# Recent science fiction/fantasy paperbacks **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631 "2005-09-01T20:39:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/1 "2005-09-01T20:39:35Z")
When I bought my small-town bookstore, it had no science fiction or fantasy section. I went to work populating it with my favorites, most of which are classic stuff by the older authors. It’s doing okay, but it seems that the newer stuff is what’s selling, and I don’t know a lot of the new authors & titles. Help me bring my store up-to-date! Here’s an overview of what I have: [ul] [li]Douglas Adams - pretty much all of it[/li][li]Piers Anthony - Some _Xanth_ and _Blue Adept_[/li][li]Isaac Asimov - Robots, Foundation… the classics[/li][li]Ray Bradbury - a few of his better-known titles[/li][li]Terry Brooks - The latest two Shannara titles[/li][li]Steven Brust - All of the Jhereg books[/li][li]Edgar Rice Burroughs - a smattering of Mars books[/li][li]Orson Scott Card - _Ender_ books[/li][li]Arthur C. Clarke - a variety[/li][li]Michael Crichton - Recent novels and _Andromeda Strain_[/li][li]Robert Heinlein - mostly his later stuff[/li][li]Frank & Brian Herbert - the entire _Dune_ series, including prequels[/li][li]Tanya Huff - her “Victory Nelson” and “Keeper” books[/li][li]Robert Jordan - Wheel of Time books[/li][li]Ursula K. Le Guin - Earthsea books[/li][li]Anne McCaffrey - Pern books[/li][li]Larry Niven - including _Ringworld’s Children_ and some of the stuff he co-wrote with Pournelle[/li][li]Terry Pratchett - Discworld books[/li][li]Spider Robinson - Callahan series[/li][li]R. A. Salvatore - his most popular two or three at any given point in time[/li][li]Neal Stephenson - My three favorites[/li][li]J.R.R. & Christopher Tolkien - Basically all of it[/li][li]Recent “Magic: the Gathering” novels (I sell the cards, too)[/li][/ul] What should I add? (Skip the hardbacks, by the way. People just don’t buy hardback science fiction or fantasy around here.) Thanks, folks! ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/2 "2005-09-01T20:51:14Z")
I think you definitely need Anthony’s Incarnations series, and George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series. What about Robin Hobb and David Eddings, as well? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/3 "2005-09-01T20:51:32Z")
Well, most of my favorites are way out of date (and probably out of print), but of recent stuff I’d recommend: Harry Turtledove – just about anything Dan Simmons – The Hyperion/Endymoin series, the Ilium series, and other stuff The recent Robert E. Howard reprints ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/4 "2005-09-01T20:53:52Z")
How about some Poul Anderson and L. Sprague de Camp? They both died recently, which has cut into their production, but they were both prolific writers. As for newer stuff – I’d get some Stephen Baxter and Kim Stanley Robinson. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/5 "2005-09-01T21:02:12Z")
Marion Zimmer Bradley - a lot of the Darkover stories have been published in 3-story paperbacks. Charles de Lint. Mercedes Lackey. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/6 "2005-09-01T21:07:00Z")
R. Scott Bakker appears to be doing well with his “Prince of Nothing” series, starting with _The Darkness that Comes Before_. The first two of the series are out in paperback as far as I know. There’s also Christopher Paolini’s “Inheritance” series, starting with _Eragon_. I’m told its sort of oriented for younger readers, but from what I’ve seen, it’s much more like Tolkien than Harry Potter. The first one is available in paperback. Goodkind’s “Sword of Truth” series starts out good and gets mediocre but seems to be popular nonetheless. But I’d recommend _Wizard’s First Rule_, the first book in the series. And your bookstore would be incomplete without a bunch of Iain M. Banks’ books. William Gibson should probably make an appearance. Definitely stock _Neuromancer_, _Count Zero_ and [Mona Lisa Overdrive\*. I’ll post again if I think of more. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/7 "2005-09-01T21:20:14Z")
I’ll second the Banks (Culture and similar SF novels, “The Algebraist” is the latest) Kim Stanley Robinson (“Mars” trilogy), you also need China Mieville (“Perdido Street Station”, “The Scar”, “Iron Coundcil”), David Brin’s “Uplift” novels, Clive Barker’s fantasy/horror stuff (am currently enjoying Abarat), also Neil Gaiman’s stuff (“American Gods” and the new one coming out, “Ananzi Boys”) If the Pratchett sells, then Tom Holt might too. I’ve sen omnibus 2-in-1 paperback editions that might offer your readers more bang for their buck. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/8 "2005-09-01T21:26:58Z")
Thanks for all the feedback, folks! **Draelin** , can you suggest any particular Robin Hobb and David Eddings titles? And I forgot about the _Incarnations_ books. Those are great! **CalMeacham** , I’ll check out Simmons and Howard. I’ve got some Turtledove, but it’s alternative fiction. Does he do science fiction or fantasy, too? **Baldwin** , I dropped de Camp and Anderson because it didn’t sell. I tried one Kim Stanley Anderson title (_The Years of Rice and Salt_) and it gathered dust on the shelf for a year. I finally dumped it in the clearance bin. I’ll check out Baxter. Any specific titles to recommend? **Snakescatlady** , should I look at their newest stuff, or are there specific titles I should check out? **Ghanima** , I should have mentioned I also have a young adult fantasy section, which contains Paolini’s books, Harry Potter, Madeline L’Engle, and so forth. As for the other suggestions, I’ll take a look. I can’t believe I forgot _Neuromancer_! I have Goodkind’s latest, but forgot to mention it in the OP. Thanks again! Keep those suggestions coming in! ---
**Author:** ![rowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@rowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/9 "2005-09-01T21:30:24Z")
Robert Aspirin’s Myth, Phule, and Thieves’ World series might be good additions. The Myth and Phule books should work for both younger and adult fantasy/sci-fi readers. Do you already have a section for Dragonlance? I’m sure those would still be pretty popular. Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman wrote the main books, then other authors expanded on the world. ---
