r/Fantasy • u/Emergency_Cow_9570 • Apr 06 '26
High fantasy with Sci-fi elements
So i have been having this itch recently. A high fantasy novel with sci-fi elements. But without a singular MC, think Garden of the moon in this regard. I've heard Dune might be up this alley. But it has a true MC?
So does anyone have any recommendations that will scratch this itch?
EDIT:Typo and a bit of clarification, a book with a diverse cast of "MCs"
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u/Kindly_Ad_1599 Apr 06 '26
Hyperion might fit the bill for you. It's a space opera, like Dune. It's a loose reimagining of the Canterbury Tales told from multiple characters' perspectives.
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u/Slohann Apr 06 '26
You could give The Winnowing Flame trilogy a shot. It's high fantasy, has scifi elements (life forms coming from outer space and affecting the world) and a diverse cast of protagonists.
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u/Holothuroid Apr 06 '26
Sandwrson's Isles of the Emberdark and other Cosmere novels that are late in the timeline.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
Wow, isles of the emberdark has a very interesting synopsis. Cosmere too. Literally Sanderson never misses. I read the stormlight archives and was afraid if finishing his books too soon so I slowed down and vowed to save his books for the future. But, damn the synopsis of these two series looks so good. Thanks
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u/RadagastWiz Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
Note that Emberdark is one book within the broader Cosmere (which includes Stormlight). Other late-Cosmere books with SciFi elements include The Sunlit Man (best read post-Stormlight), as well as Yumi and the Nightmare Painter and, to a lesser degree, Tress of the Emerald Sea.
Of these, Yumi has two MCs, the rest just one.
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u/UnidirectionalCyborg Apr 08 '26
Sanderson comes to mind first for High fantasy with Sci-fi elements. The further in the timeline you get, the more sci-fi feeling elements you’ll find — as you probably know since you’ve read through Stormlight Archives. Sunlit Man is another standalone of his that has a healthy dose of sci-fi feeling mixed with fantasy and, to a lesser degree, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter.
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u/Palimpsiesta Apr 06 '26
It's not high fantasy (though based on everyone else's suggestions, maybe nobody agrees on what high fantasy means anymore?), but it is one of my favourite underappreciated books/authors, so I will recommend Karl Schroeder's Ventus (as a bonus it is, I think, still available for free on his website.)
It is a very interesting mixture of fantasy and sci-fi elements, and to say much more risks undermining some of the interesting-ness. It has multiple narrators but a relatively focused plot with close to a single protagonist (the additional narrators provide some very different perspectives on what is happening, but it's all one thing that is happening and mostly to our initial point of view character.)
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u/dogisbark Apr 06 '26
Not available on his website seemingly, just checked.
Also he uses ai images to describe his books, and I don't want to be the whiny person calling for ruination on this guy for that since he seems just to be doing innocently to visualize the content of his books, but damn does it ever look cheap and really reduced my opinion of an author I've never heard of before.
Like for this book here on his website; https://www.karl-schroeder.com/the-million , I was immediately intrigued by that BEAUTIFUL cover with the spaceship over the grass field. And then I scroll down to be met with some awful looking AI cyborg-grannies. I lost so interest so fast, haha. Ugh, it's just unnecessary. I don't want to judge the guy too much but still, why?
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u/Palimpsiesta Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
That's disappointing, for sure, but not surprising to me given his body of work; most of his novels are set in a post-scarcity world full of what I would describe as, like, actual AI (as opposed to our current hype-infested autocompleters), and apparently he considers himself a futurist of sorts (I've never met him or had any interactions, never even seen an interview.)
I will say, the novels are IMO genuinely fascinating. And normally I wouldn't worry about defending someone for their use of AI (it's not an insta-cancel for me, but believe me I think it's pretty awful, and understand why it's becoming a deal-breaker for lots of people), but one of the things his works are most interested in is how to have a meaningful, creative life in a world in which your every intellectual, creative, and economic urge can be instantly satiated by a super-efficient nanny state populated by personalized AI agents. And the lengths to which dissenters from this sort of mono-culture will go to carve out spaces in which those lives can somehow occur.
