Science Fiction and Fantasy Must Reads

If you love science fiction or fantasy novels, these should be on your list.

Related Lists of Note:
Best Alternate H*story [asterisk is here so this list isn't misclassified]
Best Dystopian and Post Apocalyptic Fiction
Best Epic Fantasy
Best Fantasy of the 21st Century
Best Science Fiction
Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Best Forgotten Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Best Science Fiction Fantasy Books
Best Space Opera
Best Urban Fantasy

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1	The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.54 avg rating — 720,206 ratings score: 75,887, and 768 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Dune (Dune #1) by Frank Herbert 4.29 avg rating — 1,585,735 ratings score: 55,064, and 566 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Ender’s Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card 4.31 avg rating — 1,456,239 ratings score: 50,937, and 522 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.30 avg rating — 4,374,005 ratings score: 49,795, and 518 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Harry Potter Series Box Set (Harry Potter, #1-7) by J.K. Rowling 4.73 avg rating — 300,486 ratings score: 43,995, and 451 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins 4.35 avg rating — 9,674,178 ratings score: 39,288, and 406 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	1984 by George Orwell 4.20 avg rating — 5,286,961 ratings score: 39,119, and 409 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin 4.45 avg rating — 2,689,071 ratings score: 35,681, and 371 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1) by Douglas Adams 4.22 avg rating — 1,981,595 ratings score: 34,798, and 368 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss (Goodreads Author) 4.52 avg rating — 1,059,237 ratings score: 34,015, and 351 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 3.97 avg rating — 2,748,548 ratings score: 26,435, and 280 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 3.88 avg rating — 1,262,058 ratings score: 25,186, and 269 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 982,260 ratings score: 24,009, and 256 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1) by C.S. Lewis 4.24 avg rating — 3,082,811 ratings score: 23,826, and 255 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1) by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author) 4.67 avg rating — 637,475 ratings score: 19,860, and 208 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) by Philip Pullman 4.03 avg rating — 1,599,924 ratings score: 19,212, and 207 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Viciously Yours (Fae Kings of Eden, #1) by Jamie Applegate Hunter (Goodreads Author) 3.60 avg rating — 41,579 ratings score: 17,859, and 189 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	I, Robot (Robot, #0.1) by Isaac Asimov 4.21 avg rating — 372,295 ratings score: 17,237, and 187 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1) by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author) 4.49 avg rating — 917,470 ratings score: 16,782, and 178 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, #1) by Robert Jordan 4.19 avg rating — 580,305 ratings score: 16,574, and 175 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Foundation (Foundation, #1) by Isaac Asimov 4.17 avg rating — 584,951 ratings score: 15,974, and 174 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1) by Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 372,844 ratings score: 15,420, and 165 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Giver (The Giver, #1) by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 2,751,536 ratings score: 15,345, and 169 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Princess Bride by William Goldman 4.27 avg rating — 939,769 ratings score: 15,214, and 166 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling 4.47 avg rating — 11,148,125 ratings score: 15,032, and 164 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 2,349,332 ratings score: 14,453, and 158 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett 4.25 avg rating — 814,051 ratings score: 14,323, and 155 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.97 avg rating — 1,267,902 ratings score: 13,946, and 155 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2) by Patrick Rothfuss (Goodreads Author) 4.55 avg rating — 608,620 ratings score: 13,802, and 147 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick 4.09 avg rating — 500,168 ratings score: 13,546, and 148 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Time Machine by H.G. Wells 3.89 avg rating — 556,007 ratings score: 13,393, and 151 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein 4.01 avg rating — 242,984 ratings score: 13,004, and 142 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein 3.92 avg rating — 324,256 ratings score: 12,947, and 141 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1) by Scott Lynch (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 330,921 ratings score: 12,418, and 137 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Stand by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 819,546 ratings score: 12,378, and 136 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 3.89 avg rating — 1,788,724 ratings score: 12,253, and 139 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Lies of Vampires and Slayers (Magic on Main Street, #1) by K.M. Shea (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 8,496 ratings score: 12,132, and 128 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle #1) by Christopher Paolini (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 1,911,535 ratings score: 11,810, and 130 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	A Dead and Stormy Night (Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries, #1) by Steffanie Holmes 3.91 avg rating — 12,793 ratings score: 11,803, and 125 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Heretical Fishing (Heretical Fishing, #1) by Haylock Jobson 4.26 avg rating — 7,356 ratings score: 11,629, and 123 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury 4.16 avg rating — 281,302 ratings score: 11,628, and 129 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park, #1) by Michael Crichton 4.13 avg rating — 1,040,706 ratings score: 11,510, and 128 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Host (The Host, #1) by Stephenie Meyer 3.86 avg rating — 1,042,491 ratings score: 10,970, and 120 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy, #1) by Robin Hobb (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 384,128 ratings score: 10,700, and 118 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1) by Terry Pratchett 4.34 avg rating — 230,810 ratings score: 10,475, and 113 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1) by John Scalzi (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 218,472 ratings score: 10,437, and 114 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.10 avg rating — 212,530 ratings score: 10,382, and 118 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1) by Ernest Cline (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 1,275,330 ratings score: 10,232, and 111 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern, #1) by Anne McCaffrey 4.08 avg rating — 142,624 ratings score: 10,220, and 115 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Being a Witch, and Other Things I Didn't Ask For by Sara Pascoe (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 26,513 ratings score: 9,706, and 102 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 