I was surprised to find out that Ken Grimwood's Replay (read it, if you haven't) is considered fantasy. Speculative fiction, maybe, but fantasy? Still, it's a very good book regardless of the genre and I'd really appreciate suggestions on books of similar premise and quality.
Namely, what I'm looking for is well written stuff that deals with accidental or unplanned time travel into past, parallel worlds/universes similar to our own or parallel societies covertly existing within ours. Bonus points if the author, protagonists and location are not American. While I know speculative fiction available in English is dominated by American authors and geared towards American audiences, it would be really refreshing to read something else, as the cultural references and stuff in American novels aren't always easy to understand and/or relate to. That said, it is really not imperative.
Anyway.
Mark Twain's Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court was nice, but I read it often enough as a kid to still be able to quote parts of it now.
I've read Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Neverwhere, liked them both a lot and would love to see something similar. Anansi Boys is under consideration, once I get hold of it.
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (can't remember who wrote them) theoretically qualify, but I hated the first book and abandoned it halfway through.
I mentioned Leo Frankowski's Conrad Stargard series as the worst sci-fi I've ever read, so they qualify as an extreme example of what doesn't qualify.
Comedy option of Harry Potter. Yes, I have read them and am aware that they theoretically qualify as well. While coming-of-age stories are welcome, young adult fiction may be a bit too immature, unless written by Philip Pullman.
P.S. I'm sorry about the tone of the post. No matter how many times I tried to rewrite it, it doesn't sound any nicer. I'm really not making any categorical demands or anything, quite the contrary, but it's really late and I can't do any better this late.
Namely, what I'm looking for is well written stuff that deals with accidental or unplanned time travel into past, parallel worlds/universes similar to our own or parallel societies covertly existing within ours. Bonus points if the author, protagonists and location are not American. While I know speculative fiction available in English is dominated by American authors and geared towards American audiences, it would be really refreshing to read something else, as the cultural references and stuff in American novels aren't always easy to understand and/or relate to. That said, it is really not imperative.
Anyway.
Mark Twain's Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court was nice, but I read it often enough as a kid to still be able to quote parts of it now.
I've read Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Neverwhere, liked them both a lot and would love to see something similar. Anansi Boys is under consideration, once I get hold of it.
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (can't remember who wrote them) theoretically qualify, but I hated the first book and abandoned it halfway through.
I mentioned Leo Frankowski's Conrad Stargard series as the worst sci-fi I've ever read, so they qualify as an extreme example of what doesn't qualify.
Comedy option of Harry Potter. Yes, I have read them and am aware that they theoretically qualify as well. While coming-of-age stories are welcome, young adult fiction may be a bit too immature, unless written by Philip Pullman.
P.S. I'm sorry about the tone of the post. No matter how many times I tried to rewrite it, it doesn't sound any nicer. I'm really not making any categorical demands or anything, quite the contrary, but it's really late and I can't do any better this late.
