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The 24 Most Popular Sci-Fi & Fantasy Novels of 2019 (So Far)
A mercenary seeks a missing child, a dead man’s brain is reactivated, a woman travels to the Mayan underworld, a disease drives its victims mad with false memories. These are just a few of the plots that have captured readers' attention in this year's batch of science fiction and fantasy novels.
To identify the books resonating with readers, we looked at sci-fi and fantasy novels published so far this year in the U.S. Then we filtered that list by average rating (everything on this list has at least a 3.5-star rating), number of reader reviews, and additions to readers' Want to Read shelves (which is how we measure buzz and anticipation).
Some well-known authors make an appearance on this list, including Blake Crouch, Mark Lawrence, Ann Leckie, Ted Chiang, and Seanan McGuire. We're seeing new names enter the field as well. Booker Prize–winning author Marlon James and YA superstar Cassandra Clare are making a splash in the fantasy genre this year.
Which of these sci-fi and fantasy novels are you most excited to read?
To identify the books resonating with readers, we looked at sci-fi and fantasy novels published so far this year in the U.S. Then we filtered that list by average rating (everything on this list has at least a 3.5-star rating), number of reader reviews, and additions to readers' Want to Read shelves (which is how we measure buzz and anticipation).
Some well-known authors make an appearance on this list, including Blake Crouch, Mark Lawrence, Ann Leckie, Ted Chiang, and Seanan McGuire. We're seeing new names enter the field as well. Booker Prize–winning author Marlon James and YA superstar Cassandra Clare are making a splash in the fantasy genre this year.
Which of these sci-fi and fantasy novels are you most excited to read?
Which of these books are you most excited to check out? Let us know in the comments!
Check out complete coverage of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Week:
The Most Anticipated Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Meet the Rising Stars of Science Fiction & Fantasy
The New Frontier of Science Fiction
Check out complete coverage of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Week:
The Most Anticipated Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Meet the Rising Stars of Science Fiction & Fantasy
The New Frontier of Science Fiction
Comments Showing 101-150 of 157 (157 new)
message 101:
by
Paige
(new)
Aug 14, 2019 06:40AM
After finishing Dark Matter in a day, I immediately ordered Recursion and I can't wait to read it.
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Nancy wrote: "Samantha wrote: "I’m most excited to read Machines Like Me, One Word Kill, and A Memory Called Empire."One Word Kill is really good. It's book number 2 of a series, but it can be read as a stand ..."
One Word Kill is the first book in the Impossible Times trilogy, not the second.
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."
Usually the opposite is true.
I loved Ted Chiang's new collection. Out of these, I plan on eventually reading Gods of Jade and Shadow, since mythology appeals to me - the Farm sounds interesting too, while I've only seen mixed reviews of Machines Like Me in my circle.
I would like to read The priory of the orange tree and Storm cursed. Has somebody read them 'cause I'm 14 and I don't know if they are ok for my age
Having read Tiamat's Wrath, it would be very hard for anything on this list to be better - the best Expanse book since Caliban's War.
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 would also add that the number of women writing speculative fiction (to use the over-arching term for sci-fi, fantasy, horror, steampunk, etc) has climbed along with the number of women in STEM professions (science, technology, engineering and math), not to mention the military, espionage, medical and first responder professions. I can see how some might feel nostalgic for a time when speculative fiction was largely a man's world, but that ship has sailed, mateys. In my own experience, as a performing, literary and visual artist, there are far more women working away at their craft than men. It just makes sense, looking at the numbers, that more and more of them are finding success in the professional art world.
It would have been nice to see a short description of each of these 24 books instead of a picture of the covers since you cannot judge a book by it's cover. I have too many books lined up already and not enough time to click on 24 different pictures to find out if I may like even one of them. Next time, list the titles with a one paragraph plot synopsis so we can quickly see if anything looks interesting.
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..."
You gotta fix your world view. It's def messed up.
A list of this length could include a great self-published fantasy thriller set in the Canadian Rockies by a twenty-something author - a novel by a Canadian with a core message about the Canadian debate on preservation of our wild spaces, for Canadian readers. The Great Divide
Mark wrote: "William Bonner wrote: "It's NOT misogyny but simply I find female authors don't have a grip on reality the way I see it, being male is possibly my only excuse but nevertheless.... .""Reality the way you see it". Well yeah... Welcome to my world. Do you know how hard it was growing up to find female characters I could relate to? All of them were mostly written for male consumption, which certainly didn't match reality the way I saw it. I didn't let that stop me from reading good books by male authors though. Personally, I find one of the best things about reading is that I can experience other peoples realities. So yeah, you might have a preference for books where you can relate to the main character, but that's just it... it's your preference and shouldn't be a comment on a female writers "grip on reality".
DavidSG wrote: "It would have been nice to see a short description of each of these 24 books instead of a picture of the covers since you cannot judge a book by it's cover. I have too many books lined up already a..."If you are on a computer you can just mouse over the cover and a short description pops up.
