SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

One of my friends and I are trying to do some reading together, despite having very different tastes in books, and it's my turn to pick something. She is not a fantasy reader and I did a really bad job of picking the first book we read together (The Only Harmless Great Thing was too weird and too dark). So I'm trying to find something that 1) I haven't read yet and 2) she might enjoy.

She likes the Lord of the Rings movies, so I'm thinking something in the high fantasy/epic fantasy realm, but nothing too dark or depressing. I want to avoid anything with really complicated world-building or that relies too much on familiarity with the genre. Something funny would be great. No rape/sexual assault, no slavery, no suicide/suicidality, and no torture please. Standalone is preferable to something that has to be read as part of a series.

I've been browsing my own TBR lists, but thought some recommendations could also be helpful! (Terry Pratchett is a last resort since I've read pretty much all of his books already.)

I don't know if you've read it or not but my non-SFF-reading sister-in-law read fantasy Uprooted and quite enjoyed it. I also managed to successfully introduce her to The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet if you're willing to go sci-fi.
Huntress is another fantasy possibility - epic quest, feel-good.
Or in another direction entirely, Tooth and Claw is a Jane Austen but with Dragons story. Depends on if she/you like re-writes of classics.
Uprooted, Tooth and Claw and Huntress are all standalone. Technically Huntress is a prequel for a series, but its written as standalone

Thanks, Cat. I've read most of those already, but Tooth and Claw looks excellent, and mentioning Uprooted reminded me that I haven't read Spinning Silver, and that might also work. I personally am a fan of re-written fairy tales and classics, but I'll have to check with her to see how she feels about them.

Kings of the Wyld was really good! It's funny and doesn't take itself seriously. It is part of a series but it's also a self contained read. The next book in the series features different characters in the same world. So they are connected but the 2nd book isn't a direct continuation of the first.

Anything by Terry Pratchett or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Hmmm what about Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. Or Court of Thorns and Roses. Or maybe Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Don’t rule out YA because some of them are brilliant fantasy novels.

Or there’s Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. There’s also Caraval by Stephanie Garber, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton and Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend.

If you can handle a bit of swearing and sex there’s The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French. It has all of your D&D characters in it. Think Sons of Anarchy where the bikers are half orcs and the hogs are actual pigs. I loved that one.

Oh and Red Sister by Mark Lawrence. No swearing and sex. It’s brilliant. Anything by Mark Lawrence actually.

If she does like retellings, what about something by T. Kingfisher? They're not only brilliant retellings, they're also short and funny, so it's not a huge undertaking. And most of them are standalone.

The Once and Future King is a retelling of the Arthur story and should work

Dragonflight

Kindred by Octavia Butler might be good for both of you

The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle

Oh we're doing light fantasy with a well known theme. Or high fantasy, which is a tad more serious.

I might suggest The Summoner series. It's light at the start, has the usual tropes etc. The downside is you always knows what's going to happen. The good guy wins totally, no matter what etc. There is no hurt or true loses.

If we're going a bit epic, I'd suggest the Riyria chronicles. It's basics of LOTR, but it's still a tad different. Worth it. And it's funny! At least some of the dialogs are :-) there is a dark world in this series, and it'll still bring a smile to your face.

But I have to admit, it's hard to recommend things like this, I mean fantasy books are great, but they do all share the same theme. I'd diverse a bit it I were you, maybe go for sometime like the Red Rising series, it's fantasy, sci-fi and epic at the same time.

^^ my thoughts :-)

Kaa wrote: "One of my friends and I are trying to do some reading together, despite having very different tastes in books, and it's my turn to pick something. She is not a fantasy reader and I did a really bad..."

What are her favorite books? There’s almost certainly a Fantasy equivalent.

You might try The River of Dancing Gods by Jack Chalker. It’s light epic Fantasy that explicitly states the rules of the Fantasy world at the start of the each chapter.

Thanks for all the suggestions! There's a lot of those that sound like good options.

@Trike: Good thought, she likes Westerns and The Clan of the Cave Bear (which I always thought was pretty much fantasy, but I that's beside the point).

If she likes Westerns she might like Spellslinger by Sebastian de Castell.

They are western inspired/themed (though it doesn’t show as much until the second book). They are YA so they aren’t too dark and definitely don’t have any of the things you mentioned (Rape, torture, etc.). And they are funny!

It is part of a quartet but they have all been released and (I don’t believe anyway) the first book doesn’t end on a massive cliffhanger.

De Castell wrote another series I loved called The Greatcoats (think Three Musketeers). Also funny but definitely darker. Both these books are action heavy.

Another possible Rec: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. Again it is YA that doesn’t feel like YA. World building is very simple. It’s a very character driven novel, and Gen is wonderful character to follow. Again part of a series but could be read as a stand-alone.

If she’s looking for something with more of a fairytale feel: The Bear and the Nightingale might be worth considering. Light on the world building. Not too dark. Maybe a happy medium for action between the other books I mentioned.

Maybe The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley? It's YA, but not typically so.

Maybe dip your toe in with some alt history or magical realism?

Among Others (coming of age story where magic may be real but may also be a way of coping with trauma)

The Golem and the Jinni is a bit hefty but is very pretty and a really interesting look at migration from "the old world."

The Keeper of Lost Things was one we had on a poll a little while ago that seemed like it would be sweet. It has some sad stuff in it, but it sounded sort of like a more magical "Amelie" type deal.

Similarly, Practical Magic, or Garden Spells might be a little more familiar in feel.

As a person who is not so much into fantasy, I can second The Golem and the Jinni.

