Fantastic Fiction

Fantasy and science fiction titles are often lumped together in reading lists, bookstores, and libraries. Part of the confusion arises because science fiction and fantasy stories have often been published in the same magazines. Additionally, many authors write in both genres (Ursula LeGuin & Orson Scott Card come to mind). Some confusion also arises because authors may include elements of both science fiction and fantasy in the same book. Nonetheless, fantasy is a genre that definitely stands on its own.

In discussing the ways to differentiate between science fiction and fantasy, Orson Scott Card recommended looking at the covers – if there are bolts and rivets it’s science fiction, if there are bushes it’s fantasy. Humor aside, one way to distinguish between the two genres is that science fiction deals with things that are potentially possible, based on scientific knowledge, and that in fantasy, the world operates under the influence of magic and the supernatural. Sometimes fantasy books begin with the known world and take off from there. At other times, authors may invent entire new worlds. Some fantasy relates tales of epic clashes of good and evil, full of swords and sorcery, and other fantasy takes place on a smaller, more personal, level. The following list of authors and titles is a good place to start looking for works of fantasy. Some of the titles are the first in a series, and others are stand-alone. The reference librarians can help you to locate any of these titles, and can also suggest other fantasy books that you might enjoy.

• Peter S. Beagle – The Last Unicorn
• Marion Zimmer Bradley – The Mists of Avalon
• Terry Brooks – The Sword of Shannara
• Orson Scott Card – Enchantment
• C. J. Cherryh – Fortress in the Eye of Time
• Stephen R. Donaldson – Lord Foul’s Bane
• Lord Dunsany – Tales of Three Hemispheres
• David Eddings – The Belgariad series
• Raymond Feist – Shadow of a Dark Queen
• Diana Gabaldon – Dragonfly in Amber
• Terry Goodkind – Wizard’s First Rule
• Barbara Hambly – Dragonsbane
• Robin Hobb – Assassin’s Apprentice
• Brian Jacques – Redwall
• Robert Jordan – The Eye of the World
• Katharine Kerr – Daggerspell
• Mercedes Lackey – Winds of Fate
• Ursula K. LeGuin – The Wizard of Earthsea
• George R.R. Martin – A Game of Thrones
• Anne McCaffrey – Dragonflight
• Dennis L. McKiernan – Into the Forge
• Robin McKinley – The Blue Sword
• L.E. Modesitt – The Soprano Sorceress
• Garth Nix – Sabriel
• Mervyn Peake – Titus Groan
• Tamora Pierce – Alanna: The First Adventure
• Terry Pratchett – Mort
• Phillip Pullman – The Golden Compass
• R.A. Salvatore – The Sword of Bedwyr
• Elizabeth Ann Scarborough – The Godmother
• Mary Stewart – The Crystal Cave
• Judith Tarr – White Mare’s Daughter
• J.R.R. Tolkien – The Lord of the Rings
• Megan Whalen Turner - The Thief
• Harry Turtledove – Between the Rivers

(BT 1/03)

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