The Best New Science Fiction & Fantasy Books Coming Fall 2020

DUNE: The Graphic Novel, Book 1 
Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert (Adapted by), Kevin J. Anderson (Adapted by), Raúl Allén (Illustrator), Patricia Martín (Illustrator)
Frank Herbert is hands-down a literary giant. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a science fiction writer today that hasn’t been inspired by his deft world-building and skillful ability to weave the political, environmental and philosophical issues of our time into an epic saga that may be “even more relevant now than when it was first published” (The New Yorker). There’s a reason Dune is one of the bestselling science fiction novels of all time and if you haven’t invested some time in the classics, we suggest you pick up a copy and start here—especially before the movie drops. If graphic novels are more your medium, you’re in luck! Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s adaptation preserves all the integrity of this groundbreaking work with equally stellar illustrations from Raúl Allén and Patricia Martín that are sure to bring a whole new generation of readers to Arrakis.

Battle Ground
Jim Butcher
For Jim Butcher (and many of us), the talking mythical creatures of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe were the introduction to the world of fantasy. Butcher dove into Narnia at the age of seven and the seed was planted. Now, a bestselling urban fantasy series author, Butcher has long since created his own fantasy world set in an alternate Chicago following Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard. Butcher has long had fans from all over; Patrick Rothfuss, author of The Name of the Wind has said, “I’ve been reading the Dresden Files for more than a decade, and somehow, every book gets better. It’s my favorite kind of story: delightful, deep, complicated, rare, and wonderful.” With a swirl of magic, mystery and mayhem, this latest installment of the very epic Dresden Files series will change your world forever—and we’ll be here for you with a shoulder to lean on.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
Christopher Paolini
Christopher Paolini, the acclaimed author of Eragon is back with an epic story of discovery, transformation and how the search for alien life can teach us what it means to be human. Paolini has long been revered in the younger reader space with The Inheritance Cycle (a series he started at the age of 15 btw) so it’s no surprise that his first adult novel is one of the most anticipated books of the year. If you’ve never checked out any of his work, let us suggest you do yourself the favor of discovering why The Washington Post says“Christopher Paolini is a true rarity.” This transcendent space opera is one for the ages and also perfect for fans of The Expanse series or the OG Sci-Fi classic, Ender’s Game.

A Deadly Education
Naomi Novik
Devilish and dark, Deadly Education is the first novel in the much-anticipated Scholomance trilogy and introduces us to a dangerous, magical boarding school with a killer final exam. El (short for Galadriel—perfect) has unparalleled power and her journey to balance her power—and change the face of magic itself—is intriguing, destructive and one you just won’t be able to shake. Novik is no stranger when it comes to creating fierce heroines – Uprooted and Spinning Silver showed us that, and if you need a taste of the epic worldbuilding Novik so masterfully spins, you have to check out the Temeraire series. Pierce Brown (author of Red Rising) hailed A Deadly Education as “savage, inventive, and soulful… a grand new tale that’ll make you believe in magic again.” And we are SO ready to believe!

Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (B&N Exclusive Edition)
V. E. Schwab
Stunning and incredibly indelible, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the newest tour de force from a powerhouse author proving with this novel, she’s only getting started. Schwab has captivated readers for the better part of the decade with the smart and provocative Shades of Magic series and the equally iconic Villains series. With her signature wit and deliciously wicked imagination, V. E. Schwab is one author we just can’t get enough of. In The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, prepare to be mesmerized by Addie—our unflappable heroine, cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets after agreeing to a Faustian bargain and left to answer the question: “what is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?” What follows is a story as creative and unforgettable as Addie herself and a hands-down, not to be missed must-read this fall.

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (B&N Exclusive Edition)
Holly Black
The cruel prince is back—and finally—we get the deep dive into Cardan’s life that we’ve all been waiting for. Told wholly from Cardan’s perspective, this gorgeously illustrated addition to the Folk of the Air series is beautifully packaged and a must-have for any fan’s bookshelf. Of course, we HAD to get our hands on something special for this one, and our B&N Exclusive Edition features an alternate jacket, bonus art and sketches with commentary from Holly. If you haven’t indulged in the magic that is Holly Black—what are you waiting for?! From the mysterious Spiderwick Chronicles to the lush Modern Faerie Tales series and the thrilling Magisterium series, it’s no wonder The New York Times has hailed Black as “a master at world-building.”