**Author:** ![marque\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@marque\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marque_elf)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/10 "2005-09-01T21:56:27Z")
C.J. Cherryh’s science fiction is great. Her fantasy isn’t as compelling. I second Turtledove and Eddings. I would add Raymond Feist and Dave Duncan to the list for good fantasy. For military science fiction, I’d say that John Ringo and David Webber are crucial. I’d also add Dave Freer and Eric Flint to your stock. Mercedes Lackey is popular with women fantasy readers. William Stirling’s Draka books and Island In the Sea Of Time series are both excellent. For hard SF, David Brin is a great choice. Greg Bear is alsos a popular hard SF author but I find his stuff uneven in quality. _Darwin’s Radio_ is a great book but the sequel, _Darwin’s Children_ was awful. L.M Modesitt is a good choice for both fantasy and SF, especially his Recluce books. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/11 "2005-09-01T22:00:31Z")
You need David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, and Lois McMaster Bujold’s Miles Vorkosigan books. Maybe some of Anne McCaffrey’s non-Pern stuff? I like it, but I’ll bet it doesn’t sell _quite_ as quickly as the more familiar dragon books. I shall check my bookshelves when I get home this evening and see what my favorite new paperbacks are for you. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/12 "2005-09-01T22:07:55Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > I’ve got some Turtledove, but it’s alternative fiction. Does he do science fiction or fantasy, too? That should have said “alternate history.” _sigh_ When you go into a bookstore, do you look for alternate history books in the science fiction/fantasy section even if there are no sci-fi or fantasy elements in them? I’ve been keeping them with the general fiction. Thanks for all those other suggestions, folks. I’ll see if I can narrow this down to a list of specific titles and post it for comment in a few days. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/13 "2005-09-01T22:08:13Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > I tried one Kim Stanley Anderson title (_The Years of Rice and Salt_) and it gathered dust on the shelf for a year. I finally dumped it in the clearance bin. You should have tried the Kim Stanley Robinson version, it was slightly better. 🙂 I preferred his Mars trilogy but it can be a love it or hate it experience. Some other UK authors to consider (I assume they’re available there): Peter F Hamilton, Night’s Dawn Trilogy and others. Richard Morgan, Altered Carbon, Broken Angels etc (Futuristic thrillers). Alastair Reynolds, Revelation Space series. Adam Roberts, Salt, On etc. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/14 "2005-09-01T22:41:10Z")
I’m rather fond of Garth Nix’s [Abhorsen and Old Kingdom](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-9829987-9502269) books. I haven’t read the Keys to the Kingdom series, but the Abhorsen trilogy is fantastic. They’re YA, but the Abhorsen trilogy has [adult versions](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060575816/qid=1125614441/sr=8-21/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i6_xgl14/103-9829987-9502269?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), which are actually kind of ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/15 "2005-09-01T23:20:21Z")
Michael Crichton was popular. His books might sell. I’ve checked the New York Times best seller paperback list. Unfortunately, not too much science fiction/fantasy was on there, and they don’t have a seperate science fiction list. Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons” was 10th, though, and his “Deception Point” was 21st and “Digital Fortress” was 27th, if you consider those science fiction. “Star Wars: Dark Nest 1: The Joiner King” was 32nd. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/16 "2005-09-01T23:38:03Z")
I would recommend John Varley’s stuff as well as Robert Charles Wilson. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/17 "2005-09-01T23:48:50Z")
I’m a big fan of Sherri S. Tepper ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/18 "2005-09-02T00:11:23Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > That should have said “alternate history.” _sigh_ When you go into a bookstore, do you look for alternate history books in the science fiction/fantasy section even if there are no sci-fi or fantasy elements in them? I’ve been keeping them with the general fiction. > > Thanks for all those other suggestions, folks. I’ll see if I can narrow this down to a list of specific titles and post it for comment in a few days. Turtledove is commonly found in the Fantasy/Science Fiction section. Books to stock would be: Guns of the South Days of Infamy Any of the recent ‘Great War’ series He’s also much in demand for the compilations he ‘edits’. Those seem to sell well. Let me second Mercedes Lackey. Not my cup of tea (I’m an SF guy) but Lady Chance insists on buying every new Lackey book the day it comes out. Don’t forget a nice selection of Heinlein juveniles for the middle schoolers just discovering SF! ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/19 "2005-09-02T00:14:21Z")
I second the call for Richard Morgan. He’s currently got four books out - \*Altered Carbon, Broken Angels, Woken Furies \* and _Market Forces_. The first three are a trilogy, involving Takeshi Kovacs, a future flatfoot (in the first book) cum mercenary (the second two). It’s all very cyberpunk/space opera, and quite compelling IMHO. _Market Forces_ is set in the same universe as the first three, but seems to be set at an earlier time. It’s a standalone story, and of the four it’s my (and hubby’s) favourite. From what I’ve seen, people who like _Snow Crash_ tend to like Morgan’s work. Also seconding the call for Alastair Renolds’ work, but they do tend to be quite heavy and dry in some parts, so they really would appeal more to the hardcore SF fans, if you’ve got any in the area. Steven R. Donaldson has a good series, known as The Gap series. I’ve found people who hate his Thomas Covenant series have preferred the Gap series. It’s not as preachy and dry. And you can probably pick up a few copies of it without too much cost. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631/20 "2005-09-02T00:26:47Z")
I’d love to see some of [Frederik Pohl](http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/Frederik_Pohl.htm)’s books on the list. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-science-fiction-fantasy-paperbacks/319631.md?page=2)