English sci-fi authors for language learning

21 October 2025

English-learners

Oleksandra Kulish

Book expert

Fantasy is incredibly popular today — and understandably so. After all, it immerses us in amazing worlds where anything is possible. You can escape from everyday life and dive into adventures where heroes fight dark forces, discover mysterious places, and learn their true potential. Why not combine business with pleasure? In this article, we'll show you how fantasy can be a fun and effective way to improve your English grammar.

Grammar and fantasy: a combination for effective learning

Grammar is the foundation of any language. Fantasy books and films provide an opportunity to practise grammatical structures in a lively context. The unique style and artistic techniques of this genre make learning more interesting.

Thanks to fantasy, you can practise:

verb tenses to reproduce the chronology of events;
modal verbs to express the possibilities, desires or obligations of characters;
conditional sentences to create alternative realities.

The context of a fantasy world helps you to better remember the rules and apply them in your own speech.

In fantasy, authors create an atmosphere and build a sequence of events through different tenses:

Present Simple. The knight trains young squires every morning.
Past Simple. The ancient elves built hidden cities in the forests.
Present Continuous. The dwarves are forging weapons for the coming battle.

Past Perfect. By the time the hero arrived, the tower had already collapsed.

Modal verbs are used

Can (ability). The sorceress can control the weather with her staff.

Would (desire). The prince would travel across realms to find the lost kingdom.

Must (duty). The guardian must protect the ancient gate from intruders.

Conditional sentences are also very common in such books:

Zero Conditional. If you touch the enchanted mirror, it reveals your hidden fears.
First Conditional. If the heroine defeats the shadow beast, the village will be saved.
Second Conditional. If the wizard discovered the secret spell, he would change the course of the war.
Third Conditional. If the prince had listened to the oracle, the kingdom would have avoided disaster.

And that's not to mention how fantasy literature helps you learn conversational constructions through dialogues and monologues:

Dialogue. ‘Hail, wanderer! What brings you to the enchanted forest?”
Monologue. ‘I have journeyed through mountains and valleys to recover the lost amulet of power.”

It is worth noting that although most of the events in fantasy books usually take place in the era of the so-called ‘alternative Middle Ages’, this is not reflected in the language — modern grammatical constructions are used here.

The complexity of vocabulary and syntax in fantasy

Fantasy works are distinguished by their rich vocabulary and complex syntactic constructions. Authors create unique worlds where rare words, special terms, and unusual word combinations are used. Yes, some of them may not be very common in everyday life, but that is what makes fantasy a great genre for in-depth vocabulary study.

Fantasy texts allow readers not only to learn unusual words, but also to see how complex syntactic constructions function in a living context, which greatly facilitates the memorisation of grammatical rules and allows them to be applied in writing and oral speech.

What to pay attention to while reading

To get the most out of reading, it is worth doing it thoughtfully. Pay attention to the tenses the author uses to construct the sequence of events. This helps to understand the logic of the narrative and remember the correct use of tenses:

Fantasy is rich in long, multi-clause sentences. Analyse their structure, highlight the main and subordinate parts to better understand the grammatical patterns and the construction of complex structures. You don't need to do this all the time — usually, every fantasy writer has their own style, so after analysing a dozen sentences, it will be much easier for you to read the book and you will improve your overall language skills.

Pay attention to new words and expressions, especially terms related to spells, creatures, magic, or fantastical objects. Try to determine the meaning from the context and memorise useful phrases. This is extremely important, as some of them may be real objects and phenomena, while others may be proper names or words invented by the author. To avoid confusion, it is necessary to check these points as you read.

Try to pay attention to cultural realities, historical or mythological allusions. This is more for you as a reader than as a person learning English. With a good understanding of the story and its background, it will be easier and more enjoyable for you to discuss the book with other readers.

Popular English and English-language fantasy writers

Science fiction and fantasy have a rich history, from the classics of the 19th century to contemporary bestsellers. Here is a list of the most popular English science fiction writers who have influenced the genre and whose books we recommend reading, as they are relevant and popular today:

Shadow and Bone by Li Bardugo.

This bestseller from Hachette Children's Group is an excellent choice for fantasy lovers, especially fans of fantasy writers Laney Taylor and Sarah J. Maas. In addition, Netflix fans will appreciate this book: together with the novel Six of Crows, it formed the basis for the plot of the series of the same name.

The Plated Prisoner by Raven Kennedi.

Orea, locked in the snow-covered castle of the Sixth Kingdom, has never known freedom. She was rescued by King Midas, but he made her his property. When war comes to the kingdom, Orea's world is destroyed, and everything she knew about Midas is called into question. Trust and love are threatened, and the heroine will have to rethink her story.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James.

An epic saga from Penguin Books Ltd, filled with African mythology and magic, tells the story of a hunter who searches for a missing boy, facing numerous dangers.

Twin Crowns by Katherine Webber and Catherine Doyle

Ren Greenrock dreams of avenging her parents' death and taking her sister's place in the palace. Rosa Valhart has never left the capital, but her life changes after she is kidnapped. This is a romantic comedy fantasy from two stars of English youth literature — writers Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber.

City of Ghosts — V. E. Schwab.

A girl who can see ghosts moves to Edinburgh with her parents, where she uncovers the secrets of the paranormal world. Quite suspenseful and exciting.

We Hunt the Flame — Faizal Hafsah.

Zafira, a Hunter forced to hide her true nature, risks everything for her people. Nasir, the Prince of Death, must obey a cruel sultan. When they are both sent on dangerous missions — Zafira to restore magic, Nasir to destroy the Hunter — their paths cross. The journey becomes a test, where an ancient evil threatens all living things.

Gilded by Marissa Meyer.

Serilda, the daughter of a poor miller, has been given an amazing gift — the ability to create fascinating stories that contain no truth whatsoever. One of her stories caught the attention of the terrifying King Erking, and now she is locked in his castle. To survive, Serilda must complete an impossible task, and a mysterious young man offers his help — but not for free. Soon she discovers the ancient secrets of the castle and a curse that could end the king's reign.

The Poppy War by Rebecca Kuang.

Jin, an orphan from a small province, escapes forced marriages and illegal trafficking by enrolling in an elite military academy. Despite the bullying, she discovers her magical abilities and becomes the conduit for the God of Fire. But all power comes at a price — and during the Third Poppy War, she will have to test them on the real battlefield.

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas.

Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Atalar try to maintain peace and a platonic relationship, but the tension between them threatens to explode in Crescent City. Drawn into the rebel movement, they and their friends are forced to confront the terrifying Aster. The heroes are faced with a choice: to remain silent or to act — and they have never been good at remaining silent.

Fantasy in English is not only about exciting adventures in magical worlds, but also a great way to improve your language skills. Reading such books helps to expand your vocabulary, better understand grammar, and master various linguistic expressions. As a result, each page becomes a small magical step on the path to fluency in English.