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Exciting New Fantasy and Sci-Fi Reads for Summer
Predictions of the future are a sci-fi and fantasy staple, and at Goodreads we certainly spend enough time staring at new and upcoming books to make some pretty sure forecasts about which titles will catch readers' eyes. In recent weeks, we’ve sussed out one thing for sure: For dedicated fans of speculative fiction, this is going to be a really good summer.
Gathered below are 42 of the most anticipated novels in fantasy and science fiction, based on early reviews and what Goodreads regulars are adding to their Want to Read shelves.
Among the (many, many) highlights: Siren Queen, author Nghi Vo’s story of a queer starlet in an infernal version of 1930s Hollywood. Upgrade, the genetic manipulation cautionary tale from techno-thriller specialist Blake Crouch. And the stone-cold-fascinating (with a banger of a subtitle) Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution from R.F. Kuang.
Scroll over the book covers to learn more about each title, and add the ones that pique your interest to your Want to Read shelf.
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Which speculative fiction books are you most looking forward to reading this summer? Tell us in the comments below!
Check out more recent articles:
Readers' Most Anticipated Books of Summer
Guaranteed, Reader-Approved Summer Page-Turners by Genre
Goodreads Employees Share Their Summer Reading Plans
Check out more recent articles:
Readers' Most Anticipated Books of Summer
Guaranteed, Reader-Approved Summer Page-Turners by Genre
Goodreads Employees Share Their Summer Reading Plans
Comments Showing 1-50 of 57 (57 new)
I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to wade through that crap to get to the stuff I want to read. If people want to have fantasies of riding dragons while wearing leather bustiers, awesome, I just don't want their stuff cluttering up the lists I want to peruse.
As Brent said above, PLEASE separate Scifi and fantasy!
I'm also here to support what Brent said. PLEASE separate them. They *sometimes* overlap but are not the same!
Yes, yes, yes! PLEASE distinguish between fantasy and science fiction and maintain separate lists for those genres. They are not at all the same and it is so very annoying having to filter out one from the other.
BTW, I was pretty harsh in my thoughts on the F side of this discussion. Sorry 'bout that; it was frustration from filtration......
Brent wrote: "I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to wade through that crap to ge..."Amen to that...
That's fair. I feel the same about science fiction cluttering up my fantasy.
Do any of these books offer a gay male main character?
Joanne wrote: "That's fair. I feel the same about science fiction cluttering up my fantasy."Absolutely. It's like having medical fiction in the same list as anatomy textbooks. Yeah, there *may* be interest in the other genre, but likely not so much. I'm an adult, I can look at *both* lists, if I'm interested.
Cannot agree more with the need to separate these two genres.
this is an excellent list! i added at least 5 books to my read list
By all means, separate Sci-Fi from Fantasy. I know there is some crossover, but for the most part, science is science and fantasy is fantasy.
David wrote: "Do any of these books offer a gay male main character?"A Taste of Gold and Iron and A Strange and Stubborn Endurance both have a gay male main character!
Gregg wrote: "I agree, but not quite so harshly. They should be separate lists, IMHO."I backed off on my harshness earlier. It was frustration, nothing more.
I agree with Brent. I do not see where i can merely put a like at the end of his comment, so I am sorry to ad to this list. Please separate fiction from science fiction and fantasy.
Well, obviously I'm biased here, but since Book Eaters is marketed as fantasy but straddles the line as both (no magic, scifi origins of the characters, but with a fantasy feel) I'm glad there's a mixed list for it lmao. Sorry folks! Though I don't control the lists anyways, so... yeah.
Brent wrote: "I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to wade through that crap to ge..."its 2022 - we are going backwards. 20 years ago people could and did tell the difference between science fiction and fantasy. Hell 30 years ago.
Its pretty sad that one of the dominant (was going to say pre-eminant but thats questionable in this case) sites can't manage it even now.
Brent wrote: "I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to wade through that crap to ge..."I'm all in for it too. It's so stupid to have to scroll through all of fantasy just to find the last SF releases. Just make separate categories. Please everyone!!
I.C. wrote: "Brent wrote: "I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to wade through t..."I want to upvote your post!
I also agree that SF/F should be presented as separate genres. Unfortunately the Kindle store does the same thing and lumps them all together. What could be the thinking behind dismissing the fact that these are two entirely unrelated categories?
