6 FEEL-GOOD Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books

[@Bookborn]

Thanks for having me! This was fun ♥

[@WordsinTime]

@@Bookborn It was great to chat! And thanks for the recommendations!

[@shobhitkaul8076]

Thanks to you both!

[@wbebbs]

Smart move, J., having BB on your channel. She is a v sharp and insightful commentator. Well done.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks! Bookborn is great!

[@davidranderson1]

Douglas Adams is always a safe bet. If you've already read Hitchhiker's Guide, try Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. I ditto the Murderbot and Bobiverse books, and also suggest the Kaiju Preservation Society.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks for the recommendations!

[@scifyry]

The Rise of Endymion (Dan Simmons) had an incredible, feel-good ending that I didn't see coming. It wrapped up the Hyperion Cantos quite nicely.

[@WordsinTime]

@@scifyry I liked the ending too even though I predicted it.

[@bartsbookspace]

A lot of great, feel good choices here! I 100% agree with Guards Guards, Project Hail Mary, and A Long Way! And I’ll offer that a somehow Murderbot makes me feel good as well.

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks Bart!

[@stevenlamb8726]

Speaking of GrimDark (the opposite theme of this video!), I recently played through the Meta Quest VR game: Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sister. Wow, what a great VR shooter. A classic Halo/Gears of War style campaign with a ranked, survival style mode as well. Thanks to the wonderful efforts made by this games developers, I am now thoroughly interested in the lore and story of the Warhammer 40,000 universe and would like to start somewhere with the novels. Though I had a brief glance at the Wikipedia page and it is……daunting to say the least

[@WordsinTime]

@@stevenlamb8726 Sounds like a fun game! I have only read one 40k book, Horus Heresy, and it was a 3 star read for me. I might have gotten into it more if I was familiar with the series.

[@BookishChas]

Some great recommendations here Jonathan! Sanderson does have some sci-fi books too. I love the Bobiverse. Book 5 comes out in September.

[@WordsinTime]

Awesome!

[@larryladeroute971]

Just read The Rolling Stones by Heinlein. I think it is a cozy scifi read. A vintage one as well which seems rare.

[@WordsinTime]

@@larryladeroute971 Nice!

[@Deosis]

Great idea for a vid! I thought the cozy literature subgenre came about as a counter culture to all the grim dark stuff out there. I read Chambers, also Legends and Lattes, and the Bobiverse. Will check some of the other out too!

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks! Hope you enjoy!

[@josiahsterling7308]

Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper is an adorable, feel good sci fi that feels very much like a million movies I grew up watching, except it was written in the 60's before all those movies. It holds up very well and was very inclusive for the time it was written.

[@WordsinTime]

@@josiahsterling7308 Little Fuzzy sounds feel-good indeed haha

[@josiahsterling7308]

@@WordsinTime i recommend the whole trilogy written by the original author. Would love to hear your thoughts if you ever pick it up.

[@junegrainger8481]

Great video. I have read Project Hail Mary and Guards, Guards. Both brilliant reads. I have to thank you for introducing me to Bob - on your recommendation I started reading We Are Legion and I can’t put the book down. Absolutely loving it. A fantasy book I read (it might be a Young adult book) which filled me with joy and a warm cosy feeling is The House on the Cerulean Sea by T J Klune. Another recommendation would be Mort by Terry Pratchett.

[@WordsinTime]

@@junegrainger8481 That’s great to hear! I’m glad you’re enjoying it, and thanks for the recommendation!

[@mikesnyder1788]

Another enjoyable program, Jonathan! My number one Feel Good Sci Fi book by a wide, wide margin is Stanislaw Lem's "Star Diaries," a collection of short stories featuring an intergalactic space adventurer named Ijon Tichy. Imagine Tichy as Han Solo's goofy, clumsy little brother who finds himself thrown into some hilarious situations as he travels throughout the universe in search of adventure and the meaning of life. My favorite story finds Tichy on a planet in which the robots speak in Chaucerian English and features the best pick-up line I have ever encountered in my many years of reading. Lots of clever science! What a romp! What great fun!

[@WordsinTime]

@@mikesnyder1788 Thanks Mike! I have enjoyed the two Lem books I’ve read so I look forward to Star Diaries!

