I edit texts of social science and social science fiction. For those who wonder, What is social science fiction? . . .
Well, here’s my definition: Social science fiction is speculative fiction that takes the social world seriously.
Social science fiction asks “what if?” questions based on social science research. Social science fiction explores what people might do . . . given different circumstances, faced with different choices.
“More sociological than speculative,
it is a fiction that grapples with all
that is mundane and holy in this world,
and breaks the reality to pieces
to create a fresh mosaic.”
—Karen Lord, The Blue, Beautiful World
(acknowledgments page)
I have read and enjoyed works by the “fathers” of social science fiction — from Dune to Foundation, Asimov to Zelazny. Of course, I’m more interested in the mothers.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Ursula K. Le Guin. Joanna Russ. Marge Piercy. Octavia Butler.
And more recent storytellers: Rivers Solomon and R.S.A. Garcia, Madeline Ashby and Malka Older, Max Gladstone and Arkady Martine.
Below is an alphabet of authors of books I have loved. Books that stunned me with insight and wonder, comforted me when I feel alone, or made me fall in love, again and again.
Many authors of social science fiction are missing from this list. Perhaps I liked but didn’t love their books, perhaps I haven’t read them yet. If there’s an author you love that isn’t on this list yet, I want to know!
I reserve the right to add names as I go.
My ABC
A
Lynn Abbey
Katherine Addison
Ryka Aoki
B
Mishell Baker
Gillian Bradshaw
Patricia Briggs
Lois McMaster Bujold
Octavia Butler
C
Becky Chambers
KJ Charles
CJ Cherryh
Zen Cho
D
Corinne Duyvis
E
Kate Elliott
Zetta Elliott
F
G
Mary Gentle
Victoria Goddard
Nicola Griffith
H
Barbara Hambly
P.C. Hodgell
H.M. Hoover
Nalo Hopkinson
SL Huang
I
Jordan Ifueko
Justina Ireland
J
N.K. Jemisin
Micaiah Johnson
K
Jessie Kwak
L
Ursula K. Le Guin
Ann Leckie
Yoon-Ha Lee
Karen Lord
M
Laurie J. Marks
Everina Maxwell
Anne McCaffrey
Vonda N. McIntyre
Robin McKinley
Foz Meadows
N
Andre Norton
Naomi Novik
O
Margaret Owen
P
Meredith Ann Pierce
Tamora Pierce
Marge Piercy
Q
R
Rebecca Roanhorse
Eden Robinson
Justina Robson
S
Joan Slonciewski
Sherwood Smith
T
Judith Tarr
Sherri S. Tepper
U
V
Genevieve Valentine
W
Martha Wells
Megan Whalen Turner
Kate Wilhelm
Connie Willis
X
Y
Jane Yolen
Z
Sarah Zettel
* * * * *
A note: This list is tilted slightly toward books I read and loved in my younger years. Not all of these authors’ works have stood the test of time. At least one of these authors’ books is a book that I still love.