May SFFKIT: Science Fantasy

Back in the day, there was a pretty clear boundary between science fiction and fantasy. Today, not so much. although even back in the 80s and 90s there were exceptions where sci fi and fantasy mixed. Think of Dragon Riders of Pern, Dune, Star Wars books and movies. Even Star Trek wandered into fantasy now and again.

So, here are some ideas for additional books and series:



And don't forget Harry Potter and Terry Pratchett's books.

Here's a list to help: https://www.librarything.com/tag/science%20fantasy

The Scar by China Miéville has been sitting on my virtual TBR shelf for several years. Maybe now is its chance to shine.

I'm planning on The Clan Corporate by Charles Stross, and Witch of the Federation by Michael Anderle.

I probably should have waited to read the latest Saga by Brian Vaughan, which would be perfect here, but I didn't want to wait so I didn't :) I have Max Gladstone's Three Parts Dead though, which comes up on some lists for science fantasy, so that's the tentative plan.

I’ve had The Rook in both audio and print on hand for years! I had gotten the audio on the recommendation of a friend/audiobook blogger who cited it as one of his favorite audiobooks of all time and; I received a print copy as a surprise gift from a Litsy Goes Postal member who thought I would like it. Well, my current audiobook was a fail— so I started The Rook last night (narrated by Susan Duerden) and I’m hooked! I have to admit though, that I’m not entirely clear how it fits this prompt. I’m hoping things become more clear as the story unfolds.

I’m also going to be re-reading The Saga GNs (by Brian K. Vaughn & Fiona Staples)— trade volumes 1-9 and then finishing up with the most recent tenth volume. For those who don’t know, this is an amazing space opera that left its fans in tears when they announced a hiatus a few years ago. The tenth volume had been long awaited! The only thing I might warn the uninitiated is that it’s not for those who are triggered by, or who are unhappy by explicit sexual depictions.

If I have time, I might tackle The City & The City (by China Miéville either now or when we do award winners. I had trouble getting into it a couple years ago and set it aside. If it doesn’t get read this year though, I’ll be donating it one of the Little Free Libraries. It’s taken up shelf space here for too long.

Looking around the internet, I found a few that look intriguing.

Jane Yolen's Cards of Grief.
Light from uncommon stars by Ryka Aoki maybe.
Or Bone dance by Emma Bull

>6 markon: I LOVED Light From Uncommon Stars.

I am thinking maybe A Wrinkle in Time would fit? I have been planning a reread for ages.

I'm hoping to finally get around to the second book in Jemison's Broken Earth series, Obelisk Gate.

I plan to continue with the second book of His Dark Materials, The Subtle Knife. I think it is quite a good fit because science is a big part of the story, and it is a fantastical kind of science.

>6 markon:
Big fan of Bone dance. And agree it does fit the theme.

I might save Darkland by Liz Williams for this challenge. It seems like it might be a good fit.

>8 JayneCM: Definitely fits.

I finished listening to The Rook (The Checquy Files #1; by Daniel O'Malley; narrated by Susan Duerden) last night and I loved it! Myfanwy Thomas blinks herself awake, standing in the middle of a parking lot with a number of dead people around her. She has no idea what has happened and things get curiouser and curiouser as she finds envelopes addressed to herself inside her coat pockets. As Myfanwy negotiates her "new" life as a a sort of über-clerk in a British defense ministry that deals with the supernatural, it becomes clear that not only must she figure out the course of her daily life, but he needs to literally find herself and resolve the mystery as to who has set her up and whatever for! I wouldn't say this is the tightest of plots-- lots of things that didn't serve the story; but nonetheless, absolutely fun and, I wish I had dived in all those years ago! The audiobook narrator is sort of deadpan in the straight narrative parts; but she did pull out character voices without sounding ridiculous. I've dnloaded the next book in the series, Stilletto to start later this week.

The only thing though, I'm not so sure it fits the category of "Science Fantasy"? It felt more like "Urban Fantasy" with all sorts of supernatural things & people happening & running around respectively. The "magical" elements are kept hidden insofar as that is possible from the general public, so not part of the world-building at large and not really much science... But maybe I'm not understanding "Science Fantasy"? I'll pop in the Wiki regardless as the title is displayed un the Original Post :-)

>1 majkia: thanks for the list!

