Lady Business' 60 Essential Science Fiction & Fantasy Reads (60 books)

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Science fiction and fantasy are booming across multiple types of media these days: television, superhero films with strong SFF elements, and gaming are all enjoying a solid boost from science fiction and fantasy concepts. But what types of stories led us to this excellent time to be a SFF fan? What books inspired and entertained us until we reached this moment? Here are 60 of some important and thought-providing texts from science fiction and fantasy's long history.

These are books which many people loved, that created new fans, entertained old ones, or renewed someone's love of genre. Perhaps they even led some of the authors we love today to write in the very genre that we all enjoy so we can keep moving forward. Check them out below; how many have you read? :D

Link: http://ladybusiness.dreamwidth.org/20...

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1	Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle, #1) by Diana Wynne Jones 4.28 avg rating — 472,632 ratings score: 265, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 2,558,542 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Grimspace (Sirantha Jax, #1) by Ann Aguirre (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 16,473 ratings score: 196, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Range of Ghosts (Eternal Sky, #1) by Elizabeth Bear (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 3,976 ratings score: 194, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Parable of the Sower (Earthseed, #1) by Octavia E. Butler 4.18 avg rating — 297,230 ratings score: 188, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke 3.88 avg rating — 262,672 ratings score: 184, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	God's War (Bel Dame Apocrypha, #1) by Kameron Hurley (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 5,563 ratings score: 170, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Killing Moon (Dreamblood, #1) by N.K. Jemisin (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 24,264 ratings score: 170, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.97 avg rating — 1,312,247 ratings score: 165, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch, #1) by Ann Leckie (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 123,318 ratings score: 163, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Ash by Malinda Lo (Goodreads Author) 3.63 avg rating — 38,023 ratings score: 163, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.26 avg rating — 162,836 ratings score: 162, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Dragonsong (Harper Hall, #1) by Anne McCaffrey 4.26 avg rating — 59,799 ratings score: 156, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Sunshine by Robin McKinley 3.84 avg rating — 44,502 ratings score: 155, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	To Say Nothing of the Dog (Oxford Time Travel, #2) by Connie Willis 4.10 avg rating — 45,702 ratings score: 141, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland, #1) by Catherynne M. Valente (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 41,972 ratings score: 140, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Primary Inversion (Saga of the Skolian Empire, #1) by Catherine Asaro (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 4,318 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Flesh and Spirit (Lighthouse, #1) by Carol Berg (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 3,533 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Chime by Franny Billingsley 3.62 avg rating — 13,183 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels, #1) by Anne Bishop 4.02 avg rating — 44,673 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales, #1) by Holly Black (Goodreads Author) 3.68 avg rating — 110,498 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett 3.68 avg rating — 2,908 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Cordelia's Honor (Vorkosigan Omnibus, #1) by Lois McMaster Bujold (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 14,563 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	War for the Oaks by Emma Bull (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 10,720 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Synners by Pat Cadigan (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 2,303 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Foreigner (Foreigner, #1) by C.J. Cherryh (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 11,203 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Survival (Species Imperative, #1) by Julie E. Czerneda (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 2,253 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Tam Lin by Pamela Dean 3.84 avg rating — 5,842 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	King's Dragon (Crown of Stars, #1) by Kate Elliott (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 9,851 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Black Sun Rising (The Coldfire Trilogy, #1) by C.S. Friedman 3.93 avg rating — 19,772 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Slow River by Nicola Griffith (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 4,291 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Dragonsbane (Winterlands, #1) by Barbara Hambly (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 8,821 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge 3.78 avg rating — 7,686 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy, #1) by Robin Hobb (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 445,402 ratings score: 78, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The God Stalker Chronicles (Kencyrath, #1-2) by P.C. Hodgell 4.30 avg rating — 595 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson 3.85 avg rating — 7,697 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Valor's Choice (Confederation, #1) by Tanya Huff 3.99 avg rating — 9,138 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Daggerspell (Deverry, #1) by Katharine Kerr (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 17,379 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Steerswoman (The Steerswoman, #1) by Rosemary Kirstein 4.03 avg rating — 3,957 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Beggars in Spain (Sleepless, #1) by Nancy Kress (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 9,197 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Deryni Rising (The Chronicles of the Deryni, #1) by Katherine Kurtz 3.96 avg rating — 7,864 ratings score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan (Goodreads Author) 3.60 avg rating — 6,002 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Warchild (Warchild, #1) by Karin Lowachee (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 2,279 ratings score: 62, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Legend (Legend, #1) by Marie Lu (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 574,115 ratings score: 61, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Rosemary and Rue (October Daye, #1) by Seanan McGuire (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 40,795 ratings score: 59, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre 3.88 avg rating — 11,603 ratings score: 58, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Thief's Gamble (The Tales of Einarinn, #1) by Juliet E. McKenna (Goodreads Author) 3.68 avg rating — 1,947 ratings score: 57, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1) by Naomi Novik (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 115,510 ratings score: 55, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 29,009 ratings score: 54, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Diving Into the Wreck: Diving Into the Wreck / Room of Lost Souls / Heart of the Machine (Diving Universe, #1) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Goodreads Author) 3.66 avg rating — 2,438 ratings score: 53, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Female Man by Joanna Russ 3.46 avg rating — 9,418 ratings score: 52, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1) by John Scalzi (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 234,029 ratings score: 51, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	A Door Into Ocean (Elysium Cycle, #1) by Joan Slonczewski (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 2,472 ratings score: 50, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Grass King's Concubine (Daw Books Collectors) by Kari Sperring (Goodreads Author) 3.47 avg rating — 150 ratings score: 49, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 411,088 ratings score: 48, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	City of Pearl (Wess'har Wars, #1) by Karen Traviss (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 2,331 ratings score: 47, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree Jr. 4.18 avg rating — 4,880 ratings score: 46, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Snow Queen (The Snow Queen Cycle, #1) by Joan D. Vinge 3.94 avg rating — 13,383 ratings score: 44, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Farthing (Small Change, #1) by Jo Walton (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 5,740 ratings score: 43, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Cloud Roads (Books of the Raksura, #1) by Martha Wells (Goodreads Author) 3.98 avg rating — 16,859 ratings score: 42, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars