If reading fiction is an exercise in empathy, as it lets you climb inside someone else's head and see the world through their eyes,

then reading science fiction and fantasy ups the ante.

You still see through someone else's eyes, but the world you're seeing can be almost anything.

Just in planet and also in a timeline, a land of magic and mystery,

even maybe our own familiar world just tweaked a bit.

Whether you're a long time science fiction and fantasy reader or just getting your feet wet,

or maybe you've stepped away from these genres for a while, only to become intrigued by how much they seem to be changing in recent years,

we've got you covered with some basic backgrounds, some things to look for,

and some solid recommendations from experts.

I'm Glenn Weldon, I'm a co-host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour,

and we're teaming up with LifeKit to offer you a beginner's guide to the genres of science fiction and fantasy fiction as they exist today.

Joining me in this endeavor is a murderer's row of experts who've thought and written a lot about these genres and how they're evolving.

First up is a Mao-L-Motara, poet, writer and critic for NPR, as well as the judge of this summer's NPR Readers' poll on science fiction and fantasy welcome a Mao.

Thank you so much for having me.

It's great to have you.

Next is Tochi Onyibuchi, author of the 2020 novel Riot Baby, and also a judge who's helping us out on this summer's Readers' poll.

Pleasure and an honor to be here.

Oh, you flatter us. And rounding out this incredible panel is Petra Mayor and editor at NPR Books.

She focuses on fiction, especially genre fiction, and perhaps by now the astute listener will have picked up on a recurring theme.

She oversees and does the heavy lifting on the NPR Summer Readers' poll, which this year is all about the science fiction and fantasy of the past 10 years.

Hey Petra.

Hey Glenn.

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