4.33 avg rating — 2,400,260 ratings score: 9,663, and 107 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells 3.83 avg rating — 343,140 ratings score: 9,541, and 109 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Accidental Mystic (Midlife Melody, #1) by Phoebe Ravencraft 4.20 avg rating — 1,890 ratings score: 9,446, and 99 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	A Cursed Son (Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom, #1) by Day Leitao (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3,169 ratings score: 9,314, and 98 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 562,117 ratings score: 9,282, and 103 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) by Dan Simmons 4.27 avg rating — 289,356 ratings score: 9,228, and 105 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 2,138,704 ratings score: 9,080, and 99 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein 4.15 avg rating — 137,429 ratings score: 9,031, and 101 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Salvager by Scott Moon (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 1,684 ratings score: 9,016, and 95 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1) by Stephenie Meyer 3.67 avg rating — 7,169,789 ratings score: 8,980, and 98 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Polymorph by Max Nowaz (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 14,979 ratings score: 8,977, and 95 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	I'm Glad You're Dead: Preternatural Chronicles Book 1 by Hunter Blain (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 2,562 ratings score: 8,946, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 294,645 ratings score: 8,870, and 98 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Magical Midlife Awakening (Leveling Up, #9) by K.F. Breene (Goodreads Author) 4.63 avg rating — 10,981 ratings score: 8,777, and 92 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	2001: A Space Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #1) by Arthur C. Clarke 4.18 avg rating — 332,034 ratings score: 8,764, and 102 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Art of Avoiding Your Werewolf (Wildwood, #1) by Lola Glass (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 7,859 ratings score: 8,444, and 89 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1-5) by Douglas Adams 4.38 avg rating — 335,659 ratings score: 8,440, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Ringworld (Ringworld #1) by Larry Niven 3.94 avg rating — 127,574 ratings score: 8,407, and 95 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Watchmen by Alan Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 588,635 ratings score: 8,372, and 95 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	The Martian by Andy Weir (Goodreads Author) 4.42 avg rating — 1,251,517 ratings score: 8,190, and 94 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Three Witches and the Master by Max Nowaz (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 18,032 ratings score: 8,171, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Lucky Son of a Gun (The Demon Accords, #19) by John Conroe (Goodreads Author) 4.46 avg rating — 2,310 ratings score: 8,164, and 86 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Art of Avoiding Your Alpha (Wildwood, #2) by Lola Glass (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 5,270 ratings score: 8,125, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	The Chronicles of Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia, #1-7) by C.S. Lewis 4.28 avg rating — 697,705 ratings score: 8,100, and 92 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 28,255 ratings score: 8,053, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	House of Vampires and Flame (Shades of Ruin and Magic #1) by Meg Xuemei X (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 5,019 ratings score: 7,955, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #2) by Dan Simmons 4.24 avg rating — 143,611 ratings score: 7,897, and 89 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Code Yellow in Gretna Green (Midlife Recorder, #5) by Linzi Day (Goodreads Author) 4.63 avg rating — 3,524 ratings score: 7,868, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Marked by Magic (Tracking Trouble #1) by Lindsay Buroker (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 4,869 ratings score: 7,799, and 82 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	The Mercy of Gods (The Captive's War, #1) by James S.A. Corey (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 31,536 ratings score: 7,494, and 79 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.26 avg rating — 145,299 ratings score: 7,458, and 86 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Magician: Apprentice (The Riftwar Saga, #1) by Raymond E. Feist 4.17 avg rating — 101,241 ratings score: 7,363, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.01 avg rating — 352,130 ratings score: 7,352, and 89 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Get Rich or Get Lucky by Max Nowaz (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 20,745 ratings score: 7,173, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1) by Eoin Colfer 3.86 avg rating — 559,574 ratings score: 7,100, and 80 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.10 avg rating — 1,459,565 ratings score: 6,896, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Sheever's Journal, Diary of a Poison Master by K. Ritz (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 27,825 ratings score: 6,701, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Three Witches and The Master by Max Nowaz (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 18,032 ratings score: 6,649, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	I Am Legend by Richard Matheson 4.05 avg rating — 148,922 ratings score: 6,637, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 653,608 ratings score: 6,475, and 76 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	The Shining (The Shining, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 1,662,301 ratings score: 6,310, and 71 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	The Road by Cormac McCarthy really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,010,453 ratings score: 6,263, and 71 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1) by Becky Chambers (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 177,851 ratings score: 6,162, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Speaker for the Dead (Ender's Saga, #2) by Orson Scott Card 4.11 avg rating — 268,189 ratings score: 6,143, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Inara (Godfrey Davis, #3) by A.R. Merrydew (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 6,198 ratings score: 6,138, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1) by Anne Rice 4.02 avg rating — 637,445 ratings score: 6,093, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Inkheart (Inkworld, #1) by Cornelia Funke (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 439,911 ratings score: 5,923, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	His Dark Materials (His Dark Materials #1-3) by Philip Pullman 4.29 avg rating — 167,137 ratings score: 5,896, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.40 avg rating — 3,075,642 ratings score: 5,822, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.15 avg rating — 430,719 ratings score: 5,704, and 65 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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3,910 books · 4,917 voters · list created August 3rd, 2009 by Assirahc (votes) .

