Check It Out:

Science fiction and fantasy fiction can be either utterly engrossing or ultra-cheesy. Say “sci-fi” to most adults and, depending on age, “Star Wars,” “Godzilla vs. Mothra” or “Flash Gordon” images are conjured a la the big screen.

But adult preoccupations and themes do dominate in thoughtful sci-fi and fantasy books.

Think of the fascination with classic titles like “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” by Jules Verne or “The Illustrated Man” by Ray Bradbury.

Compelling fantasy should create another world, a world outside the laws of physics and engineering, a world that does not exist except in the most fertile imaginations.

If you haven’t read any good science fiction or fantasy lately, take a look at these titles. Many of their authors continue their characters’ lives and stories into a series collection.

“Dune” by Frank Herbert: The one, the only. This is a modern masterpiece. The movie didn’t do it justice, but the sound recording is as mesmerizing as the book — the perfect commuter antidote to Southern California traffic congestion.

“Time Traveler’s Wife: a Novel” by Audrey Niffenegger: Chrono-Displacement Disorder. It can happen to anyone! Can Henry and Clare’s marriage survive when Henry is thrust into the world of time travel? And what will happen to their vows of eternal love?

“Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West: a Novel” by Gregory Maguire: Ever think that Oz’s wicked witch got a bad rap? Here’s the book that sets the record straight to reveal the real Elphaba, struggling to find an answer to her sister’s death amid her animal-rights activism. This was also made into a Broadway musical and the CD is delightful. Author Maguire continues the journey into the famed Emerald City with the aptly named “Son of a Witch.”