Amy wrote: "james baker wrote: "How can I be 'excited' when I havent read the book?"Youve never been excited before about a new book you havent read yet? That doesnt make any sense."
Gods of Jade and Shadow: excellent descriptors of visual imagery and engaging characters. Aztec/Mayan gods' mythbuilding outstanding.
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."Back when authors were almost 100% men, you never heard "Am I alone in thinking there are too many male writers?' There will be too many women writers when men are systematically excluded solely based on their gender.
DianaRig wrote: "I would like to read The priory of the orange tree and Storm cursed. Has somebody read them 'cause I'm 14 and I don't know if they are ok for my age"Could start them and stop if you need to. At 14 I was reading very adult fiction, I don't see anything wrong with reading these works at your age.
Jenna wrote: "DavidSG wrote: "It would have been nice to see a short description of each of these 24 books instead of a picture of the covers since you cannot judge a book by it's cover. I have too many books li..."Thanks for the info. I just saw 24 covers and kinda moved on.
Most anticipated read for this fall is Fall by Neal Stephenson because I am such a fan of his work. I am never disappointed.
james baker wrote: "How can I be 'excited' when I havent read the book?"wat?
Travis wrote: 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.Say it louder for the people in the back! :D
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.
Chris wrote: "Glad to see comments about women authors that tell us the users to stay away from. Sexism at its finest."Oh de mens are being ignored.....there are more women than them, wat's wrong!!!!! #sarcasm.
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..."add Lois McMaster Bujold, coming up on Heinlein's number of Hugo awards.
METL, by Scott Wilson was also released this year, a dystopian sci-fi illustrated novel for Young Adults. A timely look into a future world devoid of technology.
Available in a few days is 'Daughter of Ethos'. The start to an epic science fiction anthology by L. M. Lacee. Check it out on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VXCBGHG/
I've recently finished Storm Cursed, while Magic for Liars, The Priory of the Orange Tree, and Black Leopard Red Wolf are sitting on my ereader waiting to be read.The Kingdom of Copper and The Winter of the Witch are on my list of want to reads. The others are unfamiliar but I'll check them out to see if there are others that may appeal.
Already reading Dark Age, can't wait to read Tiamath's Wrath, Machines Like Me and The Farm (gotta purchase this one)
otherwise they wouldn't all abbreviate or punctuate their first names to hide their gender.Plenty of male authors abbreviated their forenames, Ballard, Tolkein, Woodhouse, Lovecraft... The list goes on you utter sexist shite bastardcunt
Christy wrote: "Where is The Hod King on this list? The tower of babel series is amazing!"It really is! More people need to read it. Then it would make lists like this.
Out of the lot that are on offer, the only one that stands out to me, is: The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders. This is one that I will look forward to reading in the future.
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."Why does the gender of the writer matter at all? What an odd question.
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..."Baaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Poor you. You poor man who has to hear recommendations of books written by women.
And we certainly cannot expect you, as a man, to appreciate books written by women.
This must be so hard for you.
All us women feel real bad and can't imagine what that must be like.
Katherinesward wrote: "Start earning today from $600 to $754 easily by working online from home. Last month i have generate and received $19663 from this job by giving this only maximum 2 hours a day of my life. Easiest ..."If everybody could get that job, then nobody would be earning 19,663 from it. The more fish in the tank, the less food there is to eat.
I put "The Priory of the Orange Tree", "The Farm", and "Exhalation" on my Want to Read list immediately! Thanks for putting this list together!
I've only read three of these! I guess I have my work cut out for me.
Gods of Jade and Shadow is next on my reading list after I finish Pet Sematary and The Enlightenment of BeesVery excited!
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."Am I alone in thinking you only read books by "male chauvinist" authors? I think that there are a few middle eastern countries where you can find authors that fit your needs.
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..."
Women don't have a grip on reality? WOW. You are special. LOL
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..."WELL SAID!
I loved Recursion. Most looking forward to The Priory of the Orange Tree, The Raven Tower, and Middle Game.
Sable wrote: "Oh honey, did you ever bark up the wrong tree here.First of all, welcome to the lives of all women since the Victorian Age. How's it feel to have the shoe on the other foot? Maybe if the lists look like this for the next 100 years, we might actually catch up."
*more applause*
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..."I'm so glad you changed your mind on this William! I am also glad the information I've shared was of help. Enjoy the many well written novels ahead of you!
Machines like me I am probably excited for, the most.
I'll be reading Black Leopard Red Wolf since it's on my tbr list already.
I anticipate most "Gods of Jade and Shadow", with "Recursion" being a close 2nd ... however, I will be reading all of what your team has selected.My hope is that our authors we enjoy so much can steer clear of the desire to include "the bedroom" and "politics" so that when I read science fiction or fantasy I can't find the story because of entitlement to grind an axe.
Augie 1140
james baker wrote: "How can I be 'excited' when I havent read the book?"How can you be excited if you have already read the book? You get excited about things to come not things that have already occurred.
Ziggy wrote: "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 le..."I agree wholeheartedly, two separate genres.
