Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (1993) Bantam Spectra

The first novel in an epic about the colonization of Mars.  The first hundred people to become Martians and their vision of a non-political, non-economics-based society.  Temper this with the reaction of an overpopulated Earth needing a place to bleed-off their starving masses and the natural tendency of people to not change.  Amazing advances in applied science to transform the face of Mars and the collision of competing forces drive an outcome that should be predictable.  The outcome is both natural and surprising.

Every heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (2016) Tor

Where young people go to learn how to move on in this life after returning from a fantastic journey to a world that feels more like home than this one.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001) William Morrow 

When the old gods are no longer worshipped, where did they go?  In this book, they came to America.

An ex-con going by the name of Shadow, is released, but just before that, his best friend and his wife died in a car accident.  Then, on the way home, he is hired by a stranger, a Mr. Wednesday, as a bodyguard, a driver and occasional errand boy.  What he doesn’t know is that the man is really who we named the middle of our work week for.  And Odin/Wednesday is trying to organize things with the gods over here.  A wild ride through the alliances and enemies of the Norse gods.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2008) HarperCollins

A toddler wanders away from his house through a door opened by a murderer and into a graveyard where the murderer cannot find him.  He is raised by the ghosts and protected by a vampire and a werewolf who are members of the Honor Guard of God.  David Copperfield in a weird universe.  Winner of the 2009 Newbery Award.