SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
Recommendations and Lost Books
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Cozy SFF
I would love more cozy recs that are lighter on the romance. Most of the ones I've read seem to think that cozy == romance, but it doesn't have to!
*sets up flower shop and starts brewing tea*I'm sure a bunch are on that Cozy SFF List, but just thinking of
Howl’s Moving Castle
Redwall
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
When Marnie Was There
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
The Cybernetic Tea Shop
Graphic Novels
I'm sure there are plenty more out there
I'm just amused by these covers that there is apparently a witchy-pastry ✨aesthetic✨ and color scheme. (Only read Crumbs myself)
Crumbs
MooncakesWill have to revisit and think on some more...
Ooh, when Marnie Was There :D It's been a while, but I remember watching the movie with my friend's kid, and she was very confused about what actually happens in the movie, and I remember that I told her I'd read the book and tell her, but I wasn't sure after reading it, either :D I remember that I had a theory but I'm not sure what it was now. I'll have to reread/rewatch one day!And yes, there are so many cute graphic novels, didn't I have thread for those, too? Haha I do! (Also added to starting post.)
Feelgood graphic novels
We can still continue talking about them here! That's just an additional list to check out :)
Romance is welcome in the thread! I just meant to say that if someone does know of a cozy (for adults) with less romance, ping me! I loved Prince&Dressmaker ^_^
Outside of The Hobbit, I'm not sure I've read much cozy SFF. Settling in here mostly for books to try.Maybe
17776: What football will look like in the future?
the hobbit and a book about football? i am so confused as to what this post is about bc those books don't fit into what i was thinking.. cozy science fiction and fantasy..
Don't go off my post! If it wasn't clear by my comment, I am wholly unfamiliar with the genre!
I don't want to put us in any boxes, even if they're lined with comfy blankets, so cozy can mean whatever you want it to mean. But for the most part, feelgood, low stakes, happy, light, not dark? Often has elements of food and drink, home vibes, garden or nature, pets. friends, romance, all that nice stuff :)
I think Becky Chambers in general fits the bill. I just finished reading her Wayfarers series and thought it was extremely feelgood.And T. Kingfisher, I definitely agree about her. I adore her stuff.
Kirsi wrote: "I think Becky Chambers in general fits the bill. I just finished reading her Wayfarers series and thought it was extremely feelgood.And T. Kingfisher, I definitely agree about her. I adore her st..."
Indeed. Chambers and Kingfisher are two of my favorites, and right at the top of my feel-good fantasy and sci-fi recs.
However, like Anna mentioned above, I would exclude Kingfisher's horror novels. And I would be selective with Chambers as well in terms of "cozy" reads. Monk and Robot definitely. To Be Taught, If Fortunate, not so much.
Tea with the Black Dragon by R.A. MacAvoyA Fine and Private Place and The Rhinoceros Who Quoted Nietzsche and Other Odd Acquaintances by Peter S. Beagle (there's a story in the collection that probably isn't cozy, but the rest could be called that)
The Compleat Boucher: The Complete Short Science Fiction & Fantasy of Anthony Boucher by Anthony Boucher (maybe not all the stories would fit "cozy" -- certainly not "They Bite" -- but many if not most would)
Good Neighbors and Other Strangers by Edgar Pangborn (again, maybe one story that doesn't fit the descriptive)
I think the Lockwood & Co. books by Jonathan Stroud would fit the bill to a degree, as would the Inspector Hobbes books by Wilkie Martin. The first is more cozy YA horror (if there is such a thing) than actual SFF and the latter is relatively light on the fantasy part (although it's very clearly there), but I think both have a very cozy feel.
Randy's list reminded me of Good Neighbors: The Full Collection by Stephanie Burgis, who has several things in the realm of feelgood. I haven't read Good Neighbors yet, because there's an audiobook coming (narrated by Emma Newman <3), but from what I've heard, I think it sounds like cozy fantasy. I also think that Scales and Sensibility is probably cozy fantasy, but again, haven't read it yet, because I'm hoping for an audiobook.Her Harwood Spellbook novella/short series, narrated by Emma Newman and starting with Snowspelled, isn't necessarily *cozy*, but it's light and "safe", and a quick read. I'm not typically much for fae, but if you are, then take a look.
Zenna Henderson's Believing: The Other Stories of Zenna Henderson & Ingathering: The Complete People Stories are definitely pretty much cozy
The Cecelia and Kate Novels: Sorcery & Cecelia, The Grand Tour, and The Mislaid Magician by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer would qualify, I think! They're certainly a lot of fun.
