20 Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of October 2018

Halloween is around the corner. Ready to read something sinister, spooky, or downright disturbing? Check out our list of the 20 best Sci-Fi and Fantasy books of October 2018.

1. Always Look on the Bright Side
Eric Idle

In this memoir, Eric Idle (of Monty Python fame) takes us on a journey from his childhood in a rich boarding school to a meteoric rise as a comedian working in stand-up, television, theatre, and film.

In the creative and cultural upheaval of the 60s and 70s, Eric connects with rising stars and future life-long friends George Harrison, David Bowie, and Robin Williams. There’s side splitting humor and heart to the writing as Idle shares highlights from his career as well as behind the scenes stories involving Mike Nichols, Mick Jagger, Steve Martin, Paul Simon, and Lorne Michaels.

A hilarious memoir that reflects the meaning of life, check it out here.

2. The Best American Comics 2018
Phoebe Gloeckner and Bill Kartalopoulos

What makes sequential art such an amazing art form? In this fantastic collection, Gloeckner and series editor Kartalopoulos curate the 13th annual collection of North American sequential art. Focused on auteur (works from a single creator) rather than ensemble comics, each story in the collection–from autobiographical, to confessional, to mythological–excels in its own right. Many of the works are even from self-published authors!

Find work by Michael Ridge, Max Clotfelter, Aaron Lange, Keiler Roberts, Ted Stearn, and more. With stories drawn from the pages of graphic novels, comic books, periodicals, zines, and online, its a diverse and wonderful look at some of the most compelling comic work today!

Find this great collection here.

3. Blood Communion, A Tale of Prince Lestat
Anne Rice

Lestat, ruling Prince of the Vampire world and a rebel outlaw, tells a tribe of vampires the story of the formation of the Blood Communion and how his vision to unite all the Children of the Universe came to be. 

The novel moves from Lestat’s castle in the snow-covered mountains of France, where he is the reigning monarch, to battles with Rhoshamandes, a demon spirit who refuses to live in harmony and is outcast for the slaughter of the legendary ancient vampire Maharet, avowed enemy of Queen Akasha.

Check out this spellbinding novel here.

4. A Clash of Kings: The Graphic Novel: Volume One
George R.R. Martin

Love Game of Thrones? This  first volume of a four-part graphic novel adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s landmark Song of Ice and Fire series (the inspiration for HBO’s Game of Thrones) will not disappoint!

After 10 years, the summer of peace and plenty is nearly over. A difficult, cold winter approaches. Lord Eddard Stark and King Robert Baratheon—two leaders who ruled in an age of enforced peace have been killed. Now, chaos reigns in a time of turmoil and war as six factions of would-be rulers wrestle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms.

Find this full-color graphic novel of clashing rulers, alchemy, and murder here.

5. The Conspiracy Against the Human Race, A Contrivance of Horror
Thomas Ligotti

It’s the season for all-things terrifying and supernatural! In this scary work of nonfiction, Ligotti draws from philosophy, literature, neuroscience, and other fields to suggest that humans are living a brutal and meaningless nightmare. Part pessimistic guidebook, part critique of humanity’s self-deception, this book of horror might just convince you that there’s more truth to Ligottis well-known negativity that some may wish to believe.

Find the book here.

6. Dracul
Dacre Stoker and JD Barker

Bram Stoker is a sick kid. Born to weak health in the 1800’s, he witnesses a string of strange deaths in a Dublin-area town. But when his caretaker vanishes, the bizarre nightmare grows worse. Armed only with crucifixes, holy water, and a rifle, Stoker sits alone in a looming tower praying to survive the night. What follows is a desperate effort to record the dark, sinister evil he sees.

Check out this book of bizarre behavior and strange disappearances here.

7. Dragon Code
Gigi McCaffrey

Remember the Dragonriders of Pern series? In this follow-up, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the books, Gigi McCaffrey adds to the family series with an account of the brave inhabitants of a far-off planet who must do battle against a merciless foe known as Thread.