Some of the other rec's are a little too disturbing, especially Kindred/Parentesco. (Which is otherwise a beautifully written book.)

While the other suggestions are all good, if westerns are her thing the first thing that popped to mind was part of the Frontier Magic series

The Six-Gun Tarot is a Fantasy Western.

The short story collection Mad Amos by Alan Dean Foster features the titular Old West prospector who rides a unicorn.

Territory by Emma Bull takes place in 1880s Tombstone, with magicians subbed in for cowboys and lawmen and whatnot.

The Bear and the Nightingale is the best fantasy I've read recently, set in the late middle ages in Russia with lots of Russian folklore. Top notch stuff.



Ursula K. Le Guin Earthsea books are sublime, and I can't believe nobody's suggested N.K. Jemisin. Great worldbuilding, writing and characters, although perhaps a bit much for someone new to the genre.



Robin Hobb's series, starting with Assassin's Apprentice are superb. My girlfriend has just got into those, and she isn't a fantasy reader.



And Charles de Lint and Neil Gaiman write amazing, accessible fantasy often set in the modern world.

No one has mentioned To Say Nothing of the Dog, which is hilarious and doesn't require much familiarity with the genre. It is probably the best of Connie Willis's comedies, but Bellwether and Inside Job are also good.

Also Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America -- this one is borderline since it is a little darker than the other books I've mentioned, because it's largely a war story. But it is hilarious and bittersweet and doesn't have complicated world building. (post-apocalyptic sf)

On Robin McKinley:
I haven't read The Blue Sword (already mentioned), but I have read The Hero and the Crown, set in the same world of Damar. The latter was a Newbery Winner.

Spindle's End is my favorite of hers, but it's slow-paced and meandering, so it's not as popular as some of McKinley's other books. You haven't said what kind of non-fantasy fiction she reads, but if she wants something more adventure-y I would go with the Damar books instead.

Wow, I will have plenty of books recs for many rounds of reading. There's quite a few that I've read already, but plenty that are on my TBR or completely new to me. Right now I am leaning toward The Thief or Garden Spells for the first pick. (Yes, I know, these would be very different places to start.)

@Beth: she reads a lot of Westerns. I think Western-inspired fantasy could be a good option, but also fantasy that has a similar story scope, with a lot of focus on characters and interactions.

she reads a lot of Westerns. I think Western-inspired fantasy could be a good option, but also fantasy that has a similar story scope, with a lot of focus on characters and interactions.

In that case definitely go with the Damar books for McKinley; Spindle's End is great, but it's much heavier on narration.

Also based on that, I might *not* recommend Earthsea -- maybe a bit too introspective? And someone recommended NK Jemisin upthread, but I would say her books are darker than what you're probably looking for.

edit: BTW Julian Comstock, which I mentioned already, is inspired by old-fashioned adventure stories; the main character is a big fan of them.

Kaa wrote: "Wow, I will have plenty of books recs for many rounds of reading. There's quite a few that I've read already, but plenty that are on my TBR or completely new to me. Right now I am leaning toward [b..."

Just a warning for torture in the sequel to the Thief

I think that’s book 2: The Queen’s Thief. The first one is pretty tame.

Edit: sorry! I was in the app and it cut out where you noted the sequel. Also I got the name of the book wrong: it’s The Queen of Attolia. Screwing up left and right today.

if we are doing a series Raymond Feist daughter of the empire series is fantasy and went down well with my sister who dislikes a lot of sci fi and fantasy. I recently gave the set to my 20 yr old grand daughter who is just starting to read fantasy and she loved it

I'd second The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle. Two of his other works, Tamsin and The Innkeeper's Song might also be good beginning reads.

I'd also second Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic and Le Guin's Earthsea novels.

Another possibility: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Long but beautifully written and engaging.

sorry Randy many people found Jonathan strange etc hard to get through, not good for a novice

Kateb, I think that depends on the prospective fantasy reader's normal reading. Anyone who on their own would read Jane Austen or Charles Dickens shouldn't have trouble with Clarke.

I had a book club going with friends, Jonathan Strange etc was recommended. We all enjoyed Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. We struggled with the tediousness of Clarke

I grant that many people enjoyed this book, the difference to me was that as a fantasy book it was a bit difficult for the newbies. I would start with something lighter

I would love to hear back from you, Kaa, with a report about what you tried and how it went!

I did end up picking The Thief, since it was already on my TBR. I've read a few chapters so far, and am enjoying it. Haven't heard yet what my friend thinks.

Re: Jonathan Strange: Based on the chapter of it that I've read, I'm sure there are plenty of non-fantasy readers who would like it a lot. However, I've read the first chapter several times and never gotten any further, so it didn't seem like an ideal pick for me in this situation. I may have to try the TV show, though, see if that helps!

Corinne wrote: "Kaa wrote: "... I may have to try the TV show, though, see if that helps!"

Yes!!!!! I was so melancholy for days, when it was over. I had to live without having that show to look forward to."

Wow, that is quite a recommendations! I am always looking for actually good fantasy shows, so thank you.

I tried that show and could not get into it though, so consider this a negative vote. I loved The Alienist though

I guess I will have to try both JS&MN and The Alienist, then. I don't like reading mysteries, but I enjoy mysteries and police procedurals on TV, so that might work.

I did actually prefer the book to the TV series, though for The Alienist

Hooray! The Thief was a complete success - my friend loved it and wants to read the rest of the series (and yes, I did warn her about the torture in book 2). She says she liked that it was more like historical fiction and less fantastical, which is helpful for picking future books.

Yay! A lot of readers actually like The Queen of Attolia more than book one, so I hope you both enjoy.