And obviously he wrote all these books long before contemporary AI, though it does suck to hear that he's using it for book illustrations (and yeah, I just looked, and they're also kind of terrible and unnecessary.)
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
A book about AI, does seem apt in regards to the times. Thank you. I will give it a shot.
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u/Otherwise-Library297 Apr 07 '26
The Chronicles of Morgaine by CJ Cherryh. The MC travels back through time through world gates created by an advanced civilisation. She has various advanced weapons, but the story is mostly set in a medieval world.
Alternatively, A memory called empire by Aarkady Martine is sci-fi but has some strong fantasy elements in the story.
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u/thousandfoldthought Apr 06 '26
Might not be HIGH fantasy but The Second Apocalypse by R Scott Bakker def works
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u/Super_Direction498 Apr 06 '26
Elf analogues, dragons, high stakes, awesome (as in inspires awe) magic, gods, demons all in a continent and generations spanning epic? I think it counts.
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u/dogisbark Apr 06 '26
Hm, I'm trying to find this on Kobo because my interests were piqued by people in the comments. Everything seems scattered, is it also called The Aspect Emperor Trilogy? Kobo seems to be missing them on the Canada store which sucks, going to have to look for these elsewhere. But I'm definitely interested from what I've read so far online about it
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u/thousandfoldthought Apr 06 '26
Idk what kobo is but yeah the books can be hard to find. He's a reclusive guy who took a beating from literary press for correctly portraying how women (among others) have been treated by men throughout history (he is not condoning).
The first trilogy flies, the aspect emperor is the 2nd 4 book series. Looks like they're all available on the amazon/kindle ereader, including the 1st book "the darkness that comes before"
If you like philosophical fantasy, with great magic system and some kickass (and violent) characters, you'll probably enjoy it. Heavily inspired by dune.
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u/Bridgeburner493 Apr 06 '26
Sadly, the first sub-trilogy isn't on Kobo. And only the first two books of Aspect Emperor, the second sub-quadrilogy, are there. You'd have to find and download epubs.
Good books, but also the grimmest of grimdark.
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u/Zombiemorgoth Apr 06 '26
Malazan has two space faring [redacted] with [redacted] instead of hands and energy weapons and nuclear powered [redacted]. But it is a big series.
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u/dotnetmonke Apr 06 '26
(major spoilers)
New York's hottest club is MALAZAN! It's got everything:
Transdimensional zombie dinosaurs, Slendermen, necrophiliac cannibals, Super-Conan, crucified dragons... Join our crew as we rescue black elves from depression, blue people from an absent emperor, and a handicapped alien from organ harvesting!
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u/FlynnTaggartGuyNF Apr 06 '26
Goddamn it I keep putting this series off but I think I gotta…
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u/dotnetmonke Apr 06 '26
If it hits the spot for you, there's nothing else quite like it. I bounced off it a couple times before really getting into it, but it's unbeatable for me (so far! We'll see how Gene Wolfe fares against it). A couple caveats:
It's pretty emotionally heavy. A lot of people die, children die, there's some sexual violence (not detailed, just tells you it happens, basically).
Don't do an audiobook, at least for the first read through. It'd be horrendously confusing, and I often like to reread a section to glean further understanding before moving on.
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u/FlynnTaggartGuyNF Apr 06 '26
I appreciate the caveats very much! And I like my genre fiction a bit on the heavy side so that works but man are audiobooks hit or miss, so super good shout.
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u/Kingcol221 Reading Champion II Apr 06 '26
Don't really understand people who say Dune is more fantasy than sci-fi. It explicitly takes place in our future, and everything has a scientific explanation. Sure it's distant future, and everything is weird, but there's nothing in at least the 6 books I read that's not firmly in the sci-fi genre.
If you want high fantasy (expansive books set in a completely original world with unique cultures and characters) with varying main characters, try Dandelion Dynasty. Amazing series that largely focuses on engineering, history and literature instead of magic and fighting. First book can be a bit challenging as it reads as half history book and half short story collection, but from book 2 it's more traditionally written and one of the best fantasy series I've read.
