Why Speculative Fiction?
Science fiction and fantasy aren't just escapism—they're laboratories for exploring ideas, challenging assumptions, and imagining different futures. These genres tackle profound questions about humanity, technology, morality, and what it means to be alive.
Science Fiction Favorites
Classic Sci-Fi
- "Dune" series - Frank Herbert
- "Foundation" series - Isaac Asimov
- "Ender's Game" - Orson Scott Card
- "The Left Hand of Darkness" - Ursula K. Le Guin
- "Hyperion Cantos" - Dan Simmons
Modern Sci-Fi
- "The Three-Body Problem" trilogy - Liu Cixin
- "The Expanse" series - James S.A. Corey
- "Project Hail Mary" - Andy Weir
- "Children of Time" - Adrian Tchaikovsky
- "Blindsight" - Peter Watts
Brandon Sanderson - The Cosmere
📚 Mistborn Series
- Era 1 (Original Trilogy): The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, The Hero of Ages
- Era 2 (Wax and Wayne): The Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self, The Bands of Mourning, The Lost Metal
⚔️ The Stormlight Archive
- The Way of Kings
- Words of Radiance
- Oathbringer
- Rhythm of War
- Wind and Truth (upcoming)
🗡️ Warbreaker & Elantris
- Warbreaker: Standalone novel with vivid magic system
- Elantris: Standalone, Sanderson's debut novel
Fantasy Favorites
Epic Fantasy
- "The Lord of the Rings" - J.R.R. Tolkien
- "The Wheel of Time" - Robert Jordan
- "The First Law" trilogy - Joe Abercrombie
- "The Realm of the Elderlings" - Robin Hobb
Urban & Contemporary Fantasy
- "The Dresden Files" - Jim Butcher
- "American Gods" - Neil Gaiman
- "The Magicians" trilogy - Lev Grossman
- "Rivers of London" - Ben Aaronovitch
Themes I Love
Sci-Fi Themes
- First contact with aliens
- AI and consciousness
- Time travel paradoxes
- Post-apocalyptic worlds
- Space exploration
Fantasy Themes
- Magic systems
- Hero's journey
- Worldbuilding depth
- Political intrigue
- Mythology & folklore
Space Opera vs. Hard Sci-Fi Spectrum
📊 The Continuum of Science Fiction
Science fiction exists on a spectrum from adventurous space opera to rigorous hard sci-fi:
Space Opera
←
Mid-Spectrum
→
Hard Sci-Fi
🚀 Space Opera
Adventure, drama, vast scales
- Star Wars
- Flash Gordon
- Foundation - Isaac Asimov
- Hyperion - Dan Simmons
⚖️ Balanced Sci-Fi
Science-informed storytelling
- Dune - Frank Herbert
- The Expanse - James S.A. Corey
- Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
- Three-Body Problem - Liu Cixin
- Contact - Carl Sagan
🔬 Hard Sci-Fi
Rigorous scientific accuracy
- The Martian - Andy Weir
- Seveneves - Neal Stephenson
- Blindsight - Peter Watts
- Rendezvous with Rama - Arthur C. Clarke
🖖 Star Trek
Iconic Episodes
The Original Series
- "The City on the Edge of Forever" - Time travel and impossible choices
- "Balance of Terror" - Submarine warfare in space
- "The Trouble with Tribbles" - Classic comedy episode
The Next Generation
- "The Inner Light" - Picard lives a lifetime
- "The Best of Both Worlds" - Borg two-parter
- "Darmok" - Communication through metaphor
- "Yesterday's Enterprise" - Alternate timeline
Deep Space Nine
- "In the Pale Moonlight" - Moral compromise
- "The Visitor" - Father-son relationship across time
- "Trials and Tribble-ations" - Time travel crossover
Voyager & Others
- "Year of Hell" (Voyager) - Ship under siege
- "Blink of an Eye" (Voyager) - Relativistic time
- "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad" (Discovery) - Time loop
⭐ Star Wars
The Galaxy Far, Far Away
Original Trilogy
- A New Hope (1977)
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Return of the Jedi (1983)
Prequel Trilogy
- The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Essential TV Series
- The Mandalorian: Bounty hunter adventures
- Andor: Gritty rebellion drama
- Clone Wars (Animated): War between trilogies
- Ahsoka: Post-Return of the Jedi adventures
Expanded Universe Favorites
- Thrawn trilogy novels - Timothy Zahn
- Knights of the Old Republic (game/comics)
📚 Sci-Fi Comics
Essential Science Fiction Comics
- Saga - Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples: Epic space opera with heart
- Transmetropolitan - Warren Ellis: Cyberpunk journalism
- Y: The Last Man - Brian K. Vaughan: Post-apocalyptic adventure
- The Invisibles - Grant Morrison: Mind-bending conspiracy sci-fi
- East of West - Jonathan Hickman: Alternate history sci-fi western
- Descender/Ascender - Jeff Lemire: AI and humanity
- Paper Girls - Brian K. Vaughan: Time travel mystery
- Black Science - Rick Remender: Dimension-hopping adventure
- The Manhattan Projects - Jonathan Hickman: Alternate history Manhattan Project
Film & TV
Must-Watch Shows & Movies
Science Fiction
- Blade Runner & Blade Runner 2049
- The Expanse (TV)
- Arrival
- Interstellar
- Black Mirror (TV)
Fantasy
- The Lord of the Rings trilogy
- Game of Thrones (TV)
- The Witcher (TV)
- House of the Dragon (TV)
- The Wheel of Time (TV)