SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
Recommendations and Lost Books
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Books based on non-European mythology
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I remember reading Bridge of Birds years ago and liking it. Curious if my current self would think the same thing. I liked the humor and the exposure to Chinese mythology. It also led me down my path of being curious about other cultures' constellation stories.Throne of the Crescent Moon was good. Fast past and adventure-y. Ahmed also has some good short stories based on non-european mythology. He's also been writing Black Bolt for Marvel. I haven't read it, so I'm not sure if it's got any mythology links, but I dig his writing, so I'm going to check out the first omnibus when it comes out.
Another I haven't read but have heard good things about is Ken Liu's The Grace of Kings. The setting has a European feel, but the story is inspired by Chinese history/mythology. Like I said, I haven't read it, but if you're curious, here's a link to his page with essays, etc. about the book. (ETA: I've read plenty of Liu's short stories and have loved them so I already have this one sitting on my ereader, there are just so many things to read…)
Tomoe Gozen (Japanese female samurai) is the subject of Tomoe Gozen by Jessica Salmodson and two more books in the series
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The Paladin by C.J. Cherryh
Thanks Faith and Cheryl. I'm actually looking for some personal recommendations as Ben did. Though, I read Brown Girl in The Ring by Nalo Hopkinson. I'd say, I had a mixed feelings about this book. Thanks for reminding about the author. I'm going to add her books to my list.And Thanks Ben. My colleague said the same thing about Throne of the Crescent Moon. He can't wait for the next book of the series, which is coming next year. I saw Patrick Rothfuss, the author of The Name of Wind, highly praised about this one.
Thanks, CBRetriever. The Paladin is added to the shelf :)
Cheryl wrote: "Can't vouch for, but have heard good things about, the author Nalo Hopkinson."I've read Brown Girl in the Ring and Midnight Robber, and they are both great.
Mod
Do you count Russia with Europe or Asia? If you count it, Deathless is presently my favorite Russian inspired retelling.
I have a bunch of books lined up that reference mythology in the blurb for next year, so I'll try to remember to let you know of any good ones :)
I love mythical creatures! Presently, I'm having a lot of fun learning about Catalan myths, like the aloja or the Man With A Nose For Every Day. My favorite one of all time...hmmmmm. I think I like the ones that are meant to portray invisible illnesses most. Almost every culture has something that induces sleep paralysis, for example. Most have something to explain depression. The Nalusa Chito is a really good one, as are the Furies.
Yes, Octavia Butler's Wild Seed is one of my favorite books. It starts in Africa and ends up in America.This year I read The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin, which has a sort of Ancient Egypt background.
Alif the Unseen is that rare seamless melding of sci-fi and fantasy tropes. It takes Middle Eastern mythology as its jumping-off point.
Similarly, The Golem and the Jinni combines Jewish mythology with Middle Eastern mythology, setting them on a collision course in turn-of-the-20th-century New York City.
Turbulence is an India-based superhero story, so it has that flavor throughout.
The Warded Man series has a unique world where a European-style society is in conflict with a Middle Eastern-type society as they both fight demons from the underworld.
I found The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F. C. Yee really charming. YA with Chinese mythology.
Twelve Kings in SharakhaiThis book is very good!!! It has middle eastern influences.
The Wrath and the Dawn
This book also has middle eastern influences, but it is YA.
Binti
This book was amazing!! It was a very unique take on sci-fi and not just because of the African cultural influences.
The Incarnations
I thought this was an amazing book! It definitely has chinese cultural influences, but its not a fantasy book. Unless you count the reincarnations of the main character as fantasy. STILL it was good!
The two below have't come out. Just something to keep on your radar
Children of Blood and Bone
Markswoman
This is a book that I've heard is good. I believe it's YA.
Labyrinth Lost
There's also this one, but I haven't read it.
The Lives of Tao
The Red PyramidWhile the choice of this book, may seem somewhat self-evident, since Mr. Riordan, writes mostly Mythos based books, This one is Egyptian based. Listening to it as an Audiobook was interesting since I didn't have to struggle through some of the pronunciations. I didn't find it as captivating a read as the Greek/Roman or even the Norse ones, but that was due more to my lack of familiarity with the subject than a lack of writing.
The Eternal Sky series by Elizabeth Bear (starts with Range of Ghosts) is based on Central Asian mythology and history, and an excellent read.
Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light is based on the Hindu pantheon. Guy Gavriel Kay's The Sarantine Mosaic Is inspired by the Ottoman Empire, and his Under Heaven Is based on China's history and mythology.
Jen wrote: "Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light is based on the Hindu pantheon. Guy Gavriel Kay's The Sarantine Mosaic Is inspired by the Ottoman Empire, and his [book:Under Heaven|71398..."Sorry to be That Person but isn’t The Sarantine Mosaic based on the Byzantine Empire, not the Ottoman? Ie same physical location (modern-day Turkey) but a thousand years earlier, and with the cultural influence coming from the West rather than the East.
(Here I will admit I gave up on Sailing to Sarantium part way through. The part I read seemed very European in its influences. The latter half of the book might be much more “Eastern”)
Ruth wrote: "Sorry to be That Person but isn’t The Sarantine Mosaic based on the Byzantine Empire, not the Ottoman? ..."You're absolutely right- it is the Byzantine. I shouldn't try and think before my second cup of coffee has kicked in :-)
Trike wrote: "This year I read The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin, which has a sort of Ancient Egypt background."I was going to come in to recommend Jemisin's work. :) All of her novels are, quite deliberately by my understanding, not Euro-centric, whether set on something like Earth, or another world, and have non-European mythologies/gods.
I suppose it depends on if you include Russia in Europe or Asia, but I believe The Winds of Khalakovo has more of a Russian/Slavic theme underlying the steampunk setting.
Ruth wrote: "The Eternal Sky series by Elizabeth Bear (starts with Range of Ghosts) is based on Central Asian mythology and history, and an excellent read."This is the one I came in to mention, having read it earlier in the year.
Monkey: The Journey to the West is still one of my favourites as well.
Allison wrote: "Hmm...how do you feel about new myth? Octavia E. Butler and Nnedi Okorafor have a lot of books inspired by African mythologies. Not directly pulling from any myths to..."Thanks for the suggestion. Deathless is quite an interesting name.
And I'm definitely going to look into this 'A man with a nose for every day.
Trike wrote: "Yes, Octavia Butler's Wild Seed is one of my favorite books. It starts in Africa and ends up in America.This year I read The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin, which has a..."
The Golem and the jinni is the next book I'm going to buy. Thanks.
Man, too many books to add to the shelf now. Thanks for your recommendations people.
I know you already have a lot of great recommendations,but I would also like to suggest Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi and the sequel Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness - these are really good fun, and fairly short reads, too - based around Japanese mythology.
Lizzie wrote: "I know you already have a lot of great recommendations,but I would also like to suggest Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi and the sequel [book:Mor..."
The first one was done as an animated series. It was pretty fun to watch.
Mod
but I would also like to suggest Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi and the s..."
Also a live action, though I've yet to watch it! I found the books in English to be for younger readers though, which disappointed me. It was such a lovely story, it could have been told at a much more complex level.
Dj wrote: "The first one was done as an animated series. It was pretty fun to watch."Just got hold of the DVDs of this and have been binge-watching them. It's great, but I now have that cheesy theme-tune stuck in my head!
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Just got hold of the DVDs of this and have been binge-watching them. It's great, but I now have that cheesy th..."
heehee! That's how you know it's quality anime, when the theme song is both awful and inescapable :-)
maybe Kylie Chan books are more urban , but are based on chinese mythology
Allison wrote: "Dj wrote: "Lizzie wrote: "I know you already have a lot of great recommendations,but I would also like to suggest Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by [author:Nahoko Uehashi|1251054..."
Sounds like I should avoid the books then.
Lizzie wrote: "Dj wrote: "The first one was done as an animated series. It was pretty fun to watch."Just got hold of the DVDs of this and have been binge-watching them. It's great, but I now have that cheesy th..."
Brought to you by La Arc Encil, the same people that did one of the theme songs for Full Metal Alchemist. I find that the thing I like about J-Pop music is I don't understand the words. LOL
Allison wrote: "Lizzie wrote: "Dj wrote: "The first one was done as an animated series. It was pretty fun to watch."Just got hold of the DVDs of this and have been binge-watching them. It's great, but I now have..."
Not always true. Black Lagoon has one of the best opening ever, but the show drags, especially in season two. Not sure how the Manga reads. Kenshin, is mild on the opening, but the show is great until the last season, the Manga has a much better ending.
Mod
but I would also like to suggest Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by [author:Nahoko..."
