I read a destination of epic fantasy. The bigger the better. When it comes to reading enjoyment, it’s hard to beat an 800+ page wide story, especially if it’s part of a massive series.
Lately, however, I have started to fit smaller books into my reading schedule. It helps me explore a more diverse range of voices and get closer to my ever-too-high annual reading goal… but above all, these comparatively small tomes have shown me how big ideas can fill a small space and still feel impactful and deeply significant.
In recent years, I have come across numerous worthwhile books with shorter page counts and often dealing with huge concepts despite their size. Hyperfocused narratives that expand on a single unifying idea have as much (if not more) to offer as the biggest, baddest tomes of SFF.
Need a break from the great books? Here are five small books (less than 300 pages) that contain big ideas.
Prosper’s Demon by KJ Parker: On the Value of Art and the Influence of Creators
Does art have intrinsic value? Can its value to society change based on the works of its creator?
Prosper’s Demon, a compact and delightfully sardonic story, is ready and willing to ponder these questions in its ~100 pages. The nameless exorcist serves as the de facto protagonist, though he is far from admirable. He hates his job, but someone has to do it. He causes immense pain to the demons he exorcises and the humans who harbor them. He does not want hurt people, but it’s an unfortunate side effect of his methods. His thankless job leads him to a lonely existence laced with sarcasm and brief exchanges with the demonic creatures he encounters.
Prosper of Schanz presents our protagonist with a big dilemma. The man is a tycoon spearheading scientific advances and artistic feats beyond the world’s wildest dreams. He wants to raise a philosopher-king based on pure moral principles. It’s a real shame that Prosper is possessed and that the devil is behind some of his best ideas and achievements.
The exorcist is torn between duty and appreciation for the demon’s work. The creature is a hellish creation and the exorcist knows that he can only go wrong by letting it flourish in Prosper’s psyche.
By default, the exorcist holds the fate of the world’s greatest breakthroughs in the palm of his hand, and must decide whether to eliminate the demon and risk killing Prosper in the process. Prosper’s Demon he manages to balance his witty take on demonic possession with big moral questions about the nature of art and progress. It’s bite-sized, sure, but completely satisfying nonetheless.
A psalm for the wild by Becky Chambers: On following your dreams and exploring the unknown
Living on a small moon, Dex works for a corporation in a big city and begins to feel bogged down in his day-to-day routine. Years ago, the robots and humans agreed to part ways, and the mechanical beings headed for the uninhabited side of the moon, the Savage Land. Now the humans live in relative peace, but Dex feels they can do something. bestsomething morning.
So Dex quits and buys a car. They travel the human lands serving people tea and listening to their stories. They help solve people’s problems, even if it’s just by listening.
Then, Dex starts to feel like exploring more. They cross over into the wild, where they meet Mosscap, an endlessly curious and kind-hearted robot who wants to learn as much as he can about humans.
The book resonated with me: Dex’s story mirrors my journey in many ways, and I imagine the same would be true for other readers. Dissatisfied with his work and unsure of what’s next, Dex jumps. They advance without knowing what awaits them. If you’ve ever left a job or looked for a new opportunity in hopes of a better life, you’ve had the Dex experience. Then Dex realizes that they still want morning. The uncertainty that accompanies any life decision can generate a feeling of discomfort. Following your dreams means giving yourself to the future, which is never set in stone.
A psalm for the wild offers a thoughtful and candid exploration of Dex’s journey of self-discovery within its ~160 pages. And the next sequel, A prayer for the crown-shydig even deeper into those crucial concepts and questions.
each heart a door by Seanan McGuire: On belonging and being misunderstood
Sean McGuire’s wayward children The series keeps growing and growing. Each book focuses on a boy who ventured into a fantasy portal world where he felt he truly belonged, only to be whisked back to the “real” world (our world). each heart a door launches the series with the story of Nancy Whitman, a girl who returns from the Halls of the Dead to the fast-paced, noisy and chaotic real world.
