Sci-fi fantasy, also known as science fantasy, is quite a niche genre when it comes to books, yet one that works so well. Why there are so few sci-fi fantasy crossovers is beyond me, but here are some of the best books in that category.
The best of science fantasy
Reading the words together makes sense, but actually breaking down what the genre requires is a different matter. Science fiction must have at least some basis in scientific theory or fact to be classed in the genre, moving from the strict hard sci-fi to the soft. However, fantasy is all about the fae, mysteries beyond the human realm, and old technology brought back to life.
Combining the two takes quite a lot of skill and a deep understanding of both.
Dune – Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert’s Dune is a clear example of sci-fi fantasy. In this fantastic work, we have elements of fantasy at play, such as mythical hallucinations gripping sword fights and enormous, ancient beasts beneath the sands. These tropes are markedly fantasy, yet they fit seamlessly into the science fiction world of Dune.
The setting of Dune is the perfect science-fantasy crossover. There is the constant element of intergalactic space and travel. However, the first books are based almost purely on one planet. The world of Dune has also done away with computers after being enslaved by an AI in the past. This leaves a universe in which, although there are elements of science fiction space travel and weaponry, there is a heavy reliance on spice and fantasy-style vision in the narrative. It is widely considered to be one of the best sci-fi series of all time.
Empire of Silence – Christopher Ruocchio
A common trope of fantasy is the battle for thrones, kingdoms, and court intrigue. Empire of Silence and the subsequent books capture this well-loved element of the genre and throw it into an intergalactic setting. You may think that this would quickly become a space opera, and you’re not wrong. Despite this, there is no denying the deep fantasy undercurrents of the narrative.
The setting of the book is an epic beginning for any story. Our protagonist, who is retelling his own tale, is known as the sun eater. He is heralded as a hero for destroying an entire enemy alien race but feared as a monster for killing billions of humans in the process. This is exactly the kind of basis a sci-fi book loves to start with. The fantasy elements come in as we find out just how he came to become this sun destroyer, and his tale is remarkably fantasy-based.
The Broken Earth – N.K. Jemisin
A clever way to combine sci-fi and fantasy into one book is to have the narrative set far in the future but in a world that has collapsed into a dark age. This leaves space for some great futuristic technologies but also forces the old style of a typical fantasy book. The Broken Earth does exactly this, leaving the far-future planet ravaged by an apocalyptic season and calling on the powers of magic and science to save the day.
The Broken Earth books set the scene with a planet wracked by seasons. These seasons last for generations and wipe out most of whatever the civilization has managed to build for themselves. However, there are still remnants of an incredibly advanced ancient race evident. With every new season, humanity tries desperately to stall world-ending events using magical and technological methods. This is a fantastic blend of sci-fi and fantasy in a three-book trilogy.
The Book of the New Sun – Gene Wolfe
The dying earth theory in science fiction has always been fascinating. When a sun is dying or a planet has doomed itself to eventual destruction, science fiction thrives in one way or another. The genre loves a dystopia, and a crumbling planet is the perfect setting. The Book of the New Sun collection focuses on this idea, with the sun surrounding this futuristic planet slowly cooling, leaving the earth orbiting it to struggle on.
Despite the books being based in the future, due to the collapse of the world, the narrative gives a lot of space for fantasy. As we follow the protagonist on his journey to exile, many of the familiar sights of fantasy are met along the way. Old inns, decaying cities, and fantasy-style lifestyles are led. Despite there being evidence of the fallen technological past, sword fights and old modes of transport are still used. Unlike traditional sci-fi, where FTL travel is available, this book sticks to the fantasy standard of a long old walk.
Gideon the Ninth – Tamsyn Muir
Sci-fi fantasy can take place on a single planet, like the previous series, or it can be interplanetary. Just because civilization has invented space travel doesn’t mean there can’t also be key elements of fantasy woven in. This science fantasy book takes the ideas of multi-planetary civilizations and mixes them with the ideas of immortal necromancers and the trials of becoming a demigod.
