Space! Dragons! Space dragons (that’s a thing)! Welcome to the sci-fi and fantasy corner of Book Riot, where we discuss the best fantasy book series (and best fantasy books that standalone–yes, those do exist), YA sci-fi, science fiction books for kids, cozy sci-fi (also a thing!), and more. Grab your sword and hop in the spaceship: let’s get reading.
While a great deal of sci-fi involves gloom, doom, and cynicism about humanity’s fate, there are bright spots of optimism. Meet solarpunk.
With daring adventures, magic, and yes, also sword-fighting, these swashbuckling fantasy reads are page-turners you need to add to your TBR.
Hold on to your galactic blasters and gather up your space dragons — the finalists for the 56th annual Nebula Awards have been announced!
One reader on searching for books with Disney style stories where brown people get to exist in made-up worlds without dealing with racism.
Grab your TBR list, and get ready to do some preordering or put these 2021 SFF books by Black authors on your library holds list, including Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon.
Swords, spaceships, and perhaps a little smooching: these sci-fi and fantasy reads come with a nice side of romance, including The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk.
Seeking the strange and unusual? Look to these structurally unconventional speculative fiction novels that diverge from the familiar, including The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins.
Build a fantasy world and find a romantic fantasy series to get lost in, from dark and sensual to hilarious and quirky to charming and sweet.
Romantic fantasy books have the best of both worlds. Here's a list of 8 great fantasy books with a dash of romance to make your heart swoon.
If you, like this reader, find truly dark stories as cathartic as they are compelling, check out some of the darkest 2021 SFF books, including A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson.