Today we are going to explore some syfi and fantasy books. If you want to escape our present reality there is no better way to do it then to read about different worlds that don’t yet exist or may never exist. At this point reality is a bit over-rated, right?

The Three Body Problem Trilogy by Cixin Liu (Author), Ken Liu (Translator) is one of the most creative and interesting syfi books I have read. A secret military installation in China makes contact with aliens. The alien’s own civilization is on the brink of destruction so contact with Earth couldn’t have happened at a more opportune moment and they prepare to abandon their planet and invade earth. On earth news of the invasion is mixed. Some welcome the idea of superior beings taking over what they see as the corrupt and utter failure of humanity and others prepare to fight the invaders. Good character development with a different historical and cultural perspective which I found fascinating, along with an important message! 

Artemis by Any Weir is another fascinating look about life beyond planet earth. This time our setting is a mining colony on the moon and the main character is a young woman who moonlights as a procurer of black market goods. Although set in the distant future, greed, inequality and injustice are still what fuels crime and intrepid Jazz Bashara is soon way over her head in intrigue, criminal syndicates who are out to kill her and the authorities who are convinced there is a conspiracy to overthrow the mining company’s control of the moon. Sharp, smart, witty, and sarcastic, Jazz is a great character that you wish you could emulate and Weir pull out all the stops, building the tension until an explosive end!

Robin Hobb is a prolific writer who has numerous fantasy series that you will enjoy. My favorites are the Farseer Trilogy in which FitzChilvary Farseer, who has some strange magical abilities and is trained as an assassin to work for the king. In The Fool and Assassin Trilogy we meet up with the same characters some twenty years later in a wonderful reunion that is filled with political intrigue and adventure.

Additionally, Robin Hobb has written the Liveship Traders Trilogy which offers one of the most interesting concepts in the fantasy genre, ships that are actually conscious. What they are and how they came to be is one of the intriguing mysteries at the heart of these books.

Michael Sullivan who is also a prolific writer recently released a series where the main character is a woman who must unite her people against a more powerful and magical enemy. The Legends of the First Empire series has all the magic, sword fighting, and adventure that any fantasy reader could want!

Finally for something a little bit different, Katherine Arden has written a lovely series of books based on Russian folktales. The result is a genre defying series that is part historical, part folk tale and in every way a marvelous read. Start with the first one with the intriguing title The Bear and the Nightingale and you will not regret it!

So there you have it. I think you will be happy to read any of these books and escape from our present reality! Enjoy!