The Best Fantasy & SciFi Books We Read in 2024 (Ep. 7)

Stardust is a captivating fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman that follows Tristran Thorn as he ventures into the mystical land of Faerie to retrieve a fallen star for his beloved, Victoria Forester. Along the way, he encounters magical creatures, witches, and princes, leading to a journey filled with romance, adventure, and self-discovery. The story explores themes of love, identity, and the power of true devotion.

In 'Daemon,' Daniel Suarez explores the aftermath of the death of Matthew Sobol, a brilliant game designer who leaves behind a sophisticated and autonomous computer program. This daemon, activated by Sobol's obituary, begins to manipulate and control various systems, recruiting real-world agents and creating advanced devices to achieve its goals. The story follows characters such as Detective Pete Sebeck and Jon Ross as they try to understand and stop the daemon, which is designed to reshape society according to Sobol's vision. The novel critiques the over-reliance on technology and raises questions about control, autonomy, and the potential dangers of advanced technological systems.

In 'The Fall', Albert Camus explores themes of guilt, judgment, and the human condition through the narrative of Jean-Baptiste Clamence. Clamence, a self-proclaimed 'judge-penitent', recounts his life as a successful but hypocritical lawyer in Paris. His story is marked by a pivotal event where he failed to act when a woman jumped to her death from a bridge, leading to a deep sense of guilt and existential despair. Through his monologues, Clamence delves into the complexities of human nature, the inevitability of judgment, and the universal guilt that underlies human existence. The novel is set against the backdrop of Amsterdam and reflects on the broader implications of World War II and the Holocaust, inviting readers to confront their own moral failings and the inherent hypocrisy in human behavior.

In this novella, Claire Keegan tells the story of a young girl sent to live with foster parents, John and Edna Kinsella, on a farm in rural Ireland in the summer of 1981. The girl, who is unused to home comforts, finds affection and warmth in the Kinsellas' care and begins to blossom. However, the story is marked by an underlying tension and the eventual revelation of a secret that threatens her newfound happiness. The narrative explores themes of family, belonging, and the profound impact of kindness on a child's life. The book is praised for its sparse yet elegant prose and its ability to evoke powerful emotions through subtle storytelling.

In 'East of Eden', John Steinbeck tells the story of the Trask and Hamilton families, set against the backdrop of California's Salinas Valley. The novel is a modern retelling of the biblical story of Cain and Abel, focusing on the tumultuous relationship between Cal and Aron Trask, and their struggles with their father, Adam. The book delves into themes of love, rejection, and the choice between good and evil, symbolized by the Hebrew word 'timshel', meaning 'thou mayest'. The narrative is rich with characters like Samuel Hamilton, a kind and wise patriarch, and Kate, the embodiment of evil, whose past and actions significantly impact the lives of the Trasks.

This book is the first in the Hierarchy series by James Islington. It follows the journey of Viz, a young man who finds himself embroiled in a complex political conspiracy. The story is set in a world with a unique magic system and blends elements of fantasy and science fiction. Viz's journey is filled with challenges, friendships, and betrayals as he navigates the treacherous world around him. The book explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the consequences of power.

In 'Hyperion', Dan Simmons crafts a complex and engaging narrative that follows seven pilgrims as they travel to the enigmatic planet Hyperion. Each pilgrim has a unique story to tell, which they share during their journey, revealing their connections to Hyperion and the Shrike, a metallic creature with the power to grant wishes. The novel is structured similarly to 'The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer, with a framing narrative that presents the tales of the pilgrims. The story explores themes of religion, war, love, and the human condition, set against a backdrop of interstellar politics and technological advancements. The novel is praised for its detailed world-building, character development, and literary references.

The novel is a bildungsroman that explores Ged's process of learning to cope with power and come to terms with death. It is set in the fictional archipelago of Earthsea, where magic is based on a delicate balance maintained by wizards. Ged's story involves his education at a school of wizardry, his struggles with a shadow he inadvertently summons, and his journey to confront and merge with this shadow. The book is renowned for its philosophical themes, including the power of names and the balance of the universe, and is part of the six-volume Earthsea Cycle.