Ready Player Two
Ernest Cline
The appeal of most science fiction novels is the futuristic escape from reality. 2020: If ever there were a time we were looking for an excuse to get out, this would be it. In Ready Player One, we jumped time to the year 2045— which actually wasn’t in much better shape, but we still had a ton of fun. The highly anticipated sequel is finally here to turn your geeky dreams into a reality! (We may or may not have screamed when we learned this book was coming.) Ready Player One was the perfect blend of fandom, fiction and friendship; Ready Player Two will be all of that and more. Rumor has it that Steven Spielberg lent a hand to the writing process this time around so we wouldn’t be surprised if a sequel for the big screen is also in the works.

Kingdom of the Wicked (B&N Exclusive Edition) 
Kerri Maniscalco
In the mood for something witchy? Maybe with a touch of romance and some vengeance on the side? Let us present to you Kingdom of the Wicked—the first in a new series from the author of the completely addictive Stalking Jack the Ripper series. And if you’ve had the pleasure of dipping into the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, you know that Kerri Maniscalco brings the suspense, the mystery and the grit. We can’t wait to see what wicked adventures Kerri is sure to deliver so of course, we had to get all the extra content we could get our hands on. Our B&N Exclusive Edition features an alternate jacket and contains an annotated chapter with Kerri Maniscalco’s notes, providing an extra bit of insight to this intriguing new world.

The Lost Book of the White
Cassandra Clare, Wesley Chu
Who doesn’t love a new Shadowhunter novel? Especially if it’s centered around fan favorite Magnus Bane (swoon). In this second book in the Eldest Curses series, we’re not only reunited by power couple Magnus and Alec, but the return of Clary, Jace, Isabelle and newly minted Shadowhunter, Simon (!!!). Ripe with all the high-stakes adventure, romance and mythology fans have come to expect from Cassandra, this newest series brings a new element of sentimentality as “Malec” struggle to balance newfound parenthood with their insatiable appetite for danger. If you’re new to the Shadowhunter world and looking to dive in, we can’t recommend this epic fantasy saga enough. Start with The Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices trilogy and find out for yourself what everyone is talking about.

Rhythm of War
Brandon Sanderson
It’s been three long years since Oathbringer, the third volume in this series, and it’s safe to say that the collective has been a little antsy—but we’re confident that the wait was worth it. Brandon Sanderson has rightfully established himself as the modern king of epic fantasy (and don’t forget he was also personally selected to complete the genre-defining Wheel of Time series). So, it’s no surprise that Rhythm of War, the next chapter in his beloved Stormlight Archive series, is one of the most anticipated books of 2020. This series has amazing worldbuilding, complicated leads and a story that kept us guessing … so if you haven’t explored the world of Roshar yet, you need to get on that. Read The Way of Kings (book one in The Stormlight Archive) that has been hailed by The Guardian as “Epic in every sense.”

The Silver Arrow
Lev Grossman
You likely already know Lev from his bestselling novels in The Magicians series (also an original series on SyFy) which brought a new, much darker twist to the young wizard novel. George R. R. Martin compared it to others in the same space by saying “The Magicians is to Harry Potter as a shot of Irish whiskey is to a glass of weak tea.” Now, Lev brings all his renowned whimsical charm, powerful storytelling and magical prose to this middle-grade debut that Adam Gidwitz (author of A Tale Dark and Grimm) called “completely unpredictable and completely charming.” So, don’t wait to hop aboard this magical locomotive adventure, perfect fans of Roald Dahl and the beloved Phantom Tollbooth, and one that’s sure to become a classic all its own.

The Burning God
R. F. Kuang
And lastly, we’ve got to give a shout-out to The Burning God, the thrilling end to The Poppy War trilogy, R. F. Kuang’s award-winning epic fantasy that gracefully blends the history of 20th century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters. The Poppy War was the book that started it all and was even a B&N Discover Pick back in 2018. Tor.com called it “A complex, sprawling, ambitious novel, part coming of age and part tragedy of power” and even compared it to the likes of Joe Abercrombie’s Half a King and K. Arsenault Rivera’s The Tiger’s Daughter. This is also the perfect series if you’re still in withdrawal from N.K. Jemisin’s The Inheritance Trilogy.