Recs if you like The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle, #2)...
Fantasy books you can read instead of Harry Potter
JK Rowling is a bigot who uses her platform to hurt transfolks and other marginalized groups (plus she literally just quoted Mein Kampf on the bird site). If you're still supporting her in 2025, don't bother talking to me.
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Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books With Great Prose
Clever, arresting and intentional SFF books by genre writers who really know how to play with and control language; not even necessarily immensely quotable or flowery, but wholly competent and meticulous.
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An Ursula K. Le Guin bibliography
All of Ursula K. Le Guin's major works. Not exhaustive due to some writing being hard to source sadly. Still a work in progress!
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βI am no manβ
Feminism and female empowerment in fantasy and speculative fiction, inspired by the always iconic Γowyn. Only the first book in a series listed unless thereβs something specific about a later book, and suggestions welcome!
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Magical Revolutionary Women
A woman's place is in the revolution. Featuring magical/gifted women who disobey the powers that be and rage against the machine.
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Labyrinthine Reads
Books featuring labyrinths and mazes.
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Under 10 hours - Short, workday audiobooks
Audiobooks that are less than 10 hours long and are safe for work AKA not aiming to get your horned up at your desk (no guarantees that you won't cry or get the creeps though). Recommendations welcome!
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There is no outside
Books featuring enclosed and dark settings. Claustrophobic much?
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labyrinths
books that are literally or metaphorically set in labyrinths / mazes
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Ursula K. Le Guin Master List
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Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Myths, and Theories Thereof
Have you ever wanted a PhD in English Lit? Do you think fantasy is a legitimate field of literary criticism? Would you like a glimpse into the psyche of someone who does?
These are the books included (or excerpted from) on my comprehensive exams list for a dissertation on fantasy. It is not even a remotely comprehensive list of fantasy texts and criticism (yes, I see the irony).
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Books that are peak (trust me bro)
I don't read certain problematic authors. So this list will not contain those people. These are books with good prose, writing, plots, characters, and some have impact (One of K. Le Guin's books is a Ghibli movie, and it reads like one). This list will be updated more and more as I continue to read peak.
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Lady Writers To Prioritize
This is based on a lot of best list researching and only some of my own opinions. It is mostly a wish to read list. Please add your best lady writer picks so we can all have an army of lady writers to recommend to each other and celebrate!
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The Folio Society Collection
A list of all the books that the Folio Society has made special editions of.
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Read By Genre
books featured on the podcast Shelved By Genre
"I want to know about elfs. I want to know about dwarves. I want to know about: wizards. I want to know about: goblins. I want to know about: cyberpunks. I want to know about: rampant AI. I want to know about: Master Chief. I want to know about: gay wizards. Okay? Like thatβs what I want to know about." - Cameron Kunzelman
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