The Fifth SeasonThe Fifth Season
Score Modern
What it's about
The Stillness is a supercontinent wracked by earthquakes, and every few centuries a catastrophic Season of ash, darkness and famine nearly ends civilization. Orogenes, people born able to control the earth's energy, are the only ones who can quiet it, and they're feared, enslaved and killed for it. Essun has hidden what she is for years, until she comes home to find her husband has killed their son and fled with their daughter, just as a new Season begins. Told in three threads, it's a disaster novel, a quest and a mystery.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the most inventive fantasies of the century, and its trilogy is the only one to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel three years running. It's a gripping disaster story and a powerful story about oppression in one.
You'll love it if you liked
Dune
The Left Hand of Darkness
BabelGood to know
The opening is disorienting on purpose, and parts are written in the second person ("you"). Trust it, because it all clicks. It's book one of a trilogy and ends on a reveal, so have the next book ready.
By the numbers
- Readers89 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics100 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller48 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz7 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #3 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #4 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #11 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #19 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking, Dark
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Quick answers
Is The Fifth Season worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the most inventive fantasies of the century, and its trilogy is the only one to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel three years running. It ranks #19 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 91.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Fifth Season about?
The Stillness is a supercontinent wracked by earthquakes, and every few centuries a catastrophic Season of ash, darkness and famine nearly ends civilization. Orogenes, people born able to control the earth's energy, are the only ones who can quiet it, and they're feared, enslaved and killed for it. Essun has hidden what she is for years, until she comes home to find her husband has killed their son and fled with their daughter, just as a new Season begins. Told in three threads, it's a disaster novel, a quest and a mystery.
How long does it take to read The Fifth Season?
About 12 hours (468 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Fifth Season won?
Hugo Award winner (2016); Hugo Award winner (2018, for The Stone Sky); Hugo Award winner (2017, for The Obelisk Gate).
What should I read after The Fifth Season?
If you liked it, try Dune by Frank Herbert, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin or Babel by R. F. Kuang.