Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Andy wrote: "Shannon wrote: "I might read "The Mists of Avalon" again. It's been such a long time since I've read it. It will be almost like reading it for the first time."

I just reread that a few months ago...."

I first read Mists of Avalon when I was 14 and LOVED it!! I reread it a few years ago and still do. Fantastic novel!

We've been watching The Man in the High Castle, so I read that. The series is different.

Andy wrote: "Too many recommendations to include here, so I'll just suggest an author for those who don't normally read fantasy and want an easy introduction: Guy Gavriel Kay. His fiction is incr..."

Great recommendation! I always forget that Guy Gavriel Kay's work is fantasy because it correlates so well with real historical events. I've read A Song for Arbonne and The Lions of Al-Rassan and enjoyed them both.

Laura wrote: "Book Riot wrote: "Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the twelfth Read Harder task." On my to read list include Outlander and Six of Crows. Have decided on Ready Player..."

I loved Ready Player One! Definitely more of a sci-fi, but something to keep on your list either way.

I read House of Blades by Will Wight, a new author for me. I really liked the premise - what if you're NOT the chosen one, but just a guy? Can you still save the world?

Would Octavia Butler's Fledgling count? Vampires are fantasy, right?

Ashley wrote: "Would Octavia Butler's Fledgling count? Vampires are fantasy, right?"

Definitely! I would be concerned if they were categorized any other way.

finished by Jodi Lynn Anderson- A re-take on Peter Pan

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was thinking about Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch for this challenge. Is that "fantasy"?

Shannon wrote: "I was thinking about Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch for this challenge. Is that "fantasy"?"

Definitely! Humorous too. Good pick.

Tara wrote: "Felicity wrote: "Definitely reading the Obelisk Gate for this - I loved the Fifth Season so much!"

That was my plan too! I read the Fifth Season for the 2016 challenge and ended up loving it"

Just read that for my sci-fi book club! We loved it!

Would "Mort(e)" by Robert Repino be considered fantasy rather than science fiction? I think it MIGHT be, since science fiction needs to be remotely probable if we just had the right technology, and this novel involves talking cats. https://www.amazon.com/Morte-War-Name...

Thoughts on if Bone Gap would satisfy this? It struck me as more magical realism (until the very end, which was certainly more fantasy). Where is the line!?

I read Kindred, by Octavia Butler.

What do you think about Kindred? Do you think it qualifies as fantasy or just science fiction/historical fiction?

Viv wrote: "I read The Night Circus - pure, unadulterated escapism! Lovely :-)"

One of my very favorites!!!

Angela wrote: "What do you think about Kindred? Do you think it qualifies as fantasy or just science fiction/historical fiction?"

I think it's classified as all of them.

Would Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman be allowed for this category? I really want to fit it in to the challenge somehow.

Jill wrote: "Would Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman be allowed for this category? I really want to fit it in to the challenge somehow."

Yes it's definitely fantasy.

Finally read A Wrinkle in Time after a friend of mine was getting very excited about the film in the works.

I have a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard that I've had around for a few years. I think that should work!

Bonnie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "What about more Gaiman, if you liked Anansi Boys? There's American Gods, which is about Shadow from Anansi Boys, and the Ocean at the End of the Lane.

My son, the Murakami fan, re..."

Does mythology count as fantasy? I am thinking about Gaiman's Norse Mythology. Thanks.

RJ wrote: "Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology"

Thanks! I was wondering about this one. I wasn't sure that Mythology counted as Fantasy.

I went with Who Fears Death. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy, but I heard good things about this and was legitimately interested to read it. Alas, I found myself just slogging through it and it didn't do much to change my mind about the genre. Full review here.

I read A Wrinkle in Time. My husband bought it for our daughter this year, and I'd never read it before. I was underwhelmed overall, but I can see the allure of it if you read it as a child.

Are Fantasy and Science Fiction the same category? I'm about to begin The Handmaid's Tale, and I'm not sure whether this book counts for this task. Opinions?

Tania wrote: "Are Fantasy and Science Fiction the same category? I'm about to begin The Handmaid's Tale, and I'm not sure whether this book counts for this task. Opinions?"

They're related, but not the same. This site gives a pretty good explanation: "Isaac Asimov, once asked to explain the difference between science fiction and fantasy, replied that science fiction, given its grounding in science, is possible; fantasy, which has no grounding in reality, is not." The Handmaid's Tale is based on things that have happened at some point in time, so it would be on the sci-fi side.

Tania wrote: "Are Fantasy and Science Fiction the same category? I'm about to begin The Handmaid's Tale, and I'm not sure whether this book counts for this task. Opinions?"

No, but they are sometimes shelved together because they are both treated with disrespect by "proper" literature.

I believe fantasy has some basis in magic and the paranormal.

Science fiction has to have some grounding in science.

I see lots of love for Naomi Novik's Uprooted here, so I wanted to add a plug for her 9-book Temeraire series, which starts with His Majesty's Dragon.

