Jun 19 2009
Chawna Schroeder’s List of Recommended Spec Fic
To end our three-day feature on fellow blogger, author, and homeschool grad Chawna Schroeder, I’m going to share a list of recommended books in the speculative fiction genre which Chawna was kind enough to share with me. The original list is actually much longer, including categories for what NOT to read — but I’m just going to share the top recommendations here. Chawna has exacting standards for book reviewing which she explains in this essay. Have a look!
For those of you who enjoyed Chawna’s essay on dark fiction yesterday, you might also want to read my own article on the subject. “Beauty and the Beast: Good, Evil, and the Art of Writing” is listed on my Articles page (near the bottom, as it’s an older one).
Without further ado, the recommended list:
A List of Speculative Fiction
Compiled by Chawna Schroeder, www.chawnaschroeder.com
Terms to Know
Mid-grade: 8-12 Tween: 10-14 Teen: 13-16 YA: 14-18 Adult: 16 and up
CBA: Christian Booksellers Association ABA: American Booksellers Assoication
*Note: This list is not exhaustive nor does it include classic fantasy by authors such as George MacDonald, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, E. Nesbit, and Madeline L’Engle, or Christian horror/supernatural thriller authors like Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.
Title/Series Author/Genre Market/Availability
Recommended: Good writing, good content
The Begotten by Lisa T. Bergren CBA
The Gifted #1 Adult Supernatural/Historical Available
The Betrayed by Lisa T. Bergren CBA
The Gifted #2 Adult Supernatural/Historical Available
The Blessed by Lisa. T. Bergren CBA
The Gifted #3 Adult Supernatural/Historical Available
The Evidence by Austin Boyd CBA
Mars Hill Classified #1 Adult Near-future Sci-fi Available
The Proof by Austin Boyd CBA
Mars Hill Classified #2 Adult Near-future Sci-fi Available
The Return by Austin Boyd CBA
Mars Hill Classified #3 Adult Near-future Sci-fi Available
Raising Dragons by Bryan Davis CBA
Dragons in Our Midst #1 Tween Techno-fantasy Available
The Candlestone by Bryan Davis CBA
Dragons in Our Midst #2 Tween Techno-fantasy Available
Circles of Seven by Bryan Davis CBA
Dragons in Our Midst #3 Tween Techno-fantasy Available
Tears of a Dragon by Bryan Davis CBA
Dragons in Our Midst #4 Tween Techno-fantasy Available
The Eye of the Oracle by Bryan Davis CBA
Oracles of Fire #1 Tween Techno-fantasy Available
Enoch’s Ghost by Bryan Davis CBA
Oracles of Fire #2 Tween Techno-fantasy Available
Last of the Nephilim by Bryan Davis CBA
Oracles of Fire #3 Tween Techno-fantasy Available
Bones of Makaidos by Bryan Davis CBA
Oracles of Fire #4 Tween Techno-fantasy Available
Beyond the Reflection’s Edge by Bryan Davis CBA
Echoes from the Edge #1 Teen Alternate Reality Available
Eternity’s Edge by Bryan Davis CBA
Echoes from the Edge #2 Teen Alternate Reality Available
Trion Rising by Robert Elmer CBA
Shadowside Trilogy #1 Tween Sci-fi/Allegory Available
The Owling by Robert Elmer CBA
Shadowside Trilogy #2 Tween Sci-fi/Allegory Available
Light of Eidon by Karen Hancock CBA
Legends of the Guardian-King #1 Adult Fantasy Available
The Shadow Within by Karen Hancock CBA
Legends of the Guardian-King #2 Adult Fantasy Available
Shadow Over Kiriath by Karen Hancock CBA
Legends of the Guardian-King #3 Adult Fantasy Available
The Return of the Guardian-King by Karen Hancock CBA
Legends of the Guardian-King #4 Adult Fantasy Available
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck CBA
The Sword of Lyric #1 Adult Alternate Reality Available
The Restorer’s Son by Sharon Hinck CBA
The Sword of Lyric #2 Adult Alternate Reality Available