[@mikesnyder1788]

@@WordsinTime Lem is unique in that he mixes science and humor while advancing his clever plots. And to think he wrote most of these stories while Poland was a satellite of the Soviet Union. Have a great weekend, Jonathan!

[@fiberofmybeing7869]

Regarding Becky Chambers, I also found myself not quite interested in A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. However, I am so glad I continued on with the series. The fourth book, The Galaxy and the Ground Within, is the most feel-good sci fi book I can think of. The books can also be read as stand-alones, so I highly recommend skipping to the fourth book if you are concerned about whether you will like the others.

[@WordsinTime]

@@fiberofmybeing7869 Thanks for the info!

[@Spriggana]

And for people who prefer a bit more drama then just vibes the second book - "A Closed and Common Orbit" - could be the sweet spot.

[@chrisduran]

The Imperial Radch Series by Ann Leckie is so good and cozy, but with just enough exciting drama and storyline to not get you down.

[@WordsinTime]

@@chrisduran I’ve only read the first book, I’m glad you enjoyed the series!

[@beLIEver31415]

I've read half of these recs and I am excited to read the other half now :D. I agree that To Be Taught if Fortunate was a very good novella and I have had A Long Way to an Angry Planet on my shelf for years now so I think it is about time I give it a go but so excited to pick up The Empress... and Guards Guards :D

[@WordsinTime]

@@beLIEver31415 Hope you enjoy!

[@grol094]

Great fun summation of those by you two -- thanks

[@WordsinTime]

@@grol094 You’re welcome!

[@TheDMFW62]

Interesting discussion. I've read a lot of Vonnegut and Pratchett and appreciate them both but I am struggling to make the connection, except that they could both be categorised as comic. They have a totally different feel though. Vonnegut has angry cynicism but Pratchett is much kinder and less bleak.

[@WordsinTime]

@@TheDMFW62 Some Vonnegut books are quite angry, but I find at least something positive to take from most of them. Glad you enjoyed the discussion!

[@JeantheSecond-ip7qm]

I need this list. Everything has to be grim and realistic. Reality sucks. I’d read the news if I wanted only grim reality. (Not that I don’t read that stuff. It just seems to be everything I pick up turns out to be depressing.) I’d recommend Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree and its sequel (it doesn’t get more feel-good than this).

[@WordsinTime]

I’m glad it was helpful! I’ve heard Legends and Lattes is cozy indeed haha

[@colin1818]

I've read several of these. - Tress of the Emerald Sea was very....meh. It's fine. It just didn't feel special. - Project Hail Mary is legit. Loved it. Rocky ftw. - Discworld is always fun and Guards! Guards! is one of the better ones. - We Are Legion (We Are Bob) is hit or miss with a lot of people. But I loved it. But no Hitchhiker books? Almost feels like sacrilege.

[@WordsinTime]

I really liked Hitchhiker’s and it’s very funny, but it’s actually kind of depressing. It didn’t make me feel that good haha

[@TheRedPolyhedral]

I agree with Tress of the Emerald Sea, Project Hail Mary and A Long Way, but I haven't read the others. If you're thinking of reading Brandon Sanderson but also want sci-fi, why not read his Skyward series? Very good books, as you would expect from him.

[@WordsinTime]

@@TheRedPolyhedral I’m glad you enjoyed those! I thought about trying Skyward. I don’t usually enjoy YA books, but I might try them anyway.

[@codyvanderzwaag8031]

Project Hail Mary made me feel so good about the main character becoming someone who he could respect

[@WordsinTime]

@@codyvanderzwaag8031 Same!

[@juanreinbergcortes7893]

Great! I think the Feel-good aspect is mostly personal... I feel great after reading Clarke and Asimov, an optimistic view on the future. Perfect for those times when you say let's read 6 Frank Herbert books about tyrants and their breeding plans for humanity 😅 After Dune I need something uplifting! Bookborn is awesome, I just saw her videos on A Song of Ice and Fire, and suscribing!

[@WordsinTime]

@@juanreinbergcortes7893 Yes, some people might the tone of a book more uplifting than others. The Dune series can be heavy, I’m going to read God Emperor of Dune soon. And I’m glad you’re enjoying Bookborn’s channel!