Sunyi wrote: "Well, obviously I'm biased here, but since Book Eaters is marketed as fantasy but straddles the line as both (no magic, scifi origins of the characters, but with a fantasy feel) I'm glad there's a ..."Put them in both lists
As said previously, please split SF & F. Also, this page doesn’t work well on an iPad, test and you’ll see.
I agree with the separation of SF from F. I like both genres but prefer hard SF, and hate to read many reviews which are not SF when I want SF.
Although they should separate the categories, they also should do more than advertise the same small group of authors and publishers, regardless of how they list them. How about recommendations from other publishers and authors? I’m excited to read the Sci-fi novel The Authority Wars: Harbinger by T. H. Solomon. It’s the sequel in the series. Just downloaded it today. I loved the first one, The Authority Wars: Banished.
I like both genres, but it's dumb that they aren't separated and it makes things difficult no matter who you are.Thanks Amazon...
Simon wrote: "I.C. wrote: "Brent wrote: "I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to w..."ease of automation, nothing more.
I got an email about this, which I liked and this is exciting to learn about these books - but it had a bunch of horrible advertisements in it. This kind of stuff really turns me off of goodreads - makes me more interested in just switching over to bookwyrm or something less commercial.
So how can I get my book promoted in a list like this?
I was composing a comment seconding Brent when I noticed all folks who agreed with him as well. Please take note Goodreads.
Brent wrote: "I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to wade through that crap to ge..."Thank you. This x1000! There couldn't be more dissimilar genres grouped together. Awful.
You missed BEWARE OF CHICKEN by Casual Farmer. It just released today on kindle.
Brent wrote: "I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to wade through that crap to ge..."Amen! And what about Horror?
Brent wrote: "I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to wade through that crap to ge..."Another person who seconds this comment. I'm also tired of this grouping!
David wrote: "Do any of these books offer a gay male main character?"Have you checked out Richard Morgans "The Steel Remains"?
Exactly my thoughts on this, Brent. Just from seeing the titles and the covers I feel like going through a fantasy list.
Have a copy of Elektra..does it belong on either list?Yes seperate please..then what about SFF?And please search out anthologies..and put THOSE in their own list,please😉
An author at a book festival was asked this question and replied that the publisher is the entity that decides what genre to assign to a book. Doesn't matter who decides (Goodreads, Amazon, publisher,) we all would still have to look at each list to be sure we weren't missing a good book! And complaining that the list was put together wrong anyway!
Brent wrote: "I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to wade through that crap to ge..."Could not agree more!!! PLEASE Make our lives easier and separate these into two categories.
Brent wrote: "I wish Goodreads and other sites would finally separate SF and F from each other. I don't want endless series of swords and sorcery and other BS and would prefer not to wade through that crap to ge..."I agree with the content of what Brent asks, I do not agree with calling fantasy "crap". These genres are simply too different. Let us go seperate ways.
PLEASE separate them. I like SF a and IMHO dually classified novels are more Fantasy than SF so I wish they weren't included an SF list.
1) Would agree to separate sci-fi from fantasy, please do.2) Recommend a little-known sci-fi book: Even the Stars Shall Rejoice - The Kenalen, with three sexes and the idea that joy is a force like gravity, call upon Earth for help in dealing with a disease, offering their tech and a look into their matriarchal culture.
Just finished excellent end -of-humanity anthology "Out of the Ruins".Not a dud amongst the stories and all very different.
Yes and Yes! Why do companies keep doing that, please keep science fiction and fantasy separate.
Yes! they should be separate!...and when I go to a author's page it should have a book list STARTING with the latest book, like IMDB does with actors and the movies they were in.. it just makes sense.
I'm with you all on the need for the split of sci-fi and fantasy!
Just when I think I'm getting my TBR list under control.....Ha ha, just kidding. I'm never gonna manage that. But hey like 20 new titles to be excited about!!📚📚📚😄🛸
David wrote: "Do any of these books offer a gay male main character?"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
I read this book in one day!! I couldn't put it down. It is SF and it is the most amazing book I've ever read. The characters feel alive and you get to feel what they are feeling at any given moment. I can't say enough; you Must read it yourself!!! It is based on a military platoon that fights creatures who are bigger stronger and more dangerous. You get to know each soldier individually and where he came from and what he's had to overcome to be strong.
You don't want to miss this!!!