Wednesday, April 29, 2009

SF/F Reading List for the 2000s

Scott D. Parker is a writer looking to break into SF&F and eager to catch up on recent "must reads" of 21st century science fiction and fantasy. He asked me for a list of books/authors that everyone should read, and I gave him permission to post my response to his blog, SF Safari. Here, then, is my SF/F Reading List for the 2000s. This isn't meant to be comprehensive by any means. It was intended just to get him started, and I compiled it with an eye towards complimenting the many Pyr books he has already purchased. Note that it is not a Pyr-only list at all, though there is no one looking for cutting edge SF that would be hurt by reading McDonald or Kenyon.

6 comments:

Derek Johnson said...

Great list, though I'm struck by how much I haven't read that appears here. McDonald had been a blind spot before, but reading "An Eligible Boy" makes me eager to finish Fast Forward 2 so that I can read Cyberabad Days.

Lou Anders said...

I'm curious, will you read Cyberabad Days before River of Gods then?

Derek Johnson said...

Actually, Lou, I hadn't thought about it. Should I read River of Gods first?

Lou Anders said...

Well, it was written first, and the last story in the collection, "Vishnu in the Cat Circus" follows events at the end of River of Gods, but other people are reading it first as a way of easing in. I might say read some of Cyberabad Days (in order) and then go on to River before "Vishnu."

Derek Johnson said...

Sounds good. I appreciate the suggestion.

Lou Anders said...

Honestly, it's all good and you won't go wrong either way.