[@billfreeman5914]

Goodreads shows 5 Nghi Vo novellas released so far with another 3 apparently planned.

[@WordsinTime]

@@billfreeman5914 Thanks for the info!

[@beLIEver31415]

One of my favorite writers of all time is KVJ TOO!! New Sub for sure!!! :D

[@WordsinTime]

@@beLIEver31415 Awesome!

[@Zivilin]

First book that came to my mind with feel-good vibes was Treasure Island until i remembered the title specified scifi & fantasy. 😅 The adventure fiction genre don't get enough love on booktube! 😛 Anyway here are a few others i found uplifting: - Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle - Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce - The Hobbit - Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

[@WordsinTime]

@@Zivilin Nice picks! I’ll have to look some of them up.

[@doctormorbuis]

For science fiction, you could go with a couple of the late Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold (A Civil Campaign, Captain Vorpatril's Alliance). You could also go with Bujold for fantasy with her Penric and Desdemona novellas. Pratchett is a good choice.

[@WordsinTime]

I’ve read Bujold book, I need to try more!

[@Spriggana]

@@WordsinTime I am a fan of Bujold in general, but except the new Penric novellas now and then lately I keep coming back to her Sharing Knife books. Which is a bit surprising for me, as at first I thought of them as fine, but I her other books are better.

[@ReinReads]

Definitely try To Be Taught, If Fortunate. A bit more of a hard SciFi novella.

[@WordsinTime]

@@ReinReads Thanks for the recommendation!

[@DJYoue]

I concur, I've read quite a lot of Chambers' books and this was my favourite by far!

[@Kim_Miller]

A good subject for a video. I look for feel good cozy or comedic stuff following a heavy hitter. So I went looking through my Hardcover list. After getting through some Gene Wolfe (5 New Sun books and 5th Head of Cerberus) I picked up Bobiverse #1. And after Blindsight and Exhopraxia was Bobiverse #2. After Sun Eater #1 was Small Angry Planet and Project Hail Mary. Sun Eater #2 and then Vonnegut, Sirens of Titan Sun Eater #3 and novellas then Monk and Robot #1 and #2 and then How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, which I thought you might have had on this video. Sun Eater shorts #2 followed by Slaughterhouse 5 and Free Wrench by Joseph Lallo, cozy steampunk action in a steam powered blimp. (Spoiler: He's too nice to his characters.) Sun Eater #4 then A Closed and Common Orbit (Angry Planet#2) and Vonnegut again, Breakfast of Champions. Sun Eater #5 then John Dies at the End. Not really cozy but wacky insanity that morphs into blood and gore to save the universe. Think Sean of the Dead but he's been watching Tarantino. My reading list this year looks like a literary lasagne with layers of Ruocchio alternating with different milder sauces.

[@WordsinTime]

@@Kim_Miller Hahaha a literary lasagne indeed!

[@madiantin]

What a cute puppy.

[@WordsinTime]

Haha Charlie is the best! And thanks for the recommendations!

[@Kim_Miller]

That's an interesting response to We Are Legion We Are Bob. I'm Australian and loved the humour. The author is Canadian and Canada, Britain and Australia share a lot of crossover when it comes to humour. However, for two countries with a common border, the US and Canada have a very different sense of humour. I wonder how the Bobivese puns etc land in other countries, or if they even land at all. However, no matter where we're from, everyone loves puppies, especially Charlie.

[@madiantin]

@@Kim_Miller It was my daughter (American) who recommended We Are Legion to me (English). She loved it. I was occasionally somewhat amused, but mostly bored and happy to reach the end of the book. I *loved* the beginning, was fascinated with the premise, and enjoyed reading him learn how to do things. When the clones came along I got bored. The ending helped me not hate the book too much...but overall it was a solid "Meh" for me. Hitchhikers, however....and Pratchet...absolutely brilliant. I love them so much. My (American) book group read hitchhikers once, and they didn't like it at all. Bizarre.

