The sci-fi/fantasy/crime genre is probably one I’ve known the least about, and I only really started to dive down the rabbit hole when I began writing my series. I’m glad I did. The world-building and lore that is woven into this genre truly sets it apart from the usual stuff. On top of needing an intricate technological imagination that has some grounding in the real world, these kinds of books also need to have characters that are believable and a narrative that is not so futuristic that it strains credulity. It’s a tough mix to get right, but when I find a story that nails these aspects it really immerses me into the world and narrative like nothing else.
What I enjoyed most about these books was the pure entertainment, blending moments of tension, thrilling suspense, and poignant emotions that resonated deeply. Loved the way it blended the occult with your classic detective novels.
I also really enjoy the character of Harry Dresden and the rich supernatural world crafted by Butcher, where Dresden operates as a supernatural detective (or wizard for hire). Plus, the writing is very similar to the detective noir styles of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, which brings unique vibes.
In the first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series, Harry Dresden’s investigation of a grisly double murder pulls him into the darkest depths of magical Chicago…
As a professional wizard, Harry Dresden knows firsthand that the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most of them don’t play well with humans. And those that do enjoy playing with humans far too much. He also knows he’s the best at what he does. Technically, he’s the only at what he does. But even though Harry is the only game in town, business—to put…
Where to start with this one? It is probably considered one of the original titles that brought in the cyberpunk genre and takes you on a wild ride.
What I liked best about this series is the way it delves into the concepts of a soul (a ghost) and whether people who have become cyborg or with a cyborg brain are indeed still human. At what point does the line between human and android overlap?
These greater philosophical questions are brilliantly intertwined with political intrigue, espionage, terrorism, and murder. Plus the main character is a badass sexy cyborg and pro hacker that likes to shoot guns, kick people and drive really fast. What’s not to love?
Deep into the twenty-first century, the line between man and machine has been blurred as humans rely on the enhancement of mechanical implants and robots are upgraded with human tissue. In this rapidly converging landscape, cyborg superagent Major Motoko Kusanagi is charged to track down the craftiest and most dangerous terrorists and cybercriminals, including 'ghost hackers' who are capable of exploiting the human/machine interface and reprogramming humans to become puppets to carry out the hackers' criminal ends.
The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.
The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.
Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…
I liked the concept of this story and the way it provokes the imagination.
The world the author creates is engrossing, and the narrative dives into the exploration of humanity's existential dilemmas. It grapples with concepts like reality vs. illusion, life vs. artificial existence, mind manipulation, intellect vs. cognitive impairment, decay vs. renewal, the significance of religion (whether genuine or imagined), and the importance of individualism vs. conformity.
This story was the source material for the Bladerunner movies and is considered one of the best of the genre, and it is easy to see why.
As the eagerly-anticipated new film Blade Runner 2049 finally comes to the screen, rediscover the world of Blade Runner . . .
World War Terminus had left the Earth devastated. Through its ruins, bounty hunter Rick Deckard stalked, in search of the renegade replicants who were his prey. When he wasn't 'retiring' them with his laser weapon, he dreamed of owning a live animal - the ultimate status symbol in a world all but bereft of animal life.
Then Rick got his chance: the assignment to kill six Nexus-6 targets, for a huge reward. But in Deckard's world things were…
I enjoy this book because it essentially serves as a link between the older 60s post-modernist dystopian science fiction and the more contemporary, technology-driven, emotionally burdened weariness that has characterised authors since the 80s.
This book was outstanding; I found it impossible to stop reading. Gibson masterfully crafts an edge and tension that permeates the entire story, gripping the reader and refusing to let go.
Arguably, Neuromancer not only defined its genre but also left a noticeable imprint on literature and film ever since.
The book that defined the cyberpunk movement, inspiring everything from The Matrix to Cyberpunk 2077.
The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.
William Gibson revolutionised science fiction in his 1984 debut Neuromancer. The writer who gave us the matrix and coined the term 'cyberspace' produced a first novel that won the Hugo, Nebula and Philip K. Dick Awards, and lit the fuse on the Cyberpunk movement.
More than three decades later, Gibson's text is as stylish as ever, his noir narrative still glitters like chrome in the shadows and his depictions of…
The Guardian of the Palace is the first novel in a modern fantasy series set in a New York City where magic is real—but hidden, suppressed, and dangerous when exposed.
When an ancient magic begins to leak into the world, a small group of unlikely allies is forced to act…
What I like most about this novel is how well crafted it is and the pure imagination behind it. The plot is a usual noir mystery, with the mystery actually remaining as such until the end. The characters are also fantastic and completely believable.
I really enjoyed how the story explored the implications of a transhuman world where individuals can transfer their thoughts, memories, and even personalities into different bodies based on their financial means.
This must-read story is a confident, action-and-violence packed thriller, and future classic noir SF novel from a multi-award-winning author.
Four hundred years from now mankind is strung out across a region of interstellar space inherited from an ancient civilization discovered on Mars. The colonies are linked together by the occasional sublight colony ship voyages and hyperspatial data-casting. Human consciousness is digitally freighted between the stars and downloaded into bodies as a matter of course.
But some things never change. So when ex-envoy, now-convict Takeshi Kovacs has his consciousness and skills downloaded into the body of a…
Kusan is a First Class Detective in Me’tra, a dazzling metropolis renowned for its technology and power. While much of the country remains a barren wasteland, people flock to Me’tra not just for safety, but for the promise of an exhilarating and glamorous life.
Having grown up in the city, Kusan understands that beneath Me’tra's gleaming facade lies a decaying core of crime, deceit, and political treachery. Although she despises much of the city, the truth is that she finds excitement in solving Me’tra’s most brutal crimes.
The Guardian of the Palace is the first novel in a modern fantasy series set in a New York City where magic is real—but hidden, suppressed, and dangerous when exposed.
When an ancient magic begins to leak into the world, a small group of unlikely allies is forced to act…
The Strange Case of Guaritori Diolco
by
Bill Hiatt,
Guaritori awakens from a coma to find that he's lost twenty years--and his entire world.
Fiancée, family, and friends are all missing, perhaps dead. Technology has failed, and magic has risen, leaving society in ruins. Most survivors are at the mercy of anyone who has strong enough magic. Guaritori has…
