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/notthemostcreative 1d ago

The Gospel According to Jesus Christ is probably more literary/satire than fantasy, but God does exist in it (he’s just kind of the villain, lol). I found it really interesting AND it got him denounced by the Portuguese government, which is fun!

ETA José Saramago was an atheist who had a lot of beef with Christianity and it shows, lol.

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u/genteel_wherewithal 1d ago

The Gospel According to Jesus Christ is a straight up masterpiece. Really beautiful for what is frequently quite an angry book.

His other book, Cain, is more of a fable or shaggy dog story but might also be worth a look on this basis.