[@MSE9107]

Haven’t seen the video yet but I bet the Martian or project Hail Mary will be there

[@WordsinTime]

@@MSE9107 🫡

[@richardbloemenkamp8532]

Bookpilled has just given F-tear to project Hail Mary. Indeed it is a fun read and not for people that look for literature, complexity and profound philosophical ideas. Personally I enjoyed it.

[@JeantheSecond-ip7qm]

@@richardbloemenkamp8532That seems a bit much. It’s no Dune, as mentioned in the video, but F-tier?

[@Greenslime300]

@@richardbloemenkamp8532 I love Bookpilled's reviews and somewhat encyclopedic knowledge of older scifi, but idk why he even bothered to pick up Project Hail Mary when all the hype is around is based around it being the kind of easy, fun, accessible scifi book that he knows he doesn't like. I think at some point you just have to realize you're not the target audience for a book

[@Verlopil]

I've read 5 of those. I didn't really like A Long Way... either, just because I thought the story was uninteresting. I did like her Moss and Robot books but read those more as meditations and they worked that way. One series that's overall quite positive but which has a lot of conflicts to overcome is the Liaden universe stories by Steve Miller (died March 2024, RIP) and Sharon Lee. There are about 20 books but not all from the same time period in the universe so they don't all have to be read in order. The main storyline does though, and is about half the books. It's about a family of traders and pilots that are kicked off their planet and have to start over, and have to fight a private agency determined to destroy them. Start with Agent of Change. There's also one storyline that's about emerging AI into the universe's culture that's pretty hard SF and is very interesting.

[@WordsinTime]

@@Verlopil Not much happens story wise but some people might like the vibe. And thanks for the recommendation!

[@ericmerrell8622]

I think Bookborn could potentially really enjoy Bobiverse. I'd love to hear her thoughts on it

[@WordsinTime]

@@ericmerrell8622 I hope she likes it if she tries it!

[@meesalikeu]

im reading left hand of darkness - i’m halfway thru - its cheery enough as its so good

[@WordsinTime]

Interesting! I didn’t find it that cheery but I’m glad you’re enjoying it!

[@Greenslime300]

Enjoy that feeling while it lasts with that book, the second half is a lil bit different

[@fleabynight]

Good call...I enjoyed the first Bob book in the "Bobaverse" as you call it :) but like you, I haven't got past the first one yet, but it was a ton of feel god fun. Mistborn by Sanderson disappointed me slightly, as I wasn't prepared for the young adult thing. It felt like a kids book. If I were you I would start with his SciFi, Skyward, Starsight & Cytonic. It's still very young adult but a good yarn, & even a little feel good.

[@WordsinTime]

@@fleabynight Thanks for the info!

[@zachryder3150]

'Avengers Endgame' is the greatest crossov--

[@WordsinTime]

@@zachryder3150 Hahaha

[@wnctube1]

For Sci-fi I liked Clockwork Lives, K. Anderson (a Steampunk Canterbury Tales) and for fantasy Legends and Lattes

[@WordsinTime]

Nice! Thanks for the recommendations!

[@wnctube1]

@@WordsinTime Of course, love your channel!

[@blairbabylon8504]

Have you tried Susan K. Quinn's hopepunk fiction. Fantastic. 💚 Her podcast is Bright Green Futures.

[@WordsinTime]

@@blairbabylon8504 I haven’t but it sounds feel-good!

[@dougsundseth6904]

Pandora's Planet, Christopher Anvil - The Earth has been invaded and the invaders must be resisted. Which doesn't sound feel-good, but it's funny, and in the end has a really interesting message. Quarter Share, Nathan Lowell - The protagonist's mother dies and he will be deported from the planet he is living on, because it's a corporate world and he doesn't have a job. Again, sounds terrible for feel-good. But this becomes a very strong found-family book, much of which is about doing well by doing good. Beware of Chicken, CasualFarmer - Funny, great characters, lots of heart.

[@WordsinTime]

@@dougsundseth6904 Thanks for the recommendations! Beware of Chicken is a great title haha

[@ishaengineer8326]

We are bob (series) lives in my brain rent free. Absolute favourite!!

[@WordsinTime]

@@ishaengineer8326 I’m glad you enjoy it!

[@JLchevz]

Fantastic crossover

[@WordsinTime]

@@JLchevz Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@EduardoRodriguez-du2vd]

Thanks!

