Onward and Upward: Science Fiction & Fantasy You May Have Missed

As a librarian, I often get asked the question, “What do you like to read?”

Generally, this is a loaded question in itself, as I like to read anything that sounds remotely interesting to me. I’ll read historical fiction (my favorite is East Asian history), literary fiction (I majored in English Lit…what can I say?), or non-fiction (a rare choice, but sometimes it calls to me).

No matter what I read and given free will, I always come back to my comfort genres: Science Fiction and Fantasy, or SFF for short. Growing up, these imaginary worlds expanded my creativity, cultivated my interests, encouraged me to critically think about real life, and wonder about their impact on fiction as a whole.

At the Robbinsville Branch, one could say that I’m the curator of the SFF collection. My input is valued when ordering new science fiction and fantasy books and I adapt the collection based on what’s popular with our patrons or out in the world. I also run a book club called Imaginary Universes, where we read stories involving sci-fi, fantasy, alternate history, and fairy tales, just to name a few.

Since I work in a public library, I understand that not every title I pick will be an overnight hit. Some of the following books may have a big following on the internet or in fandom spaces, but may be new to the library patrons of Mercer County:

Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars was a nominee for Goodreads Choice Award for Readers’ Science Fiction in 2021. It’s well-liked by readers of Becky Chambers, the author of A Psalm for the Wild-Built and A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. It’s full of aliens, Faustian bargains, and LGBTQ+ romance.

The Nightward by R.S.A. Garcia is a fantasy novel described as Caribbean mythology meeting The Witcher, the novel series by Andrzej Sapkowski (which inspired the Netflix series starring Henry Cavill and a highly-rated video game). This novel was longlisted for the 2025 British Science Fiction Association Awards and the Locus Awards, which is voted on by readers of the sci-fi magazine of the same name.

Nataly Gruender’s Medusa is a retelling of the Perseus and Medusa story of Greek mythology, but also expands on the latter’s background, similar to Natalie Hayne’s Stone Blind. Mythology retellings like Medusa and Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles are fun because they offer a new perspective on the stories we learned when we were young.

Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award for Readers’ Favorite Debut Novel in 2024. Part historical fiction, part West African mythology, this book was influenced by the Persephone myth and would be loved by readers of T. Kingfisher, Jordan Ifueko, or Amal El-Mohtar.

Wole Talabi’s short story collection, Convergence Problems, speculates on the ever-evolving technology of today and the future. The stories are also considered part of the sub-genre of Afrofuturism, where science fiction stories are influenced by Africa or African experiences. If you like the works of Adrian Tchaikovsky, you may like these stories as well.

These titles are just the tip of the metaphorical iceberg: there’s always more science fiction or fantasy to explore at your local branch or digitally with Libby.

If you’d rather have more personal recommendations, you can always talk to me at the Robbinsville Branch or any of Mercer County Library System’s friendly neighborhood librarians. Whether it takes place in our universe or the next, we’re always willing to help you find your next great read!

Jamie C.
Robbinsville Branch