Core Best Fantasy Lists
- Top 25 Fantasy Books
- Top 100 Fantasy Books
- Best Fantasy Series
- Best Stand Alone Fantasy
- Best Young Adult Fantasy
- Top 25 Best Indie Fantasy
- Best Fantasy Audiobooks
- Best Fantasy You've Never Read
- Most Influential Fantasy
- Best Non-English Fantasy
- Great Fantasy Books
- Good Fantasy Books
- Worst Fantasy Books Ever
Best Yearly Lists
Best Decade Lists
- Best Fantasy Since 2010
- Best Fantasy of the 90's
- Best Fantasy of the 80's
- Best Fantasy of the 70's
- Best Fantasy of the 60's
- Best Early Modern Fantasy (30's-50's)
- Best Pre-Tolkien Fantasy
Best Thematic Lists
- Best Anti-Hero Fantasy
- Best Asian Fantasy
- Best Feel Good Fantasy
- Best of the Tolkien Clones
- Best of the Dresden Clones
- Fantasy That Will Blow Your Mind
- Best Fantasy Books for Women
- Best Fantasy Books by Female Authors
- Best Fantasy Books for Children
- Best Vampire Books for YA
- Best Vampire Books for Adults
Best Subgenre Lists
- Top 50 EPIC Fantasy
- Best Grimdark Fantasy
- Best Military Fantasy
- Best Urban Fantasy
- Best Steampunk Fantasy
- Best Literary Fantasy
- Best Vampire Fantasy
- Best Sword and Sorcery
- Best Fantasy Mysteries
- Best Romance Fantasy
- Best Paranormal Romance
- Best Vampire Romance
- Best Dragon Fantasy
Fantasy Award Winners
Fantasy Guides
- Guide to Fantasy Genres
- How to Find Your Next Read Here
- Guide to Vampire Books
- Beginner's Fantasy Guide
Movies & Games Lists
- Best Science Fiction Books
- Best Fantasy Games
- Best Sci-Fi Games
- Best Sci-Fi Movies
- Best 'Thinking' Sci-Fi Movies
Fantasy Subgenres
- Epic Fantasy
- High Fantasy
- Low Fantasy
- Mundane Fantasy
- Hard Fantasy
- Young Adult Fantasy
- Juvenile Fantasy
- Quest Fantasy
- Coming-of-Age Fantasy
- Heroic Fantasy
- Sword and Sorcery Fantasy
- Swashbuckling Fantasy
- Wuxia Fantasy
- Gods & Demons / Shenmo Fantasy
- Grimdark Fantasy Books
- Colonial Fantasy Books
- Silk Road Fantasy Books
- Flintlock Fantasy Books
- Gunpowder Fantasy Books
- Military Fantasy
- Gritty Fantasy
- Dark Fantasy
- Vampire Fantasy
- Urban Fantasy
- Contemporary Fantasy
- Paranormal Fantasy
- Fantastic Romance
- Romantic Fantasy
- Erotic Fantasy
- Classical Fantasy Books
- Medieval Fantasy
- Court Intrigue Fantasy
- Fantasy of Manners
- Science Fantasy
- Sword and Planet Fantasy
- Dying Earth Fantasy
- Futuristic Fantasy
- Steampunk Fantasy
- Arcanepunk Fantasy
- Gaslamp Fantasy
- Weird West Fantasy
- Political Fantasy
- Literary Fantasy
- Magic Realism
- New Weird Fantasy
- Weird Fiction
- Fantastic Poetry
- Fantastique
- Comic/Humorous Fantasy
- Magical Girl Fantasy
- Series Fantasy
- Super Hero Fantasy
- Media-tie-in Fantasy
- Prehistoric Fantasy Books
- Historical Fantasy
- High Historical Fantasy
- Alternate History Fantasy
- Alternate World Fantasy
- Crossworlds Fantasy
- Portal Fantasy
- Christian Fantasy
- Celtic Fantasy
- Arthurian Fantasy
- Mythic Fantasy
- Mythopoeia
- Legend-Retelling Fantasy
- Allegorical Fantasy
- Fables/Fairy Tale Books
- Anthropomorphic Fantasy
- Dragon Fantasy Books
- Bangsian Fantasy Books
- Assassin Fantasy Books
- Arabian Fantasy Books
Science Fantasy
What is Science Fantasy?
As fantasy fiction becomes more focused on contemporary environments, as opposed to medieval and ancient worlds, technology plays an increasingly important role in the stories. This evolution brings more Science Fantasy into the fold, just in time to meet the audience bemoaning a slowing-down of Science Fiction.
Striking sparks between science and fantasy yields some very exciting work that appeal to a wide range of readers both young and old. Many of us find enough magic in science itself to hold our interest; add some fantasy elements to keep it light and entertaining (and resolve some of the frustrating limitations of a real-world discipline), and this could become a major sub-genre that hooks people young and keeps them avidly interested for a long time to come. It doesn't hurt that the form could be a force to correct some of the technology ignorance social critics have been bemoaning recently, if youngsters hooked on this genre expand their field to include science fiction..
The distinction between science fiction and science fantasy is a bit fuzzy, but it's helpful to think of it like this: science fiction has the obligation to explain according to known laws of physics and nature or acceptable extensions of them; science fantasy has no such obligation. A portable “cloaking device” in a science fiction story (not possible at this time, but theoretically possible given certain technological advances) may have its fantasy equivalent in a magic ring turned on the finger three times 'round. So the effect is the same—what's different is the atmosphere evoked: fantasy, not science.
This is not to say science/technology per se don't exist in this fiction—many times they are portrayed in conjunction with or opposition to the power of magic.
Science Fantasy Characteristics

- Level of Magic
Magic is prominent in this sub-genre, but it may be set up in conjunction with, or in opposition or juxtaposition to “real” science and technology. These joinings and divergences may create harmony or lead to havoc, depending on the storyline.
- Level of Characterization
Varies greatly depending on the story. There may be many or few characters, stock types or richly detailed.
- Level of Plot Complexity
Also a large variety here, with technology taking a minor or major role. Dedicated fantasy readers may find it difficult to deal with some stories that include a lot of science/technology.
- Level of Violence
The level of violence and sex is highly variable. The stories themselves can lead anywhere and embrace any theme found in the other sub-genres, their cohesiveness provided only by the melding of science and fantasy.
Related Fantasy Subgenres

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Slipstream (New Weird) and some Paranormal Fantasy are related. If you like Science Fantasy, then it's safe to say you may enjoy exploring what the science fiction genre has to offer.
Science Fantasy Isn’t For You If...
The definition of “Fantasy” excludes science and technology.
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- Dune (Frank Herbert)
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475
- 7
- Frankenstein (Mary Shelley)
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153
- 9
- Hyperion (Dan Simmons)
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165
- 10
- Lord Of Light (Roger Zelazny)
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110
- 11
- Darkover (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
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110
- 15
- Artemis Fowl (Eoin Colfer)
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80
- 17
- Lord Valentine's Castle ()
-
60
- 20
- Witch World (Andre Norton)
-
61
- 23
- Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton)
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106
- 24
- Star Wars (Jeffrey Brown)
-
63
- 25
- Gone Series (Michael Grant)
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30
- 29
- Vampire Earth (E.E. Knight)
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31
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