It may be better in other languages? Idk if that's helpful for you. But the rights in the US were bought by Scholastic, which is that book fair publisher. Good for getting kids into the genre, though! One of my favorite animes to watch. I bought it on DVD because it's so pretty. I keep meaning to try the live action, too, but no dice so far.
Allison wrote: "Dj wrote: "Allison wrote: "Dj wrote: "Lizzie wrote: "I know you already have a lot of great recommendations,but I would also like to suggest Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by [au..."
I really enjoyed it. Had to call Netflix, due to the fact that the very last episode wouldn't stream. It was irksome not being able to watch the end after going that far. I like the fact that the 'hero' is a woman as well. They have much less gender bias in their shows than you get here in the US.
Mod
but I would also like to suggest [book:Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit..."
Argh that would be frustrating!
Saladin, Golem and the Jinni is coming up fast on my list, too! Can't wait to hear what you think!
As always I'm going to recommend reading books from those cultures, instead of the western story that takes place inside a foreign culture.Also as always I'm going to promote Chinese works as China has some of the most alien concept of fantasy compared to the rest of the world, and due to the internet webnovels have kinda taken them over, with major companies hosting free online serials and paying them part of the ad revenue and requiring constant output with minimal editing. It's filling the void in fiction that the death of magazines left.
And I'm going to recommend as normal.
A Will Eternal - Good introduction to Xianxia subgenre featuring a main character who's goal in life is to never die. He is a selfish person and is treated as such.
Ze Tian Ji - Slow burn with an actually very nice, not murderhobo protagonist for once, and generally considered a favorite. Has a live action TV adaption too (DON'T WATCH)
Cultivation Chat Group - Modern Day Everyman finds out about underground world of Chinese magic users and gets involved with these super powerful cultivators (daoist mages basically). It's a bit more of a parody/comedy than the others though they all have good humor.
ZTJ is on Gravity Tales, AWE on Wuxiaworld, and CCG on Gravity tales then Qidian's english site.
Though you should be aware that these are Chinese works so their culture doesn't line up with western values at all times and can come off as a bit yooooo what? especially with regards to respect of life.
Allison wrote: "Dj wrote: "Allison wrote: "Dj wrote: "Allison wrote: "Dj wrote: "Lizzie wrote: "I know you already have a lot of great recommendations,but I would also like to suggest [book:Moribito: Guardian of..."
I couldn't keep my words. Bought The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and Throne of The Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed. But The Golem and The Jinni is definitely my next buy.
Aaron wrote: "Though you should be aware that these are Chinese works so their culture doesn't line up with western values at all times and can come off as a bit yooooo what? especially with regards to respect of life. ..."
I actually prefer this type of books. Thats the best way to know about the different culture and the mythologies. Thanks for your recommendations.
I'm sure I have more than this, but these are what came to mind.White Tiger I believe all (or most) of this author's books are based around Chinese mythology.
Hidden Land This series is based around Egyptian mythology.
Dance of the Sacred Circle: a Native American Tale This book is consider a children's book, but still a good and interesting read.
I'd like to recommend two works, both by Guy Gavriel Kay:1. "Under Heaven." It's a fantasy based on Chinese history.
2. "The Sarantine Mosaic." This is actually two books set in a fictionalized world based closely on the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Justinian the Great. (I didn't know much about this historical figure until I read these books, so I researched him after finishing the books, and he and his wife are fascinating.) Several major plot events in the books actually happened in the real Byzantine Empire.
The traditional "fantasy" elements are pretty minimal in both of these works. Instead, these books are anchored by the wonderful characters and their touching stories.
I highly recommend them.
Would love to know how popular such books are.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Dance of the Sacred Circle: a Native American Tale (other topics)White Tiger (other topics)
Hidden Land (other topics)
Redemption in Indigo (other topics)
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Nahoko Uehashi (other topics)Nahoko Uehashi (other topics)
Nahoko Uehashi (other topics)
Octavia E. Butler (other topics)
Nnedi Okorafor (other topics)
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But recently, I have developed an interest to collect the books based on non-European mythologies. One of my colleagues have suggested me 'Throne of the Crescent Moon' by Saladin Ahmed (not me), which seems very interesting and I have added to my to-read list.
Can you suggest me your favourite fantasy books based this criteria, please? Also, I'm interested to know your favourite mythical creatures, like Bukbeak or the dragons from the GOT.