. Cherryh! :)

Sable wrote: "William Bonner wrote: "I am not insulting women authors, but i find it frustrating when i check top ten books to find eight are by women, probably their are more women readers nowdays but i can't s..."

I agree whole-heartedly with all of your response.

William Bonner wrote: "I will be reading exhalation by ted chiang also recursion by blake crouch. Am i alone in thinking their are too many women writers."

I counted 13, out of 24. That's 54%. How is that, "too many"?

Also anybody who thinks they can tell the gender of a writer from their writing is just provably incorrect. Studies have been done. Mark Lawrence beat me to a link, so go follow that.

And even if you could, there's no defensible reason not to. Women have been reading stories written by and about men for all of history. If they can learn to empathize with and root for fictional characters unlike themselves and enjoy the works they appear in, so can you, and so should you. One of the greatest observable benefits of reading fiction is increased empathy, don't sidestep that benefit.

Jade War by Fonda Lee, anyone??

I am really looking forward to Catherine Asaro's new novel on the Major Bhaajan series, that must be released this year. I heard somewhere the title of the book will be The Vanishing Seas, but I am not 100% sure.

Mommooshka wrote: "Has anyone ever said there are too many men writers?"

🙋‍♀️😋

(Also I'd like to point out that Sarah Gailey is nonbinary, so the ratio of male and female authors in this list is actually 50/50.)

William Bonner wrote: "I will be reading exhalation by ted chiang also recursion by blake crouch. Am i alone in thinking their are too many women writers."

By my count with very cursory looking there are 10 men, 13 women, and 1 non-binary person represented up there as authors. (Some of the people I counted as men or women may actually be non-binary, if they didn't state, I was going mostly by pronoun choice and my apologies if I made an error.) How is that 'too many women'? Particularly given years and years of such lists being mostly men. Would you blink at all if it were 15 or 16 men and 8 others? If it were 20 men and 4 others? Probably not. Your biases are showing and they are ugly.

Also, perhaps you should try reading some books by these authors and see why other people are excited about them.

Mark wrote: "Penny wrote: "I am surprised that "The Traitor Baru Cormorant" is not in this list."

It was published 4 years ago, and this is a list of books published in 2019."

I suspect they *meant* "The Monster Baru Cormorant" (Which was published in the fall of 2018 which is why it's not here, but still more recently than the first book.)

I was most excited to read The Raven Tower, Storm Cursed, Middlegame, and the final 2 books of Michelle West's House War series, Firstborn and War earlier this year.
I look forward to reading Gods of Jade and Shadow, and am excitedly waiting to read A Memory Called Empire.

Beyond the popular books on this list, I'm eagerly anticipating:
Lent by Jo Walton, Turning Darkness Into Light by Marie Brennan, Deosil by Jordan L. Hawk, Hexarchate Stories by Yoon Ha Lee, and A Sword Named Truth by Sherwood Smith.

As to the rest, I'm sick of all the gender bias negativity. When I read books as a child I rarely noticed the authors at all (the downfall being re-finding some notable forgotten title reads a decades long search). That's not a state I can go back to, nor do I really want to, but honestly, I just want to Read. Both widely and narrowly, similar perspective and alien perspective. That's what makes it interesting.

I had no idea The City in the Middle of the Night was published this year. I picked it up at a used bookstore a week ago and thought it was much older. Either way, I'm definitely going to have to get around to reading it soon. Actually, I'm probably going to at some point read a lot of these books. They all sound like my cup of tea.

Bonnie wrote: "I'm intrigued by Casandra Clare's "Red Scroll of Magic", and Sylvia Moreno-Garcia's "Gods of Jade and Shadow", and Mark Lawrence's "Holy Sister, and Ian McEwan's "Machines Like Me". Ian McEwan's ne..."

I can attest Gods of Jade and Shadow is brilliant. Moreno-Garcia is one of my favorite authors at the moment. I'm also looking forward to reading a bunch of books on the list.

"Machines Like Me" was fantastic!

Sable wrote: "William Bonner wrote: "I am not insulting women authors, but i find it frustrating when i check top ten books to find eight are by women, probably their are more women readers nowdays but i can't s..."

Why do feminists lie all the time? Do you really think you are able to manipulate the past by telling fairy tales?
Educate yourself:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novel#H...

only one and it is The Winter of The Witch..
"Winternight Trilogy" is the best

Laifalath wrote: "Educate yourself:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novel#H... "

Don't really know what you were trying to prove there, the very section you linked to says a woman wrote what's generally considered the first novel...