When Thread first attacked Pern, the Oldtimer Dragonriders appeared, traveling four hundred years to help their descendants survive. But past and present couldn’t coexist. Some of the displaced rescuers struggled to adapt to their new exiled reality. Resentment grew. But when the Masterharper of Pern sees promise in Piemur, a young journeyman harper, he sends the boy deep undercover among the Oldtimers where he must rise to the challenge to avert a coming catastrophe that threatens the order.

Find the book here.

8. Kill the Queen
Jennifer Estep

In this enthralling, fantasy epic from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep, a royal woman becomes a warrior, seeking to avenge her family and save a kingdom by from an evil, murderous cousin.

In a world where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s isn’t worth much. Seventeenth in line for the throne, she lives in the shadow of the royal court. But when an evil cousin assassinates the queen and takes the throne, Evie is forced into hiding. Uncertain of her future, she falls in with a group of gladiators who train her until she becomes a gladiator herself—and powerful enough to kill the illegitimate queen.

Gladiator meets Game of Thrones in this intiguinging and murderous novel. Check out the book here.

9. Marvelocity
Alex Ross and Chip Kidd

Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Black Panther—all of the Marvel characters are here. This is a collection of some of the comic world’s most rare, unseen images. It’s also an inspiring story about Ross, a little boy who simply wanted to draw super heroes.

Marvelocity collects hundreds of drawings, paintings, and photos from Ross’ 30 years of creating images in comics—some published for the first time. Check out an original never-before-seen battle between Spider-Man and the Sinister Six. See redesign proposals for the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. Also, readers get to look at an amazing re-creation of a battle between the Sub-Mariner and Iron Man.

It’s a work of talent and a never-quit attitude. Find it here.

10. Plight of the Living Dead
Matt Simon

Dig Zombies? In Plight of the Living Dead, science journalist Matt Simon documents his journey through the history of mind control. Discover whack scientists infecting ants with zombifying fungi. Search for kamikaze crickets. Meet the wasp that stings cockroaches in the brain. This book shows natural selection’s horrific and other-worldly way of producing zombies. 

Discover how this troubling and unbelievable world affects human life. Find the book here.

11. Priest of Bones
Peter McLean

After the war, Tomas Piety, an army priest, comes home to find that things have changed. The crime syndicate he once ruled has been stolen. His people have run out of food and safe-haven. But when Tomas tries to take back what was his, he’s dragged into a web of complicated political powers.

A story about pious men and infiltrators, doing war in shadowy streets, bars, and brothels, Priest of Bones is hard to put down. Check out the book here.

12. Search Image
Julie E. Czerneda

Biologist and best-selling author Julie E. Czerneda has received international acclaim for her popular Species Imperative trilogy, the Web Shifters series, and the Clan Chronicles novels. In this, the first book in the Web Shifter’s Library series, Czerneda returns to the adventures of Esen, a shapeshifting alien and member of an endangered race, who struggle to survive a hostile universe.

Esen’s and her human friend Paul have created an All Species Library of Linguistics and Culture. To celebrate, they welcome Paul’s family back. But violence erupts when Paul’s father goes missing. To find him, Esen must make impossible choices, search for a mysterious legacy, and helping Evan avert an extinction.

Find the book here.

13. The Way of the Shield
Marshall Ryan Maresca

Dayne always dreamed of joining the Tarians, the Elite Orders of Druthal, warriors who stand for order, justice, and the common people. But now, with a standing army, there is little need for the Tarian Order. Still, Dayne trains, learns the arts of defense and fighting, and becomes a candidate for the Tarian Order.

But, disaster strikes. His future with the Tarians is threatened when a failed rescue injures the child of an influential family and Dayne is blamed. He returns to the capital city in shame, ready to be cast out of the Order.

Instead, Dayne finds the city in a turmoil that threatens members of Parliament and common people alike. And, when Dayne gets drawn into the violence, he must decide between self-preservation and his Tarian vow to stand against the strong for the justice and the well-being of the weak.

Find the book here.

