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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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1
Ubik (Philip K. Dick)
Ubik
Philip K. Dick
2
Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card)
Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card
3
Lord of the Ring Trilogy (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Lord of the Ring Trilogy
J.R.R. Tolkien
4
The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood
5
Dhalgren (Samuel R. Delany)
Dhalgren
Samuel R. Delany
6
A Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin)
A Game of Thrones
George R.R. Martin
7
Frankenstein (Mary Shelley)
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
8
Gormenghast (Mervyn Peake)
Gormenghast
Mervyn Peake
9
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (Robert A. Heinlein)
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
Robert A. Heinlein
10
Kindred (Octavia Butler)
Kindred
Octavia Butler
11
The Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula K. Le Guin)
The Left Hand of Darkness
Ursula K. Le Guin
12
Nine Princes in Amber
Nine Princes in Amber
13
Arabella Strange (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell)
Arabella Strange (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell)
14
Slaughterhouse-Five (Kurt Vonnegut)
Slaughterhouse-Five
Kurt Vonnegut
15
The City & the City
The City & the City
16
The Once and Future King (T.H. White)
The Once and Future King
T.H. White
17
The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
The Mists of Avalon
Marion Zimmer Bradley
18
Zone One (Colson Whitehead)
Zone One
Colson Whitehead
19
Harry Potter (Jk Rowling)
Harry Potter
Jk Rowling
20
A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'engle)
A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'engle
21
The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis)
The Chronicles of Narnia
C.S. Lewis
22
His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman)
His Dark Materials
Philip Pullman
23
The Female Man (Joanna Russ)
The Female Man
Joanna Russ
24
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Jules Verne)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Jules Verne
25
Brown Girl in the Ring (Nalo Hopkinson)
Brown Girl in the Ring
Nalo Hopkinson
26
Solaris (Stanislaw Lem)
Solaris
Stanislaw Lem
27
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams
28
Dune (Frank Herbert)
Dune
Frank Herbert
29
1984 (George Orwell)
1984
George Orwell
30
Snow Crash (Neal Stephenson)
Snow Crash
Neal Stephenson
31
The Stars My Destination (Alfred Bester)
The Stars My Destination
Alfred Bester
32
Neuromancer (William Gibson)
Neuromancer
William Gibson
33
American Gods (Neil Gaiman)
American Gods
Neil Gaiman
34
Foundation Series
Foundation Series
35
Discworld
Discworld
36
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
37
Among Others
Among Others
38
Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
Brave New World
Aldous Huxley
39
The Last Unicorn (Peter S. Beagle)
The Last Unicorn
Peter S. Beagle
40
The Drowned World (JG Ballard)
The Drowned World
JG Ballard
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