Fantasy/Sci-fi for people who don't read Fantasy/Sci-fi

[sir archely]

Okay, this is the situation. Have a friend. Friend likes to read. Never really read any fantasy or science fiction, but it interested in trying some out. I told her I'd come up with about 10 of each for her to try out and see what she thinks. She has a very skewed perception of what fantasy and sci/fi encompass.

So, I'm looking for some advice on books to put in this booklist which would be good beginner (but adult, not kid) intros to all the wonders that fantasy and sci-fi have to offer. I want to avoid things like Jordan, Martin, Eriksen because while they are excellent, I think they're too huge and grand in scope for someone just starting out. She's going to be turned off if she has to invest that much time in a big series right off the bat. So do people have some suggestions for light-ish fantasy or sci-fi? I'm also avoiding the space opera/star wars/trek type sci-fi, since that's basically what she thinks of as all sci-fi. So no Dune, or Foundation.


She's already expressed interest in H2G2, so that's the start of the sci-fi list. I'll probably also include Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, just because it is so good. I'm also putting a couple Neil Gaiman books, Neverwhere and American Gods. Probably could include more, but I don't want to Gaiman her out. Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake will be on. I could use input on whether people think I should put on Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. The sheer size could be intimidating for a starting reader, even though I think it's the right kind of fantasy. Same with the Gormenghast books. Oh and she's already read Harry Potter.

So...


Fantasy:

• Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
• American Gods by Neil Gaiman
• Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (?)
• Giants of the Frost by Kim Wilkins
• Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
• Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock

Sci-Fi

• Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide by Douglas Adams
• Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
• The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
• Use of Weapons by Iain Banks
• Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
• Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny (?)
• Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan

[Eyreplenh]

I'd definitively go for it with Jonathan Strange. I have a couple of friends who've always kept away from fantasy but that liked this one. It is simply a good book, I think. And as you say

Friend likes to read

, so my guess is the size won't be an issue. Other than that, I am pretty blank. I like your list up there, maybe Enders Game, as it is le classique, and since it doesn't really force you to read the other books... As for fantasy, I've only ever read two standalone books, one of which is Elantris, and the other being by Raymond Feist, not sure I remember much about that one, but chances are it's not that good. Faery tale? I think that's wat it's called. Glen Cooks The black company is a series, but is also very conclusive of nature. Sort of. The lies of Locke Lamora is supposed to go on no further than a trilogy and the first two instalments have been highly entertaining and may be a mellow way into the subject matter.

What about a dash of magic realism to ease the transition? Some Marques, Borges, Kehlman and Murakami

[sir archely]

Oh, I meant to add Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock. So I did.

[Anita Blake]

I think that there's probably a couple of Orson Scott Card books that might be found interesting - Enchantment, which is basically Sleeping Beauty, but a little more interesting, and another one whose title is eluding me, but which is all about time traveling to stop Christopher Columbus from killing the natives when he landed on America. I really enjoyed it, and it's more like speculative fiction, less science-y. Sort of a nice bridge between "fiction" and "science fiction".

[dark fuschia]

On your fantasy list hmm I really agree with Neverwhere. American Gods is pretty wierd tho and might put her off, I would pick Stardust instead. I definately think Johnathon strange as I know lots of non fantasy fans who liked that book. Gorhmaghast maybe not so much. While it is brilliant it is very rambling and directionless, and may be offputting for this reason. And I am so pleased to see you put Giants of the Frost in there oooh I hope she likes that one.

I know you want to stay away from long epics, but in a way these are the heart of fantasy, maybe you could put one on there just in case? Also alot of people I know who don't read fantasy love Thomas covenant series... ironically I have never read it. If you do add a book, make sure you pick a series that was successfully completed just in case she likes it

On your sci fi list, I super super agree with enders game and hitchikers. I don't recognise alot of the other titles. I would add one of Asimovs fun standa alone novels like End of eternity, or Pebble in the sky, or maybe an elijah bailey mystery. These are what got me salivating for sci fi, although maybe they are dated now. Probably not though because they were already about 50 years old when I read them. Oh no I have to run now, I will search my brain further though and come back!

Oh but I cannot resist adding one thing before I go. If there is one stereotype that I have found to be true its that women do NOT like Snowcrash.

