By Malissa Kent
2011 was an excellent year for Science Fiction and Fantasy; we have everything from killer video games to dragons. It was a hard choice to drill down just the top 10.
Of course, it's rather hard to talk about 2011 without talking about George R. R. Martin's long-awaited fifth book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, A Dance with Dragons, especially after the huge hit of the Game of Thrones mini-series on HBO this spring. Fans finally find out what happens to Jon Snow, Tryion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, and other characters who weren't featured in A Feast for Crows. Of course, with two more epic novels yet to come, there are far more questions posed than answers given, but this is still required reading for any Martin fan.
The top slot on our list, however, goes to Ernest Cline's Ready Player One. A combination of Massive Multiplayer games and scavenger hunts, the story centers on a virtual reality with all-too-real consequences...including finding the keys to inherting a massive fortune. When Wade Watts finds the first of these keys, both his virtual and real world are quickly jeopardized. A Best of the Month pick in August, this fascinating read continues to captivate us.
Check out the full list of our Top 10 Science Fiction and Fantasy books of 2011, including books by Lev Grossman, China Mieville, Christopher Paolini, and more. Or browse our 100 Best Books of the Year.