Restorer’s Journey by Sharon Hinck CBA
The Sword of Lyric #3 Adult Alternate Reality Available
Premonition by Randall Ingermanson CBA
City of God Series #2 Adult Time-Travel/Historical Out of Print
Retribution by Randall Ingermanson CBA
City of God Series #3 Adult Time-Travel/ Historical Out of Print
Double Vision by Randall Ingermanson CBA
Stand-alone novel Adult Near-future Science-fiction Out of Print
Oxygen by Randall Ingermanson & John B. Olson CBA
Prequel to The Fifth Man Adult Science-fiction Out of Print
The Fifth Man by Randall Ingermanson & John B. Olson CBA
Sequel to Oxygen Adult Science-fiction Out of Print
Dream Thief by Stephen Lawhead CBA
Stand-alone novel Adult Science-fiction Out of Print
Adrenaline by John B. Olson CBA
Stand-alone novel Adult Supernatural Suspense Out of Print
Fossil Hunter by John B. Olson CBA Stand-alone novel Adult Science-fiction Available
Shade by John B. Olson CBA
Book #1 Adult Supernatural Suspense Available
Auralia’s Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet CBA
Auralia’s Threads #1 Adult Fantasy Available
Cyndere’s Midnight by Jeffrey Overstreet CBA
Auralia’s Threads #2 Adult Fantasy Available
DragonSpell by Donita K. Paul CBA
Dragon Keeper Chronicles #1 Tween Fantasy Available
DragonQuest by Donita K. Paul CBA
Dragon Keeper Chronicles #2 Tween Fantasy Available
DragonKnight by Donita K. Paul CBA
Dragon Keeper Chronicles #3 Tween Fantasy Available
DragonFire by Donita K. Paul CBA
Dragon Keeper Chronicles #4 Tween Fantasy Available
DragonLight by Donita K. Paul CBA
Dragon Keeper Chronicles #5 Tween Fantasy Available
The Bark of the Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers CBA
Wilderking Trilogy #1 Mid-grade Fantasy/Bible Retelling Available
The Secret of the Swamp King by Jonathan Rogers CBA
Wilderking Trilogy #2 Mid-grade Fantasy/Bible Retelling Available
The Way of the Wilderking by Jonathan Rogers CBA
Wilderking Trilogy #3 Mid-grade Fantasy/Bible Retelling Available
Firebird: A Trilogy by Kathy Tyers CBA
All three books of the Firebird Trilogy Adult Science-fiction Out of Print
Firebird by Kathy Tyers CBA
Firebird Trilogy #1 Adult Science-fiction Out of Print
Fusion Fire by Kathy Tyers CBA
Firebird Trilogy #2 Adult Science-fiction Out of Print
Crown of Fire by Kathy Tyers CBA
Firebird Trilogy #3 Adult Science-fiction Out of Print
Shivering World by Kathy Tyers CBA
Stand-alone novel Adult Science-fiction Out of Print
One Mind’s Eye by Kathy Tyers ABA
Stand-alone novel Adult Science-fiction Out of Print
The Shadow and the Night by Chris Walley CBA
The Lamb Among the Stars #1 YA Science-fiction/Apocalypse Available
The Shadow at Evening by Chris Walley CBA
Part 1 of The Shadow and the Night YA Science-fiction/Apocalypse Available
The Power of the Night by Chris Walley CBA
Part 2 of The Shadow and the Night YA Science-fiction/Apocalypse Available
The Dark Foundations by Chris Walley CBA
The Lamb Among the Stars #2 YA Science-fiction/Apocalypse Available
The Infinite Day by Chris Walley CBA
The Lamb Among the Stars #3 YA Science-fiction/Apocalypse Available
By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson CBA
Stand alone? YA Fantasy Available
Chawna has done a lot of good work categorizing Christian spec fiction, as well as giving a great rating system to help readers find books right for them.
Wow, she’s read a lot of books!
Thanks, Brandon, for the comment. But as for reading a lot of books, I’m not so sure that’s completely true. My stack of to-read always seems incredibly long!
)
And Rachel, thanks again for this amazing chance to be featured on your blog. You’ve done an excellent job, for which I am grateful.