What are some of your favorite, must-read sci-fi and fantasy novels that transported you to other worlds? I want to get lost in a story and world.

  • RobBanks@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    I’ve been really enjoying The Wayfarer series by Becky Chambers. A little on the lighter side, but great world building imo

    • Turbofish@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      I’ll second that. Firefly meets mass effect minus all that distracting gun fighting mularkey. World building and character development all the way. A solidly enjoyable read.

  • bonegakrejg@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    The Gentlemen Bastards series has a very cool world and fun characters.

    The Expanse for scifi.

    • 1019throw@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Did you watch the show? I just finished and now want to start the books from the beginning so I can get the full series, but it’s going to be a very long read.

  • dakota@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Of course Dune is a true classic that should be read by everybody, but on the more obscure side of things, I found the best immersion experience with Ian McDonald’s Luna trilogy. A true masterpiece in my opinion.

  • 73ʞk13@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Disclaimer: I’m a huge fan of multipart series. My current favourites are:

    Fantasy: “The Realm of the Elderlings” by Robin Hobb

    SF: “Manifold” Trilogy by Stephen Baxter

    Both works are epic beyond measure, full of incredible ideas, and a joy to read (at least for me that is).

  • ChaseGlitter@waveform.socialEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    In the classic fantasy category, you’re probably already familiar with Diana Wynne Jones and Terry Pratchett, but if not, both are good for escaping reality. Jones has a fairly consistent style, so pick anything by her. Pratchett varies a little depending on the genre he’s satirizing, so YMMV on specific books, but I think he offers something for any fantasy fan. Don’t worry too much about reading the books in sequence for either Jones or Pratchett, especially Pratchett. For sci fi, William Gibson is required reading if you like cyberpunk and don’t mind weak female characters, and I find his prose absorbing. Don’t worry about sequence for his stuff, either, backstory is not a major component in most of his books.

    For more recent stuff, Kate Elliott’s Court of Fives books are absolutely riveting. I wouldn’t call them pure escapism from an emotional standpoint, since there’s a lot of social realism (particularly in the areas of racism, sexism, and class divisions), but the world-building is second to none, and good triumphs over evil most of the time.