I love reading high fantasy series (think anything Brandon Sanderson/First Law/ etc). I’m keen to branch out into other genres and am looking for books that are the best in their genre. If possible I do like a trilogy/series as if I get attached to characters I quite enjoy following them through different books but this is an optional bonus.
I’m not particularly well read outside of fantasy so please don’t worry about suggesting the blindingly obvious choice from your chosen genre(s) as there’s a good chance I’ve never heard of it!
by Scuba_Ted
5 Comments
I spent most of my teens reading exclusively fantasy/sci-fi, and I made the same decision as you a few years back. There’s such a massive range of books out there that I have no idea which ones you’ll connect with, so I’m just going to list some of the non-SFF books I read and hopefully you can find something that clicks.
**And Then There Were None** by Agatha Christie (murder mystery). Ten people, each with their own dark secrets, are invited to a remote island by a mysterious host. When night falls, they realise they have been trapped… and someone is hunting them. This is the 6th best selling book *of all time*, and absolutely deserves it. Christie is a fantastic writer, and even though the book is older it’s a fast and fun read.
**A Short History of Nearly Everything** by Bill Bryson (non-fiction, science). Essentially a history of the world, starting from the Big Bang and full of interesting facts and antidotes. Bill Bryson is one of my favourite authors, and probably one of the funniest people in the business. This book will teach you heaps about the world and is so entertaining you won’t even notice how much you’re learning.
**The Only Good Indians** by Stephen Graham Jones (horror). Four Blackfeet men grapple with their pasts and identities as they are pursued by a bloodthirsty entity. I found horror to be a great “transition” genre (as long as you’re okay with some heavy themes), and this is by far one of the best of the whole genre – as well as being a very interesting and unique insight into Native American life.
**Breakfast of Champions** by Kurt Vonnegut (literary fiction). A man in 70s America is driven mad by the writings of an obscure sci-fi author, with strange consequences for the people around him. Definitely the oddest book on this list, the plot mostly exists as an excuse for Vonnegut to express his own views on the world. Vonnegut is a fascinating man with a very unique writing style – you’ll either love this book or absolutely hate it.
I hope these options sound interesting to you! I definitely understand what a big jump you’re making, but there are so many amazing books out there for you to discover. Best of luck!
(Edit: Sorry, I completely missed the part where you mention you were looking for a series! These books are still very good though.)
The two best books I’ve read this last year were Project Hail Mary by Weir and Kaiju Preservation Society by Scalzi. These aren’t series though.
Have you tried urban fantasy? I’d suggest either the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch or the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs.
For a fun sci-fi series, the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells is very popular.
If you’re interested in trying nonfiction I’d suggest Endurance by Alfred Lansing or Into Thin Air.
For a fun light series there’s the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville – straddles fantasy and sci-fi
Sci-fi: Foundation, Asimov
Mystery: Brother Cadfael, Peters