Speculative fiction – which is to say sci-fi, fantasy, and sometimes horror – has a reputation for doorstoppers and long-running sagas.  Between Tolkien, Martin, Herbert, and Asimov, the reputation isn’t entirely undeserved.  So what do you do as a reader with a busy schedule?  Fortunately, there’s been a flood of excellent speculative novellas in recent years.  Here are a few standouts to get you started.

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Math prodigy Binti doffs tradition in order to attend the prestigious Oomza University, a long spaceflight away from home.  En route, her ship is attacked by the extraterrestrial Meduse. In the midst of the crisis, Binti discovers that an artifact she brought with her from earth grants her the ability to communicate with the Meduse, offering her a narrow chance at survival. She might even be able to begin to mend the hostile relationship between human beings and the Meduse.  This beautifully written and tightly plotted book is deservedly acclaimed, winning both the Hugo and Nebula awards for Best Novella in 2016.  It’s also the first in a trilogy, so eager readers will be able to move on to the next book right away.

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

In-Yo is an isolated empress surrounded by enemies in a treacherous court.  Rabbit is a servant who strikes up an unlikely bond with the empress.  Through Rabbit’s memories many years later, their story unfolds.  Nghi Vo is an incredible writer whom I will recommend every chance I get.  Like the first entry on this list, The Empress of Salt and Fortune is also the first installment in a series.  The fifth book in Vo’s The Singing Hills Cycle, called The Brides of High Hill, debuted just this year.

The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson

If you’ve ever lamented how teen and twenty-something protagonists seem to be inescapable in sci-fi and fantasy, this is the book you’ve been waiting for.  Vellitt Boe is a professor from the Dreamlands tasked with tracking down a student who has run away with a man from the waking world – our world.  Vellitt Boe is one of the best fantasy protagonists I’ve recently encountered, effortlessly demonstrating why it’s worthwhile to have a story with an older lead.  She’s not as prone to rash decisions as a younger protagonist might be, and her long experience makes the strange world she calls home feel just familiar enough to the reader.  The setting is borrowed from the public domain works of H.P. Lovecraft, and Johnson’s fresh take allows readers to see what may be familiar territory through new eyes.

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

If The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe is a fantasy take on horror, The Salt Grows Heavy is a horror take on fantasy, loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid.  This mermaid was treated more like a trophy by the prince in question, and she now flees the ruins of the kingdom where she was held captive.  An enigmatic plague doctor helps her along the way, and the pair soon run afoul of the ghosts of the doctor’s past.  This is not one for the squeamish, but if you enjoy poetic prose or the gory beauty of Bloodborne, this book is for you.

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh

Do you prefer your fantasy with a touch of romance?  Emily Tesh’s Silver in the Wood tells the story of Tobias, a man living under a curse in the forest of Greenhollow.  His lonely life is forever altered when Henry Silver, the new owner of the adjacent Greenhollow Hall, takes an interest in him, but to Tobias’ horror, the shadows of his own past may take an interest in Henry as well.  This is a beautiful read that achieves a true sense of myth and fairy tale.