If that sounds epic, it’s because it is. This sci-fi fantasy brilliantly combines the science of space travel and technology with the mysticism and fantasy of necromancy and seemingly immortal emperors. These books follow the path of the quest to become one of the chosen few to become a Lyctor. These beings are essentially immortal and enter into the realm of saints.
Red Rising – Pierce Brown
If you like the concept of The Hunger Games but have a reading age of someone over the age of 14, then Red Rising would be a great place to start. The story takes place in the not-do-distant future on the planet Mars. It has been several hundred years since humanity spread themselves to the stars, and things aren’t looking too utopian. There is a class system in place that is strictly enforced and very divided.
Our main character, after losing his wife, is recruited into a resistance movement. Using a clever disguise, our protagonist is able to infiltrate one of the highest-class families. From here, the story takes us on a tale of murder, subterfuge, and intrigue through a futuristic world dripping with fantasy tropes of hierarchy and murder. This sci-fi fantasy crossover is The Hunger Games for adults.
The Infinite and the Divine – Robert Rath
Warhammer 40000 is a perfect example of sci-fi fantasy done right. The whole world of Warhammer is the perfect science fantasy genre in a nutshell. We have monstrous space marines combined with emperors, the undead, ancient gods, and intergalactic warfare spanning thousands of years. If you’re looking for a science fantasy universe that will fill a lifetime of reading and enjoyment, get involved in Warhammer.
However, for the sake of keeping it concise, The Infinite and the Divine is a great book to pick up to get an idea of just what the universe of Warhammer can hold. Of course, if you’re already deep into the world of Warhammer, a lot of this book will make more sense. But, if not, as a gateway, it’s certainly a good one. Once you have digested this, there are plenty more amazing Warhammer books to get your teeth into.
Hyperion – Dan Simmons
The whole Hyperion Cantos is a wonderful collection of books that may lean more toward sci-fi than fantasy, but it still has elements of both. The first book in this series has a group of travelers heeding the call of an unknown and incredibly powerful being. As each of the various characters makes their pilgrimage, they tell their tales from across the vastly populated galaxy.
There are certainly heavy elements of science fiction in the Hyperion Cantos, but due to how the worlds are populated and the alien races within, fantasy is constantly prevalent. There are huge tree ships grown from an alien planet, essentially functioning as biological spaceships. Many planets are barely developed, resulting in civilizations akin to the medieval settings loved by fantasy. However, there are also space battles on a phenomenal scale and elements of time travel.
Coldfire Trilogy – Celia S. Friedman
What happens when a spacefaring civilization lands on a planet already inhabited by a fantasy-style Fae that doesn’t really agree with their technology? You end up with a science fantasy trilogy. This is a great example of dropping a typical sci-fi story into a fantasy setting and seeing how it fares. The trilogy is a fantastic ride as the tropes of fantasy slowly crush those of the science fiction side.
The narrative set out with a colonizing group landing on a planet with the intent to begin life anew here. However, the planet itself has other plans. The Fae, a force from deep within the planet, burst forth from earthquakes and volcanoes. This mysterious force alerts many of the animals to the forces of nature. However, it also takes objection to humans and the technology they have brought with them. Through various constructs, such as demons, the Fae wage war on the humans until they strip back their technology to almost nothing. The Coldfire Trilogy follows how humanity survives alongside this powerful fantasy Fae.
Elder Race – Adrian Tchaikovsky
Although only a novella, this science fantasy book captures a lot of what makes the blended genre a great one. A clever way to combine the two genres, as seen in a number of these other entries, is to have colony planets somewhat removed from the rest of civilization. This is what Elder Race is all about. This short story focuses on how one of these particular planets has fared since being separated from the home planet, forging its own path on a planet that has some very heavy fantasy elements.
Our protagonist finds himself on a planet with royalty, demons, sorcerers, and high courts. These deep fantasy elements are combined with the ideas of interplanetary colonization and space travel. It’s an interesting way to mix the two genres together. A return to the Dark Ages through colonization and separation from the network of planets is a feasible idea and one that worked very well in this sci-fi fantasy book.
Published: Jul 20, 2024 10:38 am