For lovers of cozy sci-fi, and chocolate, I recommend The Cosmic Turkey by Laura Loomis.(WARNING: chocolate is Banned for a great deal of the book, oh the horror!!, so you might want to grab some to eat while reading. Especially the scenes with Nina the chocolate smuggler! ;)
It's a silly, wacky adventure a la Douglas Adams, with aliens who wear shoes on their heads, and Janet, the poor hapless main character, has a technology hex and the computer just *will* not listen to her! (I can relate a bit to that!!) Super fun and funny! :)
Encouraged to pick up more cozy reads on my TBR, I just finished the novella The Errant Prince. Definitely a romance, although fairly chaste, half the book is just rustic cottage goings-on. Porridge and grassy tea and apples. Chopping wood and bundles of herbs drying over a roaring fire.
I agree, Beckie Chambers definitely tends towards cozy. I thought The Galaxy, and the Ground Within was the coziest of the Wayfarers series. More fantasy recs
Elatsoe
The House in the Cerulean Sea
The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper
Bunnicula
Stardust
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making and that whole series.
Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees, currently available in a confusing variety of Kindle and hardcopy editions, is an 1926 fantasy which has a lot of "cozy" features. But parts can also be read on a level which some will feel disquieting.I reviewed different editions on Amazon years ago: for the most recent, see https://www.amazon.com/Lud-Mist-Hope-...
That version was for an edition from Prologue Books, which is slightly more expensive than other Kindle versions, but it is available from Kindle Unlimited.
I like to nibble on carrots while reading.
Meredith wrote: "I agree, Beckie Chambers definitely tends towards cozy. I thought The Galaxy, and the Ground Within was the coziest of the Wayfarers series."Yes, I agree. As a lover of onsen/hotsprings, I appreciate there being an entire scene of just relaxing in the baths. Just vibing with a character as they unplug and relax.
I was also thinking of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. There's something about a lot of fairy tales and YA fiction that reads as especially cozy to me.
The Hounds of the Mórrígan for example. It's been a while since I've read it, but taking shelter in a helpful stranger's home inside a tree, and being fortified by mugs of milk, it has that Narnia sort of vibe.
here's another on that I loved The Witches of Karres by James H. Schmitz - the serials aren't as good as the original but the book is hilarious
CBRetriever wrote: "Zenna Henderson's Believing: The Other Stories of Zenna Henderson & Ingathering: The Complete People Stories are definitely pretty much cozy"Good call.
The Accidental Alchemist --- stumbled across this series and love the mix of cozy + mystery + fantasy.
I think I have something by her on my TBR!edit: I do, but it's a mystery series, not SFF.
I’m currently reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune and it would definitely be classed as Cozy Fantasy. So would his next book, Under the Whispering Door. Lovely book. There’s also Monk and Robot series by Becky Chambers along with her Wayfarers series. Yes I know they’re probably already mentioned. Alix E Harrows Spindle Splintered and Mirror Mended might also be classed as cozy fantasy. Can’t remember if they’ve been mentioned yet or not.
I saw the Murderbot books being classed as Cozy sifi the other day.
I’m a fan of cozy Murder mysteries in both books and TV shows. Midsomer Murders (Inspector Barnaby by Caroline Graham), Agatha Raisin TV and the books by MC Beaton, Murder She Baked series of books and Hallmark Mysteries and Aurora Teagarden books and telly movies. Actually there are some great cozy mystery TV movie series on Hallmark and most of them are based on books.
I will fourth or fifth The Monk and Robot series; I love them so much. I will also second Legends and Lattes; I want to read that one again.Ones I read recently that I didn't notice in this thread - The Goblin Emperor spin-offs The Witness for the Dead and The Grief of Stones. They're pretty much cozy fantasy murder mystery novellas.
Goodreads posted an article/list for this a couple weeks ago - https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2... I've read a few of their choices.
Nelle wrote: "Goodreads posted an article/list for this a couple weeks ago - https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2... "This list is great! Never added so many to my TBR at one go. I thought it was odd that Murderbot was on there. Although I love the series, there's a ton of violence and zero tea drinking or companion animals.