Oh yes I know! Put in some John Wyndam for sure. Maybe "The Crysalids" That is a brilliant book.

[sir archely]

I think that there's probably a couple of Orson Scott Card books that might be found interesting - Enchantment, which is basically Sleeping Beauty, but a little more interesting, and another one whose title is eluding me, but which is all about time traveling to stop Christopher Columbus from killing the natives when he landed on America. I really enjoyed it, and it's more like speculative fiction, less science-y. Sort of a nice bridge between "fiction" and "science fiction".

I've never read Enchantment, I'll have to check that out. The other one you're thinking of is Pastwatch. I did enjoy that book, but it was ages ago. As I recall, it wasn't very long or demanding, maybe good to put on the list.

On your fantasy list hmm I really agree with Neverwhere. American Gods is pretty wierd tho and might put her off, I would pick Stardust instead. I definately think Johnathon strange as I know lots of non fantasy fans who liked that book.

I was kinda curious about how someone would read American Gods if they don't have the background mythological knowledge to sort of get what's going on. You're probably right that Stardust is a better intro book.

On your sci fi list, I super super agree with enders game and hitchikers. I don't recognise alot of the other titles. I would add one of Asimovs fun standa alone novels like End of eternity, or Pebble in the sky, or maybe an elijah bailey mystery. These are what got me salivating for sci fi, although maybe they are dated now. Probably not though because they were already about 50 years old when I read them. Oh no I have to run now, I will search my brain further though and come back!

Oh but I cannot resist adding one thing before I go. If there is one stereotype that I have found to be true its that women do NOT like Snowcrash.

But, but! Snow Crash is amazing! Bah, stupid women. Maybe I should also remove Altered Carbon, that's probably a "boy book". I guess I should add Ender's Game, since everyone is suggesting that. I purposely avoided it thinking regardless of the brilliance of the story, it's kinda the spacey sci-fi she thinks is typical of sci-fi. Aliens and spaceship battles and so forth.

I don't know John Wyndam, but I'll check it out. Thomas Covenant series may make a follow-up list, if there is one.

I'm really tempted to add Kraken, by China Miéville because it's been a great atypical fantasy tale, but I haven't finished it yet since someone bought it out from under me when I was 30 pages from the end. gah! Also tempted to add The City & the City by him, even though I haven't read it, but just because it was nominated and/or received a slew of awards.

As far as the others on my list, I would HIGHLY recommend both The Windup Girl and Use of Weapons, wendy. Use of Weapons especially is a phenomenal trip, and brilliantly written. First book in a long time that surprised me with the end. And if you don't know Margaret Atwood, you should.

[dark fuschia]

heh I know Margaret Atwood, and rather like some of her stuff. I will get around to Oryx and Crake one day. Once I borrowed it from the library for about four months and had to pay a largish fine when I returned it still unread.
John Wyndham is great! He is most well know for Day of the Triffids. I reckon you have read him before and it slipped your mind.

What about some social commentary style sci fi? Like "1984" or "Stranger in a Strange Land" or "Farenheit 451"?

[Anita Blake]

Oh yes, Day of the Triffids! That is one of my favorite books, ever. The modern zombie film owes a LOT to Day of the Triffids. 28 Days Later was basically Day of the Triffids, in all the ways that made it actually good. And the Chrysalids is awesome, too. It's one of those books that lots of people read in elementary school, but for some reason I only got to a couple years ago. John Wyndham. Genius. Plus those books are very short and easy, and have the added benefit of not only being well-written stories, but being very thought-provoking as well. Very much about human nature.

And thanks for the title on Pastwatch. Yes, very non-demanding, nice, easy read, kind of like most of Card's stuff.

I would not recommend Gormenghast. I got it for Christmas a couple years ago, and slogged my way through it, until I got about halfway through Titus Groan, and just could not finish. It was too depressing. I kind of went "I absolutely cannot read any more about how depraved and terrible people are". It was too much. I enjoyed the BBC mini-series, but I really hated the book.

[dark fuschia]

I really agree with you on Gormanghast Anita, while I love it very much because it's just so very beautiful and clever, and of course I relate so much to the too silly and too full of day-dreams foolish Fuschia that I took her name, it does fill me with a deep sense of futility and sadness. I never finished the last one either.