Tags: best, fantasy, magic, science-fiction, shapeshifter, vampire, werewolf

426 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (4917)

Assirahc 715 books
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Kat 28 books
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Eileen 561 books
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Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-43 of 43 (43 new)

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newest »

message 1: by Michaelbrent (new)

Nov 03, 2009 10:51AM

For consideration on this list:

Billy: Messenger of Powers by Michaelbrent Collings (check it out at www.whoisbillyjones.com)

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message 2: by Emily (new)

Dec 27, 2009 07:28AM

Why are The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns on here? There are neither Science Fiction nor Fantasy. Can someone remove them?

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message 3: by Emily (new)

Dec 27, 2009 07:34AM

I also hate when people put Science Fiction and Fantasy together. They are clearly very different things.

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message 4: by Doctruthyness (new)

Jul 05, 2010 10:01PM

Dude, your book is not a 'must read.' It's not even a 'maybe read.'

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message 5: by Victoria (new)

Jul 14, 2010 11:44AM

Wish I could have retracted my vote (for a single Pullman vs the series).

Roger Zelazny, the Amber Chronicles The Great Book of Amber
Isaac Asimov, the Foundation seriesThe Foundation Trilogy

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message 6: by Victoria (new)

Jul 14, 2010 11:45AM

Emily wrote: "Why are The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns on here? There are neither Science Fiction nor Fantasy. Can someone remove them?"

Thoroughly agree!

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message 7: by Victoria (last edited Jul 14, 2010 11:49AM) (new)

Jul 14, 2010 11:49AM

Oh, well if vampires are included then one must read Anne Rice, who popularized the romance and sensuality of vampires:

The Vampire Chronicles Interview With the Vampire; The Vampire Lestat; The Queen of the Damned

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message 8: by Victoria (new)

Jul 14, 2010 11:50AM

Doctruthyness wrote: "Dude, your book is not a 'must read.' It's not even a 'maybe read.'"

Just wondering who "Dude, your book" is!

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message 9: by Angel (last edited Nov 02, 2010 08:54PM) (new)

Nov 02, 2010 08:54PM

And could someone remove the duplicate editions? I don't think we need to list titles like Brave New World more than once. And yes, why are books like The Kite Runner on this list, which clearly are not science fiction nor fantasy?

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message 10: by Sue (new)

Dec 07, 2010 02:21PM

How is Midnight Sun number 33?

It's not a book, it is, at best, an unfinished manuscript available on the internet that will probably never be published.

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message 11: by Ruby (new)

Sep 21, 2011 09:10PM

There are a great many books on this list that do not qualify as great or even good, they are merely new. Apparently a lot of people haven't read anything that was published before they entered high school.

