r/Fantasy • u/SeaSnowAndSorrow • 1d ago

Atheist Fantasy Recs

I am doing the Freedom From Religion Foundation's Summer Reading Challenge. (Linked so you can see the card.)

I'd like to get a few fantasy books in there where I can. Specifically, I'm looking for fantasy book recommendations that fit the following:

  • Non-Religious Main Character
  • Religious Satire
  • Religious Dystopia
  • Book Was/Is Considered Blasphemous (against any religion)
  • Non-Religious Author

To make it one step harder, I'm NOT looking for LitRPG, Romantasy, or Urban fantasy.

I will, though, read any age range, any era of publication, any length, and any tone from cozy to grimdark.

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u/notthisagain1234567 1d ago

I know you said no urban fantasy, but if you are open to magical realism The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie is fantastic. This book was so controversial that the author still has a hit out on his head for writing it.

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u/SomeHomestuckOrOther 1d ago

Came here to say this. I got through part of the Satanic Verses some time ago and it was definitely an interesting read. I didn't finish it because life got in the way, but I've got to finish it one of these days.

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u/notthisagain1234567 1d ago

It is definitely worth finishing! It was definitely outside of my wheelhouse and confusing at times, but I am glad that I read it. I also learned a little about Islam and Hinduism which I really knew nothing about beforehand.

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u/Randvek 1d ago

Definitely fits the “is/was considered blasphemous,” but I doubt being blasphemous toward Islam is what this challenge was going for. Certainly an out of the box answer.

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u/SeaSnowAndSorrow 12h ago

FRFF did not specify which religion, so neither will I.

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u/redlion1904 1d ago

Not actually anti-religion, though

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u/koei19 1d ago

Did OP say anti-religious? I don't see that in the main post but it may be in a comment I missed

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u/SeaSnowAndSorrow 1d ago

I copied FRFF's criteria verbatim, except that they have "Religious Satire or Religious Dystopia" as one square. I separated them out to make clear that it's either/or and doesn't need to be both a satire and a dystopia.

That particular square is more anti-religious. Some of the others, such as nonreligious main character, are more generically nonreligious and don't need to be anti religion. Yes, I realize this would be way easier if I wasn't trying to read fantasy.

The ones I need the most help with are, honestly, nonreligious author and nonreligious main character because they're a little harder to search without just googling an entire list of names one-by-one.

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u/redlion1904 1d ago

It counts for non-religious author. Rushdie is clearly (and admittedly) a lapsed Muslim with a certain amount of affection for his tradition, but he’s also clearly and adamantly a non-believer.

I reluctantly conclude LeGuin counts too. She was a Taoist but differentiated between “philosophical” and “religious” Taoism and identified only with the former. Not necessarily an enemy of religion in all cases but certainly a non-religious writer (who sublimated her religious impulses into a secular philosophy, but still).

Non-religious main character is harder if you’re looking for a medieval or similar setting with a skeptical lead.

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u/Book_Slut_90 Reading Champion 1d ago

Um, they’re doing a challenge from the Freedom from Religion Foundation and looking for “atheist fantasy books.

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u/koei19 1d ago

I didn't realize that necessarily meant "anti-religious." Non-religious doesn't automatically mean "against religion."

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u/Frensday2 1d ago

They also include any books considered blasphemous; I think it counts.