Weird, Fascinating Science Fiction & Fantasy

2011 was a good year to be a reader of science fiction and fantasy, although lately every year has been a good year: Not only are the books getting more popular...they're getting more interesting, evolving and morphing in weird, fascinating ways.  They're also interbreeding with other genres to produce wild new hybrid forms, like historical science fiction romances and hard-boiled fantasy detective novels. They're commenting on current events and swapping DNA with literary novels.
~from "Fired Up: The Year's Best Science Fiction, Fantasy" by Lev Grossman


The article recommends:


A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente

Rule 34 by Charles Stross

Delirium by Lauren Oliver


Also consider:


The Magician King by Lev Grossman

Of Blood & Honey by Stina Leicht

Robopocalyse by Daniel H. Wilson

Roil by Trent Jamieson

Regicide by Nicholas Royle

Among Others by Jo Walton

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi

Seed by Rob Ziegler

Mind Storm by K. M. Ruiz


I'd also like to put in a plug for one of my favorite science fiction writers,  Joan Slonczewski, who finally has a new book, The Highest Frontier, out this year!  I'm not sure it's a "new hybrid form", but Booklist says it's "a must-read for all sf fans".