So just to remark on ol will’s comment and the chime in from his pal in stupid thinking, Mark —

Women have written under pseudonyms since publishing started. Studies have shown that reading develops more empathy, although that seems to have failed with mark.

I can not imagine not reading a good book because ewww a woman wrote it. Imagine thinking like this! Then again, incel thinking has exploded in our culture, much to the detriment of women everywhere.

Meh, guess these two will continue to miss out on masterpieces that everyone has read for a variety of reasons.


Past all that, I read the Senan McGuire book and absolutely loathed it. It’s written like a YA novel and it should not be placed in adult fiction.

Wow lots of women bashing in the comments here... To some of the posters before me, the reason many women are encouraged to abbreviate their names is not to fool you; the authors aren't sitting there yelling "GOTCHA!" when a male reader buys their books. Rather, many female authors are encouraged by their publishers to either adopt a male name or use their initials so as to avoid the very bias you just admit to having. If you sincerely believe that a female author cannot represent the world as you see it, I find it hard to believe that you can enjoy a sci-fi or fantasy book, as they are all about worlds and things that do not exist...

Daniel wrote: "Wow lots of women bashing in the comments here..."

Actually, there isn't a lot of woman-bashing in the comments. There are only 2. There's a lot of woman-defending.

Sable wrote: "William Bonner wrote: "I am not insulting women authors, but i find it frustrating when i check top ten books to find eight are by women, probably their are more women readers nowdays but i can't s..."

Perfect response!

Kathy wrote: "As a reader of both science fiction and fantasy for over 50 years, my main point of disappoint in this (and similar lists) is that most of the titles included are fantasy. I miss finding good scien..."

Have you read Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series? It's military sci-fi, but could be along the lines of what you're looking for.

james baker wrote: "How can I be 'excited' when I havent read the book?"
hahahahahaah

Elyse wrote: "Daniel wrote: "Wow lots of women bashing in the comments here..."

Actually, there isn't a lot of woman-bashing in the comments. There are only 2. It's more there's a lot of woman-defending."

Well objectively, even one person is too many, but I was referring to the volume of comments rather than the number of commenters.

Daniel wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Daniel wrote: "Wow lots of women bashing in the comments here..."

Actually, there isn't a lot of woman-bashing in the comments. There are only 2. It's more there's a lot of woman-def..."

:D

There's also only a tiny % of woman-bashing comments. It's literally 95% woman defending.

But it's true, some is too many, and they were shockingly bad.

I've read one, (The Raven Tower: good,) partway though another, (Black Leopard, Red Wolf: also good,) but I'm waiting for Tor/MacMillian to stop being a butt to libraries so I can read another that I won't mention, because I won't mention any of their books till they pull their head out of where the sun doesn't shine.

Mark wrote: "William Bonner wrote: "I will be reading exhalation by ted chiang also recursion by blake crouch. Am i alone in thinking their are too many women writers."

Absolutely, I stay well away from female..."<

Hmmm, judging by that alone, J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis must have been females... lol

A very good comment from Hallie. I will be checking out the list of authors she gave. I feel like i said something out loud when i should have been just thinking it. I began my reading like a lot of men with western by l'amour, zane grey and J.T Edson,who can forget dusty fog. I moved on to science fiction with Asimov and bradbury, I feel like i have missed a lot good writers looking forward to making up for it. Thanks for the education.

Where is The Hod King on this list? The tower of babel series is amazing!

Mark wrote: "William Bonner wrote: "I am not insulting women authors, but i find it frustrating when i check top ten books to find eight are by women, probably their are more women readers nowdays but i can't s..."

Thanks for the link Mark, that was an interesting read.

William Bonner wrote: "A very good comment from Hallie. I will be checking out the list of authors she gave. I feel like i said something out loud when i should have been just thinking it. I began my reading like a lot o..."

William, I too, have read (and enjoyed) Louis L'Amour and Zane Gray. I started reading sci-Fi with Andre Norton, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Isaac Asimov, and Ray Bradbury, to name a few. I didn't care what the sex of the author was, I wanted the stories. I have a feeling you will enjoy many of the authors Hallie suggested.

I think this list forgot about Aurora Rising. It was really good.

William Bonner wrote: "I will be reading exhalation by ted chiang also recursion by blake crouch. Am i alone in thinking their are too many women writers."

There is an interesting Wikipedia page: women in speculative fiction.
I recommend you read it ;-)