fantasy
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The best of genre reading in 2018
Coordinated by the American Library Association, each year a group of librarians from across the country form The Reading List Council with the goal to identify the year’s best books across eight genres. Here are the 2019 winners (for books published in 2018) in Adrenaline, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, and Women’s… Continue reading
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Rick Riordan Presents
In early 2017, acclaimed author Rick Riordan, of Percy Jackson fame, announced he would be leading an imprint from Disney, with the goal of publishing “great books by middle grade authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds, to let them tell their own stories inspired by the mythology and folklore of their own heritage.” He had… Continue reading
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Le Guin, Allende, Bradbury & More, This Spring at Thrilling Tales!
This Spring Thrilling Tales, the library’s popular story time for grown ups, is branching out with new monthly evening events in addition to our regular lunch hour gatherings. Now in its 15th year, the program celebrates the joy of story with live readings of compelling, intriguing, wondrous and suspenseful stories. Here’s what’s coming up in the… Continue reading
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A genre reading list for library insiders
Chances are some of you haven’t heard of ALA’s Reading List Council, but trust me on this one: Their annual list of top books in several genres is a book lover’s gem. They pick the best in eight genres — including mystery, science fiction, and adrenaline (read: suspense/heart-thumping-page-turner) for adult readers. Librarians love that the Reading List is… Continue reading
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City Council Reads – Sally Bagshaw, District 7
This past November, Seattle swore in a new Mayor and City Councilmember, and we here at ShelfTalk thought this would be a great opportunity to continue our series of posts in which we invited your representatives to share books that have meant a lot to them. This time, we asked them “What book was most influential in your… Continue reading
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Where It’s At: Science Fiction & Fantasy Novellas
Some of the most exciting and fresh voices in science fiction and fantasy are coming out in short form. While short stories have long been where authors develop their craft and where innovation happens in the genre, novellas are currently a hot commodity for authors who are challenging the status quo. Novellas are where women,… Continue reading
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My Favorite 2016 Science Fiction and Fantasy
Every year I push myself to read a variety of fiction, new and old, and a mixture of science fiction and fantasy. Here are some of my favorite science fiction and fantasy novels published in 2016: Continue reading
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Beyond and After Butler
-posted by Veronica H. Octavia Butler is a giant in science fiction and fantasy and her legacy is far-reaching. Her importance to the genre cannot be overstated. In honor of the recent Door to a Pink Universe Flash Fiction contest, I wanted to highlight some authors who are following in Butler’s footsteps and changing the… Continue reading
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Love Science Fiction & Fantasy? Join the Other Realms Roundtable!
If you love science fiction and fantasy and are looking to find out about more good books to read, then the Other Realms Roundtable may be just for you! Starting in January, the Other Realms Roundtable book group will be meeting on the 2nd Thursday of the month at noon at City Hall’s City Grind… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Romantic Fantasy
~posted by Selby G. Romance novels, by their very nature, are usually not considered great literature. This is not to say that romance novels are not worth reading, but perhaps they should be judged with relaxed criteria. It is no different in the fantasy romance subgenre. Stories abound with sexy witches, shape shifters of all… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Slipstream & Surreal
– posted by David W. Oh no, they’ll tell you, they don’t read fantasy. They have no idea where the fantasy section is at the library, let alone where to find Westeros or Xanth, or how to get into Mordor – doesn’t one simply walk? Oh sure, they read the Harry Potter books, but when… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Young Adult
~posted by Jessica W. Young adult novels appeal to many people, often because of the plot-driven storylines, but also because they’re about people finding themselves through turmoil, whether it’s a breakup or the world literally ending. The protagonist enters the book (or series) unsure and unformed, and leaves stronger, wiser, and often a leader in… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Mythopoeia
Mythopoeia: The creation of a myth or myths. –Oxford English Dictionary How do you decide if it’s a mythopoetic book? I’m not entirely sure, but to me these books display a deep and believable magical system, drawn from old gods and stories. They create myths that I want to believe in. Possibly one of the best examples of this, The Wood… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Thieves
~posted by Deborah B. Fantasy tales are rife with characters from the seedy underbelly of society. Robin Hood, a mythical English robber, is the hero of Disney’s 1973 animated film, where many children are first introduced to the “loveable rascal” thief-type. Robin Hood’s shenanigans were so much more fun than any other Disney film, at least… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Dark Fantasy
~posted by Carrie M. What constitutes a work of “Dark Fantasy,” can be difficult to define. For our purposes, we will be looking at some works that are fantasy in the sense that they have the mandatory elements of other worlds and/or otherworldly beings, but that also contain a “dark” element such as (cue *gasps*)… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Urban Fantasy
~posted by Lindsay S. If you like the idea of magic and fantasy, but think made-up worlds and pseudo-medieval times are weird, Urban Fantasy might just be the subgenre for you. In Urban Fantasy stories, magical and fantastical elements are plunked right down in the middle of modern day life. The results can be hilarious,… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: High Fantasy
~posted by Meranda T. Lloyd Alexander, of the Prydain Chronicles, can be given credit for coining the term “High Fantasy.” A term used to define a genre that is placed in an imaginary world or based on epic and fantastical plots. This is a sub-genre of fantasy I have always liked. My first experience with High Fantasy is… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Fairy Tale Retellings
~posted by Jenny C. I love a good fairy tale; both the originals and all the myriad sorts of retelling. My very favorites, though, are the ones that keep that darkness that’s inherent in many fairy tales, and add infinite embroideries onto a familiar cloth. One of the best examples of the sheer variety possible… Continue reading