Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Series Perfect for Adults

The best part about Discworld is that the forty-one books in the series do not have to be read in order—and you can dip in and out of this comic fantasy world as you please. The series is so called because all the stories unfold atop a flat planet, balanced precariously on the backs of four elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle, A’Tuin slowly moving through the vast reaches of space. The books are brimming with thoughtful humor and acerbic wit, parodying common fantasy tropes and cleverly commenting on real-world issues. Whether you’re keen on fairytales or a tale from the point-of-view of Death or a deep-dive into the pitfalls of academia, there’s a Discworld book for everyone, and our reading guide can get you started!

For sci-fi buffs, you can’t go wrong with the classics. Arthur C. Clarke’s philosophically tinged New Wave SF book, Rendezvous With Rama, tells the story of humanity’s encounter with a strange alien starship that constantly eludes all attempts to understand it. A group of scientists intercept the cylindrical starship and explore its interiors—but they struggle to categorize or comprehend their findings, as they are limited their human perspectives. 

Overall, its an ambitious and ambiguous read, and its success spawned several sequels—written by Gentry Lee, with editorial oversight by Clarke, that are different in style and focus more on character-driven action.   

Robin Hobb’s Farseer books are exquisitely written, quietly brilliant and deeply introspective, telling the story of Fitz—a bastard son of a prince trained to be an assassin. Structured like a quest and borrowing from Arthurian and fairytale motifs, the books feature ingenious magic systems and a compelling storyline, sucking you into an intricately-crafted epic fantasy world. And if you enjoy the trilogy, there’s more magic to uncover, as it’s just the first of five series set in Hobb’s Realms of the Elderlings saga. 

If you’re into military sci-fi, you must check out the genre classic. The Forever War (1974) by Joe Haldeman that depicts human soldiers embroiled in a massive interstellar war against an alien civilization. The winner of the Locus, Hugo and Nebula awards, the novel was partly inspired by the writer’s own experiences in the Vietnam war and takes on a contemplative tone. Parts of the novel were originally published in Analog Magazine, and there’s a short story “A Separate War” set in the same world, later published in an anthology. It also has a direct sequel Forever Free (1999) as well as another book, Forever Peace (1997) that’s thematically connected to the first novel but set in a different universe. 

This Polish series about monsters and their hunters comprises nine novels and fifteen short stories, and has been adapted for film, TV and into video games. The works are set in a wild, wild world, populated with dangerous magical creatures, courtly intrigue and monster hunters for hire. So while you’re waiting for season 4 of Netflix’s The Witcher to drop (with Liam Hemsworth replacing Henry Cavill in the title role), you can catch up on the original books and find out what Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, Dandelion/Jaskier and Triss Marigold have been up to! 

If you’re hungry for a decadent fantasy world reminiscent of medieval Venice, with scheming aristocrats, con artists and clever street urchins, M.A. Carrick’s Rook & Rose series promises to be a richly rewarding read. Tightly plotted, packed with twists and turns, and probing into the inequalities and injustices of a corrupt magical society, these books are perfect for lovers of dark fantasy, and also feature wondrous magic systems inspired by Tarot cards, numerology and astrology. 

Although initially intended for a YA audience, Megan Whalen Turner’s The Queen’s Thief is carefully layered and rewards the adult reader with each reread, as you pick up on subtle cues and themes. Most of the books follow Gen, a thief who claims he can steal anything, and his rise to political power. While each of the six novels are well-written, with a richly developed world and folklore, the extremely subtle slow-burn romance unfolding in the second and third books make them my personal favorites. 

Between Bram Stoker’s Dracula that sort of inaugurated the genre and Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books that was a huge hit with teenagers, there’s also the Gothic-steeped and homoerotic-subtext-layered Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice that richly explores the dark side of immortality, the relevance of art and aesthetics, and humanity’s relationship with bloodthirsty predators, told over thirteen main novels, and other texts in an interconnected supernatural universe. 

Most of the books center on the charismatic Lestat de Lioncourt, a French aristocrat turned vampire who fumbles his way through the centuries—wrestling with important questions about God, religion, immortality—in a uniquely stylish manner.