[@WordsinTime]

@@EduardoRodriguez-du2vd You’re welcome!

[@Whalesong7]

I thought “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir was a great feel-good book! I couldn’t agree more.

[@WordsinTime]

I’m glad you enjoyed it too!

[@gedren_y8775]

My only rec is for sci-fi. Quozl by Alan Dean Foster; so feel good that there are cartoons, and a trip to a certain theme park. Get the Flip-A-Mation paperback.

[@WordsinTime]

@@gedren_y8775 Haha that sounds fun!

[@mondostrat]

SF isn't a very 'Feel Good' genre ... but if you're looking for a protagonist who keeps a positive attitude despite the world coming apart around them - it's Tetley from 'The Past is Red' by Catherynne M. Valente

[@WordsinTime]

Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll look it up!

[@bookdmb]

My thinking is that Vonnegut and Pratchett are both secular humanists with a playful wit, yet whereas Pratchett writes with genteel grace, Vonnegut carries a wry sort of gallows humour. Then, although ostensibly sci-fi Vonnegut is of a literary ilk, while Pratchett has immaculate prosody but is rooted in fantasy. I do think they had similar values, and were both deeply troubled by wanton violence and disregard for those things most precious.

[@WordsinTime]

@@bookdmb That’s a great perspective!

[@constancecampbell4610]

Green Earth by Kim Stanley Robinson is very much a feel good book. It deals with climate change in an optimistic, if not altogether realistic, way.

[@WordsinTime]

@@constancecampbell4610 That’s cool!

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

I wouldn't call what she was holding up at the beginning of the video a book it's more like a TOME and ryan gosling may not be the best pick to play the hail mary astronaut as he's more studly than nerdy but thanks for reminding me about the bobeversre bks another booktuber mentioned them and I'd forgotten but they look like they'd be interesting⚛😀❤

[@WordsinTime]

@@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd I’m a Ryan Gosling fan, and while he is pretty “cool” I think he can pull off comedy too. I hope you enjoy Bobiverse!

[@Yesica1993]

Oh, I definitely need happy stuff right now! I didn't know that about Tress. Is it... released to the unwashed masses now? I thought it was like a special thing only for the Superfans.

[@WordsinTime]

@@Yesica1993 You can now buy it in all regular formats.

[@Yesica1993]

@@WordsinTime I also saw it's at the library! Will definitely be checking it out.

[@Yesica1993]

To each their own, but, "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet", made ME angry! I got to the end and... NOTHING HAD HAPPENED! I was still waiting for the plot to kick in!

[@WordsinTime]

@@Yesica1993 Haha I gave it a 6.5/10. I agree not much happens, but if someone is looking for a cozy read they might enjoy it.

[@cynthiafialka]

I DNF’d The Long Angry Way… I felt the same that nothing was happening. I wanted to like it so much. :(

[@Yesica1993]

@@cynthiafialka Another one like this is, "The Night Circus." Beautiful language/descriptions, but I got to the last page and felt like I'd fallen of a cliff. I was still waiting for the story!

[@cynthiafialka]

@@Yesica1993 I had The Night Circus on my TBR at one point but took it off. Sounds like it was a good move on my part. 😂

[@SciFiFinds]

Hey there, been a fan for a while and uploaded my first video just now. Would love to feature in one of these videos at some point if you'd have me on :)

[@WordsinTime]

@@SciFiFinds Very cool! Most of the guests I have on are people that I’ve been chatting to for a long time, but I’ll check out your channel. Best of luck with it! Sci-Fi is the Best-Fi!

[@IanTerronesReads]

I wish the kickstarted copies of the Brandon Sanderson secret projects did not cost 90$ on almost every used book site, they all look so cool together.

[@WordsinTime]

@@IanTerronesReads They do look very nice.

[@AbhijeetBorkar]

The Long Way was one of the most boring sci-fi books I have read. It didn't work for me.

[@WordsinTime]

There’s not much plot development.

[@AbhijeetBorkar]

@@WordsinTime that's certainly the big issue, but also, I found the world building to be very basic, characters completely generic and forgettable, and the therapy-speak quite annoying. From my perspective, there was nothing redeeming about the book.