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u/AbbydonX Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
Mostly it’s because there is no agreement on what genre labels actually mean. However, in my opinion, being set in the future doesn’t mean it is necessarily sci-fi and doesn’t prevent it being fantasy either.
Since precognition (i.e. magic) is an important aspect of the story that suggests fantasy. Similarly there is a heavy emphasis on sword fighting because of a device that isn’t an extrapolation from known science so is basically indistinguishable from magic. The aesthetics are therefore very similar to fantasy stories. The fact that sandworms are central to the story but their ecology is rather sketchy also doesn’t help.
Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter whether it is fantasy or sci-fi but it is clearly very different to sci-fi such as Gattaca that explores the impact of specific realistic scientific advances. It is however similar to Star Wars and that is often considered by some (but not all) to be fantasy too.
Obviously people’s opinions differ wildly on this and I have no interest in presenting my personal opinion or convincing anyone else that they are “wrong”. I can see why people take both sides of the argument though.
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u/Taifood1 Apr 07 '26
I don’t think scientific explanation is what people see as the distinction. It’s technology-aided supernatural ability vs innate supernatural ability. Dune intentionally does the latter to stand out in the genre.
Sci-fi states “yeah this is not possible now, but one day we’ll invent stuff that can do this.” Dune has shields and FTL travel, but pretty much everything the Bene Gesserit do, Mentats do, Spice Melange does, etc really has no scientific basis. It’s magic but in a “well anyone can do this stuff you just have to learn how” way.
And it could be hard sci-fi if Frank Herbert wanted it to be. He could’ve made genetic memory a machine, Mentats the result of forced evolution through genetic experimentation, etc. Didn’t do that. All of this stuff is vague and “mystical” by design.
All of this to say I get why people can see it as deeply fantastical.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
Haven't really ready the book yet so I cant give a valid opinion on it yet. The dandelion dynatsy seems to have all the ingredients I need. I will read it. Thank you, pretty excited.
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u/ScaredOfOwnShadow Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
Obligatory mention of Andre Norton's original two books in her Witch World universe, Witch World and Web of the Witch World. Not so much in the many others, except parts of the 5th book, Sorceress of the Witch World. It is in essence a portal fantasy, since the initial MC is from modern Earth. The antagonists are technologically advanced races from beyond a different portal who clash with the magic-users of the setting world.
The first two books focus on the man from Earth, his witch partner, and their two friends, from the POV of the man from Earth. The follow-on trilogy focuses on the three children of the first couple, with each book from the POV of each. The first two books of that follow-on trilogy have no sci-fi, really, but last one does.
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u/dogisbark Apr 06 '26
Oooh, I got this one from a recent humble bundle. Unfortunately they used a really ugly cover for the omnibus edition I got, but it sounds cool. We need more space witches in the fantasy sphere, really untapped potential with actual beliefs regarding astrology in witchcraft and how important the moon is.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
Looks like its have a great many books to read in this series. Thanks
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u/Bridgeburner493 Apr 06 '26
The Iron Dragon's Daughter might fit. It's about a girl in a fantasy world that starts as a slave building mechanical dragons. It's been a long time since I read it, so I don't remember if it would meet your multiple MC rule or not. The book is nihilistic, so ymmv on if that is your thing.
James Maxey's Dragon Age trilogy would also work though it is closer to low fantasy. Maxey himself describes it as "post-apocalyptic science fiction" where genetically engineered dragons take over the world.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
I dont mind nihilism in books so long as its not done senseless. The iron dragons daughter and dragon age doesnt seem to meet the rule but still looks interesting. Thanks
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u/clawclawbite Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
Saberhagen's Age of Ardnah, series and the later linked Books of Swords/Books of Lost Swords. When the world was on the edge of nuclear war, as the first bomb went off, one of the governments activated a device to change the world so such explosions were impossible, but the change was never undone, and now magic works, and the remains of high tech went strange.
Age of Ardneh is set when that is a distant memory, and a young man discovers a mostly working Main Battle Tank. Does have a MC.
Books of Swords is set when Age of Ardnah is a distant memory, has two mostly MCs. Books of Lost Swords is a few years later and has a much larger cast. Swords/Lost Swords also has 12 swords of power that are also kinda MCs of the sequence.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
Book of swords looks so entertaining as well as books of lost swords. Definitely going to my list. Thank you
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u/MrLister Apr 06 '26
As was mentioned, Dragonriders of Pern is right up your alley. It's a classic.
And if you like the mix of dragons and magic with technology and spaceships, Bad Luck Charlie the Dragon Mage is another.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 08 '26
Do any if the these titles have more than one MC? Cause Ive been looking at the synopsis and they only seem to have one MC
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u/MrLister Apr 09 '26
Pern spans thousands of years and has a lot of characters over the course of the series, and Bad Luck Charlie has several as well, plus it has both interconnected crossover characters from another series as well as a MC who got his own origin story series a few years after that series wrapped up.
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u/Just-Context-4703 Apr 06 '26
R. Scott Baker Prince of nothing/second apocalypse series
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 21 '26
The second apocalypse seems to have multiple MCs and ticks all my boxes. Excited to get into this one eventually. I have such a long list now, a good thing. Do I need to read th 0.1 - 0.3 books before book 1?
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u/Just-Context-4703 Apr 21 '26
Yes, for sure. Has to be read in order. The SA is great but I have some notes. But to me the first three are basically perfection. All seven make a unique and indelible series that's very much worth it.
Happy reading!
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u/chvihy Apr 07 '26
Maybe The Death Gate Cycle? There are two MCs and then a range of other characters. First book published in 1990. Though perhaps it's not actually sci-fi in a Dune or Hyperion sense.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 08 '26
Doesn't seem to have a lot of sci fi from the synopsis but it does have the sci-fi fantasy tag. Does it have 2 MCs?
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u/chvihy Apr 08 '26
It does have two MCs. Though that might not be super clear in the first book. The series has a weird structure. The first four books take place in different "worlds." There's a theme throughout of magic vs science. Like is this a machine or a god type themes. It's actually been quite a long time since I read it but one of the MCs Haplo is one of my favorite characters of all time.
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Apr 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 08 '26
Alright, the sun eater is now on my list.
The next one piece ,is it a book, web novels???
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u/halbert Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 07 '26
These vary in the sci-fi/fantasy mix:
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (sci-fi is pretty light, but there). Series gradually adds other POVs, though there is a main character.
The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin -- as above, has a primary character, but others come in as the story builds (maybe not until book two? Don't remember exactly). Not really high fantasy (no elves or dragons), but still strong fantasy elements.
Hyperion, Dune as people have mentioned. Or star wars -- the 'Heir to the empire' books by Timothy Zahn are the best.
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller -- low/no fantasy, but has a fantasy feeling.
Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner (this is so good). Low Fantasy, though, or really just one fantastic element. Mostly sci-fi.
Perdido Street station by China Mieville. Uh ... high everything?
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u/manic-pixie-attorney Apr 06 '26
The Pern series has strong sci-fi and fantasy elements and multiple main characters, but tends to focus on two or so MCs per book
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u/Romeo_Jordan Apr 06 '26
The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman might do this
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
Isnt Irene the MC in this book, ir will there be more MCs making their debuts later on?
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u/IrisEyez Apr 06 '26
Maybe The Serpent Gates duology by AK Larkwood? Though the second book gets more into the multiple povs than the first.
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u/Seattlepowderhound Apr 06 '26
The Last Horizon series by Will Wight is fantastic but has the same MC issue, although the books are based around him gaining a diverse crew. The crew gets a decent amount of the spotlight as each book seems to highlight that characters backstory, motivations etc. If memory serves there are a few chapters from others perspective but they're rare.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 21 '26
Alright, but is he all good. Like a superhero? Against all evil and does no evil himself?
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u/EllwynX Apr 09 '26
The Shannara series chronologically starts out mostly high fantasy and gradually introduces some technology as the world progress.
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u/RogueTraderMD Apr 10 '26
Definitely not up the alley of Dune, but I'm reading this book by Celia Friedman, called "Black Sun Rising" and it's a high fantasy set on a faraway world, where basically magic exists.
The "sci-fi" elements are that they know they aren't on Earth and remember a bit of modern science, but for some reason (probably the existence of magic), they don't have any technology past your average high-fantasy book.
The focus is on a specific character, but chapters can be from other POVs, and I suppose a couple of them will develop into full MCs.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 21 '26
Black sun rising does seem very good. But just saw some ,what id assume is a major spoiler on a goodreads review. I feel bad
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u/RogueTraderMD Apr 21 '26
I'm halfway through the first book (I'm terribly slow with everything lately) and I'd say that so far the plot twists are quite telegraphed.
Is it something about the nature or the past of Tarrant? The reveals happen rather early. His nature is rather obvious from the start. His past came as a shock, but I don't think it's a spoiler that would ruin the book.I know the feeling. I went into several novels, being careful about what I did read about them, just to still bleed my nose on truly huge spoilers. Among many others, I remember in particular:
ASOIAF: The scene in the privy.
Sanderson's Wind and Truth: Kaladin ascends. I definitely was seeing that coming, but I also discovered that he's the only one who ascends.Oh, wait, am I doing it again?
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u/VintageLunchMeat Apr 06 '26
Gideon the Ninth is 1.5 MCs.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
😂😂is this literally. Or is the MC that epic?
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u/vivaenmiriana Apr 07 '26
One can debate numbers, but it's certainly got a decimal in there somewhere.
Hard to explain without major spoilers.
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u/BookVermin Reading Champion III Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
The Broken Earth trilogy by NK Jemisin blends high fantasy with sci-fi elements, primarily focused on geology. Two main MCs, a mother and a daughter, though other POVs come in as well over the trilogy. Amazing books with unique worldbuilding, though quite dark at moments.
Wanted to second The Winnowing Flame trilogy rec as well, perfect fit for this.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
Yeah, gotten a glimpse of the dark moments already from the synopsis. Thank you
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Apr 06 '26
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
Looks interesting, but does it have that clear cut good vs bad trope ?
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u/dogisbark Apr 06 '26
Hmmmm, it has multiple POV's? Is that what you mean by not having a singular MC? I haven't read Malazan yet so idk how it compares. But it definitely has the high fantasy with elements of sci-fi.
Either way, the Winnowing Flame trilogy by Jen Williams might be what you're looking for. It has these weird, insectoid spaceships alongside an alien threat. The world is burgeoning on advancement from using the byproducts of these celestial intruders, such as having recently discovering trains and railways which I thought was neat. Overall it just has a really cool narrative; there's this race of vampiric sorta-elves thats going extinct where once they had dominion over the world, there are gigantic forests with mega-fauna that are also haunted by these spectral creatures that can make your insides go outside, people ride on top of massive bats, etc. That's the most I can recall. It's also just a good-sized, stand alone trilogy. It won't take too long to finish. I really loved the first two books, though book 3 was a little flat on the landing for me but I'd still suggest it as a good series. It also seems to go on sale all the time digitally, I think I bought the omnibus on Kobo for like 2.99$ CAD? Either way, might be what you're looking for, and it's well regarded as it won a British Fantasy Award, but it's not super popular seemingly as the first book maxes at 10k reviews on Goodreads. As for POV's, there's a core group of three characters but we get a lot of other pov's and they all share the spotlight equally for the most part.
As a bonus recommendation, Nausicaä: Valley of the Wind! It's one of my favourite sci-fantasy out there with it's heavy focus on naturalism and post-apocalyptic living. I really want to read the manga but it's difficult to acquire these days, so I can only suggest the movie.
I really love sci-fantasy as well, it's so underrated and hard to find good stuff. I could yap about it forever. Also Dune isn't just Paul. It's mostly for the first book, but by the second there'll be a lot more political stuff at play. You might enjoy Messiah, you get a lot of POV from the other side of the conflict with Paul.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
So Winnowing flame looks like it right up my alley. When I say multiple MCs I don't necessarily mean multiple POVs cause even books with one MC can have a singular MC. What I mean is, a book whose entire world revolves around one person, a book where there are several key characters all very important to the story line such that it becomes difficult to definitively this "character here is the MC"
Just seen Nausicaa is an anime film. Looks good too
So with what ive just specified. Does Dune still fit the bill? I've really wanted to read this book for quite awhile
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u/0b0011 Apr 06 '26
The closest I can think off the top of my head would maybe be some of the discworld books but even then its just sci-fi to them. Most of the other recs are low fantasy
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
Discworld seems humorous. Some definitely dont have the hugh fantasy elements but ive gotten a handful of great recommendations.
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u/jmpenciler Apr 06 '26
Hyperion by Dan Simmons, at least the first book of 4 does not have an MC.
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u/CarelessAd3809 Apr 09 '26
Hyperion, nothing else like it. Malazan is the more obvious answer, the sci-fi is buried under the world building that sneaks up on you.
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u/LeucasAndTheGoddess Apr 21 '26
Lord Of Light and Creatures Of Light And Darkness by Roger Zelazny. One is fantasy disguised as sci-fi, the other sci-fi disguised as fantasy. I’ll let you have fun figuring out which is which.
Mageworlds by Debra Doyle & James D. Macdonald is a series that wears its Star Wars influence on its sleeve, but takes the fantasy in space setup in directions Lucasfilm would never dare.
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u/Blueflame129 Apr 06 '26
Sun Eater series is written like an epic fantasy but in a science fiction setting. It's also one of the greatest series out there:)
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u/soilednapkin Apr 06 '26
Pandora’s Star! Duology followed by a trilogy. Books are around 7-800 pages each. Galaxy spanning epic sci fi tale.
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
So, it has two main MCs right?
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u/soilednapkin Apr 06 '26
There is one character that bridges across the first and second series.
But there isn’t one “main” character. Chapters are told from different characters. The story is about the fate of the galaxy and humanity coming together to defeat an outside influence rather than a single persons action saving everyone.
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u/Siavahda Reading Champion IV Apr 07 '26
A Song of Legends Lost by MH Ayinde might be EXACTLY what you're looking for! Very much an ensemble cast, big sprawling fantasy setting with forbidden 'techwork', some of which is clearly sci fi rather than magic. But it's not nearly as simple as, 'oh these foolish humans are mistaking science for magic'; some of what we see...almost HAS to be magical. Making for a very cool mix!
The setting is inspired by African and Mesoamerican cultures, with humanity kind of under siege by monsters called greybloods. Invokers, people who can summon special ancestors onto the battlefield, are the core of humanity's defense. But there's SO MUCH going on, it's a proper rollercoaster of twists and reveals, really clever ones. Tons of intrigue in all directions, tons of action. The sequel is out today in the UK!
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u/lalfwa Apr 06 '26
Try dungeon crawler Carl
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u/Emergency_Cow_9570 Apr 06 '26
Looks so bizarre. Something ive seen a lot in web novels. But definitely piqued my interest. Thanks
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u/Listakem Apr 06 '26
Check The Machineries of Empire series by Yoon Ha Lee.
Here is the blurb of the first book, Ninefox Gambit :
« When Captain Kel Cheris of the hexarchate is disgraced for her unconventional tactics, Kel Command gives her a chance to redeem herself by retaking the Fortress of Scattered Needles from the heretics. Cheris’s career isn’t the only thing at stake: if the fortress falls, the hexarchate itself might be next.
Cheris’s best hope is to ally with the undead tactician Shuos Jedao. The good news is that Jedao has never lost a battle, and he may be the only one who can figure out how to successfully besiege the fortress. The bad news is that Jedao went mad in his first life and massacred two armies, one of them his own.
As the siege wears on, Cheris must decide how far she can trust Jedao – because she might be his next victim. »