Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Modern Books You Think Will Be Classics In The Future.
I could digress into a whole discussion of what constitutes a classic… but I’ll spare everyone! My feeling is that “classics” are very much in the eye of the beholder. That said, I’m interpreting this week’s prompt in terms of staying power. What book from the past 20 – 30 years (or so) are likely to continue being read and appreciated in the future, and for many years to come?
I’ve decided to focus on science fiction and fantasy for this week’s list. Here are 10 books that I believe will continue to amaze and delight for many, many years!
(Note: After finalizing this list, I realized I’d done a version of this topic in 2022! At least I’m consistent… three of these books were on that list too, which didn’t only focus on sci-fi/fantasy)
- Old Man’s War (series) by John Scalzi
- The Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins
- Wayward Children (series) by Seanan McGuire
- The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
- A Discovery of Witches (series) by Deborah Harkness
- The Expanse (series) by James S. A. Corey
- Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
- Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
- His Dark Materials (series) by Philip Pullman
- The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Do you have any favorite sci-fi/fantasy books that you can see as future classics?
If you wrote a TTT post, please share your link!
Bookshelf Fantasies 
I’ve not tried any of these, but I think that I might like The Wayward Children series.
Here’s a link to my TTT post
The first and second Wayward Children books are especially great! (And the whole series is novellas, which makes them easy to get through). Thanks!
I have Hunger Games on my list!
I remember how shocking the book was when it first came out!
A memorable read!
Interesting choices! I can relate on The Golden Compass. Only know the movie from when I was younger, never read the book, though.
A Discovery of Witches gets me a bit by surprise. Why do you think so?
I also got a Tuesday post, but it’s a Top 5 this time. Might join you with a Top 10 some other time!
https://www.insamyniac.com/memes/top-5-books-i-meant-to-read-in-2025/
Oh, I loved A Discovery of Witches! Such a creative approach, very dramatic, loved the academic aspects, the characters… such a terrific book and series!
Yeah! I originally picked up the book prior and found the series afterwards but somehow paused on both. I want to get back to that book at some point, though!
I’d say the Harry Potter books. I’m not sure if they’re already considered classics, but I’d consider them such because of how their success affected children’s publishing and even how best-seller lists are considered, if I recall correctly.
I agree about Harry Potter, but have such a hard time with my feelings about the author vs how I feel about the books. And you’re right, the NYT (and probably others) redid their bestseller lists because of Harry Potter!
I completely agree about The Hunger Games. I’m also a fan of A Discovery of Witches.
A Discover of Witches is such gorgeous storytelling!
I love your list. I would add to it Hugh Howey’s Silo Saga.
Thank you! I’ve been wanting to read the Silo books for a long time now. It’s great to hear that you think so highly of them!
Great list! I love that Station Eleven is on here, as well as The Golden Compass. And The Hunger Games, obviously!
I remember so strongly how I felt reading Station Eleven! I think I should read it again one of these days.
I need to read a Scalzi book! The Everlasting was amazing and I totally agree!! Everyone should read that book. Great list!
Thank you! And yes, read John Scalzi! I feel like you can’t go wrong with any of his books 🙂
Which one do you recommend for me to read??
There are so many that give a good feel for his style! Old Man’s War is probably the one he’s most known for, but Redshirts is great, Locked In is really different, and Starter Villain and When the Moon Hits Your Eye are both hilarious!
Thank you!! I’m going to start with one of these. I have heard good things about When the Moon Hits Your Eye.. the title alone! haha
I need to read The Everlasting! Totally agree about Discovery of Witches!
I think you’ll love The Everlasting!
Great choices! I loved Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and Old Man’s War was so good, too. And I think the first Hunger Games novel is a classic for sure.
Thanks! I keep thinking I’ll reread Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell someday. It’s been such a long time, but parts of it have really stayed with me.
Great selection! I’ve read three of these (Every Heart A Doorway, Station Eleven and The Hunger Games, and I’m having a feeling The Everlasting would be on my list was well as soon as I read it.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of The Everlasting!
Great approach to the topic! I don’t read science fiction but I do watch it. I love the series Silo and my husband read and enjoyed the books. Maybe that series might make it.
That’s the 2nd recommendation for Silo today! I’ve been meaning to read it, and I’ve heard really good things about the show too.
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