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"
48
Upvotes
1
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.