Lady Business' 60 Essential Science Fiction & Fantasy Reads (60 books)

Science fiction and fantasy are booming across multiple types of media these days: television, superhero films with strong SFF elements, and gaming are all enjoying a solid boost from science fiction and fantasy concepts. But what types of stories led us to this excellent time to be a SFF fan? What books inspired and entertained us until we reached this moment? Here are 60 of some important and thought-providing texts from science fiction and fantasy's long history.

These are books which many people loved, that created new fans, entertained old ones, or renewed someone's love of genre. Perhaps they even led some of the authors we love today to write in the very genre that we all enjoy so we can keep moving forward. Check them out below; how many have you read? :D

Link: http://ladybusiness.dreamwidth.org/20...

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1	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 2,362,193 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Parable of the Sower (Earthseed, #1) by Octavia E. Butler 4.20 avg rating — 249,398 ratings score: 188, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	God's War (Bel Dame Apocrypha, #1) by Kameron Hurley (Goodreads Author) 3.68 avg rating — 5,392 ratings score: 170, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Killing Moon (Dreamblood, #1) by N.K. Jemisin (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 23,027 ratings score: 170, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1) by Diana Wynne Jones 4.29 avg rating — 434,723 ratings score: 170, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	A Wrinkle in Time (A Wrinkle in Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.97 avg rating — 1,270,227 ratings score: 165, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch, #1) by Ann Leckie (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 116,884 ratings score: 163, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Ash by Malinda Lo (Goodreads Author) 3.63 avg rating — 37,637 ratings score: 163, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.26 avg rating — 146,388 ratings score: 162, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Dragonsong (Harper Hall, #1) by Anne McCaffrey 4.26 avg rating — 58,488 ratings score: 156, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland, #1) by Catherynne M. Valente (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 41,462 ratings score: 140, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Grimspace (Sirantha Jax, #1) by Ann Aguirre (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 16,240 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Primary Inversion (Saga of the Skolian Empire, #1) by Catherine Asaro (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 4,262 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Range of Ghosts (Eternal Sky, #1) by Elizabeth Bear (Goodreads Author) 3.68 avg rating — 3,929 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Flesh and Spirit (Lighthouse, #1) by Carol Berg (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 3,465 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Chime by Franny Billingsley 3.62 avg rating — 13,181 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels, #1) by Anne Bishop 4.03 avg rating — 43,550 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales, #1) by Holly Black (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 105,841 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett 3.68 avg rating — 2,781 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Cordelia's Honor (Vorkosigan Omnibus, #1) by Lois McMaster Bujold (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 14,380 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	War for the Oaks by Emma Bull (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 10,626 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Synners by Pat Cadigan (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 2,219 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Foreigner (Foreigner, #1) by C.J. Cherryh (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 10,843 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke 3.87 avg rating — 252,070 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Survival (Species Imperative, #1) by Julie E. Czerneda (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 2,222 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Tam Lin by Pamela Dean 3.84 avg rating — 5,809 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	King's Dragon (Crown of Stars, #1) by Kate Elliott (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 9,613 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Black Sun Rising (The Coldfire Trilogy, #1) by C.S. Friedman 3.93 avg rating — 19,381 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Slow River by Nicola Griffith (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 4,177 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Dragonsbane (Winterlands, #1) by Barbara Hambly (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 8,363 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge 3.78 avg rating — 7,558 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy, #1) by Robin Hobb (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 387,276 ratings score: 78, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The God Stalker Chronicles (Kencyrath, #1-2) by P.C. Hodgell 4.29 avg rating — 586 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson 3.85 avg rating — 7,418 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Valor's Choice (Confederation, #1) by Tanya Huff 3.99 avg rating — 8,866 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Daggerspell (Deverry, #1) by Katharine Kerr (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 16,968 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Steerswoman (The Steerswoman, #1) by Rosemary Kirstein 4.03 avg rating — 3,779 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Beggars in Spain (Sleepless, #1) by Nancy Kress (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 8,869 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Deryni Rising (The Chronicles of the Deryni, #1) by Katherine Kurtz 3.96 avg rating — 7,691 ratings score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan (Goodreads Author) 3.60 avg rating — 5,973 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Warchild (Warchild, #1) by Karin Lowachee (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 2,261 ratings score: 62, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Legend (Legend, #1) by Marie Lu (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 559,167 ratings score: 61, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Rosemary and Rue (October Daye, #1) by Seanan McGuire (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 39,945 ratings score: 59, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre 3.87 avg rating — 11,135 ratings score: 58, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Thief's Gamble (The Tales of Einarinn, #1) by Juliet E. McKenna (Goodreads Author) 3.68 avg rating — 1,932 ratings score: 57, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Sunshine by Robin McKinley 3.84 avg rating — 43,968 ratings score: 56, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1) by Naomi Novik (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 110,373 ratings score: 55, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 28,023 ratings score: 54, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Diving into the Wreck (Diving Universe, #1) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Goodreads Author) 3.66 avg rating — 2,415 ratings score: 53, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Female Man by Joanna Russ 3.47 avg rating — 8,869 ratings score: 52, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1) by John Scalzi (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 219,679 ratings score: 51, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	A Door Into Ocean (Elysium Cycle, #1) by Joan Slonczewski (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 2,398 ratings score: 50, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Grass King's Concubine (Daw Books Collectors) by Kari Sperring (Goodreads Author) 3.48 avg rating — 151 ratings score: 49, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 398,246 ratings score: 48, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	City of Pearl (Wess'har Wars, #1) by Karen Traviss (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 2,316 ratings score: 47, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree Jr. 4.18 avg rating — 4,642 ratings score: 46, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	The Snow Queen (The Snow Queen Cycle, #1) by Joan D. Vinge 3.94 avg rating — 13,098 ratings score: 44, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Farthing (Small Change, #1) by Jo Walton (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 5,625 ratings score: 43, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Cloud Roads (Books of the Raksura, #1) by Martha Wells (Goodreads Author) 3.98 avg rating — 15,956 ratings score: 42, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	To Say Nothing of the Dog (Oxford Time Travel, #2) by Connie Willis 4.11 avg rating — 43,756 ratings score: 41, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars