fantasy
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Comic Fantasy, All Pratchett
~posted by David H. If there has ever been a king of comic fantasy, then that crown was worn by the late Terry Pratchett. And in that crown, the shining jewel is the Discworld series. Published in 37 different languages with over 80 million books sold, Pratchett is second only to J.K. Rowling as the… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Comic Fantasy
~posted by David H. Much like its sister genre science fiction, funny isn’t the first word that springs to mind when people think of the fantasy genre. The straight-faced seriousness of early fantasy authors like J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings) and Robert E. Howard (Conan), and contemporary ones like Robert Jordan (The Eye… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Magical Beasts
~ posted by Jessica H. If you’re unfamiliar with fantasy, Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn is a quiet classic. A unicorn is told by hunters that she is the last of her immortal kind, causing her to wonder if this is true. As she leaves her forest, she is recognized by humans as simply… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Dragons
~Posted by Jenny C. Oh, Dragons! How do I even begin? I mean, we’ve recently had a post that featured the Mother of Dragons — and by that I mean Anne McCaffrey (sorry Khaleesi). And my friend Misha’s post captured three of my all time favorite dragon fantasies: Temeraire, (Master and Commander with dragons), Tooth and Claw, (Dickensian succession drama) and A Natural History of… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Classic Fantasy
~posted by Meranda T. Classic Fantasy is both old and new. What we casually think of as Fantasy is relatively new. However, Fantasy has been around for ages if we take into consideration fairy tales, myths, folk stories, and legends. Look to the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, Yei Theodora Ozaki, and many more for translations of stories… Continue reading
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Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Children’s Books
~posted by Selby G. All ages love the possibilities bound in the pages of a fantastical book and children are no different. Some of the most creative and entertaining fantasy books I have read were written for kids. So don’t let the age vector deter you. The books in this post may be geared towards… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Checklist Challenge: Science Fantasy
~ posted by David H. “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” ~Arthur C. Clarke Though many fans will vehemently deny it, the truth is that science fiction’s most closely related sister genre is fantasy. Both tell fantastic stories set on different worlds with unusual societies and often featuring non-human characters. But while science… Continue reading
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Mystery Challenge: Science Fiction / Fantasy / Paranormal
~by David H. The mystery story is one of the most flexible of stories, because a mystery can take place anywhere. The time and place don’t make any difference; all that’s required is a crime and someone to solve it. So what happens when a mystery takes place in the depths of space or on… Continue reading
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Staff favorites: fantasy
Posted by Jen B. The 2014 Spring/Summer edition of Staff Favorites is now available! Here, in their own words, Library staff members share some great fantasy fiction for your summer reading list. The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker A doctoral candidate on the verge of ditching her thesis takes a… Continue reading
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Romantic Wednesdays: Spell Books
Posted by Eric G. There is no shortage of romance books featuring witches, supernatural creatures and magical goings-on. One of the most prominent tales of the past few years is A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. For fans of this book, the third and final chapter, The Book of Life, is due in July! I’ve… Continue reading
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Romantic Wednesdays: Mary Stewart, First Lady of Romantic Suspense
~posted by Marlene H. Mary Stewart was arguably one of the pioneers of the genre that we now call romantic suspense. Before her, there was gothic horror, where the heroine inevitably does something stupidly dangerous and waits to be rescued, but that isn’t quite the same thing. And there was contemporary romance, where the entire… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: New and Interesting Witches
I’ve been on a witches kick lately, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the publication of a couple of these so that I can share them with you. Continue reading
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Romantic Wednesdays: Dragon Romance
Would you like to be part of “A Festival of Dragons” this weekend? It’s the theme of this year’s RustyCon, the science fiction and fantasy convention happening this weekend (January 17-19) at the Seattle Airport Marriott Hotel. In honor of their Dragon theme, this Romantic Wednesday will be devoted to Dragons in romance. And yes,… Continue reading
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Mysterious powers and New Mythologies
Did you miss me? I’ve been reading. Here are some paranormal goodies for cozy autumn nights. Blythewood by Carol Goodman Avaline Hall survives. I was going to say what she survives, but there are so many things: grief, the mystery of her mother’s past, hard work and humiliation and the terrors of the Triangle Factory… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Friday: The three best 19th century fantasies. Oh, also with dragons!
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir By Lady Trent by Marie Brennan An irrepressible young woman in a stifling alternate history Victorian age finds action and adventure when her new husband takes her on an expedition to study dragons in their natural environment. The way the author uses little period details to flesh out the… Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: The romance of histories that never were
Spring is in the air and it’s got me in the mood for some light, but never fluffy, romantic fantasies. This past week, I read three alternate histories that had romance and magic in abundance. What books would you suggest for a great alternate history with a gripping love story? Continue reading
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Science Fiction Friday: Carnal pleasures
IF you’re looking for a great fantasy read, try this one on for size! Wraeththu by Storm Constantine Continue reading
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Science Fiction Fridays: Swashbuckling fantasies for all kinds of voyages
Quintessence by David Walton A disgraced doctor and a cold-blooded con man in alternate history 16th-centruy England seek out Horizon, a fabled land across the ocean that holds great riches and even greater dangers. A delightfully unconventional little book that takes its time laying out its players and adding layers to a nuanced fantasy world.… Continue reading