What the Dune Houses Are Reading

Not only do the sand of Arrakis remind us of the Sahara, but the magical world in The City of Brass is reminiscent of that of the Fremen. Travel back to eighteenth century Cairo — and why not throw in a magical twist? This is the sweltering start to the binge-worthy Daevabad trilogy.

Much like the Fremen, Zafira in We Hunt the Flame has to fight against an oppresive power for her place in the world — and a place for her people. Adventure, romance and fantasy collide in this unique twist on ancient Arabia. And the best part? This is the start of an epic duology.

If you’re an Atreides, living in one of the most influential sci fi worlds, it only makes sense to read one of the most important fantasy series. Sanderson’s sweeping epic of swords and magic with exceptional detail paid to the physical world will delight anyone on Caladan.  

For Paul, being the “chosen one” brings its own sets of trials, but what if there were five of you, all representing a piece of New York City? A contemporary take on a fantasy adventure — full of magic and touching on cultural identity and more.

The Once and Future Witches follows the Eastwood sisters —a sisterhood of witches not unlike the Bene Gesserit.

“Suffragettes, but witches.” That was the three-word pitch that Alix E. Harrow used to sell her very fun and very smart second novel (one of our 2021 Monthly Speculative Fiction picks.)

If the Bene Gesserit existed in our timeline, we’re sure they’d want to read all about women with mystic powers navigating the modern day. Prepare to be bewitched — a story of sisterhood and demonic frenemies, ancient prophecies and modern dating. Life as a modern witch could never be simple, but now it’s about to get apocalyptic.

Violence is never the answer, but Gwynne’s blood-soaked fantasy steeped in Norse mythology would satisfy even Baron Harkonnen himself. The land of Vigrid is rich with history, battles for honor and family and dead gods that don’t seem to want to stay dead. 

When you can’t engage in an all-out war, you may need to resort to spies and betrayals to solve your problems, and that’s where Tahir’s series certainly delivers. A first book with characters whose loyalties are shifting like desert sand and plots as intricate as any classic sci-fi series sets the stage for a vast world to explore. 

Evil empires, need we say more? Liu’s story of rebels banding together to bring down a tyrannical ruler would resonate with even the sternest leader. Not to mention the court intrigue and warring factions to rival even Dune’s Great Houses. 

A thrilling space opera that checks all the boxes: political drama, alien cultures, one ambassador taking on an entire government — you know, all the good stuff. Take a journey to Martine’s work when you’re ready to lose yourself in a new universe. 

While the members of the Spacing Guild are busy running the interstellar shipping and trade of spice, we know they’d love reading about someone else’s struggles in space. If you’ve seen The Expanse, you’ll love the book series that inspired it. Science fiction with a mystery at its core, this is a tale of colonialism in the stars — and with humanity in charge, war is coming.

The intricate technology behind the Spacing Guild would inevitably bring along some questionable inventions. Go back to the explosive start of the Murderbot Diaries — if the thought of AI doesn’t already scare you, Martha Wells’ sentient android is enough to keep you up at night.

We’d like to think Shai Hulud is tucked away under the Arrakis sand reading this stunner. One of those books you never knew you needed, this is a hilarious and poignant look at worms, humans and what connects us all. Paired with the perfect illustrations to capture the aesthetic, this is entertainment on so many levels.