The Greatest British "Magical Realism, Soft Science Fiction, Fiction" Books Since 1900

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 300 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Magical Realism

Magical realism is a literary genre that weaves elements of fantasy into realistic settings, creating a narrative that exists in a harmonious balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary. In magical realist literature, the supernatural is not presented as something to be questioned or explained, but rather as an accepted part of everyday life. Characters might encounter ghosts, engage in telepathy, or experience time in non-linear ways, yet these occurrences are treated as mundane aspects of the world. This genre often explores complex themes such as identity, time, and the interconnection of reality and illusion, blurring the lines between the conceivable and the incredible. Magical realism is rooted in Latin American literature but has become a beloved and diverse genre worldwide, offering readers a lens through which the complexities of life are viewed with wonder and a subtle touch of magic.

Soft Science Fiction

Soft science fiction, often abbreviated as "soft sci-fi," is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes the social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, and anthropology, over the hard sciences like physics and chemistry. Unlike its counterpart, hard science fiction, which focuses on scientific accuracy and technical detail, soft science fiction explores the human condition, societal changes, and speculative futures through the lens of technology and its impact on society. This genre often delves into themes of ethics, culture, and human relationships, using futuristic settings and speculative technology as a backdrop to examine how these elements interact and affect individuals and societies. Soft science fiction is less concerned with the how and why of technology itself, and more interested in the implications and consequences of technological and societal evolution, making it a rich field for exploring complex characters, speculative societies, and philosophical questions.

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  1. 1. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

    This novel is a unique blend of six different stories, each set in a different time and place, spanning from the 19th century South Pacific to a post-apocalyptic future. Each tale is written in a different style, reflecting the time and setting it represents, and they are all connected through shared themes and recurring motifs. The stories are nested within each other, with each interrupted by the next, only to be concluded in the second half of the book. The novel explores themes of predacity, civilization, reincarnation and the eternal recurrence of the same behaviors throughout history.

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If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

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