10 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books That My Children Are Required To Read

This is somewhat in order of reading ability. There would be more but I am constrained to omit series that are not yet finished… if you know you know.

Also, needless to say, a series or one writer counts as only One book. Okay?

1.        Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling– no explanation needed right? I feel like it is a right of passage for all children to wish for their Hogwarts letter to come.

2.        The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword by Robin Mckinley– why is this not more famous considering the cultural emphasis on feminist rights right now? These books have wonderfully brave heroines that all young girls should aspire to be like.

3.        I, Robot and The Foundation series (including Prelude to the Foundation), and Bicentennial Man by Isaac Asimov - no child of mine will grow up relying on streaming services to get their Science Fiction fix. See my post on Apple TV's Foundation series here.

4.        The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien– I am not letting my kids watch the movies before reading the books.

5.        The Mists of Avalon – If it’s good enough for Isaac Asimov (he called it the best retelling of Arthurian fantasy he’s ever read), it’s good enough for any child of mine. See my unrestrained praise of it here.

6.        The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik– the interest in this series needs to be revived. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, in their heart of hearts, wants a pet dragon.

7.        Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke – a unique work of art.

8.        Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons– This is a towering work of Science Fiction, there were none before it and I have not seen any come after it. See my post fangirling on it here and there will be another one in the next week, because obviously one post is not enough.

9.        Dune by Frank Herbert– only the first book. Couldn’t get on board with the rest (but maybe my children will be different?)

10.   Red Mars, Blue Mars, Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson– works of genius and my children need to know that someone thought of going to Mars first before Elon Musk did goddamit

(okay fine 12 books, I really tried to edit here but it hurt my heart to remove any of the above).

11.   The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski – an intensely thought-provoking masterpiece, for my children to learn that a reluctant hero must seize his destiny. I wrote about it here.

12.   How could I forget Jurassic Park, The Lost World, and (I’m gonna slide this one in here) Sphere by Michael Crichton??

Pretty proud of myself for narrowing it down to twelve, actually.