Bunnicula wrote: "I like to nibble on carrots while reading."I found that carrots are really good with nacho cheese dip. Just saying
I had Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox on my original list, but I just took it off after reminding myself of the book. If anyone already added it, take a look at reviews before reading!The audiobook is narrated by Travis Baldree, whose voice I like very much, but for some reason he makes me fall asleep and I can't pay attention to anything that happens in a book narrated by him XD I have one more on my TBR Cleanup list for this year, I'm expecting to have no idea what happens in that one, either.
So yeah, that's why I didn't remember the book well enough, and still had it tagged as cozy in my mind.
I recommend Strange Practice - I guess it could be called a cozy paranormal mystery. The protagonist is a GP whose practice specializes in medical care needs of vampires, goblins, ghouls... BTW, the author, Vivian Shaw, is one half of a very strong writing couple. The other half, Arkady Martine (the pen name of AnnaLinden Weller) is a recent and richly deserved Hugo laureate for her first novel, A Memory Called Empire.
Depending on my mood, I read works by one or another of these talented ladies.
Sarah wrote: "The Accidental Alchemist --- stumbled across this series and love the mix of cozy + mystery + fantasy."You might like the "Judge Dee" series of novellas by Lavie Tidhar. Then you can proceed to a bit more "serious", pretty unique Central Station and Neom
Depending on one's definition of "cozy", many of works by Connie Willis would qualify. Eg. try To Say Nothing of the Dog.In a somewhat similar vein of "cozy academic time travel", perhaps a bit lightweight, there are works by Jody Taylor.
Of course, Willis' "cozy" works include the firebombing of Coventry, and Taylor's bloody revolution in Britain as well as some quite dark ages there, so be prepared for that, too.
BNZ - Thanks for the rec! Checking it out
I need some cute robots/AI. Something like The Monk and Robot series. Or ART from the Murderbot. Some cozy SF comfort read.Cyborgs are welcome too, just the cute ones. Or grumpy. Grumpy cyborgs are cute.
What do you people recommend?
Aga, You would like the Cybernetic Tea Shop. Cute robots/AI. It’s linked above in a post by Michelle. Have you read Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee? I don’t know if I’d call the android/robot cut or grumpy but you may like it anyway.
DivaDiane wrote: "Aga, You would like the Cybernetic Tea Shop. Cute robots/AI. It’s linked above in a post by Michelle. Have you read Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee? I don’t know if I’d call the android/robot cu..."
I haven’t read that. Both sound great! Thank you, Diane.
DivaDiane wrote: "Have you read Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee? I don’t know if I’d call the android/robot cute"Maybe in the sense that a teen talks about a boy in her class being "cute"...
Cheryl wrote: "Perhaps Today I Am Carey."This one may be a little too havy for me now. But I’ll save it for later.
Yes, Margaret. There’s is that!Sorry it was Mel, not Michelle who linked to The Cybernetic Tea Shop. Not only can I not link to books on the app, people’s names are also truncated and in this case Mel was shortened to M… Very helpful. Sorry Mel!
Margaret wrote: "DivaDiane wrote: "Have you read Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee? I don’t know if I’d call the android/robot cute"Maybe in the sense that a teen talks about a boy in her class being "cute"..."
If there’s fluff, I take it. Fluff is good for me right now.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Kingdoms of Elfin (other topics)Quarter Share (other topics)
Starman Jones (other topics)
The Zero Stone (other topics)
European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Sylvia Townsend Warner (other topics)E.M. Anderson (other topics)
E.M. Anderson (other topics)
Jody Taylor (other topics)
Connie Willis (other topics)
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Light the fire, grab your comfiest blanket, brew your coffee, and steep your tea! Don't forget your cat or other furry friend! ^_^
These are the things I've already talked about or listed, please add more!
Fantasy:
Legends & Lattes
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea - Inspired by L&L, slightly higher stakes, sequel coming
The Tea Dragon Society
Tea and Sympathetic Magic
The House Witch + The House Witch 2 - These are one book
Miss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon - Explicit sex scenes
A Coup of Tea
Meadowsweet
Fluff: A Wholesome LitRPG
Half a Soul
The Lord of Stariel
Also many of the non-horror things in the T. Kingfisher thread and some of the books in the SFF for animal lovers and Feelgood graphic novels threads.
Scifi:
Astray - So much tea and scones, but also orphans and other not so fun things, altho still a fairly mellow read
The Left Hand of Dog - The author is a fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, Hitchhiker's Guide, etc. and it shows
Also check out the CozySFF GR list, many of these seem to be on there!