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50 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels That Everyone Should Read

Created by Emily Temple August 2013, People say it all the time: they'd love to get into science fiction or fantasy, but they've no idea where to start. If this is you (or if you're one of those stubborn folks who looks snootily down on genre), listen up. Your trusty Flavorwire editors have a few suggestions for you — that is, a whole 50 sci-fi and fantasy novels that are well worth your time, whether you're brand new to the concept of dragons and/or spaceships or a seasoned veteran.
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Ubik (Philip K. Dick)
Ubik
1
Philip K. Dick
Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card)
Ender's Game
2
Orson Scott Card
Lord of the Ring Trilogy (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Lord of the Ring Trilogy
3
J.R.R. Tolkien
The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)
The Handmaid's Tale
4
Margaret Atwood
Dhalgren (Samuel R. Delany)
Dhalgren
5
Samuel R. Delany
A Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin)
A Game of Thrones
6
George R.R. Martin
Frankenstein (Mary Shelley)
Frankenstein
7
Mary Shelley
Gormenghast (Mervyn Peake)
Gormenghast
8
Mervyn Peake
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (Robert A. Heinlein)
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
9
Robert A. Heinlein
Kindred (Octavia Butler)
Kindred
10
Octavia Butler
The Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula K. Le Guin)
The Left Hand of Darkness
11
Ursula K. Le Guin
Nine Princes in Amber
Nine Princes in Amber
12
Arabella Strange (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell)
Arabella Strange (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell)
13
Slaughterhouse-Five (Kurt Vonnegut)
Slaughterhouse-Five
14
Kurt Vonnegut
The City & the City (China Miéville)
The City & the City
15
China Miéville
The Once and Future King (T.H. White)
The Once and Future King
16
T.H. White
The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
The Mists of Avalon
17
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Zone One (Colson Whitehead)
Zone One
18
Colson Whitehead
Harry Potter (Jk Rowling)
Harry Potter
19
Jk Rowling
A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'engle)
A Wrinkle in Time
20
Madeleine L'engle
The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis)
The Chronicles of Narnia
21
C.S. Lewis
His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman)
His Dark Materials
22
Philip Pullman
The Female Man (Joanna Russ)
The Female Man
23
Joanna Russ
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Jules Verne)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
24
Jules Verne
Brown Girl in the Ring (Nalo Hopkinson)
Brown Girl in the Ring
25
Nalo Hopkinson
Solaris (Stanislaw Lem)
Solaris
26
Stanislaw Lem
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
27
Douglas Adams
Dune (Frank Herbert)
Dune
28
Frank Herbert
1984 (George Orwell)
1984
29
George Orwell
Snow Crash (Neal Stephenson)
Snow Crash
30
Neal Stephenson
The Stars My Destination (Alfred Bester)
The Stars My Destination
31
Alfred Bester
Neuromancer (William Gibson)
Neuromancer
32
William Gibson
American Gods (Neil Gaiman)
American Gods
33
Neil Gaiman
Foundation Series
Foundation Series
34
Discworld
Discworld
35
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
36
Lewis Carroll
Among Others (Jo Walton)
Among Others
37
Jo Walton
Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
Brave New World
38
Aldous Huxley
The Last Unicorn (Peter S. Beagle)
The Last Unicorn
39
Peter S. Beagle
The Drowned World (JG Ballard)
The Drowned World
40
JG Ballard
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