The 8 best fantasy and sci-fi writers you’re not reading

As a bibliophile who has traversed through the labyrinth of literature and emerged with a newfound appreciation for stories spun by the masterful minds, I must say that delving into the lives and works of these authors has been nothing short of an exhilarating journey. Each one of them brings a unique perspective to the realm of speculative fiction, birthed from their rich tapestry of experiences.

One of the most frustrating parts about the convergence of critical and popular opinion caused by the social media age is that some stellar creators get left by the wayside. This trend is most visible when it comes to literature, and since Winter Is Coming is dedicated to bringing you coverage of the world’s best science-fiction and fantasy stories, we thought it was about time to fill in some of the blind spots that very well might be showing up on your reading list.

Compiling our choices for this list, we recognized that it would be challenging, if not impossible, to highlight every underestimated author within these genres. A lifetime of work might only reveal a fraction of such talent. Thus, we aimed to create a list showcasing the most brilliant authors spanning the history, current scene, and upcoming talents of science fiction and fantasy. The main blunder one could commit while perusing this list — apart from refusing to set aside your current activities to reserve some of our suggested titles at your local library — is to assume these authors are obscure in the literary world. In fact, many have already earned stardom. It’s just possible that they haven’t yet had the opportunity to claim a spot on your nightstand. Whether they are renowned creators or promising newcomers, now is the time to alter your reading habits and explore each one.

N.K. Jemisin

In the course of her career, N.K. Jemisin has been honored with five Hugo Awards across various categories, ranging from novelettes to graphic novels. She’s contributed to The New York Times and produced numerous fantasy trilogies, as well as innovative interpretations of the genre. Notably, she was featured on Time’s yearly list of the 100 most influential individuals in 2021. Yet, a surprising number of people have yet to explore her literary works.

Jemisin skillfully explores complex, thought-provoking themes related to cultural discord and oppressive forces within dystopian worlds, giving her fantasy landscapes an authentic feel that encourages deep introspection about real-world issues of marginalization. Her ability to seamlessly blend escapism with insightful human analysis is truly remarkable.

Reading Jemisin’s work is a must for anyone looking to experience cultural commentary alongside stunning plot, character development, and narrative execution, all within the kinds of innovative fantasy settings longtime readers have come to expect from this master author. While you can’t really go wrong with any of her work, I still find myself recommending her debut novel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, and its ensuing Inheritance trilogy for readers looking to get into Jemisin’s sweeping, richly imagined worlds. The series follows a young woman named Yeine Darr who is summoned to the floating city of Sky to claim a royal inheritance. Along the way, she encounters dark rituals, hierarchical power struggles, and familial secrets, all which make for a thrilling and oftentimes chilling take on epic fantasy.

Ryka Aoki

As an avid reader, I can’t help but admire Aoki. Beyond being an accomplished author of novels and poetry, she also holds the esteemed position of Professor in English and Gender Studies at the university level. Her work has even earned her a spot as a two-time finalist for the prestigious Lambda Literary Awards. And to top it all off, her 2021 novel, “Light from Uncommon Stars,” was recognized with a Hugo Award nomination for Best Novel.

In simpler terms, Aoki’s literary work is often classified as redemptive fiction, but she reinforces her viewpoints with a background in environmental engineering, which adds a realistic touch to her storytelling. Aoki, who is a transgender woman, aims to write not just for the trans community, but also for their relatives, using genre fiction as a way to create connections based on shared experiences.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d highly recommend giving “Light from Uncommon Stars” a try if you’re seeking an engaging introduction to Aoki’s literary world. In crafting this book, she aimed to establish her own unique “sci-fi donut shop,” blending captivating storytelling with profound emotional resonance. This novel primarily explores the trans experience within the context of Asian-American heritage, food, and the violin. The fantastical element, which intertwines interstellar travel and demonology, makes for a one-of-a-kind reading experience that offers insightful commentary on our world and beyond.

Ursula K. Le Guin

I could write a master’s thesis on Le Guin and still have only barely addressed the scope and impact of her career. She is best known for her works of speculative fiction that span both sci-fi and fantasy. She wrote more than 20 novels and over a hundred short stories in her lifetime.

Interested in understanding the influence Le Guin’s work has had on writers and readers? She received eight Hugo Awards, six Nebula Awards, and an impressive 25 Locus Awards, making her achievements remarkable. In 2003, she was recognized as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America – joining only a handful of women to receive this prestigious honor in history.

As a passionate advocate, I can confidently say that the profound influences of meditation, world philosophy, and Taoism significantly shaped Ursula K. Le Guin’s intellectual and literary journey. If you’re seeking timeless works brimming with moral dilemmas and ethical introspection in our genres of interest, Le Guin undeniably stands as your author of choice.

Tade Thompson

Apart from being a proficient author, Thompson is also a skilled psychiatrist, and his expertise in psychological medicine is subtly yet effectively reflected in his science fiction writings. Interestingly, he continues to practice medicine, offering support to patients with physical limitations who are battling mental health issues, all while continuing to pen down his stories.

Thompson is a laureate of both the Nommo Award and the Kitschies Golden Tentacle Award. Throughout his career, he’s also been recognized with a shortlist nomination for the Shirley Jackson Award. In addition, he was appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023.

