1. Read an award winner.
If you like fantasy here are several awards that are good sources for finding outstanding novels, short stories, or anthologies.
- The Nebula Awards are presented each year for the best science fiction or fantasy published in the United States during the previous year. Browse Nebula Award winners in our collection.
- The Hugo Awards are presented each year by the World Science Fiction Society. Browse Hugo Award winners in our collection.
- The World Fantasy Awards are presented annually by the World Fantasy Convention to writers of fiction. Browse World Fantasy Award winners in our collection.
- The Ignyte Awards are presented by FIYAH Literary Magazine and are intended to celebrate excellent Speculative Fiction written by people of color.
2. Borrow e-books, downloadable audiobooks & movies.
Here are some short cut links to easily borrow materials online with your IndyPL library card. If you have never borrowed from OverDrive before or used OverDrive’s Libby app, both Overdrive/Libby app directions and OverDrive browser directions are available as well as an OverDrive video tutorial and Overdrive Support. If you have never borrowed from Kanopy before, you can get Kanopy directions.
- OverDrive Fantasy Fiction e-Books & Audiobooks
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Filmss Streaming Movies from Kanopy
3. Get reading recommendations from IndyPL staff.
Click on a featured booklist to get reading recommendations or see all our staff fantasy book lists.
IndyPL Staff Picks 2023- Best of Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Enjoy our staff members favorite scifi and fantasy reads of 2023. In between dragons and pirates and faeries, you’ll also find tales of grilled cheese and talking cats. We hope you find a new favorite magical read.
4. Make a Selection from these authors.
Joe Abercrombie
Piers Anthony
Elizabeth Bear
Anne Bishop
Olivie Blake
Paula Brackston
Patricia Briggs
Terry Brooks
Jim Butcher
Rachel Caine
Jacqueline Carey
Gail Carriger
Zen Cho
Genevieve Cogman
Zoraida Cordova
Stephen R. Donaldson
Neil Gaiman
Nicole Glover
Terry Goodkind
Laurell K. Hamilton
Deborah Harkness
Charlaine Harris
5. Use your IndyPL Library card to login to Novelist Plus.
Find reading recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books on Novelist Plus. Once you login with your IndyPL library card, choose the “Fantasy” category from the list on the left.
Here is a sample recommendation. When you click on a book you can read a brief description, see a star rating, and click “Check Availability” to see if it is available to borrow from IndyPL.
6. Subscribe to the Fantasy newsletter from NextReads.
Receive fantasy reading recommendation in your inbox monthly. Book suggestions are linked to our catalog for easy requesting. It’s FREE! See a ample issue or Subscribe to NextReads!
7. Find a book discussion near you!
You are invited to join in one of our many in-person or online book discussions that take place several times each month. In our book discussion groups we read and talk about both fiction and non-fiction books. We express our opinions (both likes and dislikes!) with other avid readers in the city.
- Event: Adult Book Discussion at Glendale
- Date & Time: Tuesday, November 05, 6:30pm
- Location: Glendale Branch
- Description: The book to be discussed is “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” by Jamie Ford.
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Adult Book Discussion at Warren
- Date & Time: Thursday, November 07, 10:30am
- Location: Warren Branch
- Description: Join the Warren Book Discussion group as we share our thoughts on this month’s read, “All That She Carried” by Tiya Miles. Adults of all ages are invited to attend and new members are always welcome!
- Register Here
- Event: Virtual Author Talk: A Navajo Investigator’s Search for the Unexplained
- Date & Time: Thursday, November 07, 7:00pm
- Location: Online
- Description: You are welcome to join us in conversation with Navajo Ranger, Stanley Milford, Jr. as he chats about the chilling and clear-eyed memoir of his investigations into bizarre cases of the paranormal and the unexplained in Navajoland.
- Register Here
Need help?
Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.