Books about speculative fiction

The Republic of Gilead offers Offred only one function: to breed. If she deviates, she will, like dissenters, be hanged at the wall or sent out to die slowly of radiation sickness. But even a repressive state cannot obliterate desire - neither Offred's nor that of the two men on which her future hangs.

* An exceptional novel from the winner of the 2000 Booker Prize

After three years in prison, Shadow has done his time. But as the time until his release ticks away, he can feel a storm brewing. Two days before he gets out, his wife Laura dies in a car crash, in adulterous circumstances. Dazed, Shadow travels home, only to encounter the bizarre Mr Wednesday claiming to be a refugee from a distant war.

Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, Winston Smith skilfully rewrites the past to suit the needs of the Party.

Into the neatly programmed world of test-tube babies and drug-controlled happiness, misfit Bernard Marx bring the innocent Savage. Aldous Huxley's famous version of the future is also a chilling and witty comment on the present.

A stunning re-issue of one of the most outstanding and enduring classics of science fiction.

The hauntingly prophetic classic novel set in a not-too-distant future where books are burned by a special task force of firemen.

Tells the story of Case, a burnt-out software cowboy forced to do one last job in the infinite bytes of cyberspace.

In this title, readers can enter the dazzling world of 19th century magicians fighting Napoleon's advancing army - and fighting between themselves

Harry Potter is an ordinary boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs at his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon's house. He is bullied by them and his cousin Dudley, and lives a very unremarkable life with only the odd hiccup to cause him much to think about. That is until an owl turns up with a letter addressed to Harry and all hell breaks loose.

The stunningly original and brilliant first novel from a storytelling genius

Taking a cynical look at the horror genre, this book features Crowley and Aziraphale, two friends who attempt to prevent the prophesised Armageddon. When the Antichrist is born they divert him from his original home at the American Embassy to Tadfield, where he grows into an unkempt individual.

In a barbarous and fallen world, the monks of the Order of Leibowitz inherit the sacred relics and spend their lives copying, illuminating and interpreting the holy fragments. They vow to preserve ancient knowledge, but will man learn from his mistakes or will history repeat itself?

Features a tale of adventure, undertaken by a company of dwarves in search of dragon-guarded gold. A reluctant partner in this perilous quest is Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving unambitious hobbit. Encounters with trolls, goblins, dwarves, elves, giant spiders, and conversations with the dragon, are just some of the adventures that befall Bilbo.

Imagines the lives of a group of students growing up in a darkly skewed version of contemporary England. This is the story of love, friendship and memory, with a sense of the fragility of life.