British author Sir Terry Pratchett transformed the world of fantasy fiction with his Discworld. Much like how Douglas Adams injected humour and absurdism into science fiction, without removing any of the philosophy and political allegories, Pratchett did the same with fantasy. But when he passed, Sir Terry left us with forty-one Discworld novels; and if …
Book Lists
Fantasy is a colossal genre that has had an enormous impact on the lives of its readers and fans. This is a fiercely beloved genre that goes far beyond literature. For these reasons, selecting the best fantasy books of all time is a tall order, as is simply defining what fantasy actually is. Originally inspired …
We should all be feminists. This is a simple truth. Being an active feminist, as well as an anti-racist and anti-queerphobic, is how we make a society to be proud of. Regardless of who you are and what gender you are, one of the best ways to be a better feminist is to read feminist …
It’s hard to ignore the fact that, historically, the genres of sci-fi and fantasy have been dominated by straight, white men, with a few notable exceptions. Over the past few years, however, there has been a colourful shift to queer fantasy and sci-fi books, and books of that genre written by incredible women and authors …
Science fiction is both an exciting and a vitally important genre of fiction — across literature, film, and video games — for countless reasons. The best sci-fi books offer writers and readers the opportunity to flex their imaginations, to ask colossal questions about philosophy and existentialism. This is what the best sci-fi books provide us. …
Gothic fiction is a genre with an incredible legacy, but it’s also one that is seeing an exciting modern revival. Since its beginnings in the late 18th Century, the gothic genre has grown and changed, having a hand in the creations of horror and science fiction. As such, gothic novels are at once broad in …
Shoujo is a broad genre of manga that has existed for almost as long as there have been manga readers. The name shoujo literally means “young woman”, and the shoujo manga label is stamped on any manga suitable for (or that appeals to) readers who are young girls. This means that a lot of stereotyping …
Representation of minority experiences in genre fiction is important for ensuring that art offers a more universal experience. But there’s more to it than that. Diversity of voices within genres like horror also allows that genre to be shaken up by new ideas and approaches to the medium. Queer horror books bring a unique voice …
Over the course of the last decade or so, nonfiction has undergone a slow and gradual revolution, taking cues from the page-turning tone and immediacy of fiction to make itself more narrative, engaging, and exhilarating. We are now gifted with a wave of compelling, inspirational nonfiction. Every year, countless nonfiction books come out that prove …
What you’re about to read is a pair of lists — one of fiction and the other nonfiction. These are all, in some way, books about life. But that definition is going to mean something different to everyone. For that reason, we’ve done our best to provide as much variety as possible here (and, to …