For sure, 'The City of Brass' is a must - read. The world - building is top - notch, and the story draws you in with its blend of magic and politics. And 'All Systems Red' is a short but really enjoyable read. The Murderbot character is so unique and has a really dry sense of humor that makes the whole story fun.
Well, 'Ancillary Mercy' by Ann Leckie is also a notable one. It's part of a great series. The story is complex, involving interesting characters and a far - reaching space - based civilization. It has elements of artificial intelligence and political intrigue.
One great short science fiction fantasy book is 'The Martian Chronicles' by Ray Bradbury. It's a collection of short stories that explore the colonization of Mars in a very imaginative way. Another is 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' by Walter M. Miller Jr., which combines post - apocalyptic settings with deep philosophical ideas. And 'The Star' by Arthur C. Clarke is also a good one. It's a short but thought - provoking story about faith and discovery.
One great book is 'Gideon the Ninth' by Tamsyn Muir. It has a complex world - building with necromancers and cavaliers, and there are gay relationships and strong queer representation among the characters. Another is 'The House in the Cerulean Sea' by TJ Klune. It's a heart - warming story set in a fantasy world that also features gay main characters and themes of acceptance.
One of the books could be 'The Fifth Season' by N.K. Jemisin. It has a unique world - building with a post - apocalyptic setting and elements of magic and geology combined in an interesting way.
One of the notable books in this category is 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series. Although it's mainly a fantasy epic, it also contains elements of science - fiction such as the use of wildfire which can be seen as a form of primitive and yet powerful technology. Also, 'The Dark Tower' series by Stephen King is a great example. It mixes a post - apocalyptic science - fiction landscape with elements of high fantasy, like magic and otherworldly creatures.
Perhaps there were some indie - published books in 2019. Indie authors in India might have come up with some interesting science fiction and fantasy concepts. You could search for Indian indie author communities and see if they have any recommendations for books from that year. Some of these books might deal with unique aspects of Indian culture within the sci - fi or fantasy framework.
One great book is 'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins. It's set in a post - apocalyptic world where teenagers are forced to fight to the death in an arena. Another is 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth. It has a unique society divided into factions based on different virtues. 'The Maze Runner' by James Dashner is also excellent. In it, a group of boys are trapped in a maze and have to figure out how to escape.
One well - known book could be 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It's a classic in the genre, with a richly imagined desert planet, complex political intrigue, and a hero's journey.
One great book on such a list could be 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It has a richly imagined desert planet, complex political intrigue, and a hero's journey. Another is 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card. It explores military strategy and ethics in a future where children are trained for interstellar war. And 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson is also a classic. It was one of the first to really delve into the concept of cyberspace.
Another good book is 'A Court of Thorns and Roses'. It has a blend of fantasy with a strong romantic sub - plot. Feyre, the main character, finds herself in a magical world filled with faeries and danger, and her relationship with Tamlin is full of passion and complexity.