This catchy rap song doubles as a respectable sci-fi/fantasy reading list

Summer is rapidly approaching, and it’s a time of year that many like to use as an opportunity to catch up on their reading. For those who are looking for something in the sci-fi or fantasy genres, Rob Boffard might have a few suggestions. More precisely, he has a few dozen suggestions. Boffard is a sci-fi author himself and, in his own words, an “occasional rapper.” He combines these two passions in a video entitled “Epic Book Rap Pt.2 – 49 Books, 3 Minutes.”

Over a catchy hip-hop backing track, an appreciative Boffard raps about some of the science fiction and fantasy novels he has enjoyed over the years, both old and new. He recommends numerous titles by Neal Stephenson, Jeff Vandermeer, Max Gladstone, and Wesley Chu. But don’t think that he’s neglecting the classics that set the precedent for modern authors, though. The back half of the video includes nods to Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse-Five), Aldous Huxley (Brave New World), and Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange). And, being a true author, Boffard doesn’t miss the chance to plug his own titles, too.