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message 12: by 4l3x (last edited Aug 24, 2012 03:55AM) (new)

Aug 24, 2012 03:55AM

The Hunger Games before Dune? This list lost all it's credibility

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message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Sep 04, 2012 07:44PM

4l3x wrote: "The Hunger Games before Dune? This list lost all it's credibility"

the hunger games is much better

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message 14: by 4l3x (new)

Sep 04, 2012 10:30PM

Monique wrote: "4l3x wrote: "The Hunger Games before Dune? This list lost all it's credibility"

the hunger games is much better"

oh please... Have you even read Dune?

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message 15: by [deleted user] (new)

Sep 04, 2012 11:01PM

4l3x wrote: "Monique wrote: "4l3x wrote: "The Hunger Games before Dune? This list lost all it's credibility"

the hunger games is much better"

oh please... Have you even read Dune?"

have you even read the hunger games?

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message 16: by [deleted user] (new)

Sep 04, 2012 11:03PM

Monique wrote: "4l3x wrote: "Monique wrote: "4l3x wrote: "The Hunger Games before Dune? This list lost all it's credibility"

the hunger games is much better"

oh please... Have you even read Dune?"

have you even..."

and yes i have read it

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message 17: by Ruby (new)

Sep 04, 2012 11:33PM

Somebody's eatin' the crazy pills! The Hunger Games is young adult!! There's no way it could compare to the universe & history in the Dune series. Get a perspective.

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message 18: by 4l3x (last edited Sep 05, 2012 06:54AM) (new)

Sep 04, 2012 11:51PM

Monique wrote:
oh please... Have you even read Dune?"

have you even read the hunger games? "

I have. The whole series. (as you can see in my read books ;D) And while I enjoyed it in some extent (I find Katniss incredibly annoying and clueless) there is no way it should be before Dune in any list

Ruby wrote: "There's no way it could compare to the universe & history in the Dune series. Get a perspective. "
I see there is still hope out there

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message 19: by Scribble (new)

Sep 05, 2012 06:52AM

4l3x wrote: "The Hunger Games before Dune? This list lost all it's credibility"

LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE

and

+1

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message 20: by Karina (new)

Sep 11, 2012 04:31PM

Emily wrote: "I also hate when people put Science Fiction and Fantasy together. They are clearly very different things. "

YES! 1000X YES!

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message 21: by [deleted user] (new)

Sep 11, 2012 11:36PM

science fiction and fantasy can be good together

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message 22: by Ruby (new)

Sep 12, 2012 12:04AM

I agree. I love it when they are mixed in the same world! Or when the story seems like one and turns out to be the other.

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message 23: by [deleted user] (last edited Sep 12, 2012 04:57AM) (new)

Sep 12, 2012 04:57AM

i like fantasy and science fition i loved footprints of thunder and thunder of time there fantasy and science fiction

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message 24: by Nessarose (new)

Jan 24, 2013 12:49PM

It feels as though books that are part of series are really clogging the list up. Someone who's read a single series from start to finish will feel like they're a big man on campus after reading this list.

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message 25: by Danny (new)

Feb 16, 2015 10:16AM

Greegs & Ladders

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message 26: by Jonathan (new)

Jan 04, 2016 03:03PM

Science fiction AND fantasy in one list? Oh brother... Why don't you just mix children books with zombie books next for all the sense it makes? YAUGRL--yet another useless goodreads list.

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message 27: by Wolfgarr (new)

Jun 15, 2017 06:39PM

another list turned worthless due to everyone and his brother spaming every single book in a series.....When all you need is the first one.

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message 28: by Mitchell (new)

Aug 05, 2017 11:07AM

There are other better lists:

For recent science fiction take a look at Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century.

For popular fantasy take a look at The Most Popular Fantasy on Goodreads

For both these lists there are links in the list description to other good fantasy and science fiction lists.

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message 29: by Donna (new)

Aug 09, 2017 07:39PM

The system found and removed 4 duplicates.

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message 30: by Fatemeh (new)

Aug 14, 2017 10:12PM

برای کشف اقیانوس باید جرات ترک ساحل را داشت این دنیا دنیای تغییرات است نه تقدیر

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message 31: by Donna (new)

Aug 31, 2017 08:10PM

Greg wrote: "A new collection for consideration. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3..."
This is spam, and it violates Goodreads author conduct policy. I recommend you delete it. Otherwise I will flag it.

