Dune
Frank Herbert
A desert planet, political intrigue and a young heir: a landmark of world-building.
All moods
Sci-fi & fantasy
Science fiction and fantasy can take you to a desert planet, a frozen world or the other side of the galaxy. These are well-loved entry points that mix big worlds with characters worth caring about.
Books to start with
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams
Absurd, quotable comic sci-fi that never takes itself seriously.
The Left Hand of Darkness
Ursula K. Le Guin
An envoy on a frozen world, in a thoughtful story about identity and trust.
The Name of the Wind
Patrick Rothfuss
A legendary wizard tells his own story, with a magic school and lyrical prose.
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Scott Lynch
A clever band of thieves in a fantasy city. Witty, tense and fast.
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir
A lone astronaut, a problem to solve and an unexpected friend. Science made exciting.
How to choose
This list is for readers who want to be transported, and who may not know where to start in two very large genres. Choose by how much effort you want to put in. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the lightest way in, and Project Hail Mary is a fast problem-solving story that needs no sci-fi background. For fantasy, The Lies of Locke Lamora is a con-artist adventure, and The Name of the Wind is lyrical, with a university where magic is studied.
Dune and The Left Hand of Darkness are classics with detailed invented worlds, so give them a little patience at the start. Dune, The Name of the Wind and The Lies of Locke Lamora each begin a series, so you can keep going if you fall for one.
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