Hello, Friday Fiction Fans! It’s nearly that time of year for beach reads, those books we’ve been saving up for a vacation to enjoy. For a change, I thought I’d share my ten favorite speculative reads. Disclaimer: this will differ from my top ten favorite speculative movies or television series which I hope to post at a later date. 2nd Disclaimer: Some of my picks are series. I am definitely a series reader! 😊
Drum roll, please…
Tied for 10. Blood of Kings series by Jill Williamson. A medieval fantasy series well worth your time to read. And Books of the Infinite series by R.J. Larson. Fantasy series set in an Old Testament-type world.
9. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Thought-provoking science fiction.
8. Watership Down by Richard Adams. A timeless classic and a surprising allegorical book.
7. Follower of the Word series by Morgan L. Busse-A fantasy journey and choices between good and evil.
6. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Classic science fiction adventure in space and time.
5. The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker. A wonderful story of mystery and magic.
4. The Lord of the Rings Series by J.R.R. Tolkien. Unrivaled medieval fantasy. This book set includes The Hobbit.
Tied for 3. Hinds’ Feet in High Places by Hannah Hurnard. And Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. Both are timeless allegorical journeys of faith.
2. Rooms by James L. Rubart. Profound spiritual suspense and mystery.
1. The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. Classic fantasy series in a magical world.
Here are my twelve favorite speculative novels. Yes, I said ten but I just couldn’t narrow it down. Many are classics, selling millions of books. I’ve read every book by James L. Rubart and Shawn Smucker but these are their debut novels and my favorites. I highly recommend you read every book here and hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Do you have a favorite speculative novel that I missed? What would you add or take away? Please comment below. I’d love to check out more speculative fiction…
“Watership Down” may be my favorite novel of all time. Despite being rabbits, the characters come to such live for me that I can get lost in their story again and again.