Posted on 12/13/2013 8:49:04 PM PST by Kip Russell
Everybody (well, everybody who reads sf/fantasy) has their favorite novels in each genre...which are usually a bunch of other people's favorite novels as well. This only makes sense, since cream rises to the top.
But even so, there are plenty of obscure books that for whatever reason, never really caught on. They might well be great reads, but no one seems to have heard of them...so what's your favorite sf and fantasy novel that still lies in not-so-deserved obscurity?
With any luck, we'll all discover a bunch of great books that we've never heard of before!
I'll start off with mine: for sf, "The Killing Star" by Charles Pellegrino and George Zebrowski.
In the late 21st Century, our solar system is attacked by aliens using "relativity missiles"...boulder-sized hunks of metal accelerated to 90% of the speed of light. Thousands of them. 99.9999% of humanity is wiped out in a few hours. There's no need for a spoiler warning, this happens in the first 20 pages. The rest of the novel follows the desperate struggle of the few survivors spread throughout the solar system.
For fantasy, "A Personal Demon" by Richard Brown, David Bischoff, and Linda Richardson.
When Willis Baxter, a frustrated professor at a New England university with a penchant for drink and remarkable talent for failure in romantic relationships, got too drunk at his own party, unexpected results ensued. Instead of just impressing his guests with his knowledge of obscure magic rituals, he summoned an absolutely stunning female half-demon, Anathae. The demon, who looks like a naked sixteen year-old redhead with small horns, hooves and a tasteful tail, has been unhappy in Hell, and is extremely grateful to her "liberator". Luckily, most guests attribute the summoning to a party trick, with amusement value pretty much divided by gender.
Hilarity ensues. "I Dream of Jeannie" meets Faust...
This oughta be worth a bookmark for later...........
Unintended Consequences
It's not obscure, but not many people talk about it much anymore. His best novel, in my opinion. Wish he'd written a sequel like he planned to.
Lovelock, by Card and Kidd. I spoke to Scott about this novel, and even he didn’t like it. I never met anyone who read it.
Another that does not come up in conversation often is Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen by H. Beam Piper.
“The Way of Kings” Brandon Sanderson (Author of Knife of Dreams, Towers of Midnight, A Memory of Light).
“Neverness” by David Zindell
On my way to Paradise, by Dave Wolverton
Read it! But then, I'm a big fan of alternate history.
THE RATS IN THE WALLS by H P Lovecraft.
and other assorted tales.
I also have the trilogy of Robert Block’s novels PSYCHO, PSYCHO II, PSYCHO HOUSE.
Fantasy novel ? Ummmm....”You can keep your doctor” by B.H. Obama, esq.
I read it! It is quite the adventure.
One of the greatest unfinished series ever written.
IMO (and to my surprise) the “Retief” series by Keith Laumer is obscure!
I had to look up the author, Frederick Brown.
But I remembered the original illustrator, Kelly Freas
Whoa ho! A favorite of mine. Loved Counselor Onsword.
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