Fantasy/sci-fi people of Mastodon! Looking for inspirational fiction, preferably novel(s); fantasy preferred, sci-fi welcome; political drama with a dash of epicness; not based on Western medievalism nor Tolkienesque; preferably focused on humans rather than elves, dwarves etc (though this isn't required).
Any recommendations that might hit any or all of these?
@auguryignored if you haven’t read CJ Cherryh, I strongly recommend.
Early on, she wrote fairly bleak fantasy, but she’s more known for her massive oeuvre of excellent science fiction. Other than her four-book Chanur series, humans are the focus of most of her work despite her reputation as a writer of the most credibly alien aliens.
Why her works are overlooked for film and television adaptation is unfathomable.
Her earlier works are fairly dark, and she maintains her mastery of suspense. As she moved forward in her own life, she has become more positive but there was always a thread of inspiration rather than pure dystopian gloom.
@AlsoPaisleyCat Love Cherryh! Although I haven't read her early work, mainly the Chanur series and The Fortress. She's a criminally overlooked and incredibly fascinating writer. But I take it that I should dig into the Ivrel and Paladin stories?
Ivrel certainly if you’re into fantasy.
I highly recommend her Alliance-Union Universe. There are a couple of entry points - ‘Downbelow Station’ is her 1982 Hugo-winning novel that is the fulcrum of her Company Wars series, ‘Alliance Rising’ is a more optimistic new deep prequel starting point.
If you enjoy diplomatic-political intrigue, her Foreigner series is marvellous.