I don't tend to go for fantasy, but these books are an alternative Napoleonic era where, in addition to the Navy and Army, there is the Aerial Corps, who are soldiers and their sentient fighting dragons. If Jane Austen followed the soldiers into war and threw in some very political dragons for good measure, this is what you'd get. I love them!

I agree, girl! I love the Temeraire series ... they remind me a lot of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series ... except with dragons!

Kirsten *Make Margaret Atwood Fiction Again!" wrote: "I agree, girl! I love the Temeraire series ... they remind me a lot of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series ... except with dragons!"

They're so fun! I just finished book 5 and am chomping at the bit to get book 6.

Tania wrote: "Are Fantasy and Science Fiction the same category? I'm about to begin The Handmaid's Tale, and I'm not sure whether this book counts for this task. Opinions?"

Handmaid's Tale is more science fiction.

Kirsten *Make Margaret Atwood Fiction Again!" wrote: No, but they are sometimes shelved together because they are both treated with disrespect by "proper" literature.

I believe fantasy has some basis in magic and the paranormal.

Science fiction has to have some grounding in science.

I agree with these distinctions, which has me wondering about The Traitor Baru Cormorant. It's been a selection for two different SF/F book clubs I belong to, but it doesn't really fit either category. It's been compared to A Game of Thrones, but instead of dragons and dire wolves and such, it has accountants and navies. It just doesn't seem all that fantastic to me.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. Or her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. 😍

I'm going to read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (finally)

Lincoln in the Bardo worked for this and was astonishing.

This is probably my most read genre. I choseThe Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison. It's part of a series, which I enjoyed for a while.

Anyone have recommendations for standalone fantasy novels that are adult-oriented (i.e., not YA), not too heavy on the romance (minor romantic subplots okay), and might appeal to someone who isn't all that into fantasy as a genre?

What genres do you like?

Sarah wrote: "Anyone have recommendations for stand alone fantasy novels that are adult-oriented (i.e., not YA), not too heavy on the romance (minor romantic subplots okay), and might appeal to someone who isn't..."

Depends what kind of fantasy. Do you want elves, magic, vampires, etc... there are many varieties.

http://bestfantasybooks.com/best-stan...

Chinook wrote: "What genres do you like?"

I read pretty broadly in terms of genres, but tend to stay away from fantasy, science fiction, and romance. I gravitate more toward contemporary literary fiction, historical fiction, and memoirs, but also read mystery/thriller, horror, and chick lit when the mood strikes.

That's too bad. I encourage people not to put global bans on science fiction or fantasy, as there are so many subgenres. I love historical fiction and mysteries too, but I read nearly anything these days (except anything written by a Fox News alumnus).

One fantasy book I really liked - and it is a standalone - is Among Others by Jo Walton

Kirsten *Make Margaret Atwood Fiction Again!" wrote: "That's too bad. I encourage people not to put global bans on science fiction or fantasy, as there are so many subgenres. I love historical fiction and mysteries too, but I read nearly anything thes..."

Oh, I wouldn't call it a ban by any means. I still try out books from those genres from time to time, but I just tend not to be attracted to them (and thus read them a lot less). I think great books can be found across genres. I just haven't found much in the fantasy genre that has really clicked for me.

That's good! So many people will say they REFUSE to read science fiction, fantasy, or other genre fiction. Nowadays, there are so many books - some great ones - in those genres.

Oooh! I thought of one if you like literary fiction: The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro.

It's historical fiction set after the Romans have left... the fantasy is there but not overbearing... just sort of in the air. It's a beautiful story about memory and a marriage. I absolutely loved it!

Here's a link to an interview with the author on NPR: http://www.npr.org/2015/02/28/3895303...

Kirsten *Make Margaret Atwood Fiction Again!" wrote: "That's good! So many people will say they REFUSE to read science fiction, fantasy, or other genre fiction. Nowadays, there are so many books - some great ones - in those genres.

Oooh! I thought of..."

A few of my favorite books are from genres I don't as a general rule, enjoy so I definitely don't believe in restricting my reading that way. I was just trying to narrow my reading preferences down a bit for the commenter before you. I've been wanting read something more by Kazuo Ishiguro, so I'll have to look into that one.

Magic realism is a fantasy sub genre that probably matches well with your preference for literary fiction. Gas lamp fantasy would be a good choice for the historical fiction element.

Lincoln in the Bardo is great if you like litfic. Here is my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

You might also want to look into Underground Airlines. I liked it less, but its still good, and speculative fiction should count. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I really want to listen to that audiobook. I understand they set a record for the amount of people narrating!

From Wired:
https://www.wired.com/2017/02/george-...

Kirsten, I recommend doing audio and print together. The book is very nonlinear and there are footnotes. I loved the audio but found it hard to follow in certain parts without the print to anchor it. The book is wonderful.

Chinook wrote: "Magic realism is a fantasy sub genre that probably matches well with your preference for literary fiction. Gas lamp fantasy would be a good choice for the historical fiction element."

Great advice!