Speculative fiction isn’t just about creating strange worlds, but also populating them with strange creatures. It’s where the monsters hiding under the bed suddenly become real, where kaijus and mechas fight each other in galactic arenas, where predators with superpowers come up with ingenious ways to stalk and kill their prey. From friendly mythological beasts and talking animal companions to terrifying monsters and alien fauna that will haunt you long after you’ve closed the last page, we bring you a selection of sci-fi and fantasy books where encounters with wondrous beings form a core part of the narrative!
Perdido Street Station
One of the best weird fantasy novels ever written, Perdido Street Station has more strange fauna than your average medieval bestiary. Much of the novel unfolds in the fictional industrial metropolis of New Crobuzon that mixes steampunk elements with technological innovations, and is inhabited by a mosaic of non-human intelligent species including garudas, insect-like humanoids, spider-like monsters, and the most nightmarish of them all, the slake moths.
These predatory creatures exist in multiple dimensions, are notoriously hard to kill and invade victims by feasting on their minds while leaving their bodies behind. After finishing this hefty tome, you’ll probably not look at a butterfly or a moth in the same way again.
Watership Down
Rabbits are traditionally portrayed as rather sweet and docile creatures, but the bunnies in Watership Down are anything but. Richard Adams not only delivers a compelling adventure story in Watership Down, but also invents entire mythologies, folklore and cultures for his rabbit characters. The book follows a group of rabbits who survive the destruction of their warren and must find a new home, battle foes and overcoming various obstacles along the way.
A fierce tale of bravery, strategy and solidarity, Watership Down is a marvelous read, suitable for both children and adults.
It Came from Del Rio
From the scheming rabbits in Watership Down, we move onto zombie bunnies in Stephen Graham Jones’ noir-tinged horror thriller, It Came From Del Rio. The story follows a smuggler trying to make ends meet who’s presently hiding in Mexico. He decides to accept that one last job—and of course, things so disastrously wrong.
Gritty and inventive, It Came From Del Rio is a rather compelling read that manages to be horrific and eloquent at the same time, by one of the strongest writers in the genre. An absolute must-read for horror fans.
The Dinosaur Lords
We all grew up with stories about dinosaurs and their tragic extinction, and the scores of archeological records and fossil collections in museums all over the globe continue to inspire writers and artists to come up with their own imaginative renditions of the leviathan creatures that once walked this planet. Victor Milan’s The Dinosaur Lords series is a refreshing take on this genre that combines epic fantasy with warfare and intrigue, along with dinosaurs!
The first book introduces readers to a vividly-realized medieval world where dinosaurs and humans sort-of coexist. Aimed at an adult readership, The Dinosaur Lords is an action-packed ride with a clever plot and inventive worldbuilding, endorsed by none other than George R.R. Martin.
Apocalypse Cow
Most of us wouldn’t associate cows with violence or fear, but Michael Logan’s Apocalypse Cow turns these placid creatures into unlikely bioweapons in a thrilling sci-fi horror comedy novel. The co-winner of the inaugural Terry Pratchett First Novel Award, Apocalypse Cow unfolds in a contemporary Scotland where animals get infected with a strange virus that turns them into killing machines.
Filled with memorable characters, witty banter and laugh-out-loud twists, Apocalypse Cow is perfect for lovers of zombie narratives and humorous stories, and promises to be highly entertaining. After all, it apparently made Terry Pratchett, the master of comedic fantasy, “snort out loud."
What Feeds Below
I was lucky enough to read an eARC of Tatiana Schlote-Bonne’s third novel, What Feeds Below before it comes out later this year. This fungal horror fantasy thriller unfolds in a tourist town where strangers and locals dive deep into the Void, a massive chasm in the city, to uncover priceless artefacts—if they’re not eaten by the carnivorous flora and fauna that have made the darkness their home.
It’s also an exciting story of toxic friendships and co-dependency with characters you’d root for, but it’s the horrifying creatures lurking in the Void that makes What Feeds Below so memorable. Overall, a fast-paced book filled with chills and scares that you’d want to devour in a single sitting.
Monster Blood Tattoo
Foundling by D.M. Cornish: Finally, a lot of traditional fantasy stories, such as The Lord of the Rings (mentioned above) put the monsters in the “evil” camp and humans in the “good”—but what if it was the other way around? D.M. Cornish’s YA series, Monster Blood Tattoo challenges such assumptions in an engaging way. It follows Rossamünd, a boy with a girl’s name raised in an orphanage, who begins a new job with the hope of fighting monsters.
But perhaps everything he's been fed about monsters isn’t exactly true—and some of it might just be propaganda. Packed with tiny details and intricately crafted and raising complex questions, Monster Blood Tattoo: Foundling is a rather endearing read.
The Lord of the Rings
Tolkien didn’t just invent the fictional realm of Middle Earth, he devised entire languages for all the races inhabiting it, including elves, dwarves and even orcs. And The Lord of the Rings is filled with all manner of terrifying foes, such as the snarling wargs, the cave-dwelling trolls, Shelob the deadly spider, and of course, the mighty Balrog that proves a match for the greatest of all wizards, Gandalf.