Eleanor West welcomes Nancy to her boarding school, offering her a loving home and friends who can relate, in a way, to her experience.
each heart a door It may seem light and unassuming at first, but McGuire quickly reveals the darkness that comes from feeling like you don’t belong. The pain these children feel can lead to terrible acts and decisions that shake the very foundation of what Eleanor West has built. Nancy finds herself at the center of a murder mystery and, upon returning from the land of the dead, suspicions cross her path. Nancy must navigate her new home, her grief at losing her old one, and the suspicious looks from her new classmates who believe she is killing other students.
The totality wayward children The series (seven novels to date, with more on the way) dives into the concept of belonging without shying away from the darker experiences of alienation and isolation. The countless protagonists have been mistreated, misunderstood, harassed, or even abused for who they are, which has led them to their more tolerant portal worlds. Everyone fits in somewhere, and even the scary portal lands on the surface can provide McGuire’s characters with the sense of belonging they so desperately need.
Tender is the meat by Agustina Bazterrica: On humanity’s response to the crisis
This one can hit close to home, so proceed with the bail. But also keep in mind that it is one hundred percent worth reading.
In Agustina Bazterrica Tender is the meat, a virus decimates the earth’s animal population, rendering nearly all creatures inedible. This leads to “The Transition”, which legalizes cannibalism and launches an industry to breed humans for consumption.
Marcos works in a “special meat” plant, as the book calls them, and a wealthy client gives him a “head”, a human woman raised to be eaten. Marcos goes through the motions, questioning whether the world’s governments manufactured the virus to sacrifice the population and/or make a profit. He becomes attached to the “head” that he now harbors. His father withers away in a home and his sister refuses to offer to help take care of him.
Marcos’ world is crumbling around him, and he follows a routine to maintain his composure. Tender is the meat it hits close to home for reasons that I hope are tragically obvious. It tackles humanity’s collective response to a world-shaking virus, grappling with the grim issues arising from a global crisis. It is an incredibly prophetic novel, originally published in 2017.
You’ve probably put that together Bidding It is The meat It’s not for the faint of heart. She needs to be in the right mindset to read it – get this, go in knowing it’s heavy and difficult, and it’s easily a five star read. And at 220 pages, it’s as brief as it is devastating.
2001: a space odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke: On how very, very small we are in the grand scheme of things
While my selection above captures a specific moment in time, Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001: a space odyssey highlights thousands upon thousands of years of human development in a span of 300 pages.
2001 It begins with the ancestors of humanity, more apes than men, avoiding predators and searching for food. When the mysterious monolith appears and inspires the creatures to throw, strike and hunt, they enter a new era of evolution.
Fast forward to modern times, and humans have landed on the moon. Traveling to our lunar brother is not very common, but it is feasible for the rich. The explorers discover another monolith buried beneath the surface of the moon, and when they discover it, a signal is transmitted to Saturn.
In 2001, astronauts Dave Bowman and Frank Poole, along with three crew members suspended in cryosleep and the HAL 9000 sentient computer, boarded the spacecraft. discovery one heading for Saturn in the hope of finding another monolith… and answers about its origin.
From its opening lines to its mind-blowing climax, 2001: a space odyssey reflect on the nature of humanity. Who are we and what is our purpose? even us have by the way? The novel explores possible answers and leaves much to interpretation.
To date, I have not read a science fiction story that more effectively highlights how small and insignificant we are on the world stage. 2001: a space odyssey welcomes the questions and revels in the uncertainty that invades our existence. But don’t worry, there is still a shred of hope in the final moments of the book.
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What are your favorite little books that offer big ideas and explore important questions? Let me know in the comments!
Cole Rush writes words. Many of them. For the most part, you can find those words on The Quill To Live or on Twitter. @ColeRush1. He voraciously reads epic fantasy and science fiction, seeking out stories of gigantic proportions and devouring them with bookworm fervor. Her favorite books are: The Divine Cities Robert Jackson Bennett Series, The long road to an angry little planet by Becky Chambers, and The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.