His novels and short stories are imbued with a vastness that belies their oftentimes extremely personal narratives of claustrophobia and cultural history. If you’re interested in getting into Thompson’s work, I would recommend Rosewater, the first book in the Wormwood trilogy. The trilogy concerns an alien invasion and its impact on humans set largely in 2060s Nigeria. It’s a genre-blending, Afrofuturist masterpiece that carries all the suspense of a well-plotted murder mystery in a mind-bending sci-fi package. You won’t be able to put it down.

Lois McMaster Bujold

Lois McMaster Bujold is a towering figure in the realms of science fiction and fantasy, sharing the record for Hugo Awards for Best Novel with Robert A. Heinlein, having each won it four times. The majority of Bujold’s work revolves around three exceptional series: the Vorkosigan Saga, the World of the Five Gods, and the Sharing Knife.

Bujold is predominantly recognized for her sprawling science fiction saga, the Vorkosigan Saga. This epic, set a thousand years ahead in the future, introduces Miles Vorkosigan, a protagonist with disabilities, as its central figure. The series expands to encompass entire novels narrated from various viewpoints within Miles’ life, even those of his parents.

Although Bujold’s fantasy works like the “World of the Five Gods” series may not be as popular as her “Vorkosigan Saga,” they are equally compelling and display her exceptional talent in crafting epic narrative fiction, not just romance. However, it is essential to delve into the “Vorkosigan” universe first, and it’s advisable to follow a specific order rather than reading them as they were published. Here’s a reliable guide to help you choose the right book from the series for your starting point.

Yōko Tawada

Born in Japan but now residing in Berlin, Tawada is a renowned author who has garnered multiple accolades such as the Noma Literary Prize, Izumi Kyōka Prize for Literature, Goethe Medal, and National Book Award. Notably, she composes her stories in both Japanese and German, showcasing a remarkable talent for interpreting her dystopian and sci-fi narratives across two distinct cultural backgrounds, thereby infusing her works with a distinctive tone that blends the influences of these two rich heritage.

Tawada’s literature is significantly shaped by her passion for language and translation, as she views it as both artificial and enchanting. In interviews, she has expressed this perspective, stating that language isn’t something inherent but rather a crafted and mystical entity. In translating her work, she encourages translators to swap the wordplay in her manuscripts with alternative phrases that convey similar meanings in their respective languages, instead of pursuing an exact match.

I strongly suggest reading “The Last Children of Tokyo” or “Kentoshi”, two remarkable pieces that showcase Yoko Ogawa’s unique perspective on speculative literature. These stories are more akin to hard science fiction than fantasy, and they actually stand apart from both traditional genres. To provide a complete picture, I feel it is important to mention this distinction while endorsing Ogawa’s exceptional storytelling abilities wholeheartedly.

Gene Wolfe

Wolfe has been called “the Melville of science fiction,” and just like Ursula K. Le Guin was honored as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He is one of the most notable sci-fi/fantasy writers of all time, which is why I feel a little strange including him on this list. However, just like Jemisin, Bujold, and Le Guin, Wolfe’s accomplishments still often go unnoticed.

It’s no surprise that Wolfe, renowned for crafting science fiction so vivid it could make your kitchen cabinet hinges creak, was an engineer prior to becoming a writer. Despite eventually retiring from engineering to devote himself fully to writing, he occasionally faced challenges in finding an audience. Some of this difficulty may be attributed to the unconventional lexicon he employed; his passion for language, mirroring Tawada’s, even led him to incorporate a fictitious “translator” into some of his works to heighten the narrative suspense. However, though his works seldom attained widespread popularity during his lifetime, he was frequently hailed as not only one of the greatest science fiction authors ever, but also one of the finest American writers across all genres by critics and contemporaries alike.

Wolfe is most recognized for the acclaimed “Book of the New Sun” series, where a character from a mysterious order is banished from his guild after demonstrating mercy towards someone he was intended to torment. Prepare for an unparalleled epic journey beginning with “The Shadow of the Torturer“. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed as you delve deeper into this captivating tale.

Tom Francis

Moving forward, we reach an author who might find it amusing to learn that he’s included among writers honored with Nebula awards. This is Tom Francis, the creator of popular strategy video games such as “Tactical Breach Wizards”, “Gunpoint”, and “Heat Signature”. Although his writing skills are evident in the storylines of these games, particularly in “Tactical Breach Wizards”, it’s worth noting that he has also penned two short stories that I believe merit attention.

The terms used are “Exploded Fission Sequence” and “Lazarus Reactor,” which appear in the series titled “Machine of Death, a collection of short stories revolving around the concept of a device capable of predicting one’s death. Each story presents unique interpretations based on this premise, with the ones by Francis, particularly “Lazarus,” being highly recommended for reading. In “Lazarus,” we follow the narrative of a supervillain’s henchman who is assigned to eliminate enemies in a manner that doesn’t clash with their predicted deaths.

You can pick up the collections for relatively cheap; they’re called Machine of Death and This Is How You Die. While I would recommend looking at Francis’ stories first, all of them are worth reading. Who knows? You might just find your next favorite indie author within those pages. If not, I can guarantee you’ll find a laugh.

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2024-11-10 17:42