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message 32: by Donna (last edited Aug 31, 2017 08:36PM) (new)

Aug 31, 2017 08:22PM

As mixed lists go, this one is pretty good. I am seeing some genre issues though. Removed Beloved from p 5. Toni Morrison, science fiction and fantasy? The hell?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

On the line: where do we draw the line between fantasy and horror, folks? I am looking at some Stephen King titles, and Anne Rice. Dracula by Bram Stoker is clearly out of genre, and I'm removing it:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Love to hear some input about the others mentioned here. Some have a large number of votes, and I know that once a list is established, the first page becomes almost sacred. I don't want to touch anything that's liable to draw objections unless it's very clearly in the wrong place...

Removed from page 7, A Thousand Splendid Suns, out of genre:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Removed from page 8, A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

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message 33: by Mitchell (new)

Aug 31, 2017 08:41PM

So - I'm not a big fan of horror. But a lot of horror I would consider also fantasy. And I'm not the only one. Dracula for example, is shelved 7,950 as horror. But it is also shelved 3,360 as fantasy. As a librarian I do a lot of removing books from lists. But as far as I'm concerned vampires and werewolves are just about always fantasy - and sometimes horror and sometimes romance and sometimes very rarely science fiction.

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message 34: by Donna (new)

Aug 31, 2017 09:49PM

Mitchell wrote: "So - I'm not a big fan of horror. But a lot of horror I would consider also fantasy. And I'm not the only one. Dracula for example, is shelved 7,950 as horror. But it is also shelved 3..."
The difference in genre, as I understand it, is that horror is written to induce fear more than anything else. I did see that some people have incorrectly shelved Dracula, but it's also a very small percentage of readers overall. (Look at the numbers at the top of the shelf list and you'll see what I mean.)
However, I also realize--though I'm not a fan personally--that there are now a lot of stories involving paranormal and vampirical love. So that's where the line gets hazy, because we have a category that used to be entirely horror and now is not.
As I previously said, I"m not going to remove anything I'm not sure of. I feel confident about Dracula.

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message 35: by Donna (new)

Apr 21, 2018 12:45PM

The system found and removed 6 duplicates.

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message 36: by Radu (new)

Jul 19, 2018 01:39PM

Emily wrote: "I also hate when people put Science Fiction and Fantasy together. They are clearly very different things. "

I TOTALLY agree!

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message 37: by Ginny (new)

Dec 14, 2018 12:06AM

Horn-Horn by ADT McLellan - one of those few books that you will go from the last page immediately back to the first page. Like The Sixth Sense, reading it a second time is like reading it for the first time again. It's a completely different story once all of the twists are revealed.

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message 38: by Liz (new)

Oct 15, 2019 06:16PM

So...number 1777 is Black Beauty. Perhaps the person who added it meant a different Black Beauty? Either way, they tagged the kid's book. Perhaps it should be deleted...or we should add Old Yeller. ;)

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message 39: by Donna (new)

Oct 15, 2019 10:53PM

Liz wrote: "So...number 1777 is Black Beauty. Perhaps the person who added it meant a different Black Beauty? Either way, they tagged the kid's book. Perhaps it should be deleted...or we should add Old Yeller. ;)"

Good eyes. It's gone now.

The system found and removed 21 duplicates.

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message 40: by Amy (new)

Dec 23, 2019 05:38AM

The Ascendance Protocol: Endeavour by Chris Scott

Such a great book. I have both kindle and paperback versions!

The Ascendance Protocol: Endeavour

The Ascendance Protocol: Endeavour

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message 41: by Donna (new)

Dec 23, 2019 02:56PM

Amy wrote: "The Ascendance Protocol: Endeavour by Chris Scott

Such a great book. I have both kindle and paperback versions!

The Ascendance Protocol: Endeavour

[book:The Ascendance Protocol: ..."
If you want that title on the list and it isn't there yet, you have to enter it yourself using the tab at the top of the list.

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message 42: by Yaroslav (new)

Feb 04, 2020 03:01AM

Why Hunger Games are here?

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message 43: by Mitchell (new)

Nov 17, 2021 12:35PM

Mary wrote: "Why are there some books with less than 1K votes and hundreds of votes in the list? They should be deleted..what a joke.
Examples: The Outlands"

This list was setup without criteria that let's a librarian remove books with some impunity. You might appreciate Most Popular Science Fiction on Goodreads and the lists that it links to more.

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