I have The Eyre Affair waiting to be read, maybe May's the charm? And I have several of the Roger Zelazny's not yet read on my shelves.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend CJ Cherryh's Morgaine books. And Nerilka's Story by Anne McCaffrey, which isn't all dragon riders stuff.

Starting my Saga re-read! I last read them in 2019 when the first volume appeared in the Litsy Goes Postal rotation.
These are definitely science fantasy, with the technological & fantastical aspects firmly embedded in everyday life of the characters and in every frame of the graphic novel :-)

Read and enjoyed Emma Bull's Bone dance: a science fantasy for technophiles. Good character development.

Is there a wiki?

I finished listening to Stiletto (The Checquy Files #2; by Daniel O'Malley; narrated by Moira Quirk last night. Two rival occult organizations seek peace and unification; but a splinter cell from one group is determined to make sure it never happens. Each group is comprised of members who have "supernatural" abilities: The Grafters are an ancient organization who have developed advanced biomedical technology while The Checquy are those whose abilities are natural-born. Centuries of adversity based on existential threat have congealed into deep hatred and misunderstandings on both sides.
This title is more science fantasy than its predecessor in the series, The Rook as The Grafters scientific endeavors define who they are and, we see the evidence of their knowledge and skill. And yet, I would still consider this more urban fantasy than not as the the lives of both the Grafters and The Checquy are only a part of the wider world, regardless of how much time we spend immersed in theirs. Still, fun if a little lacking in editorial oversight. There is much that doesn't advance the plot which bogs down the pace a bit and; the author didn't wrap up one plot line in the end. Moira Quirk, the audiobook narrator is a more lively voice than Susan Duerden (from the first book) though a few of her voice characterizations sound too similar and, a couple have a nasal twang that's startles. Nonetheless, looking forward to Blitz, the third book in the series which came out last October. It's set during WWII and does not appear to be connected to these first two books-- so I might wait until this Fall before picking it up :-)

I'm reading Witch of the Federation by Michael Anderle which isn't at all what I expected. It is quite political, for one thing, in a good way. Pointing out how limited educational opportunities are for poor people and how the wealthy can siphon the money and opportunities for their own children. Also, the magic, in a science fiction story, is ... limited.

A planet and aliens can use magic, but it can't really work on Earth, or at least not easily. So that's interesting.

We'll see how well the rest of the book holds up, but at the moment I'm enjoying it despite it being mostly about teenagers. The angst is, at the moment, definitely limited.

Just finished trail of Lightning, a post-apocalyptic story of the Diné nation where gods and monsters have risen on the rez, after a flood has destroyed most of the planet.
So science fiction in so far as it is set in a future where science is still in use but in limited capacity, and fantasy because of the dieties and the magic powers of the characters? Maybe, I don’t know.
Let us see if something more appropriate turns up.

>20 amberwitch: That certainly fits.

I decided to go with Roger Zelazny and did a reread of Nine Princes in Amber and a first read of The Guns of Avalon.

June thread is up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/350856

>23 antqueen: thank you!

I finished reading the Saga series (trade volumes one through ten, collecting issues one to sixty; by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples) today! This is a space opera set in a universe where the Landfallen are at war with the inhabitants of its orbiting moon, Wreath. With allies and proxies extending the war across the universe, one Landfallen soldier and one Wreather fall in love and have a daughter. Considered an affront to decency and a threat to the martial way of life, the family is pursued by parties on both sides… Spells are cast, high tech weapons are discharged, interplanetary travel, aliens and a Lying Cat race across the panels in glorious color, palpable emotion and plenty of action; but just a warning that there are explicit depictions of sex, violence, and profanity.

I've had to DNF two books for this months challenge:
Darkland was too claustrofobic
Keeping it real was just too badly written

On the other hand, I read Legends and Lattes, which is a high fantasy/steampunk mix, in much the same way many of Terry Pratchetts Ankh-Morpork stories are steampunk.

I listened to Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone. Interesting concept, though it didn't catch me as much as I thought it might, maybe just because I didn't have as much good audiobook time as I usually do so I had to stop when I otherwise wouldn't have. I'll try the next one at some point.

Thanks to everyone for reading science fantasy!