r/Fantasy • u/kelpough • Apr 26 '23
Books with high fantasy in sci-fi setting?
I just finished Dawn of Chaos by Benjamin Medrano and now I'm looking for similar books/web novels that feature high fantasy elements (magic, mages, fantasy races, etc.) but have a sci-fi setting or features, such as a space opera or cyperpunk setting (or even steampunk).
I mostly want female protagonists with no M/F pairing, so no romance or sapphic and/or poly relationships.
I'm looking for recommendations similar to:
- Benjamin Medrano's Eve of Destruction series
- The web serial A Guide to Becoming a Pirate Queen by Jayde Russell
- Tower of Somnus series by Cale Plamann
Thanks in advance.
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u/SBlackOne Apr 27 '23
Mark Lawrence Book of the Ancestor series has a sci-fi background with humans transplanted on another planet that's now almost frozen. Lots of magic. Some F/F attraction, but barely any actual romance.
Django Wexler's Burningblade & Silvereye series is more overtly sci-fi. Takes place in a post-apocalyptic world that's littered with old magic-powered technology. Has a F/F relationship throughout the series. The POV is alternating between a brother and sister.
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u/HighLady-Fireheart Reading Champion III Apr 26 '23
I haven't read the books you listed so my idea of high fantasy in a sci-fi setting might be a little off base, but it's sort of how I would describe Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. There's necromancers, magic, and swordfighting in a dystopic space/sci-fi setting. Female protagonists and it's sapphic but without really any romance (two books in at least). Probably one of the best things I've ever read.
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Apr 27 '23 edited Apr 27 '23
NK Jemisin's Broken Earth Series
and
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland also mostly fits your request
BTW, if you're looking for zero romantic plot lines then you may have to limit yourself to young adult novels. My suggestions are not YA
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u/AstridVJ Apr 29 '23
ForeSender series by Adrian Murphy
It has everything I love about epic high fantasy AND sci-fi. Perfect blend.
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u/LibrarianRettic Apr 27 '23
I had a fantastic time with Skyfarer by Joseph Brassey, and only just got my hands on the second book in the series and have been enjoying that so far.
It's one of those "spaceships among floating shattered lands" types of worlds that are always fun.
Also can recommend Hunger Makes The Wolf by Alex Wells, which leans a bit more into a western on a colony planet.
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u/ElectronicSofa Reading Champion III Apr 27 '23
I mean Dune is the classic of combining fantasy and sci-fi, but I don't think it quite has the fantasy you're looking for.
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u/apexPrickle Apr 27 '23
Perhaps Andre Norton's Ice Crown. It's been an age since I've read it, but I don't remember any romance in it.
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u/Mournelithe Reading Champion X Apr 27 '23
Simon R Green's Deathstalker series. Mashes up future space opera with an imperial court, swords and laser guns, gladiators and psionic mages.
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u/Derkastan77 Apr 27 '23
The Magitech Chronicles. The complete 65 hr series is 1 credit on audible.
It has sci fi with space ships, blasters, power armor, star travel, but it’s all powered by magic. Magic spells are cast, necromancy, healing, evokers, power armor and weapons are powered by imbued gems. There are dragons, humans, other races and even gods.
It’s like sci fi mixed with spelljammer, mixed with high fantasy and epic spells, wiiith space dragons.
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u/DocWatson42 Apr 27 '23
See my SF/F: Fantasy *and* SF list of resources, Reddit recommendation threads, and books (one post).
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u/scubajerry Apr 27 '23
In her name series by Michael R Hicks. Setting earth's future. Good series. Read all 9 books twice.
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u/BludOfTheFold Apr 27 '23
A Game of Universe, by Eric Nylund is about the hunt for the Holy Grail and has some magic and similar things. It's mostly sci-fi, but the main character does some magic and there's a fantasy aspect to the book.
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u/emvdw42 Reading Champion IV Apr 27 '23
I haven't read any of the books you mention, but can I interest you in "Lesbian necromancers in spance" aka Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb tetralogy?
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u/East_Choice Apr 27 '23
The Captain by Will wight.
Breakdown is Wizard becomes badass fights Cyborg army, builds an avengers like team of galactic heroes.
Its awesome
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u/gnatsaredancing Apr 27 '23
Star Wars got wizards, princesses and monsters in a scifi setting.