14. Zero Sum Game
S. L. Huang

Cas Russell is a math genius. Her abilities allow her to dodge bullets, win gunfights, and annihilate armed men twice her size. She assumes no one else has her superpower. But she’s wrong. There’s someone with a power even more dangerous who can reach into minds and twist brains. This someone is working to becoming the world’s puppet master, controlling thoughts, maybe even Cas’. She shouldn’t get involved, but she already is.

Check out the book here.

15. Bright Ruin
Vic James

The system is rigged against Britain’s lower classes where commoners must give ten years in service to their rulers. The elites have crushed past uprisings. But now, a new confrontation looms. Abi Hadley and her brother, Luke are ordinary commoners who hate the ruling Jardine family. Once servants and imprisoned persons, their hopes rests in forging an alliance with the youngest of a powerful clan, Silyen Jardine. In this tale, siblings bound by destiny risk it all to change their fates and save the world.  But at what cost?

Find the book here.

16. Enchantments, A Modern Witch’s Guide to Self-Possession
Mya Spalter

Mya Spalter works at a New York occult shop. This illustrated book is her guide to its mysteries, secrets, and stories, introducing readers to myriad mystical concepts like building spells, rituals, and altars, saving love, cleaning an apartment, and understanding the real magic of money. Part instruction manual, part astrological enchantment, open your life to this book and you might be surprised at the beauty and balance you’ll likely find.

Find it here.

17. The Rift Coda
Amy S. Foster

Ryn is a Citadel, a genetically modified soldier who’s job is to protect a version of Earth among an infinite number of other versions. But when Ezra Massad comes into Ryn’s Earth, new questions are asked and Ryn’s life and commitments to the Citadel change. Consequently, Ryn, Ezra, and Ryn’s teammate Levi are sent through a Multiverse more complex than ever thought. No longer a soldier, she must now be a leader, leave it all behind, step forward and lead. This is a story of forging alliances with new species, make decisions and self-sacrifice in ways never expected. 

Check out the book here.

18. River into Darkness
Sean Russell

In a fantastic, imaginary world, magic is under threat. It’s the twilight age for magic. But someone is hiding a dark secret that may destroy the world. At over a hundred years old, the terrifying Lord Eldrich plots in seclusion with a singular purpose: eliminate magic forever. Opposite him, a heroic remnant, the Tellerites. They’ve sworn to preserve the forbidden powers of the magical arts. To do so, they must journey into Eldrich’s dark cave. It’s a battle of fanatical powers that will decide the fate of magic itself. What secrets are laid hidden? What will be disclosed?

From one of Sci-Fi’s most celebrated Canadian writers comes River into Darkness, from the duology the River of Darkness, a prequel to the “Moontide and Magic Rise” duology.

Find it here.

19. The World of Lore: Dreadful Places
Aaron Mahnke

Ready for a spook? In the World of Lore, Aaron Mahnke, host of Lore (the podcast), takes us along for a creepy and disturbing look inside some of the world’s most dreadful places. Join the author at Colorado’s sinister Stanley Hotel, where a frightful nightmare inspired one of the best horror novels of all time. Travel to New Orleans, to Virginia, then all the way to the ancient castles of England to learn haunting histories, visit dark destinations, and discover evil deeds and unspeakable tragedy. The World of Lore: Dreadful Places includes illustrations will not disappoint.

Find this dreadfully awesome book here.

20. Brief Answers to the Big Questions 
Stephen Hawking

Hawking, recently deceased, was one of the world’s top scientists. Over the decades, his work in physics and cosmologyeducated millions on the origins of the universe. From black holes to time itself, his work inspired millions and tackled some of the universe’s deepest mysteries. Today, as we confront climate change, threats of nuclear war, and the integration of artificial intelligence ,Hawking’s work still speaks.

Does God exist? Will human civilization survive itself? In this compelling read, Hawking’s final work and message to the world, the author wades into wide-ranging topics to answer humanities most vexing questions.

Check it out here.

Thanks for reading our list of spooky books. Have a title you’d recommend? Let us know in the comments!