FantLab: the SF database
A huge Russian-language database of science fiction and beyond: book pages with ratings and reviews, a genre classifier, awards and publisher plans.
What it is
FantLab ("Laboratory of Fantastic Fiction") is a large Russian-language database of books, authors and editions, run by its readers. It started with science fiction, but today it also covers mysteries, horror and comics: the front page mixes news about a Rex Stout series, a classic-detective line with John Dickson Carr and new graphic novels.
Every work gets its own page with an average score, a blurb, a list of similar works, every edition broken down by decade and language, reader reviews that carry their own rating, and awards. Authors get bibliographies; publishers get catalogues and series.
Why we picked it
The real wealth of FantLab is its community's eye for detail. Ratings here go well beyond five stars. You can rank authors and works by average score, by number of ratings, by awards, by number of editions, by print run, by number of reviews, by how "controversial" they are (the widest spread of opinions) and even by the gap between men's and women's scores.
Then there's the genre classifier. Search by genre is broken down to fine detail: hard science fiction, "soft" social SF, space opera, cyberpunk, timepunk. When we looked, it even listed two books under "stonepunk", a Stone Age take on the idea. For finding your next read, this beats any top-ten list.
Finally, there's a lively culture around the books. Columns and blogs carry reviews, round-ups of new English-language SF (one recent post covered 45 notable new titles from September 2026), film reviews and panels on gothic fiction. A section on new releases and publishing plans shows what's out and what's coming in Russian, and there's a forum.
Where to start
- Open the ratings and choose the "controversial" list; that's where the best arguments are.
- Try the genre search and tick a couple of subgenres you enjoy.
- Look up a book you love and check the "similar works" block for your next reads.
- Browse publisher plans to see what's coming out in Russian translation.
- Register if you want to rate books and get recommendations.
Who it's for
Russian-speaking fans of science fiction, fantasy and horror looking for their next book. Collectors who care which edition and which translation they own. Anyone writing about books who needs to check a bibliography fast. Translators and researchers will find the edition histories handy. If you don't read Russian, browser translation gets you far, since titles of foreign books are listed in the original too.
Quick answers
Can I download books here? No. It's a database and a community: book pages, reviews, ratings and news.
What language is it in? Russian, though many foreign editions appear with their original titles.
Do I need an account? Not to browse. You need one to rate books and write reviews.
